2011 6 Hours of Castellet
# 2011 6 Hours of Castellet

The 2011 6 Hours of Castellet (6 Heures du Castellet) was the opening round of the 2011 Le Mans Series season. It took place at Circuit Paul Ricard on April 3, 2011. It was also the first Le Mans Series race with the two new GT classes, GTE Pro and GTE Am, contesting the event after the demise of the GT1 class.

## Qualifying result

Pole position winners in each class are marked in bold.

| Pos | Class | Team | Driver | Lap Time | Grid |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 | LMP1 | No.12 Rebellion Racing | Neel Jani | 1:46.783 | 1 |
| 2 | LMP1 | No.16 Pescarolo Team | Emmanuel Collard | 1:47.025 | 34 |
| 3 | LMP1 | No.20 Quifel-ASM Team | Olivier Pla | 1:47.231 | 2 |
| 4 | LMP1 | No.13 Rebellion Racing | Jean-Christophe Boullion | 1:48.491 | 3 |
| 5 | LMP2 | No.46 TDS Racing | Mathias Beche | 1:48.928 | 4 |
| 6 | LMP2 | No.45 Boutsen Energy Racing | Dominik Kraihamer | 1:49.692 | 5 |
| 7 | LMP2 | No.41 Greaves Motorsport | Tom Kimber-Smith | 1:50.008 | 6 |
| 8 | LMP2 | No.40 Race Performance | Thor-Christian Ebbesvik | 1:50.356 | 7 |
| 9 | LMP2 | No.39 PeCom Racing | Matías Russo | 1:51.744 | 8 |
| 10 | LMP2 | No.44 Extrême Limite AM Paris | Fabien Rosier | 1:52.158 | 9 |
| 11 | LMP1 | No.009 Aston Martin Racing | Stefan Mücke | 1:52.267 | 10 |
| 12 | LMP2 | No.43 RLR msport | Rob Garofall | 1:53.414 | 11 |
| 13 | LMP2 | No.42 Strakka Racing | Danny Watts | 1:53.582 | 12 |
| 14 | FLM | No.91 Hope Polevision Racing | Nicolas Marroc | 1:53.659 | 13 |
| 15 | FLM | No.93 Genoa Racing | Elton Julian | 1:54.044 | 14 |
| 16 | FLM | No.92 Neil Garner Motorsport | Phil Keen | 1:54.081 | 15 |
| 17 | FLM | No.95 Pegasus Racing | Patrick Simon | 1:55.829 | 16 |
| 18 | FLM | No.99 JMB Racing | Nicolas Misslin | 1:56.806 | 17 |
| 19 | GTE-Pro | No.51 AF Corse | Gianmaria Bruni | 1:58.522 | 18 |
| 20 | GTE-Pro | No.86 Young Driver AMR | Tomáš Enge | 1:58.773 | 19 |
| 21 | GTE-Pro | No.66 JMW Motorsport | Rob Bell | 1:59.119 | 20 |
| 22 | GTE-Pro | No.71 AF Corse | Toni Vilander | 1:59.144 | 21 |
| 23 | GTE-Pro | No.89 Hankook Team Farnbacher | Allan Simonsen | 1:59.244 | 22 |
| 24 | GTE-Pro | No.75 Prospeed Competition | Marco Holzer | 1:59.244 | 23 |
| 25 | GTE-Am | No.67 IMSA Performance Matmut | Nicolas Armindo | 1:59.370 | 24 |
| 26 | GTE-Pro | No.77 Team Felbermayr-Proton | Richard Lietz | 1:59.455 | 25 |
| 27 | GTE-Pro | No.76 IMSA Performance Matmut | Patrick Pilet | 1:59.457 | 26 |
| 28 | GTE-Pro | No.79 JOTA | Sam Hancock | 2:00.336 | 27 |
| 29 | GTE-Am | No.88 Team Felbermayr-Proton | Horst Felbermayr, Jr. | 2:00.354 | 28 |
| 30 | GTE-Am | No.61 AF Corse | Marco Cioci | 2:00.470 | 29 |
| 31 | GTE-Am | No.70 Kessel Racing | Philipp Peter | 2:00.698 | 30 |
| 32 | GTE-Am | No.82 CRS Racing | Adam Christodoulou | 2:01.137 | 31 |
| 33 | GTE-Am | No.72 AF Corse | Rui Águas | 2:01.691 | 32 |
| 34 | LMP2 | No.36 RML | No Time | No Time | 33 |

Note: the No. 16 Pescarolo Team was demoted to the back of the grid due to a ride height infringement in qualifying.

