Mansells shakedown LMP1 Ginetta

Nigel Mansell and his sons Leo and Greg completed a successful shakedown of the Ginetta Zytek GZ09S LMP1 they will race in this season's Le Mans 24 Hours at the Autodromo do Algarve in Portugal this week.

The Mansells spent the first day shaking down the car and working with the Beechdean Mansell Motorsport engineers to find a set-up all three drivers could work with. Nigel spent the majority of the first day behind the wheel, before handing over to Leo. Greg completed the day's running in wet conditions.

Leo and Greg shared the majority of the driving duties on day two, before their 1992 Formula 1 world champion father completed a few laps of dry running in the afternoon. The majority of the test, during which Le Mans Series race-winning squad ORECA also appeared, was affected by torrential rain.

Nigel Mansell said: "It's truly brilliant when you can draw breath and say that the test has surpassed every expectation.

"The Zytek-powered car worked pretty flawlessly; I'm so proud of Leo and Greg, the times they got down to in a very short window were very competitive.

"To gel a team in just three and a half months is fantastic and while we know we have a huge challenge ahead, we are so pleased with what has been accomplished here."

Additional Le Mans extravagance?

This could be another year of pushing the boundaries?

..........and, Mr Chadders, Sir, you could see my Acrophobia reach a whole new level !!!!

From 18.00 on Saturday....flying 150ft above the track!

Taking off every 10 minutes, each flight carrying just 5 passengers.

Check-in and lift-off is from the ULM Hangar airfield gate, 100 metres from the Maison Blanche entrance to the circuit (entrée Annexe Souterrain Sud).

All flights must be reserved in advance (Missed flights are non-refundable)

Price: (including complimentary glass of wine or soft drink) £109 per person

Audi Name Line-Up for 2010

Nothing special - just Dindo Capello, Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish, who, in total, have scored twelve Le Mans victories !!

All three Audi R15 TDI cars will be entered by Audi Sport Team Joest and designated as cars number 7, 8 and 9.

The third sports-prototype will officially run as 'Audi Sport North America', the name under which it was nominated.

"Audi will begins its preparation for the Le Mans 24 Hours at the end of this month with a roll-out of the 'R15 plus' at Le Castellet. The team plans to complete in the Le Mans Series races at Paul Ricard and Spa-Francorchamps prior to June's 24 Hour classic."

Jaguar Proud to Return to Le Mans for 2010

Oh, yes............it's gonna be a good year !

"The RSR Jaguar made its racing debut at Leguna Seca at the end of last year, and will contest the full American Le Mans Series this season as well as running one car at Le Mans."

Mansell to race at Le Mans!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/7158799/Nigel-Mansell-to-compete-in-Le-Mans-series.html

Here she is - the Sundance Kid !

Put your hands together for our newest LM2010 recruit - the Sundance Kid !!

She's a little larger than Lucy but who wants a size zero girl anyway ?

The Swift Sundance 630L is a truly luxurious, 6 berth motorhome with everyone enjoying space and privacy. Fully equipped with all the comforts of home from home for all the family. Equipped with cutlery, crockery, TV & DVD, CD player, fully integrated kitchen, oven & grill, luxury washroom, hotel quality interiors and comfy beds. The 630L motorhome incorporates flexible sleeping arrangements which consists of a rear lounge that converts to a double bed or twin beds, and a dinette that converts to a double bed and another double bed over the cab. Power assisted steering and powerful 2.3ltr Multijet Turbo diesel engines with a 6 speed gearbox, makes the 630L very easy to drive and park. This motorhome requires the driver to hold a C1 Category on their driving licence.

The layout is a little different but gives us what appears to be far more space inside.

Facilities are similar for keeping food and, more importantly, beer cool inside her.

Here's where we'll relax and watch the World Cup (and play Guitar Hero on Chadders' Xbox 360!)

Anyone for Scrabble ?

Sniffer's bed - well of course !!

The beautifying parlour - hopefully with no monkey poo flung everywhere this year !

Does my bum look big in this ?

So, all we need now is to finalise the alcohol arrangements for hand-pumped beer (Chadders - I believe that's your challenge) and sort out the menu.

Incidentally, 'the Kid' does have a bike rack on the back so I propose that we take push-irons this year for a novel way to travel around the surrounding area.

Bring it on..............

2010...........and we're off !!

It's been some time since the last post and it is, with a somewhat heavy heart, an update on the annual pilgrimage that is Le Mans 2010....

Since last year we appear to have lost 60% of the core team for one reason or another.

JT is no more......KL is taking at least a year's sabbatical and, shock, horror, the Chairman appears to have lost interest and has pulled out of this year.

So, I ask the remaining team to vote for a new chair - clearly I'll be putting myself up for the new role and hoping for someone to second me........

Anyway, on to happier news........LM 2010 is still a goer for the remaining team which is, Mr Chadders, Sir...........my good self.......and a blast from the past (drum, roll) Joey, aka Birthday Boy, aka..........the Canadian !!

The pitches are booked, the tickets (including the sexy grandstand seats from last year) are booked, the ferry (and overnight cabin) is booked AND Lucy (or a newer Lucy derivative) is also provisionally booked too......

I am in the early stages of sorting out the menu for LM2010 which, as I'm cooking for a reduced clientele, I have high hopes for and I am also looking for the coveted 'LM star' so the pressure is on !!

So, as the first update for 2010, I would like to wish Pikey a happy birthday for the coming week and also request that, as an LM parting gesture, he provides an LM09 'Yearly Summary' as is the tradition............what say you ex-Chairman ??

Until the next update........