2010 8 Hours of Castellet
The 2010 8 Hours of Le Castellet was the inaugural round of the 2010 Le Mans Series season. It took place at the Circuit Paul Ricard, Le Castellet, France on 11 April 2010. It was the first Le Mans Series race that is longer than the standard 1,000-km distance the LMS use since the 2007 Mil Milhas Brasil. Audi Sport Team Joest won the race overall in their first use of the Audi R15 TDI in the Le Mans Series, with drivers Allan McNish and Rinaldo Capello. Aston Martin Racing and Rebellion Racing completed the overall podium five laps behind the winning Audi. Strakka Racing also brought Honda Performance Development a win on their debut in the LMP2 category, leading the OAK Racing Pescarolo by 33 seconds. Applewood Seven won the Formula Le Mans category, the first event in which this class participated in the Le Mans Series. Team Felbermayr-Proton dominated the GT2 category by finishing in the top two positions, ahead of the first of the AF Corse Ferraris.
Qualifying
Qualifying saw Oreca take pole position in their first outing with their new Peugeot 908 HDi FAP, beating the factory Audi R15 TDI by 0.4 seconds. Strakka Racing had a similar story taking LMP2 pole in their first outing with their HPD ARX-01C. They qualified two seconds before the next nearest car, the Quifel Ginetta-Zytek. AF Corse took GT2 pole and DAMS took the first pole position in Le Mans Series history in the new Formula Le Mans class.Qualifying result
winners in each class are marked in bold.| Pos | Class | Team | Driver | Lap Time | Grid |
| 1 | LMP1 | No.4 Team Oreca Matmut | Nicolas Lapierre | 1:41.195 | 1 |
| 2 | LMP1 | No.7 Audi Sport Team Joest | Rinaldo Capello | 1:41.632 | 2 |
| 3 | LMP1 | No.009 Aston Martin Racing | Stefan Mücke | 1:42.345 | 3 |
| 4 | LMP1 | No.6 AIM Team Oreca Matmut | Loïc Duval | 1:42.685 | 4 |
| 5 | LMP1 | No.13 Rebellion Racing | Jean-Christophe Boullion | 1:43.435 | 5 |
| 6 | LMP1 | No.12 Rebellion Racing | Neel Jani | 1:44.032 | 6 |
| 7 | LMP1 | No.5 Beechdean Mansell | Greg Mansell | 1:44.475 | 7 |
| 8 | LMP1 | No.008 Signature-Plus | Pierre Ragues | 1:44.914 | 8 |
| 9 | LMP2 | No.42 Strakka Racing | Danny Watts | 1:44.989 | 9 |
| 10 | LMP2 | No.40 Quifel ASM Team | Olivier Pla | 1:47.112 | 10 |
| 11 | LMP2 | No.24 OAK Racing | Mathieu Laheye | 1:47.474 | 11 |
| 12 | LMP2 | No.25 RML | Thomas Erdos | 1:47.491 | 12 |
| 13 | LMP2 | No.41 Team Bruichladdich | Thor-Christian Ebbesvik | 1:48.439 | 13 |
| 14 | LMP2 | No.30 Racing Box | Andrea Piccini | 1:48.635 | 14 |
| 15 | LMP2 | No.37 WR / Salini | Tristan Gommendy | 1:49.567 | 15 |
| 16 | LMP2 | No.29 Racing Box | Marco Cioci | 1:49.931 | 16 |
| 17 | LMP2 | No.39 KSM | Hideki Noda | 1:50.913 | 17 |
