2001 24 Hours of Le Mans

69th 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race 2000 2001 2002 thumb|350px|Le Mans in 2001 The 2001 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 69th Grand Prix of Endurance, and took place on 16 and 17 June 2001. Background Preview The 2001 24 Hours of Le Mans was the 69th edition of the race and took place at the 8.454 mi km on Circuit de la Sarthe road racing circuit close by Le Mans, France from 16 to 17 June.https://assets.lemans.org/explorer/pdf/courses/2018/24-heures-du-mans/press-kit/uk/statistiques-historiques-en.pdf 2018 24 Hours of Le Mans – Press Information June 2018 Automobile Club de l'Ouest 7, 10, 16 & 21 live https://web.archive.org/web/20190623125350/https://assets.lemans.org/explorer/pdf/courses/2018/24-heures-du-mans/press-kit/uk/statistiques-historiques-en.pdf 23 June 2019 23 June 201924 Hours of Le Mans Encyclopædia Britannica https://www.britannica.com/sports/24-Hours-of-Le-Mans 25 July 2021 Augustyn Adam 17 June 2019 C. Shepherd Melinda Chauhan Yamini Levy Michael Lotha Gloria Tikkanen Amy live 21 August 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210821070332/https://www.britannica.com/sports/24-Hours-of-Le-Mans The race was first held in 1923 after the automotive journalist Charles Faroux, the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) general secretary Georges Durand and the industrialist Emile Coquile agreed to hold a test of vehicle reliability and durability. It is considered the world's most prestigious sports car race and is part of the Triple Crown of Motorsport.Hassan David O'Kane Philip The History of Motor Sport: A Case Study Analysis A History of the ‘Triple Crown’ of Motor Racing: The Indianapolis 500, the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Monaco Grand Prix https://archive.org/details/historyofmotorsp0000unse/ 2012 Routledge Abingdon, Oxfordshire 105–109 978-0-415-67788-2 Open Library registration Track and regulation changes After the 2000 race, the ACO and the French government modified the Route nationale 138 which forms the Mulsanne Straight, by decreasing the height of a hill by 7.9 ft m on on the approach to the Mulsanne Corner where Mark Webber had an airborne accident in a Mercedes-Benz CLR during a warm-up session for the 1999 edition.http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/roadracing/22413/ SPEED Top 10 Moments #4: Mercedes Le Mans Flip Jensen Tom 7 March 2006 Speed dead https://web.archive.org/web/20060821122007/http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/roadracing/22413/ 21 August 2006 12 January 2020http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_17.shtml Inauguration of the "new" bump on Mulsanne Straight 27 March 2001 Automobile Club de l'Ouest dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010508092442/http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_17.shtml 8 May 2001 13 January 2020 Work in the area costing almost F6.5 million was mandated by motor racing's governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), to comply with road safety regulations and traffic using the area was diverted onto an alternate route. It commenced on 1 December 2000 with the removal of 7000 m³ on of cuttings and continued until mid-March 2001.http://www.ouest-france.fr/24heures_auto/2203.htm 69e édition de la course d'endurance, les 16 et 17 juin 2001 Les abords des Hunaudières reboisés Denoyelle Nicolas 22 March 2001 Ouest-France 13 January 2020 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010506151722/http://www.ouest-france.fr/24heures_auto/2203.htm 6 May 2001 fr 69th edition of the endurance race, June 16 and 17, 2001 The surroundings of the reforested Hunaudièreshttp://www.ouest-france.fr/24heures_auto/2103.htm 69e édition de la course d'endurance, les 16 et 17 juin 2001 Hunaudières : les bosses en moins 21 March 2001 Ouest-France 13 January 2020 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20020218093838/http://www.ouest-france.fr/24heures_auto/2103.htm 18 February 2002 fr 69th edition of the endurance race, June 16 and 17, 2001 Hunaudières: fewer bumps Other changes included a widening of the run-off area to the outside on the approach to the right-hand Indianapolis corner and a gravel trap and spectator section was moved further back in an attempt to enhance safety.http://www.totalmotorsport.com/News/story.asp?ID=421&Typ= La Sarthe Changes at Indianapolis Too 25 January 2001 TotalMotorSport 13 January 2020 29 February 2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20040229092507/http://www.totalmotorsport.com/News/story.asp?ID=421&Typ= liveIndianapolis Corner Work Continues http://www.totalmotorsport.com/News/story.asp?ID=673&Typ= TotalMotorSport 23 March 2001 13 January 2020 24 December 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20031224013543/http://www.totalmotorsport.com/News/story.asp?ID=673&Typ= live The ACO allowed cars in the Le Mans Prototype 675 (LMP675) category to be installed with a V6 turbocharged engine with a maximum capacity of 2000 cc cuin on up from a V4 power unit in the 2000 event. Teams could also fit a V8 engine into a car in the event that it was normally aspirated. The governing body