If you’re one of those people who is of the opinion that Bernie’s Formula One series is the only track-based series of importance, get ready for a reality check – it’s not! Contrary to popular opinion, and the Indian media’s propensity towards covering only ‘what sells,’ there are at least two other events of equal importance. One of these, the Indianapolis 500, will be over and done with by the time this issue reaches your hands. The other, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, is what this preview is all about.

To be precise though, this preview is about the Le Mans Series, a European championship that has spawned offshoots like ALMS (American Le Mans Series) and Asian LMS. However, what makes the LMS more interesting for us is the fact that India’s Narain Karthikeyan will be campaigning an Audi R10 TDi for Team Kolles, both in the LMS and the 24 Hours of Le Mans – making him the first Indian driver to have competed in F1, as well at highest form of sports car racing. The LMS is a championship for cars built to, and running in accordance with, the 24 Hours of Le Mans regulations framed by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest.

Each race has a field of about 50 cars, and there are four categories that run concurrently – making it a four-tiered championship that has a huge fan following. The cars race in two groups, Prototypes and Grand Touring (GT), and each group has two sub-categories. The groups are distinguished according to the technical regulations governing them.

The Prototypes are the fastest cars on the track, as these are exclusively developed for competition. Known as the LMP1 category, these cars are the sports car equivalent of F1, and can have open or closed cockpits, wings, a minimum weight of 900kgs, and engine sizes varying according to type of induction and fuel – 6.0 liters (6,000cc) for naturally aspirated engines, 4.0 liters for turbo engines, and 5.5 liters for diesel engines.

In a 24 hour race such as Le Mans, which consists of racing through the night, cars in the LMP1 class have white lights on the side to identify them. LMP1 cars can also be identified by red stickers and race numbers 1-24. Cars in this category include the Audi R10, the Courage (pronounced cooraazh) Orecas, Aston Martin-powered Lola Coupés, Pescarolo-Judds, Ginetta-Zyteks, and the new official Aston Martins. 2009 may also see Hybrid engines in action, but the cars will be competing without classification.

Also in the hunt for Prototype glory are the LMP2’s. Although they’re not as powerful as the LMP1’s, they are lighter with a minimum weight of 825kgs. They are, however, reserved for private teams. LMP2 cars also have open or closed cockpits, as well as wings, but have maximum engine capacity restricted to 3.4 liters and 8 cylinders for naturally aspirated engines, or 2.0 liters with a single turbo and a maximum of 6 cylinders. LMP2 cars also have white lights for identification, but their blue category stickers and race numbers from 25-49 can easily differentiate them from their larger siblings. Cars racing in this category include Lola-Mazdas, Pescarolo-Mazdas, as well as Porsche RS Spyders and Ginetta-Zyteks. As LMS is more about speed and reliability, often some LMP2’s place higher than LMP1 cars.

The ‘Grand Touring’ group or ‘GT’ cars are more easily recognizable, as these are cars derived from models homologated for road use. In fact, the rules say that the major car manufacturers must build a minimum of 100 street legal samples, and a minimum of 25 for the smaller makes. Because the public can identify with the GTs, there’s a lot of interest in this group.

Although the LMGT1 cars look like their street-going counterparts, they are highly modified compared to the street cars. Thanks to rear-wheel drive, and an engine power of almost 650bhp, allied with a minimum weight of 1,125kgs, top speeds are not too far away from that of the Prototypes. Engine capacities can be as much as 8.0 litres for non-turbo engines, and 4.0 liters for turbocharged engines – delivering power through 6-speed gearboxes. Carbon brakes are employed to ensure effective retardation of speed. Marking these cars out as GTs are yellow lights, race numbers 50-74 and green category stickers. LMGT1 cars include American Saleens and Corvettes taking on European Lamborghinis and Ferrari 550 Maranellos.

The last category is LMGT2, which are modified to a lesser degree than the LMGT1’s. They are also less powerful (between 450 and 500bhp). The tech specs are marginally different for this class. Although engine capacity allowed is the same as that in LMGT1, and the cars weigh the same, the brakes are iron-based. So, as braking efficiency is less, the GT2 will always be at a disadvantage over a lap or while challenging a GT1 for the same corner. The GT2s are distinguished by their yellow category stickers, yellow lights and race numbers 75 to 99. Popular GT2 cars include the Porsche 997, but Lamborghini Gallardo’s, Ferrari’s (F430) and V8 Aston Martin Vantage’s are also to be reckoned with.

The 2009 championship will take place at a number of established circuits. The first two races at Catalunya, Spain, and Spa, Belgium, have already taken place. Narain was not able to race in Spain, as he was unable to get out of a prior commitment. He was present at Spa, and, notably, he was the driver to qualify the car in 9th place, and also took it up to 6th place in his race-ending stint getting past the team’s second car in the process. The next race on the LMS schedule is the big daddy of them all – the 24 Hours of Le Mans on the 13th and 14th of June. Following Le Mans will be a night race, 215+ laps on the newly opened 4.65km racetrack in Algarve in Portugal. Narain may or may not have an advantage here, as he’s already raced there in an A1 GP car, but in daylight. From Portugal, it’s on to a venue familiar to autoXchange readers thanks to the editor’s exploits – 195+ laps of the modern 5.13km Nürburgring track. The European LMS season ender will be at Silverstone, on the 5.1km track northeast of Oxford in England.