## Race

The race got off to a controversial start when the pace car did not return to the pits when the green lights came on. The front running LMPs slowed down but some of the GT cars could not react fast enough, resulting in all three GTE Pro class Porsches getting heavily damaged and retired. The GTE Am class IMSA Performance Matmut Porsche and GTE Pro JOTA Aston Martin were also caught in the carnage. The race was won overall by Pescarolo Team after their first race since 2009 after their financial troubles in 2010. LMP2 was won by Greaves Motorsport, Pegasus Racing took the FLM victory. JMW Motorsport took GTE Pro victory after a hard fought battle with the No. 51 AF Corse Ferrari towards the end. Team Felbermayr-Proton won in the GTE Am class.

### Race result

Class winners in bold. Cars failing to complete 70% of winner's distance marked as Not Classified (NC).

| Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Chassis | Tyre | Laps |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Pos | Class | No | Team | Drivers | Engine | Tyre | Laps |
| 1 | LMP1 | 16 | Pescarolo Team | Emmanuel Collard Christophe Tinseau Julien Jousse | Pescarolo 01 Evo | M | 185 |
| 1 | LMP1 | 16 | Pescarolo Team | Emmanuel Collard Christophe Tinseau Julien Jousse | Judd GV5 S2 5.0 L V10 | M | 185 |
| 2 | LMP1 | 13 | Rebellion Racing | Jean-Christophe Boullion Andrea Belicchi | Lola B10/60 | M | 184 |
| 2 | LMP1 | 13 | Rebellion Racing | Jean-Christophe Boullion Andrea Belicchi | Toyota RV8KLM 3.4 L V8 | M | 184 |
| 3 | LMP2 | 41 | Greaves Motorsport | Gary Chalandon Karim Ojjeh Tom Kimber-Smith | Zytek Z11SN | D | 179 |
| 3 | LMP2 | 41 | Greaves Motorsport | Gary Chalandon Karim Ojjeh Tom Kimber-Smith | Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 | D | 179 |
| 4 | LMP2 | 39 | Pecom Racing | Matías Russo Luís Pérez Companc Pierre Kaffer | Lola B11/40 | M | 179 |
| 4 | LMP2 | 39 | Pecom Racing | Matías Russo Luís Pérez Companc Pierre Kaffer | Judd-BMW HK 3.6 L V8 | M | 179 |
| 5 | LMP2 | 42 | Strakka Racing | Danny Watts Jonny Kane Nick Leventis | HPD ARX-01d | M | 177 |
| 5 | LMP2 | 42 | Strakka Racing | Danny Watts Jonny Kane Nick Leventis | HPD HR28TT 2.8 L Turbo V6 | M | 177 |
| 6 | LMP2 | 45 | Boutsen Energy Racing | Dominik Kraihamer Nicolas de Crem | Oreca 03 | D | 175 |
| 6 | LMP2 | 45 | Boutsen Energy Racing | Dominik Kraihamer Nicolas de Crem | Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 | D | 175 |
| 7 | LMP1 | 12 | Rebellion Racing | Neel Jani Nicolas Prost | Lola B10/60 | M | 175 |
| 7 | LMP1 | 12 | Rebellion Racing | Neel Jani Nicolas Prost | Toyota RV8KLM 3.4 L V8 | M | 175 |
| 8 | LMP1 | 20 | Quifel ASM Team | Miguel Amaral Olivier Pla | Zytek 09SC | D | 174 |
| 8 | LMP1 | 20 | Quifel ASM Team | Miguel Amaral Olivier Pla | Zytek ZG348 3.4 L V8 | D | 174 |
| 9 | LMP2 | 43 | RLR msport | Barry Gates Rob Garofall Simon Phillips | MG-Lola EX265 | D | 174 |
| 9 | LMP2 | 43 | RLR msport | Barry Gates Rob Garofall Simon Phillips | Judd-BMW HK 3.6 L V8 | D | 174 |
| 10 | LMP2 | 40 | Race Performance | Michel Frey Ralph Meichtry Thor-Christian Ebbesvik | Oreca 03 | D | 174 |
| 10 | LMP2 | 40 | Race Performance | Michel Frey Ralph Meichtry Thor-Christian Ebbesvik | Judd-BMW HK 3.6 L V8 | D | 174 |
| 11 | LMP2 | 36 | RML | Mike Newton Thomas Erdos Ben Collins | HPD ARX-01d | D | 173 |
| 11 | LMP2 | 36 | RML | Mike Newton Thomas Erdos Ben Collins | HPD HR28TT 2.8 L Turbo V6 | D | 173 |