| 18 | LMP2 | No.27 Race Performance | Tyler Dueck | 1:52.612 | 18 |
| 19 | FLM | No.44 DAMS | Edoardo Piscopo | 1:52.936 | 19 |
| 20 | FLM | No.48 Hope Polevision Racing | Mathias Beche | 1:53.090 | 20 |
| 21 | LMP2 | No.38 Pegasus Racing | Julien Schell | 1:53.148 | 21 |
| 22 | FLM | No.49 Applewood Seven | David Zollinger | 1:53.447 | 22 |
| 23 | FLM | No.45 Boutsen Energy Racing | Dominik Kraihamer | 1:53.850 | 23 |
| 24 | FLM | No.43 DAMS | Alessandro Cicognani | 1:54.187 | 24 |
| 25 | FLM | No.47 Hope Polevision Racing | Steven Zacchia | 1:54.305 | 25 |
| 26 | GT1 | No.50 Larbre Compétition | Gabriele Gardel | 1:57.085 | 25 |
| 27 | GT2 | No.96 AF Corse | Gianmaria Bruni | 1:57.850 | 27 |
| 28 | GT2 | No.77 Team Felbermayr-Proton | Richard Lietz | 1:58.216 | 28 |
| 29 | GT2 | No.91 CRS Racing | Tim Mullen | 1:58.475 | 29 |
| 30 | GT2 | No.95 AF Corse | Toni Vilander | 1:58.545 | 30 |
| 31 | GT2 | No.92 JMW Motorsport | Rob Bell | 1:58.549 | 31 |
| 32 | GT2 | No.94 AF Corse | Matías Russo | 1:58.707 | 32 |
| 33 | GT2 | No.90 CRS Racing | Pierre Kaffer | 1:59.021 | 33 |
| 34 | GT2 | No.76 IMSA Performance Matmut | Patrick Pilet | 1:59.035 | 34 |
| 35 | GT2 | No.85 Spyker Squadron | Jeroen Bleekemolen | 1:59.177 | 35 |
| 36 | GT2 | No.88 Team Felbermayr-Proton | Martin Ragginger | 1:59.447 | 36 |
| 37 | GT2 | No.89 Hankook Team Farnbacher | Dominik Farnbacher | 1:59.480 | 37 |
| 38 | GT2 | No.75 Prospeed Competition | Richard Westbrook | 1:59.539 | 38 |
| 39 | GT2 | No.78 BMW Team Schnitzer | Jörg Müller | 1:59.593 | 39 |
| 40 | FLM | No.46 JMB Racing | Maurice Basso | 2:00.775 | 40 |
| - | LMP2 | No.35 OAK Racing | No Time | 41 |
Race
Race result
Class winners in bold. Cars failing to complete 70% of winner's distance marked as Not Classified.| Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Chassis | Tyre | Laps |
| Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Engine | Tyre | Laps |
| 1 | LMP1 | 7 |  Audi Sport Team Joest |  Allan McNish Rinaldo Capello | Audi R15 TDI plus | 266 | |
| 1 | LMP1 | 7 | Audi Sport Team Joest | Allan McNish Rinaldo Capello | Audi TDI 5.5 L Turbo V10 | 266 | |
| 2 | LMP1 | 009 | Aston Martin Racing |  Adrian Fernández Harold Primat Stefan Mücke | Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 | 261 | |
| 2 | LMP1 | 009 | Aston Martin Racing | Adrian Fernández Harold Primat Stefan Mücke | Aston Martin 6.0 L V12 | 261 | |
| 3 | LMP1 | 13 | Rebellion Racing | Andrea Belicchi Jean-Christophe Boullion Guy Smith | Lola B10/60 | 261 | |
| 3 | LMP1 | 13 | Rebellion Racing | Andrea Belicchi Jean-Christophe Boullion Guy Smith | Rebellion 5.5 L V10 | 261 | |
| 4 | LMP1 | 4 | Team Oreca Matmut | Olivier Panis Nicolas Lapierre Stéphane Sarrazin | Peugeot 908 HDi FAP | 258 | |
