Tension mounts ahead of Le Mans 24H as seven teams vie for World Endurance title
The 2014 edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans (motorcycling), final of the FIM Endurance World Championship, is shaping up to be a hard-fought contest. Among the 56 teams racing in France on 20 and 21 September, seven could still be crowned world champion despite a comfortable 21 point lead for Yamaha Racing GMT 94 Michelin.
Ten years after their first FIM Endurance World Championship title in 2004, Yamaha Racing GMT 94 Michelin is going into the race as favourite for the 2014 world crown. Christophe Guyot’s team has had a great season so far with a second place in the Bol d’Or and at the Oschersleben 8 Hours. The French factory Yamaha will have to fend off Swiss privateers Bolliger Team Switzerland, one of the most experienced teams in the field and currently second in the provisional rankings. However, its most high-profile rival remains Team SRC Kawasaki. Winner of the Le Mans 24H from 2010 through 2013, the factory Kawasaki is in 3rd place just 22 points behind Yamaha Racing GMT 94 Michelin. The team that wins Le Mans will collect 35 points and could also pick up 10 bonus points for a provisional first place 8 and 16 hours into the race.
With bonus points there for the taking, two other heavy hitters, Honda Racing and Suzuki Endurance Racing Team are also in with a chance. Currently 37 points behind the leader, Honda Racing chalked up its first win at Oschersleben after a series of brilliant performances in practice and in the early stages. Reigning World Champion with thirteen world titles to its name, Suzuki Endurance Racing Team has had a difficult season.
Dominique Méliand’s team is lying 47 points behind Yamaha Racing GMT 94 Michelin but will be going all out at Le Mans to hang on to that title. Currently 6th and 7th on the leader board and 47 points behind the leader, two private teams, Team Motors Events April Moto (Suzuki) and National Motos (Honda), could still make their mark. Monster Energy Yamaha YART will also be a player in this 24H race even though the title is out of its reach.
In Superstock, the stakes are equally high. Junior Team LMS Suzuki is currently 9 points ahead of the heroes of the Oschersleben 8 Hours. Penz13.com Franks Autowelt Racing Team went down in the annals of Endurance by propelling their BMW Superstock into pole position at Oschersleben, Germany, and finishing 4th in the race. The contest for the FIM Endurance World Cup is even more open as nine teams could potentially win it going into Le Mans: AM Moto Racing Compétition (Suzuki), Yamaha Viltaïs Experiences, Völpker NRT 48 by Schubert Motors (BMW), Qatar Endurance Racing Team (Kawasaki), BMRT 3D Endurance (Kawasaki), No Limits Motor Team (Suzuki) and Tati Team Beaujolais Racing (Kawasaki).
The Le Mans 24H also attracts high-level athletes from outside the motorcycling world. Olympic pole vault champion Renaud Lavillenie, recently crowned European champion, will again be at the start with Team AZ Motos April. Soheil Ayari, a racing car driver who drove a Ferrari at the automotive version of Le Mans 24H in June, will be making his motorcycle race début aboard the Aprilia RSV4 Experience. The first practice sessions will take place on Thursday 18 September at the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans.