25 Hours of LeMans coverage on SPEED
At 8:30 a.m. ET on June 12, SPEED begins coverage from the 78th annual endurance classic with the race’s opening laps. Once the linear network leaves Le Mans to broadcast Michigan International Speedway’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series final practice (12:30 p.m. ET), the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race from MIS (NCWTS Setup at 1:30 p.m. ET & VFW 200 at 2 p.m. ET) and qualifying for Formula One’s Canadian Grand Prix (4:30 p.m. ET), www.SPEED.com continues full coverage with live streaming starting at 12:30 p.m. ET. SPEED rejoins Le Mans at 6 p.m. ET to its completion – which will include overnight and the finish.
“Endurance racing fans won’t miss a moment of the action between SPEED and SPEED.com’s uninterrupted coverage," said Rick Miner, SPEED SVP of Production & Network Operations. “We are bringing together an extensive group of experts to broadcast this race with Leigh Diffey and lead American Le Mans Series (ALMS) play-by-play personality Brian Till both heading the booth. We also have current driver Scott Pruett and former drivers Dorsey Schroeder and Calvin Fish bringing their first-hand driving expertise to what is the biggest sports car racing stage in the world."
Last year, French auto manufacturer Peugeot and its advanced diesel-powered Peugeot Team Total 908 FDi FAP LMP1 entry with drivers David Brabham, Mark Gené and Alexander Wurz took home overall honors. A very popular triumph for the French Le Mans faithful, the first for Peugeot since 1993, and breaking Audi’s string of dominance that boasted eight overall victories in the nine previous races.
This year’s LMP1 category is shaping up as another classic manufacturer tussle, with the diesel-powered entries of Audi and Peugeot being challenged by the strength of an up-and-coming Aston Martin program and a host of very strong independent operations. Reigning ALMS LMP1 champions Highcroft Racing will be moving to LMP2 for Le Mans to see if the American-based Acura HPD ARX-01c entry can topple a stout grouping that includes the two-car Ginetta-Zytek team.
While the quicker GT1 category has multiple independent racing entries – including two French-piloted Corvette teams – the large-scale factory battles will play out in GT2 as General Motor’s Corvette Racing will make its Le Mans debut in a category that features the likes of Porsche, BMW, Jaguar, Ferrari, Spyker and Aston Martin – each having potential to take home category honors.
In addition to the aforementioned live race coverage, SPEED.com, for the first time starting June 6, has sports car writers Marshall Pruett and John Dagys in and around the garage area to provide the latest in daily news, notes and quotes.
SPEED.com has also partnered with Audi Sport and Highcroft Racing for in-depth and behind-the-scenes access to this year’s race. Coverage will include daily blogs from two-time Le Mans winner Allan McNish (Audi) and defending overall champ, David Brabham (Highcroft). Among the insights; Aston Martin is set to run a fully narrated lap around Circuit de la Sarthe while daily features will include technical analysis of major cars, logistics of getting Team Highcroft from its Connecticut-based race shop to Le Mans, a career retrospective on 1996 Le Mans winner and Jaguar IMSA GTP standout Davy Jones and how Audi plans to overcome Peugeot’s latest endurance racing effort.
Le Mans 24 Hours – June 12-13
SPEED Broadcast Schedule (LIVE; All Times Eastern)
Saturday, June 12
8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Le Mans The Start SPEED
12:30 – 6:00 p.m. Le Mans SPEED.com
6:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. Le Mans Overnight SPEED
Sunday, June 13
6:00 – 9:30 a.m. Le Mans The Finish SPEED