| 12 | FLM | 95 | Pegasus Racing | Mirco Schultis Patrick Simon Julien Schell | Oreca FLM09 | M | 170 |
| 12 | FLM | 95 | Pegasus Racing | Mirco Schultis Patrick Simon Julien Schell | Chevrolet LS3 6.2 L V8 | M | 170 |
| 13 | FLM | 93 | Genoa Racing | Jens Petersen Elton Julian Christian Zugel | Oreca FLM09 | M | 170 |
| 13 | FLM | 93 | Genoa Racing | Jens Petersen Elton Julian Christian Zugel | Chevrolet LS3 6.2 L V8 | M | 170 |
| 14 | GTE Pro | 66 | JMW Motorsport | Rob Bell James Walker | Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 | D | 170 |
| 14 | GTE Pro | 66 | JMW Motorsport | Rob Bell James Walker | Ferrari 4.5 L V8 | D | 170 |
| 15 | GTE Pro | 51 | AF Corse | Giancarlo Fisichella Gianmaria Bruni | Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 | M | 169 |
| 15 | GTE Pro | 51 | AF Corse | Giancarlo Fisichella Gianmaria Bruni | Ferrari 4.5 L V8 | M | 169 |
| 16 | LMP2 | 44 | Extrême Limite AM Paris | Fabien Rosier Maurice Basso Jean-Marc Luco | Norma M200P | D | 169 |
| 16 | LMP2 | 44 | Extrême Limite AM Paris | Fabien Rosier Maurice Basso Jean-Marc Luco | Judd-BMW HK 3.6 L V8 | D | 169 |
| 17 | GTE Am | 88 | Team Felbermayr-Proton | Horst Felbermayr, Sr. Horst Felbermayr, Jr. Christian Ried | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | M | 167 |
| 17 | GTE Am | 88 | Team Felbermayr-Proton | Horst Felbermayr, Sr. Horst Felbermayr, Jr. Christian Ried | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | M | 167 |
| 18 | GTE Am | 61 | AF Corse | Piergiuseppe Perazzini Marco Cioci Stéphane Lémeret | Ferrari F430 GTE | M | 167 |
| 18 | GTE Am | 61 | AF Corse | Piergiuseppe Perazzini Marco Cioci Stéphane Lémeret | Ferrari 4.0 V8 | M | 167 |
| 19 | GTE Am | 70 | Kessel Racing | Michał Broniszewski Philipp Peter | Ferrari F430 GTE | M | 167 |
| 19 | GTE Am | 70 | Kessel Racing | Michał Broniszewski Philipp Peter | Ferrari 4.0 L V8 | M | 167 |
| 20 | GTE Am | 82 | CRS Racing | Phil Quaife Adam Christodoulou Klaas Hummel | Ferrari F430 GTE | M | 166 |
| 20 | GTE Am | 82 | CRS Racing | Phil Quaife Adam Christodoulou Klaas Hummel | Ferrari 4.0 L V8 | M | 166 |
| 21 | GTE Pro | 89 | Hankook Team Farnbacher | Dominik Farnbacher Allan Simonsen | Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 | H | 163 |
| 21 | GTE Pro | 89 | Hankook Team Farnbacher | Dominik Farnbacher Allan Simonsen | Ferrari 4.5 L V8 | H | 163 |
| 22 | GTE Am | 72 | AF Corse | Robert Kuaffman Rui Águas Giuseppe Cirò | Ferrari F430 GTE | M | 163 |
| 22 | GTE Am | 72 | AF Corse | Robert Kuaffman Rui Águas Giuseppe Cirò | Ferrari 4.0 V8 | M | 163 |
| 23 | GTE Pro | 71 | AF Corse | Jaime Melo Toni Vilander | Ferrari 458 Italia GT2 | M | 161 |
| 23 | GTE Pro | 71 | AF Corse | Jaime Melo Toni Vilander | Ferrari 4.5 L V8 | M | 161 |
| 24 | FLM | 92 | Neil Garner Motorsport | John Hartshorne Steve Keating Phil Keen | Oreca FLM09 | M | 157 |
| 24 | FLM | 92 | Neil Garner Motorsport | John Hartshorne Steve Keating Phil Keen | Chevrolet LS3 6.2 L V8 | M | 157 |
| 25 | FLM | 99 | JMB Racing | Manuel Rodrigues Jean-Marc Menahem Nicolas Misslin | Oreca FLM09 | M | 142 |
| 25 | FLM | 99 | JMB Racing | Manuel Rodrigues Jean-Marc Menahem Nicolas Misslin | Chevrolet LS3 6.2 L V8 | M | 142 |
| 26 DNF | GTE Pro | 86 | Young Driver AMR | Tomáš Enge Alex Müller Christoffer Nygaard | Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 | M | 140 |
| 26 DNF | GTE Pro | 86 | Young Driver AMR | Tomáš Enge Alex Müller Christoffer Nygaard | Aston Martin 4.5 L V8 | M | 140 |
| 27 | GTE Am | 67 | IMSA Performance Matmut | