As the Overall victory should be another Toyota
whitewash...
This year, as I've already lamented, I've
been busy with company and enjoying Thee Great Outdoors. Hence I didn't even
begin perusing this year's 24 Heurs du Mans entry list before less than a
Fortnight's time prior to thou Tricolour waving.
Alas, this will be a somewhat, hopefully
Chirp-Chirp, Bueller? Shortened version of my typically eclectic No Fenders
Circuit de la Sarthe previews.
And as we all know, Toyota was finally
victorious at Le Mans after Decades 'O Frustration, albeit Thar win is somewhat
Hollow due to the lack of any true Competizione...
For this year, the 87th edition's entry list
has swelled to a Mega' record 62 entries, reportedly with two extra temporary
Pit Boxes being added. Now slightly biased in favour of the Gran Torismo "Saloons"
categories, which is evenly split with 17 entries apiece in the GTE Pro &
GTE Am ranks.
Whilst the second tier LMP2 Prototypes
outnumber Thar Bigger Bro' LMP1 competitors two-to-one, which I suppose means
theoretically one could sneak it's way upon the overall podium?
As once again, Toyota will be the only
Factory backed Hybrid LMP1 chassis in the field, it's Driver's line-ups intact
from last year, led by Fernando Alonso making his World Endurance Championship
(WEC) Swan Song as the reigning Le Mans winner about the No. 8 entry.
As the LMP1 field is a virtual carbon copy of
last year's with the exception of the Demise of the Short-lived CEFC-TRSM
Racing Ginetta/Mecachrome chassis to be campaigned by Manor Endurance Racing affair,
seeing eight cars competing instead of ten.
Along with Bloody Jense', aka Jenson Button
being replaced by fellow ex-McLaren
Formula 1 Protégé Stoffel Vandoorne at SMP Racing.
While once again Thars' plenty 'O other notable
Drivers progress to track in this year's event. From the likes of Sky Sports F1
Pundits 'N Presenter's ANT', nee Anthony Davidson and Paul di Resta racing in
the LMP2 category, which also sees Yank DPi Prototype's Driver Ricky Taylor
Moonlighting aboard the No. 37 Jackie Chan DC Racing alongside Jordan King and David Heinemeier Hansson.
Along with noticing Pastor Maldonado's name,
and Nico Jammin and Uhm, Guido-the-Dutchman',
nee Giedo van der Garde anchoring an All Dutch LMP2 Squad.
With the likes 'O FishyFellah', aka Giancarlo
Fisichella and Edward Cheever III once again bolstering thou Prancing Horse's
ranks, both piloting Ferrari 488 GTE entries being just some of the multiple
competitor's names I recognize...
Although I totally expect this year's Le
Mans, now on the renamed MotorTrend Network, which according to my Zap-2-It' TV
Guide begins at Bloody Freakin' 5AM Pacific,, which I certainly will not be
getting up for!
ARSE-Sumedly with an Hour's Pre-amble before
thou Tricolour waves? Since MotorTrend's FIA Le Mans TV Coverage is slated to
end at 6:30AM Pacific, the following day, albeit I'm expecting the race for
Overall Honours To be another Dud, with the Toy-Yoter's once again waxing the
entire field; YAWN!
As hopefully,
whenever I check for the results via my NFB Newsline for The Blind Telephone
service, Thee No. 7 Toyota will have been victorious...