8.4 miles, 38 turns, 180+ mph in a GT3 car, 200+ mph in a LMP car. 12 hours of non-stop, full throttle racing, testing man and machine to the brink.

This is the Global Sim Racing 12 Hours of Le Mans preview.

Round 3 of the Global Sim Racing Endurance Championship sees the circus heading towards France for the 12hr endurance race at Le Mans. For the first time this season the drives transfer onto Project Cars, all the top teams are here along with a few newcomers who will be sure to throw a spanner into the works and give a few of the bigger teams a run for their money. Unlike in years past, this race is shaping up to become more of an all-out sprint instead of an endurance. Not generally what people around the world historically think of when they think of Le Mans.

With 8 LMP1 teams entered for this weekend’s race to challenge the winners of the first two rounds, SamKel Racing Audi (Daytona 12hr) and Premature Acceleration Audi (Sebring 6hr). During this week’s first practice session we managed to get a small interview with Samkel Racing’s own Maverick who had this to say

“The team is looking great in practice so far. We’re really taking a look at our strategy to keep of with the Toyota’s. They’re quick with fast drivers on the track, so we have to maximize our potential with the tires and fuel. We’re going to concentrate on running consistent, clean laps, as endurance racing is a battle of attrition. As far as we’re concerned, this is the race of the year, so we’re going to do our best to show up prepared and display a fierce, competitive drive!”

TopSoCalledGear has enlisted the help of GRD 4 3L for this round and had this to say

“We are ready to take the fight to the Samkel Squad and also the the other LMP teams of K autosports and First Capital Autosport. No quarter will be given and we will be pushing as hard as we can. Rest assure the car will break before we do.

With the addition of a number of new LMP entries the GT grid has also been boosted to 9 entries all hoping to bet the winner of both rounds one and two, TNT Motorsports. As we managed to get a word from some of the LMP drivers, we also stopped by the TNT Motorsports garage and spoke to Nightmare x24 who had this to say:

“I think it's going be a brawl in the GT category based off yesterday's testing. I'm approaching the race more as a 12hr sprint rather than an endurance. With the times as close as they are, it's going to be crucial to limit mistakes if we plan on sitting atop the podium.”

Series newcomers MGR who were there having an initial shakedown in the first test to check all the electrical systems, were having a good night under the stars, getting laps under their belts. According to a media release from their team, they are heading in the correct direction and are now letting their drivers get their eye in with the course, and the speeds as well.

South East Coast Racing were also on hand testing out. They are always there or there abouts, and are hoping the change to project cars which suits both drivers the most, is going to help them. They are hoping to have to multiple cars running from the South East Coast Racing camp. Racer and team co-owner MrMarko1100 had this to say

“Myself and Copper Nuts08 have been busy testing and also getting a second car ready for our two other drivers, CJAP93 and henner08. They are lining up to make their debut in the endurance series.

So that is that. The stage is set. The teams are ready to roll. The track is looking as good and as quick as it ever has been, so expect to see new lap records from both classes by the end of the 12 hours.