also revoked a regulation for a car's headlights to be switched on in daylight hours and the FIA would supervise laboratory crash tests conducted on all vehicles.http://www.totalmotorsport.com/News/story.asp?ID=146&Typ= 2001 Regs Changes to LMP 675 engine regs Laffeas Marc 21 September 2000 TotalMotorSport live https://web.archive.org/web/20021105170535/http://www.totalmotorsport.com/News/story.asp?ID=146&Typ= 5 November 2002 12 January 2020 Changes to the format of the weekend saw the test day have 48 cars and 6 reserves all driving together in lieu of individual sessions for Grand Touring and Prototypes and would not eliminate any cars from contention as seen in previous editions of the race.http://www.totalmotorsport.com/News/story.asp?ID=108&Typ= 24 Hours Latest Courage / Vanina Ickx / Test Day 14 November 2000 TotalMotorSport 13 January 2020 6 February 2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20040206160138/http://www.totalmotorsport.com/News/story.asp?ID=108&Typ= livehttp://lmspm.ifrance.com/lmspm/24auto01/lemans2001.htm Règlement & Essais préliminaires 11 November 2000 Ouest-France 13 January 2020 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010207175402/http://lmspm.ifrance.com/lmspm/24auto01/lemans2001.htm 7 February 2001 fr Regulations & Preliminary tests Entries The ACO received 80 "good quality" inquires for applications by the deadline for entries at midnight, 28 February 2001.https://www.maisonblanche.co.uk Le Mans news round-up: Le Mans entry list Legangne David Wilson Rick 22 March 2001 Maison Blanche dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010418023042/http://www.maisonblanche.co.uk/nw220301.html 18 April 2001 13 January 2020http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/pdf/reglement_course_auto_2001_gb.pdf Le Mans 24 Hours (June 16th – 17th June 2001) – Supplementary Regulations 29 January 2001 Automobile Club de l'Ouest 3, 6, 11–12 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010612215251/http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/pdf/reglement_course_auto_2001_gb.pdf 12 June 2001 12 January 2020 The ACO's eight-person selection committee granted 48 invitations to the 24 Hours of Le Mans in-late March. Entries were divided between the Le Mans Prototype 900 (LMP900), Le Mans Grand Touring Prototype (LMGTP), LMP675, Le Mans Grand Touring Sport (LMGTS) and Le Mans Grand Touring (LMGT) categories.https://www.crash.net/alms/news/130971/1/america-well-represented-on-le-mans-entry America well represented on Le Mans entry 6 April 2001 Crash 13 January 2020 13 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200113203024/https://www.crash.net/alms/news/130971/1/america-well-represented-on-le-mans-entry live Automatic entries Automatic entries were earned by teams which won their class in the 2000 24 Hours of Le Mans, or have won Le Mans-based series and events such as the 2000 Petit Le Mans of the American Le Mans Series, the Race of a Thousand Years held as part of the Asian-Pacific Le Mans Series and the 2000 1000 km of Nürburgring of the European Le Mans Series.http://www.totalmotorsport.com/News/story.asp?ID=423&Typ= Le Mans Test Day Regulations 26 January 2001 TotalMotorSport live https://web.archive.org/web/20020906081425/http://www.totalmotorsport.com/News/story.asp?ID=423&Typ= 6 September 2002 12 January 2020https://www.maisonblanche.co.uk/ Le Mans 24 Hours 2001 entry list 5 April 2001 Maison Blanche dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010408194141/http://www.maisonblanche.co.uk/01entry.html 8 April 2001 12 January 2020 As entries were pre-selected to teams, they were restricted to a maximum of two cars and were not allowed to change their vehicles nor their competitors' licence from the previous year to the next. Entries were permitted to change category provided that they did not change the make of vehicle and the ACO granted official permission for the switch. The ACO published its final list of automatic berths on 26 January 2001. Audi Sport North America, Viper Team Oreca and Dick Barbour Racing were the three teams out of the twelve that were pre-selected to decline their automatic invitations. Reason Entered LMP LMGTS LMGT 1st in the 24 Hours of Le Mans DEU Audi Sport Team Joest FRA Viper Team Oreca JPN Team Taisan Advan 1st in the 1000 km of Nürburgring USA Panoz Motor Sports FRA Viper Team Oreca USA Dick Barbour Racing1 1 1st in the Petit Le Mans DEU Audi Sport North America USA Corvette Racing Pratt USA Dick Barbour Racing1 1 1st in the Race of a Thousand Years DEU Audi Sport North America1 1 FRA Viper Team Oreca1 1 USA Dick Barbour Racing1 1Source: 1.1 – Team declined their automatic invitations. Entry list and reserves The ACO announced the full 48-car entry list for Le Mans plus six reserves on 4 April. The Ascari, Audi, Bentley, Cadillac, Courage, Chrysler, Dome and Panoz brands were accepted into the two Prototype classes, which featured a mixture of works teams and privateers. Cars from Lola, Pilbeam and Reynard featured in the eight-vehicle LMP675 class. Chrysler, General Motors via its Chevrolet division and Saleen were the three manufacturers in the LMGTS category. The majority of cars in the LMGT class were