Zytek to feature strongly at Le Mans

Zytek Motorsport features strongly in the list of entries, issued today for the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans race. Former F1 world champion Nigel Mansell will be at the wheel of Beechdean Mansell’s Zytek-built 09S LMP1 while a third of the LMP2 field will be powered by Zytek engines. In total, the Repton-based manufacturer will be represented by three chassis and four engines.

Nigel Mansell will be making his Le Mans debut alongside his sons Greg and Leo driving chassis 09S-04, which last year finished the gruelling Le Mans race at its first attempt. This will be powered by the latest version of the Zytek 4.5-litre ZJ458 V8 that made its Le Mans debut in this car, the result proving its instant reliability.

Three of the nine LMP2 entries will make use of the highly successful 3.4-litre Zytek ZG348 V8 engine, which powered the class winner and runner up at Le Mans in 2007. One of the favourites for class honours must be the Quifel-ASM Team entry from Portugal that won last year’s Le Mans Series team and drivers’ championships. The car is chassis 09S-05, which was so successfully campaigned by the team throughout 2009. The LMS champions Olivier Pla and Miguel Amaral have already been named as two of the drivers

Also in the line-up is chassis 07S-03, the same car that finished second in class at the 2007 Le Mans 24-Hours. This was raced at Le Mans during 2008 and 2009 by the Trading Performance team (later GAC Racing). It is now being run by Team Bruichladdich and will be driven by the team’s principal Tim Greaves and Karim Ojjeh.

A further addition to the Zytek-engined ranks at Le Mans is the WR Salini entered by Gerard Welter. Philippe Salini is the sole named driver to date.