| 4 | LMP1 | 4 | Team Oreca Matmut | Olivier Panis Nicolas Lapierre Stéphane Sarrazin | Peugeot HDi 5.5 L Turbo V12 | 258 | |
| 5 | LMP1 | 6 | AIM Team Oreca Matmut | Soheil Ayari Loïc Duval Didier André | Oreca 01 | 258 | |
| 5 | LMP1 | 6 | AIM Team Oreca Matmut | Soheil Ayari Loïc Duval Didier André | AIM YS5.5 5.5 L V10 | 258 | |
| 6 | LMP1 | 008 | Signature-Plus | Pierre Ragues Franck Mailleux Vanina Ickx | Lola-Aston Martin B09/60 | 256 | |
| 6 | LMP1 | 008 | Signature-Plus | Pierre Ragues Franck Mailleux Vanina Ickx | Aston Martin 6.0 L V12 | 256 | |
| 7 | LMP2 | 42 | Strakka Racing | Danny Watts Nick Leventis Jonny Kane | HPD ARX-01C | 250 | |
| 7 | LMP2 | 42 | Strakka Racing | Danny Watts Nick Leventis Jonny Kane | HPD AL7R 3.4 L V8 | 250 | |
| 8 | LMP2 | 35 | OAK Racing | Guillaume Moreau Richard Hein | Pescarolo 01 | 250 | |
| 8 | LMP2 | 35 | OAK Racing | Guillaume Moreau Richard Hein | Judd DB 3.4 L V8 | 250 | |
| 9 | LMP2 | 25 | RML | Mike Newton Thomas Erdos Andy Wallace | Lola B08/80 | 249 | |
| 9 | LMP2 | 25 | RML | Mike Newton Thomas Erdos Andy Wallace | HPD AL7R 3.4 V8 | 249 | |
| 10 | LMP2 | 24 | OAK Racing | Jacques Nicolet Mathieu Laheye | Pescarolo 01 | 249 | |
| 10 | LMP2 | 24 | OAK Racing | Jacques Nicolet Mathieu Laheye | Judd DB 3.4 L V8 | 249 | |
| 11 | LMP1 | 12 | Rebellion Racing | Neel Jani Nicolas Prost | Lola B10/60 | 248 | |
| 11 | LMP1 | 12 | Rebellion Racing | Neel Jani Nicolas Prost | Rebellion 5.5 L V10 | 248 | |
| 12 | LMP2 | 41 | Team Bruichladdich |  Thor-Christian Ebbesvik Tim Greaves Karim Ojjeh | Ginetta-Zytek GZ09SB/2 | 248 | |
| 12 | LMP2 | 41 | Team Bruichladdich | Thor-Christian Ebbesvik Tim Greaves Karim Ojjeh | Zytek ZG348 3.4 L V8 | 248 | |
| 13 | LMP2 | 30 | Racing Box | Andrea Piccini Giacomo Piccini Ferdinando Geri | Lola B09/80 | 246 | |
| 13 | LMP2 | 30 | Racing Box | Andrea Piccini Giacomo Piccini Ferdinando Geri | Judd DB 3.4 L V8 | 246 | |
| 14 | LMP1 | 5 | Beechdean Mansell | Nigel Mansell Greg Mansell Leo Mansell | Ginetta-Zytek GZ09SB | 243 | |
| 14 | LMP1 | 5 | Beechdean Mansell | Nigel Mansell Greg Mansell Leo Mansell | Zytek ZJ458 4.5 L V8 | 243 | |
| 15 | FLM | 49 | Applewood Seven | Damien Toulemonde David Zollinger Ross Zampatti | Oreca FLM09 | 237 | |
| 15 | FLM | 49 | Applewood Seven | Damien Toulemonde David Zollinger Ross Zampatti | Corvette 6.2 L V8 | 237 | |
| 16 | FLM | 48 | Hope Polevision Racing | Mathias Beche Christophe Pillon Vincent Capillaire | Oreca FLM09 | 237 | |
| 16 | FLM | 48 | Hope Polevision Racing | Mathias Beche Christophe Pillon Vincent Capillaire | Corvette 6.2 L V8 | 237 | |
| 17 | FLM | 43 | DAMS | Alessandro Cicognani Andrea Barlesi Gary Chalandon | Oreca FLM09 | 235 | |
| 17 | FLM | 43 | DAMS | Alessandro Cicognani Andrea Barlesi Gary Chalandon | Corvette 6.2 L V8 | 235 | |
| 18 | GT2 | 77 | Team Felbermayr-Proton | Marc Lieb Richard Lietz | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | 233 | |
| 18 | GT2 | 77 | Team Felbermayr-Proton | Marc Lieb Richard Lietz | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | 233 | |
| 19 | FLM | 47 | Hope Polevision Racing | Steve Zacchia Wolfgang Kaufmann Luca Moro | Oreca FLM09 | 231 | |
| 19 | FLM | 47 | Hope Polevision Racing | Steve Zacchia Wolfgang Kaufmann Luca Moro | Corvette 6.2 L V8 | 231 | |
| 20 | GT2 | 88 | Team Felbermayr-Proton | Christian Ried Martin Ragginger Patrick Long | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | 231 | |
| 20 | GT2 | 88 | Team Felbermayr-Proton | Christian Ried Martin Ragginger Patrick Long | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | 231 | |
| 21 | GT2 | 95 | AF Corse | Giancarlo Fisichella Toni Vilander Jean Alesi | Ferrari F430 GT2 | 231 | |
| 21 | GT2 | 95 | AF Corse | Giancarlo Fisichella Toni Vilander Jean Alesi | Ferrari 4.0 L V8 | 231 | |
| 22 | GT2 | 90 | CRS Racing | Phil Quaife Pierre Ehret Pierre Kaffer | Ferrari F430 GT2 | 231 | |
| 22 | GT2 | 90 | CRS Racing | Phil Quaife Pierre Ehret Pierre Kaffer | Ferrari 4.0 L V8 | 231 | |
| 23 | GT2 | 94 | AF Corse |  Luís Pérez Companc Matías Russo | Ferrari F430 GT2 | 231 | |
| 23 | GT2 | 94 | AF Corse | Luís Pérez Companc Matías Russo | Ferrari 4.0 L V8 | 231 | |
| 24 | GT1 | 50 | Larbre Compétition | Gabriele Gardel Patrice Goueslard Julien Canal | Saleen S7-R | 229 | |
| 24 | GT1 | 50 | Larbre Compétition | Gabriele Gardel Patrice Goueslard Julien Canal | Ford 7.0 L V8 | 229 | |
| 25 | GT2 | 78 | BMW Team Schnitzer | Jörg Müller Dirk Werner | BMW M3 GT2 | 225 | |
| 25 | GT2 | 78 | BMW Team Schnitzer | Jörg Müller Dirk Werner | BMW 4.0 L V8 | 225 | |
| 26 | LMP2 | 36 | Pegasus Racing | Julien Schell Frédéric Da Rocha Jean-Christophe Metz | Courage LC75 | 219 | |
| 26 | LMP2 | 36 | Pegasus Racing | Julien Schell Frédéric Da Rocha Jean-Christophe Metz | AER P07 2.0 L Turbo I4 | 219 | |
| 27 | GT2 | 76 | IMSA Performance Matmut | Patrick Pilet Raymond Narac | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | 219 | |
| 27 | GT2 | 76 | IMSA Performance Matmut | Patrick Pilet Raymond Narac | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | 219 | |
| 28 | GT2 | 85 |  Spyker Squadron | Tom Coronel Jeroen Bleekemolen Peter Dumbreck | Spyker C8 Laviolette GT2-R | 215 | |
| 28 | GT2 | 85 | Spyker Squadron | Tom Coronel Jeroen Bleekemolen Peter Dumbreck | Audi 4.0 L V8 | 215 | |
| 29 | LMP2 | 39 | KSM | Jean de Pourtales Hideki Noda Jonathan Kennard | Lola B08/47 | 188 | |
| 29 | LMP2 | 39 | KSM | Jean de Pourtales Hideki Noda Jonathan Kennard | Judd DB 3.4 L V8 | 188 | |
| 30 DNF | GT2 | 89 | Hankook Team Farnbacher | Dominik Farnbacher Allan Simonsen | Ferrari F430 GT2 | 204 | |
| 30 DNF | GT2 | 89 | Hankook Team Farnbacher | Dominik Farnbacher Allan Simonsen | Ferrari 4.0 L V8 | 204 | |
| 31 DNF | FLM | 44 | DAMS | Dean Stirling Luke Hines Edoardo Piscopo | Oreca FLM09 | 203 | |
| 31 DNF | FLM | 44 | DAMS | Dean Stirling Luke Hines Edoardo Piscopo | Corvette 6.2 L V8 | 203 | |
| 32 DNF | FLM | 46 | JMB Racing | Peter Kutemann Maurice Basso John Hartshorne | Oreca FLM09 | 203 | |
| 32 DNF | FLM | 46 | JMB Racing | Peter Kutemann Maurice Basso John Hartshorne | Corvette 6.2 L V8 | 203 | |
| 33 DNF | LMP2 | 40 |  Quifel ASM Team | Miguel Amaral Olivier Pla Warren Hughes | Ginetta-Zytek GZ09SB/2 | 200 | |
| 33 DNF | LMP2 | 40 | Quifel ASM Team | Miguel Amaral Olivier Pla Warren Hughes | Zytek ZG348 3.4 L V8 | 200 | |
| 34 DNF | FLM | 45 | Boutsen Energy Racing | Nicolas De Crem Dominik Kraihamer Bernard Delhez | Oreca FLM09 | 195 | |
| 34 DNF | FLM | 45 | Boutsen Energy Racing | Nicolas De Crem Dominik Kraihamer Bernard Delhez | Corvette 6.2 L V8 | 195 | |
| 35 DNF | LMP2 | 37 | WR / Salini | Philippe Salini Stéphane Salini Tristan Gommendy | WR LMP2008 | 168 | |
| 35 DNF | LMP2 | 37 | WR / Salini | Philippe Salini Stéphane Salini Tristan Gommendy | Zytek ZG348 3.4 L V8 | 168 | |
| 36 DNF | GT2 | 96 | AF Corse | Gianmaria Bruni Jaime Melo | Ferrari F430 GT2 | 152 | |
| 36 DNF | GT2 | 96 | AF Corse | Gianmaria Bruni Jaime Melo | Ferrari 4.0 L V8 | 152 | |
| 37 DNF | GT2 | 91 | CRS Racing | Andrew Kirkaldy Tim Mullen | Ferrari F430 GT2 | 123 | |
| 37 DNF | GT2 | 91 | CRS Racing | Andrew Kirkaldy Tim Mullen | Ferrari 4.0 L V8 | 123 | |
| 38 DNF | LMP2 | 29 | Racing Box | Luca Pirri Marco Cioci Piergiuseppe Perazzini | Lola B09/80 | 116 | |
| 38 DNF | LMP2 | 29 | Racing Box | Luca Pirri Marco Cioci Piergiuseppe Perazzini | Judd DB 3.4 L V8 | 116 | |
| 39 DNF | LMP2 | 27 | Race Performance | Michel Frey Ralph Meichtry Tyler Dueck | Radical SR9 | 66 | |
| 39 DNF | LMP2 | 27 | Race Performance | Michel Frey Ralph Meichtry Tyler Dueck | Judd DB 3.4 L V8 | 66 | |
| 40 DNF | GT2 | 92 | JMW Motorsport | Rob Bell Darren Turner | Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 | 65 | |
| 40 DNF | GT2 | 92 | JMW Motorsport | Rob Bell Darren Turner | Aston Martin 4.5 L V8 | 65 | |
| 41 DNF | GT2 | 75 | Prospeed Competition | Marco Holzer Richard Westbrook | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | 54 | |
| 41 DNF | GT2 | 75 | Prospeed Competition | Marco Holzer Richard Westbrook | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | 54 |