from Porsche with Callaway represented by one team.http://www.speedvision.com/pub/articles/racing/06road/010404a.html ACO – Le Mans Entry List Released Fallon Cormack 4 April 2001 Speedvision dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010601154553/http://www.speedvision.com/pub/articles/racing/06road/010404a.html 1 June 2001 13 January 2020 On 27 April, the No. 59 Saleen/Allen Speedlab-entered S7 was withdrawn from the race. The No. 21 Team Ascari car was promoted from the top of the list of reserves to take the vacated slot on the grid.http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_37.shtml Withdrawal of the Official Saleen No. 59 27 April 2001 Automobile Club de l'Ouest dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010721050845/http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_37.shtml 21 July 2001 13 January 2020 Testing A mandatory pre-Le Mans test day split into two daytime sessions of four hours each was held at the circuit on 6 May, involving all 48 cars and four reserve entries.http://www.totalmotorsport.com/Championships/Display.asp?ID=152 Le Mans Test Day – 06/05/2001 Le Mans Entry TotalMotorSport 13 January 2020 27 June 2002 https://web.archive.org/web/20020627151739/http://www.totalmotorsport.com/Championships/Display.asp?ID=152 live The morning session was led by Audi with a lap of 3:36.054 from Stefan Johansson in the No. 4 Johansson Motorsport R8. The top-placed works Audi was Tom Kristensen's No. 1 Team Joest car in second and the fastest Bentley EXP Speed 8 was the No. 7 of Stéphane Ortelli in third. Emanuele Pirro of Team Joest, Johnny Herbert for Champion Racing and Yannick Dalmas in a Chrysler LMP occupied fourth to sixth positions.http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/14259 Official test (AM): Johansson leads early running 6 May 2001 Autosport 13 January 2020 13 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200113203024/http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/14259 live A broken exhaust header caused the carbon fibre chassis on David Brabham's Panoz LMP07 to catch fire in the final moments of the morning session. Panoz withdrew the No. 12 car for the rest of the test day due to extensive damage it sustained.http://clubarnage.com/lm01/testweekend/morning.html Morning Session 6 May 2001 Club Arnage live https://web.archive.org/web/20020821072717/http://clubarnage.com/lm01/testweekend/morning.html 21 August 2002 13 January 2020 Eric van de Poele for Dick Barbour set the fastest lap in the LMP675 category,http://speedvision.com/pub/articles/racing/06road/010506a.html ACO – Johansson Sets Early Pace in Le Mans Trials Fallon Cormack 6 May 2001 Speedvision live https://web.archive.org/web/20010608134119/http://speedvision.com/pub/articles/racing/06road/010506a.html 8 June 2001 13 January 2020 while the Larbre Compétition team led both GT classes with the No. 58 Oreca Viper and the No. 60 Porsche.http://www.totalmotorsport.com/Championships/Display.asp?ID=260 Le Mans Test Day – Sunday – Report Radcliffe Peter Hettler Jan 6 May 2001 TotalMotorSport 13 January 2020 10 November 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20031110045306/http://www.totalmotorsport.com/Championships/Display.asp?ID=260 live Several drivers ran off the circuit during the session. Kristensen damaged the No. 2 Audi's front-right and the car's suspension arm was replaced. The No. 64 Corvette's steering failed and the car was stopped on the Mulsanne Straight.Preliminary Practice – Session One http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_71.shtml Automobile Club de l'Ouest 6 May 2001 14 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20010718054714/http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_71.shtml 18 July 2001 dead The second test session had Audi continue to lead with Rinaldo Capello in the No. 2 car with the day's fastest lap of 3:32.742. This was followed by an improved time for the Champion Racing car of Ralf Kelleners in second and Martin Brundle in Bentley's No. 8 car in third. Racing for Holland was fourth courtesy of a lap from Jan Lammers and the second Joest Audi of Frank Biela rounded out the top five.Official test (PM): Capello throws down gauntlet http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/14259 Autosport 6 May 2001 14 January 2020 13 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200113203024/http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/14259 live The Dick Barbour team continued to lead the LMP675 category with an improved lap of 3:44.272,Audi in the Lead During Practice Session 2 http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_83.shtml Automobile Club de l'Ouest 6 May 2001 14 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20010526202443/http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_83.shtml 26 May 2001 live ahead of the trio of drivers of the second-placed No. 38 ROC Auto Reynard 01Q and Claudia Hürtgen's No. 32 Roock/KnightHawk Racing Lola B2K/40-Nissan in third.Fallon Cormack ACO – Capello Tops Le Mans Test http://speedvision.com/pub/articles/racing/06road/010506c.html Speedvision 6 May 2001 14 