Pescarolo 01
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| Category | Le Mans Prototype (LMP1 and LMP2) |
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| Constructor | Pescarolo Sport | ||||||||
| Designer(s) | Andre de Cortanze | ||||||||
| Technical specifications | |||||||||
| Chassis | Carbon fibre monocoque | ||||||||
| Suspension (front) | Double wishbone, push rod operated over damper | ||||||||
| Suspension (rear) | Double wishbone, push rod operated over damper | ||||||||
| Wheelbase | 2,795 mm (110.0 in) | ||||||||
| Engine | Judd GV5.5 S2 5.5 litre N/A V10, Judd XV675/DB 3.4 litre N/A V8, Mazda MZR-R 2.0 litre T/C I4, Judd-BMW HK 3.6 litre N/A V8,Judd GV5 S2 5.0 litre N/A V10 mid-engined, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
| Transmission | X-Trac 6-speed sequential manual | ||||||||
| Weight | 925kg (2039lbs) | ||||||||
| Tyres | Michelin, Dunlop, Kumho | ||||||||
| Competition history | |||||||||
| Notable entrants |  Pescarolo Sport Rollcentre Racing Saulnier Racing OAK Racing Kruse Motorsport |
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| Notable drivers | Emmanuel Collard, Jean-Christophe Bouillon, Romain Dumas, Harold Primat, Christophe Tinseau, Benoit Treluyer, Stuart Hall, João Barbosa, Vanina Ickx, Cheng Congfu, Bruce Jouanny, Julien Jousse |
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| Debut | 2007 1000 km of Monza | ||||||||
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| Constructors' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
| Drivers' Championships | 0 | ||||||||
The Pescarolo 01 is the first sports prototype racing car built entirely by French team Pescarolo Sport. It is designed to meet the LMP1 and LMP2 regulations for Le Mans Prototypes in the Le Mans Series as well as at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and replace Pescarolo's previous C60 chassis which had been heavily modified from cars purchased through Courage Compétition. The first 01s debuted at the 2007 1000 km of Monza, and are still used by several teams today.
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[edit] Development
At the end of 2006, new regulations came into effect for the various series supposed by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). These regulations required extensive changes to the layout of a chassis, leaving many teams to purchase or build new cars as their current cars would be ineligible in 2007. Pescarolo Sport at the time was campaigning two Pescarolo C60s, cars which Pescarolo Sport had extensively modified from their origins as Courage C60s a few years prior. The C60s however did not meet the 2007 regulations, and team owner Henri Pescarolo chose to become a full constructor for the first time. Many features from the C60 were carried over in the design of the 01.
Unlike the C60, the 01 was intended to be not only used by the Pescarolo Sport team, but also to be sold to customers. In order to broaden their customer base, the 01 was designed to meet the regulations of both the LMP1 and LMP2 classes with minor variation required.
[edit] Racing history
[edit] 2007
As the first 01s were being completed, several teams announced their intent to purchase the chassis. Rollcentre Racing chose to reenter the LMP1 category and campaign an 01-Judd alongside the two Pescarolo Sport cars. The German Kruse Motorsports team were the first to purchase an LMP2-spec car, using the smaller Judd V8 as a powerplant. Lister Cars also announced their intentions to purchase a chassis, which they would later modify, to replace their ineligible Storm LMP.
At the Pescarolo 01's debut in the Le Mans Series opener, the #16 car of Pescarolo Sport managed to finish in second place, between the two factory Peugeot diesels, while the #17 car finished fourth. The Rollcentre and Kruse cars also finished the event in points-earning positions. Pescarolo's #16 car earned two further second place finishes over the six race season, and was able to secure second place in the LMP1 Teams Championship. Pescarolo's #17 car struggled to earn points and finished seventh in points, but the Rollcentre team were able to outperform the one factory Pescarolo and finish fourth in the championship. Kruse's season was cut short as a fire onboard the team's transporter destroyed their car.
At the 2007 24 Hours of Le Mans, Pescarolo Sport was returning as the previous year's runner-up. All four 01s from the Le Mans Series were entered, and three of them were able to successfully reach the finish. The #16 Pescarolo of Emmanuel Collard, Jean-Christophe Boullion, and Romain Dumas was classified third, eleven laps behind the winning Audi, while Rollcentre Racing's car was a further eleven laps behind in fourth place. Pescarolo's #17 car finished well back in 13th, while Kruse's car suffered mechanical problems and retired in the first half of the event.
[edit] 2008
For the 2008 season, five Pescarolo 01s would once again be entered in the Le Mans Series. Pescarolo Sport and Rollcentre Racing remained as they had the year before, but two more 01s were entered by the French Saulnier Racing. The team, which had been purchased by Pescarolo Sport at the end of 2007, entered an 01 each in the LMP1 and LMP2 classes.
In the LMP1 category, the four teams faced stiffer competition from not only the returning Peugeots, but also newcomers Audi. Pescarolo Sport finished on the podium twice in five races, once each for the #16 and #17 cars. It was the #16 car which once again led amongst Pescarolos in the Teams Championship, finishing in sixth place, while every other Pescarolo team managed to earn at least a point during the year. In LMP2, the Saulnier car using the latest V8 from Judd had a best finish of second in class at the 1000 km of Nürburgring and successfully finished the year fourth in the Teams Championship, the best non-Porsche in the field.
As in the previous year, the entire contingent of 01s competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and once again nearly all were able to finish. #17 led the 01 field home in seventh place, the best finisher using petrol fuel. Rollcentre's race ended in eleventh place, while the LMP1 Saulnier entry survived for 26th. In LMP2, the Saulnier 01 was third in its class, 21 laps behind the winning Porsche, and ranked eighteenth in the overall standings. Only the #16 Pescarolo, which had earned a podium the previous year, was unable to complete the full race.
[edit] 2009
In 2009, Pescarolo Sport will be competing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans with only one car beig #16. Their #17 car will be a Peugeot 908 HDi FAP. It will also be racing in LMP2 by OAK Racing with two Mazda MZR-R-powered prototypes. Pescarolo Sport and OAK Racing, partnered with Mazda France are currently competing in the Le Mans Series season, each with two Evo chassis'. Pescarolo Sport are currently leading in the LMP1 class, finishing second in the opening two races and OAK Racing are currently fifth in LMP2.
[edit] 2011
2011 saw the return of Pescarolo Team after their financial difficulties in 2010. Pescarolo Team will be racing in the LMP1 class in the 2011 Le Mans Series season at the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans. OAK Racing will race their own modified version of the 01 with two LMP1 cars and two LMP2 cars. The No. 35 OAK Pescarolo 01 finished third in the LMP2 class at the 2011 12 Hours of Sebring, the other two cars OAK Racing brought along (which were LMP1 cars) both retired, one of which led the race overall for a brief period after a full course caution. Pescarolo Team competed at the 6 Hours of Castellet with one car. Pescarolo's return was a dream comeback as they won overall. The grandfathered V10-powered car finished one lap ahead of second place car with Emmanuel Collard, Christophe Tinseau and Julien Jousse piloting the car.[1]
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Pescarolo 01 |
