XAVIER MAASSEN GOING FOR VICTORY IN 78th EDITION OF 24 HOURS OF LE MANS LeMans, F1, formule 1, konstrukce, | Constructors F1 Constructors F1

XAVIER MAASSEN GOING FOR VICTORY IN 78th EDITION OF 24 HOURS OF LE MANS

Miroslav Sanytrák | 5.6.10 | Závody LeMans

The 12th and 13th June is annotated in red in the dairy of Dutch GT driver Xavier Maassen. It is namely during that weekend that the 78th edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans is on the programme and that race undeniably belongs to the world inheritance of the international motorsport scene. Last year some 250,000 spectators, more than twice as many as at any F1 race, experienced the fight between Prototypes and GTs, a battle that Xavier Maassen wrapped up with a second place in the LM GT1 class. So why change a winning team And this time around Xavier Maassen will once again be back in Le Mans at the wheel of a Luc Alphand Aventures Corvette C6.R, teamed up with French drivers Patrice Goueslard and Julien Jousse.

Never change a winning team
And neither a team that finished second behind the Corvette works car... Xavier Maassen “Indeed, last year we only needed to let the Corvette boys through, but this year they aren’t there, at least not in GT1. So we’re determinedly going all out for victory, because what was feasible last year should definitely be the case this time around, certainly with the additional year of experience under our belts. I expect an open battle between the various Aston Martin, Saleen, Ford GT and our car, but I’m giving the Corvette the advantage, precisely because of the enormous experience with the car, not forgetting the experience of the team and the drivers.”

Xaiver Maassen’s two French team-mates are no strangers in Le Mans. Patrice Goueslard is the FIA GT2 champion 2000 and later the 44 year old Frenchman also twice won the LMS GT1 category. This is his sixteenth participation in Le Mans and is rolling in experience. Last season Julien Jousse, as was the case for Xavier Maassen, made his debut at Le Mans, and how. After the race together with the Dutchman he had the honour of climbing on to the podium in LM GT1. He also will be back on track this year.

It is hardly necessary to introduce the team of the former French Olympic ski champion Luc Alphand. During the previous editions they piled up the top places behind the works teams and this edition is the perfect opportunity for the French team to clinch victory with the Corvette C6.R GT1. Rendezvous on Sunday 13th June as the clock strikes three!

Adrenaline Control A new partner in Le Mans
Le Mans is the most ideal venue to acquaint a new partner with the cream of motorsport. In a partnership with Xavier Maassen iOpener discovers the racing world... for real. The German company iOpener is active in the software sector and develops patented technology, for amongst others position fixing via GPS. Their fields of application are to be found in the entertainment sector as also the education sector. In the former case gamers can race in real-time against real racing drivers who are competing at that very same moment on real race tracks, all thanks to the iOpener technology. Xavier Maassen is test driver and development driver for iOpener. But in addition road awareness programmes to learn driving behaviour in traffic are also part and parcel of the possibilities. In this light Adrenaline Control is a franchise model, which came about in Abu Dhabi. Xavier is the first professional driver helping to set-up these programmes and bring the product onto the marketplace. As such Adrenaline Control will see the light of day during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, where this new partnership with Xavier Maassen takes off.

What goes on during the Le Mans week
In total 56 cars will be on the grid, in four different classes, each driven by a maximum of three drivers. The teams are selected from a vast number of potential candidates. On Wednesday and Thursday the practice and qualifying sessions are held, which determine the starting grid. On the Friday, which is a rest day, just after midday all the drivers are paraded through the centre of the town on exclusive or vintage cars. This parade draws no less than 60,000 spectators. Following a warm-up on Saturday morning and plenty of festivities on the starting grid, the 24 Hours of Le Mans starts as per tradition at 15.00hrs.

Timing
Sunday 6th June
1430 – 19.00 Scrutineering (Jacobins)
Monday 7th June
0930 - 1730 Scrutineering (Jacobins)
Wednesday 9th June
1600 – 2000 Free practice 24 Hours of Le Mans
2200 – 2400 Qualifying 24 Hours of Le Mans
Thursday 10th June
2200 – 2400 Qualifying 24 Hours of Le Mans
Saturday 12th June
1500 Start 78th edition 24 Hours of Le Mans

( does not count towards FIA GT1 World Championship)

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