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20010608140030/http://speedvision.com/pub/articles/racing/06road/010506c.html 8 June 2001 dead Oliver Gavin moved the No. 60 Saleen Allen Speedlab S7R to the head of LMGTS with a lap of 3:54.344. He was followed by Johnny Mowlem's No. 62 Ray Mallock car on the soft compound tyres and Corvette's No. 63 C5-R was third-fastest in the session. Xavier Pompidou in the No. 73 Freisinger Motorsport Porsche led the LMGT class with the No. 80 Larbre car second.https://www.maisonblanche.co.uk/ Preliminary testing report Wilson Rick Legangneux David 6 May 2001 Maison Blanche dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010822135030/http://www.maisonblanche.co.uk/01testre.html 22 August 2001 14 January 2020 Fabio Babini's No. 83 Seikel Motorsport car and the No. 35 Rowan Racing Pilbeam MP84-Nissan made contact at the Ford Chicane late in the session and the former was unable to continue driving.Afternoon Session http://www.club-arnage.com/lm01/testweekend/afternoon.html Club Arnage 6 May 2001 14 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20010629020256/http://www.club-arnage.com/lm01/testweekend/afternoon.html 29 June 2001 live Qualifying There were eight hours of qualifying divided into four two-hour sessions available to every entrants on 13 and 14 June. During the sessions, all entrants were required to set a time within 110 per cent of the fastest lap established by the fastest vehicle in each of the five categories to qualify for the race. The first session took place in clear weather conditions. Audi, the pre-race favourites,https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/1390538.stm Audi seek repeat 15 June 2001 BBC Sport live https://web.archive.org/web/20040306045403/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/1390538.stm 6 March 2004 16 January 2020 led early on with a flying lap from Kristensen before his teammate Capello followed with a 3:34.880 time to go fastest overall. Kristensen stood three-tenths of a second adrift in second. Lammers followed in third and Kelleners was fourth for Champion Racing. The fastest Bentley was in fifth position after a lap from Brundle.http://www.totalmotorsport.com/Championships/Display.asp?ID=397 Le Mans Qualifying – 14/06/2001 – First Session On Wednesday 14 June 2001 TotalMotorSport 14 January 2020 10 November 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20031110045805/http://www.totalmotorsport.com/Championships/Display.asp?ID=397 live The No. 12 Panoz of Jan Magnussen stopped after the PlayStation chicane and was then sidelined with a blocked gearbox.http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_165.shtml Audi Ahead But Under Pressure 14 June 2001 Automobile Club de l'Ouest dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010624084148/http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_165.shtml 24 June 2001 14 January 2020 Anthony Reid carried the No. 34 MG-Lola EX257-Lola to provisional pole position in the LMP675 category with a time of 3:42.065 ahead of the ROC Auto Reynard and No. 36 Dick Barbour entries.http://www.speedvision.com/pub/articles/racing/06road/010613d.html Le Mans, Wednesday Qualifying: Audis Set Early Pace Gardner John 13 June 2001 Speedvision dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010622080222/http://www.speedvision.com/pub/articles/racing/06road/010613d.html 22 June 2001 14 January 2020 The crew of MG's No. 33 car set no laps because it suffered from an alternator issue that created a misfire. The GTS class of GT was led by Ron Fellows' No. 64 Corvette, who set a 3:55.552 lap. Andy Pilgrim in the sister No. 63 Corvette was second followed by Christophe Bouchut's No. 58 Larbre Oreca in third. At the conclusion of the session, the No. 80 Larbre Porsche led in LMGT from the No. 70 Aspen Knolls MCR Callaway C12-R and the No. 72 Team Taisan Advan car. The day's fastest laps were predicted to possibly be set within the opening 15 minutes of the second session due to lowering ambient temperatures and light levels.http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/14826 First qualifying: Audi quick; Dome surprises 13 June 2001 Autosport 14 January 2020 14 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200114205628/http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/14826 live Kristensen improved provisional pole position to a 3:32.458 lap seven minutes into the session to be four seconds faster than Allan McNish's 2000 pole lap.http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_174.shtml 1–2–3 – Audi Secures Top Three Slots! 