Entering a team into Le Mans

[funkyol]

How much, would you estimate it would cost to enter a private team to race at Le mans? I'm looking for total including the car, staff, parts, accommodation, fuel, tires, transport, absolutely everything....?

Just really curious!

[Skywalker]

I'll put in some cash, if I can get to refuel like Noel Edmonds did for Don Panoz

[E36GUY]

funkyol said:

How much, would you estimate it would cost to enter a private team to race at Le mans? I'm looking for total including the car, staff, parts, accommodation, fuel, tires, transport, absolutely everything....?

Just really curious!

An absolute stload. Generally the 24 hrs is invitation only (you can apply) but to automatically qualify you need to race and do well in a full GT Series like ALMS.

[BigMansZetec]

You could spend loads and loads and just be put on a reserve list, if you were lucky. You definitely need manufacturer backing of some sort to succeed.

Surely PH could assemble of team of volunteers, so that would cut out the wage bill!

[funkyol]

I was just curious, please forgive my ignorance, but as I understood, one of the classes is for private team entries is it not? I remember in 2006, a team entered a black Lambo. I always thought "If I won a few £million (20+) I'd love to enter a team one day"!

[patmahe]

http://www.2cvracing.co.uk/

A budget version of le mans, probably more fun too. When you're spending millions it tends to turn into more of a business than sport. Check out round 5

[Longers]

funkyol said:

I remember in 2006, a team entered a black Lambo.

Wasn't that the Japanese Lambo owners club....?

[boolay]

Longers said:

funkyol said:

I remember in 2006, a team entered a black Lambo.

Wasn't that the Japanese Lambo owners club....?

Black Murci, also entered last year

Edited by boolay on Thursday 1st May 13:08

[ph1l5]

Yup JLOC all that money and it did two laps. Mind you the two laps I saw it sounded amazing !!

Edited by ph1l5 on Thursday 1st May 14:01

[funkyol]

ph1l5 said:

Yup JLOC all that money and it did two laps. Mind you the two laps I saw it sounded amazing !!

Edited by ph1l5 on Thursday 1st May 14:01

It sounded amazing indeed! Hence my question - if these guys did it, I wonder how much they had behind them!?

[funkyol]

This years' entry - a Black Murcielago:

[Truckosaurus]

E36GUY said:

An absolute stload. Generally the 24 hrs is invitation only (you can apply) but to automatically qualify you need to race and do well in a full GT Series like ALMS.

Indeed. You'd have to budget for at least a full year's competition in the ALMS, LMS or FIA GT the previous year and be successful or distinctive* enough to catch the eye of the organising committee. (or employ a French driver). So you're looking at a 2 season minimum (as you'd need to have the team and car upto speed during the year of the race) to get onto the grid.

• I'd be surprised if the bio-fuelled Barwell Aston GT2 doesn't get an invite for 2009.

Anyone know what the going rate is to buy a seat in a car these days?

[Viper]

i know someone who brought a seat in the FIA GT3 last year at Silverstone, it was £30K each for the weekend for both drivers, x2 races, with practice/qualifying

the second driver didnt even get to race on the second day as the car was taken out of the race on about lap 7 so quite an expensive weekend....

Edited by Viper on Thursday 1st May 20:06

[Matt Harper]

My ex-boss paid for a GT drive in the 2005 Daytona 24 Hours, for his (then 18 year-old) son.
I think he paid $25,000 - with a $10,000 damage deposit, which he lost when his son stuffed it.
Add the cost of a fancy motorhome for the weekend (another $4k) and it all adds up to a fairly pricey affair.

I reckon the budget for a mid-pack GT2 team for Le Mans is going to be around $600,000 - and as stated, this ain't no 'run what ya brung'. The ACO are kind of snippy about who they let race at Le Mans.

[//j17]

Matt Harper said:

The ACO are kind of snippy about who they let race at Le Mans.

...unless your French or buy a Courague.