14 June 2001 Automobile Club de l'Ouest dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010907133746/http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_174.shtml 7 September 2001 14 January 2020https://www.crash.net/le-mans/news/139763/1/audi-all-the-way-in-first-qualifying Audi all the way in first qualifying 13 June 2001 Crash 14 January 2020 14 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200114210250/https://www.crash.net/le-mans/news/139763/1/audi-all-the-way-in-first-qualifying live He was unable to improve any further because of an electrical misfire that affected the No. 1 Audi. Capello fell to second; the No. 2 car had a power steering fault just as Christian Pescatori relieved his co-driver. Kelleners moved Champion Racing to third after a change of gearbox. Lammers of Racing for Holland fell to fourth and Brundle's No. 7 Bentley was demoted to fifth because a punctured tyre on the Mulsanne Straight sent him into the gravel trap at Mulsanne Corner. Reid MG's No. 34 car had a possible blocked fuel filter that regulated its fuel pressure; the car kept the class pole of LMP675.http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/14826 Wednesday qual: Kristensen heads Audi 1-2-3 13 June 2001 Autosport 14 January 2020 14 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200114205628/http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/14826 live Kevin McGarrity elevated the sister No. 33 MG to second in class and ROC Auto fell to third. In LMGTS, Oliver Gavin's No. 60 Saleen led the session and took the provisional class pole position from Corvette Racing. Fellows crashed into a tyre barrier at the second Mulsanne Chicane and the No. 63 Corvette sustained heavy rear-end damage. He was unhurt. The sole non-Porsche car in LMGT of the Aspen Knolls MCR-entered Callaway C12 of Cort Wagner moved to the front in class with Patrice Goueslard's No. 80 Larbre car second. Conditions were overcast for the third practice session on 14 June and some rain fell intermittently.http://www.club-arnage.com/lm01/thu_prac_day.htm 2nd Practice Session [Daylight] Simpson Jack 14 June 2001 Club Arnage dead https://web.archive.org/web/20011108162737/http://www.club-arnage.com/lm01/thu_prac_day.htm 8 November 2001 15 January 2020 None of the first three Audi teams improved their times from the day before as most teams focused on locating their racing setups. Lammers set the session's fastest lap at 3:34.838 to strengthen Racing for Holland's hold on fourth position and he moved to within half a second of Herbert's Champion Audi. Johanasson was second-quickest and his time moved the No. 4 Audi from eighth to fifth in the final ten minutes of the session.http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/14840 Thursday first qual: No change at the top 14 June 2001 Autosport 15 January 2020 21 November 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211121141526/https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/thursday-first-qual-no-change-at-the-top-5001478/5001478/ live Jordi Gené set the fastest time in the LMP675 in the ROC Auto Reynard yet he was almost four seconds behind the class pole-sitting No. 34 MG.https://www.crash.net/le-mans/news/139790/1/le-mans-24hrs-qualifying-session-three Le Mans 24Hrs: Qualifying – session three 14 June 2001 Crash 15 January 2020 21 November 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211121141523/https://www.crash.net/le-mans/news/139790/1/le-mans-24hrs-qualifying-session-three live The LMGTS class remained the same upfront as Gavin improved the No. 60 Saleen's fastest lap time to a 3:52.849 and took a new class record.http://www.speedvision.com/pub/articles/racing/06road/010614e.html Le Mans, Thursday Qualifying: Capello Takes Pole, Grid Set Fallon Cormack 14 June 2001 Speedvision dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010624025447/http://www.speedvision.com/pub/articles/racing/06Road/010614e.html 24 June 2001 15 January 2020 The No. 58 Larbre Oreca of Christophe Bouchut retained third place in category. The lead of LMGT changed when Goueslard's No. 80 Larbre entry took the category pole position late on before Wagner in the Aspen Knolls Callaway used his team's race engine to reclaim the position.http://www.totalmotorsport.com/Championships/Display.asp?ID=405 Le Mans Qualifying – 14/06/2001 – Thursday – Let`s Go Again TotalMotorSport 15 January 2020 14 May 2002 https://web.archive.org/web/20020514130130/http://totalmotorsport.com/Championships/display.asp?ID=405 live Perspective Racing's Michel Neugarten went off the circuit and damaged the rear of the No. 75 Porsche at the PlayStation chicane. Luis Marques in the No. 74 Luc Alphand Adventure car leaked oil at the entry to the Michelin chicane due to a hose problem and marshals quickly cleaned the track. Noël del Bello's No. 79 vehicle of Georges Forgeois damaged its front-left in an accident.http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_179.shtml Would Could Catch The Audis? 14 June 2001 Automobile Club de l'Ouest dead https://web.archive.org/web/20010629232847/http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_179.shtml 29 June 2001 15 January 2020 As temperatures cooled in the final qualifying session due to fading light,http://www.club-arnage.com/lm01/thu_prac_night.htm 2nd Practice Session [night] Thomas Stella-Maria Waite Lynne 14 June 2001 Club Arnage dead https://web.archive.org/web/20011108162339/http://www.club-arnage.com/lm01/thu_prac_night.htm 8 November 2001 15 January 2020 Capello waited in his garage before he negotiated slower traffic to set a 3:32.249 lap in the No. 2 Audi and demoted Kristensen from pole position.https://www.crash.net/le-mans/news/139781/1/capello-dashes-kristensens-hopes-of-pole Capello dashes Kristensen's hopes of pole 14 June 2001 Crash 15 January 2020 21 November 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211121141524/https://www.crash.net/le-mans/news/139781/1/capello-dashes-kristensens-hopes-of-pole live Kristensen's No. 1 car had its damper unit and front bodywork changed and ran a race-tuned engine along with soft compound tyres;http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/14842 Qualifying: Capello nicks pole as Audi rules 15 June 2001 Autosport 15 January 2020 21 November 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20211121141526/https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/qualifying-capello-nicks-pole-as-audi-rules-5001404/5001404/ live he could not better his teammate's lap because of a slow puncture when he ran into a gravel trap at the first Mulsanne Straight chicane,http://www.totalmotorsport.com/Championships/Display.asp?ID=406 Le Mans Qualifying −14/06/2001 – Thursday –Second Session TotalMotorSport 15 January 2020 19 January 2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20040119014747/http://www.totalmotorsport.com/Championships/Display.asp?ID=406 live giving the No. 2 car pole position. Champion Racing were not able to improve their lap and took third. Lammers' third-session time secured Racing for Holland fourth and Johansson's No. 4 Audi took fifth. Anthony Reid twice reset the fastest lap in LMP675 to secure pole position for the No. 34 MG team with a 3:41.769 lap. Kevin McGarrity in the sister MG was second in class after an oil leak caused the team to change engines. Gené's ROC Auto entry took third in the category. The GT categories remained the same with the No. 60 Saleen's lap time set by Gavin giving it pole position in the GTS class and Wagner's lap in LMGT was not bettered by any other driver. Team Advan's No. 72 Porsche driven by Kazuyuki Nishizawa had an accident at the Porsche Curves and sustained damage to its front and rear.http://www.totalmotorsport.com/Championships/Display.asp?ID=410 Le Mans Qualifying – 14/06/2001 – Friday – (Porsche) News And Prospects TotalMotorSport 15 January 2020 10 November 2003 https://web.archive.org/web/20031110050021/http://www.totalmotorsport.com/Championships/Display.asp?ID=410 live Qualifying results Pole position winners in each class are indicated in bold and by a The fastest time set by each entry is denoted in gray. Pos Position Class No. Car number Team Car Day 1 Day 2 Gap Gap to the fastest driver Grid Final grid position1LMP9002Audi Sport Team JoestAudi R83:33.5143:32.429—01 12LMP9001Audi Sport Team JoestAudi R83:32.4583:37.678+0.02902 23LMP9003Champion RacingAudi R83:34.3493:38.787+1.92003 34LMP9009Racing for HollandDome S1013:36.0313:34.838+2.41904 45LMP9004Johansson MotorsportAudi R83:37.4513:35.128+2.69905 56LMP90016Team PlayStationChrysler LMP3:36.1553:44.755+3.72606 67LMGTP7Team BentleyBentley EXP Speed 83:36.5353:37.441+4.10607 78LMP9005DAMSCadillac Northstar LMP013:39.8923:37.402+4.97308 89LMGTP8Team BentleyBentley EXP Speed 83:37.4083:38.512+4.97909 910LMP90019SMGCourage C603:38.7463:54.156+6.31710 1011LMP90015Viper Team OrecaChrysler LMP3:38.8143:42.559+6.38511 1112LMP9006DAMSCadillac Northstar LMP013:39.5963:41.991+7.16712 1213LMP90017Pescarolo SportCourage C603:40.9263:39.789+7.30013 1314LMP67534MG Sport & Racing Ltd.MG-Lola EX2573:42.0653:40.243+7.81414 1415LMP90010Team Den Blå Avis-GohDome S1013:42.0893:40.958+8.52915 1516LMP90014Viper Team OrecaChrysler LMP3:42.2153:48.022+9.78616 1617LMP67533MG Sport & Racing Ltd.MG-Lola EX2573:42.4763:56.274+10.04717 1718LMP90020Team AscariAscari A4103:42.93111:18.421+10.50218 1819LMP90012Panoz Motor SportsPanoz LMP073:48.0833:42.974+10.54519 1920LMP90018Pescarolo SportCourage C603:43.9243:43.004+10.57520 2021LMP90011Panoz Motor SportsPanoz LMP073:51.9693:43.498+11.04921 2122LMP90021Team AscariAscari A4103:46.3983:43.663+11.23422 2223LMP67538ROC AutoReynard 2KQ-LM3:48.0753:44.198+11.75923 2324LMP67536Dick Barbour RacingReynard 01Q3:49.6503:46.008+13.67924 2425LMP67530Gérard WelterWR LMP013:49.9863:50.006+17.55725 2526LMGTS60Saleen/Allen SpeedlabSaleen S7-R3:54.1903:52.849+20.42026 2627LMGTS63Corvette Racing PrattChevrolet Corvette C5-R3:55.5523:59.399+23.12327 2728LMGTS58Larbre CompétitionChrysler Viper GTS-R3:58.6583:56.838+24.60928 2829LMGTS64Corvette Racing PrattChevrolet Corvette C5-R3:58.2093:57.052+24.80329 2930LMP67532Roock-KnightHawkLola B2K/403:57.9423:57.099+24.85030 3031LMP67537Dick Barbour RacingReynard 01Q3:58.5333:57.257+25.02831 3132LMGTS62RMLSaleen S7-R4:02.0223:58.626+26.29732 3233LMGTS61Konrad MotorsportSaleen S7-R4:03.1353:58.868+26.43933 3334LMP67535S+R Rowan Racing Ltd.Pilbeam MP844:14.2693:59.302+26.87334 3435LMGTS57Equipe de France FFSAChrysler Viper GTS-R4:00.7904:02.181+28.34135 3536LMGTS56Paul Belmondo RacingChrysler Viper GTS-R4:02.1484:02.183+29.71936 3637LMGTS55Paul Belmondo RacingChrysler Viper GTS-R4:06.3294:02.791+30.36237 3738LMGT70Aspen Knolls MCRCallaway C12-R4:13.0634:10.168+37.73838 3839LMGT80Larbre CompétitionPorsche 911 GT3-RS4:13.8344:11.738+38.50939 3940LMGT83Seikel MotorsportPorsche 911 GT3-RS4:15.1674:11.787+38.54740 4041LMGT72Team Taisan AdvanPorsche 911 GT3-RS4:18.0104:13.158+40.72941 4142LMGT77Freisinger MotorsportPorsche 911 GT3-RS4:18.9184:13.816+41.58742 4243LMGT79Noël del BelloPorsche 911 GT3-RS4:18.5734:24.058+46.14343 4344LMGT76PK Sport Ltd-RicardoPorsche 911 GT3-RS4:18.6254:23.422+46.19644 4445LMGT74Luc Alphand AdventurePorsche 911 GT3-RS4:18.9264:24.814+46.42745 4546LMGT82Seikel MotorsportPorsche 911 GT3-RS4:23.9734:19.445+47.21646 4647LMGT75Perspective RacingPorsche 911 GT3-RS4:20.6674:38.786+48.23847 4748LMGT71Racing EngineeringPorsche 911 GT3-RS4:30.1434:24.840+52.39148 48Source:qualifying times https://www.maisonblanche.co.uk/ Maison Blanche 15 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20010623152108/http://www.maisonblanche.co.uk/01qualti.html 23 June 2001 dead Warm-up The drivers took to the track at 09:00 local time on 16 June for a 45-minute warm-up session. It was held on a damp track after overnight rain;http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/14878 Warm-up: Pescatori's turn at the top 16 June 2001 Autosport 16 January 2020 16 January 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20200116084140/http://classic.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/14878 live teams focused on systems checks, setting up their cars against the weather of the time, tried several tyre compounds and ensuring their drivers had some driving experience.http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_201.shtml The Warm-Up, Final Rehearsal Before The Race 16 June 2001 Automobile Club de l'Ouest https://web.archive.org/web/20010731081355/http://www.lemans.org/course/auto2001/auto2001/articles/fiche_articles_201.shtml 31 July 2001 16 January 2020 Christian Pescatori's No. 2 Audi lapped fastest at 3:40.497, ahead of Pirro's sister No. 1 Joest Audi, the highest-placed Bentley of Guy Smith's No. 7 car, Sébastien Bourdais in Pescarolo Sport's No. 17 C60 and Éric Bernard's No. 5 DAMS Cadillac Northstar LMP.http://www.totalmotorsport.com/Championships/Display.asp?ID=413 The 24 Hours – 17/06/2001 – Race Morning – Warm Up TotalMotorSport 16 January 2020 20 January 2004 https://web.archive.org/web/20040120232811/http://www.totalmotorsport.com/Championships/Display.asp?ID=413 live The ROC Auto Reynard set the fastest LMP675 lap at 3:51.491. RML's No. 62 Saleen paced the LMGTS category and the Aspen Knolls MCR Callaway led in LMGT. Klaus Graf's No. 11 Panoz had a tyre issue and went into the gravel trap at the exit to Indianapolis corner from which marshals extricated him. Corvette's No. 64 car stopped at the Dunlop Bridge with a broken oil pump belt and the No. 80 Larbre Porsche leaked oil from its underside due to a possible fuel system fault. Race 220,000 people attended the event.http://www.ouest-france.fr/24heures_auto/course2.html 69e édition des 24 Heures auto, les 16 et 17 juin 2001 – Les 24 heures de course – Audi double la mise Virfeu Jean-Claude 18 June 2001 Ouest-France 16 January 2020 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20021027120109/http://www.ouest-france.fr/24heures_auto/course2.html 27 October 2002 fr 69th edition of the 24 Hours of Auto, June 16 and 17, 2001 – The 24 hours of racing – Audi doubles the stake Audi's top two finishers had to share the podium with a Bentley interloper, but their margin over third place was formidable. Corvette Racing's achievement of a GTS class win was sullied by a slow pace and the presence of two GT class Porsche 911s in front of them. It was the last time a Porsche team would finish in front of the GTS class until they had the class-consolidating 4.0 liter 997 GT3 RSR in their possession, in 2010. Official results Pos Class No Team Drivers Chassis Tyre Laps Engine 1 LMP900 1 DEU Audi Sport Team Joest DEU Frank BielaITA Emanuele PirroDNK Tom Kristensen Audi R8 Michelin 321 Audi 3.6 L Turbo V8 2 LMP900 2 DEU Audi Sport North America FRA Laurent AïelloITA Rinaldo CapelloITA Christian Pescatori Audi R8 Michelin 320 Audi 3.6 L Turbo V8 3 LMGTP 8 GBR Team Bentley GBR Andy WallaceUSA Butch LeitzingerBEL Eric van de Poele Bentley EXP Speed 8 Dunlop 306 Bentley 3.6 L Turbo V8 4 LMP900 16 FRA Team PlayStation MCO Olivier BerettaAUT Karl WendlingerPRT Pedro Lamy Chrysler LMP Michelin 298 Mopar 6.0 L V8 5 LMP675 38 FRA ROC Auto ESP Jordi GenéCHE Jean-Denis DélétrazFRA Pascal Fabre Reynard 2KQ-LM Michelin 284 Volkswagen HPT16 2.0 L Turbo I4 6 LMGT 83 DEU Seikel Motorsport ITA Gabrio RosaITA Fabio BabiniITA Luca Drudi Porsche 911 GT3-RS Yokohama 283 Porsche 3.6 L Flat-6 7 LMGT 77 DEU Freisinger Motorsport USA Gunnar JeannetteFRA Romain DumasFRA Philippe Haezebrouck Porsche 911 GT3-RS Yokohama 282 Porsche 3.6 L Flat-6 8 LMGTS 63 USA Corvette Racing Pratt CAN Ron FellowsUSA Scott PruettUSA Johnny O'Connell Chevrolet Corvette C5-R Goodyear 278 Chevrolet LS7R 7.0 L V8 9 LMGT 75 FRA Perspective Racing FRA Thierry PerrierBEL Michel NeugartenGBR Nigel Smith Porsche 911 GT3-RS Dunlop 275 Porsche 3.6 L Flat-6 10 LMGT 80 FRA Larbre Compétition FRA Jean-Luc ChéreauFRA Patrice GoueslardFRA Sébastien Dumez Porsche 911 GT3-RS Michelin 274 Porsche 3.6 L Flat-6 11 LMGT 72 JPN Team Taisan Advan JPN Hideo FukuyamaJPN Atsushi YogoJPN Kazuyuki Nishizawa Porsche 911 GT3-RS Yokohama 273 Porsche 3.6 L Flat-6 12 LMGT 82 DEU Seikel Motorsport CAN Tony BurgessMAR Max Cohen-OlivarNZL Andrew Bagnall Porsche 911 GT3-RS Yokohama 272 Porsche 3.6 L Flat-6 13 LMP900 17 FRA Pescarolo Sport FRA Sébastien BourdaisFRA Jean-Christophe BoullionFRA Laurent Rédon Courage C60 Michelin 271 Peugeot A32 3.2 L Turbo V6 14 LMGTS 64 USA Corvette Racing Pratt USA Andy PilgrimUSA Kelly CollinsFRA Franck Fréon Chevrolet Corvette C5-R Goodyear 271 Chevrolet LS7R 7.0 L V8 15 LMP900 6 FRA DAMS ZAF Wayne TaylorITA Max AngelelliFRA Christophe Tinseau Cadillac Northstar LMP01 Michelin 270 Cadillac Northstar 4.0 L Turbo V8 16 LMGT 76 GBR PK Sport Ltd-Ricardo GBR Mike YoulesGBR Davey WarnockGBR Stephen Day Porsche 911 GT3-RS Dunlop 265 Porsche 3.6 L Flat-6 17 LMGT 74 FRA Luc Alphand Adventure FRA Luc AlphandFRA Michel LigonnetFRA Luis Marques Porsche 911 GT3-R Michelin 265 Porsche 3.6 L Flat-6 18 LMGTS 60 USA Saleen/Allen Speedlab AUT Franz KonradGBR Oliver GavinUSA Terry Borcheller Saleen S7-R Goodyear 246 Ford 6.9 L V8 19 LMP675 30 FRA Gérard Welter FRA Stéphane DaoudiJPN Yojiro TeradaFRA Jean-René de Fournoux WR LMP01 Michelin 245 Peugeot 2.0L Turbo I4 20 LMGTS 58 FRA Larbre Compétition FRA Christophe BouchutFRA Jean-Philippe BellocPRT Tiago Monteiro Chrysler Viper GTS-R Michelin 234 Chrysler 8.0 L V10 NC LMGT 79 FRA Noël del Bello FRA Sylvain NoëlFRA Jean-Luc Maury-LaribièreFRA Georges Forgeois Porsche 911 GT3-R Dunlop 193 Porsche 3.6 L Flat-6 DNF LMP900 14 FRA Viper Team Oreca JPN Seiji AraJPN Masahiko KondoPRT Ni Amorim Chrysler LMP Michelin 243 Mopar 6.0 L V8 DNF LMGTS 62 GBR RML GBR Johnny MowlemGBR Ian McKellarBEL Bruno Lambert Saleen S7-R Dunlop 175 Ford 6.9 L V8 DNF LMP900 9 NLD Racing for Holland NLD Jan LammersNLD Donny CrevelsBEL Val Hillebrand Dome S101 Michelin 156 Judd GV4 4.0 L V10 DNF LMP900 20 GBR Team Ascari ZAF Werner LupbergerGBR Ben CollinsFIN Harri Toivonen Ascari A410 Goodyear 134 Judd GV4 4.0 L V10 DNF LMP900 15 FRA Viper Team Oreca FRA Yannick DalmasFRA Stéphane SarrazinFRA Franck Montagny Chrysler LMP Michelin 126 Mopar 6.0 L V8 DNF LMGT 70 USA Aspen Knolls MCR USA Bob MazzuoccolaUSA Vic RiceUSA Cort Wagner Callaway C12-R Goodyear 98 Chevrolet 7.0 L V8 DNF LMP675 36 USA Dick Barbour Racing BEL Didier de RadiguèsDEU Sascha MaassenJPN Hideshi Matsuda Reynard 01Q Goodyear 95 Judd KV675 3.4 L V8 DNF LMP675 32 USA Roock-KnightHawk DEU Claudia HürtgenUSA Rick FairbanksUSA Chris Gleason Lola B2K/40 Avon 94 Nissan 3.4 L V6 DNF LMP675 33 GBR MG Sport & Racing Ltd. GBR Julian BaileyGBR Mark BlundellGBR Kevin McGarrity MG-Lola EX257 Michelin 92 MG XP20 2.0 L Turbo I4 DNF LMP900 11 USA Panoz Motor Sports DEU Klaus GrafGBR Jamie DaviesZAF Gary Formato Panoz LMP07 Michelin 86 Élan 4.0 L V8 DNF LMP900 12 USA Panoz Motor Sports AUS David BrabhamDNK Jan MagnussenFRA Franck Lagorce Panoz LMP07 Michelin 85 Élan 4.0 L V8 DNF LMP900 3 USA Champion Racing GBR Johnny HerbertBEL Didier TheysDEU Ralf Kelleners Audi R8 Michelin 81 Audi 3.6 L Turbo V8 DNF LMP900 10 DNK Team Den Blå Avis-Goh DNK John NielsenJPN Hiroki KatohDNK Casper Elgaard Dome S101 Goodyear 66 Judd GV4 4.0 L V10 DNF LMP900 21 GBR Team Ascari NLD Klaas ZwartFRA Xavier PompidouCAN Scott Maxwell Ascari A410 Goodyear 66 Judd GV4 4.0 L V10 DNF LMGTS 55 FRA Paul Belmondo Racing BEL Vincent VosseBEL Vanina IckxSWE Carl Rosenblad Chrysler Viper GTS-R Dunlop 61 Chrysler 8.0 L V10 DNF LMGTP 7 GBR Team Bentley GBR Martin BrundleMCO Stéphane OrtelliGBR Guy Smith Bentley EXP Speed 8 Dunlop 56 Bentley 3.6 L Turbo V8 DNF LMP900 5 FRA DAMS FRA Éric BernardFRA Emmanuel CollardBEL Marc Goossens Cadillac Northstar LMP01 Michelin 56 Cadillac Northstar 4.0 L Turbo V8 DNF LMP900 19 FRA SMG FRA Philippe GacheFRA Jérôme PolicandFRA Anthony Beltoise Courage C60 Michelin 51 Judd GV4 4.0 L V10 DNF LMGTS 56 FRA Paul Belmondo Racing FRA Grégoire de GalzainBEL Anthony KumpenFRA Jean-Claude Lagniez Chrysler Viper GTS-R Dunlop 44 Chrysler 8.0 L V10 DNF LMGT 71 ESP Racing Engineering GBR Robin DonovanUSA Terry LingnerUSA Chris MacAllister Porsche 911 GT3-R Dunlop 44 Porsche 3.6 L Flat-6 DNF LMP900 18 FRA Pescarolo Sport FRA Emmanuel CléricoFRA Didier CottazFRA Boris Derichebourg Courage C60 Michelin 42 Peugeot A32 3.2 L Turbo V6 DNF LMP900 4 GBR Johansson Motorsport SWE Stefan JohanssonNLD Tom CoronelFRA Patrick Lemarié Audi R8 Michelin 35 Audi 3.6 L Turbo V8 DNF LMP675 34 GBR MG Sport & Racing Ltd. GBR Anthony ReidGBR Warren HughesGBR Jonny Kane MG-Lola EX257 Michelin 30 MG XP20 2.0 L Turbo I4 DNF LMP675 37 USA Dick Barbour Racing CAN John GrahamVenezuela 1930 Milka DunoUSA David Murry Reynard 01Q Goodyear 4 Judd KV675 3.4 L V8 DNF LMGTS 61 DEU Konrad Motorsport CHE Walter BrunCHE Toni SeilerUSA Charles Slater Saleen S7-R Goodyear 4 Ford 6.9 L V8 DNF LMGTS 57 FRA Equipe de France FFSA FRA David TerrienFRA Jonathan CochetFRA Jean-Philippe Dayraut Chrysler Viper GTS-R Michelin 4 Chrysler 8.0 L V10 DNF LMP675 35 GBR S+R Rowan Racing Ltd. IRL Warren CarwayGBR Martin O'ConnellFRA François Migault Pilbeam MP84 Avon 3 Nissan VQL 3.0 L V6 Distance – 4381.65 km Average Speed – 180.949 km/h Highest Trap Speed – Audi R8 – 318 km/h (race), Dome Judd S101 – 335 km/h (Practice)Official Le Mans 2001 Annual https://web.archive.org/web/20160508212303/http://www.mulsannescorner.com/trap01.html 2016-05-08 : mulsannecorner.com References Le Mans 24 Hours of Le Mans Category:24 Hours of Le Mans races Le Mans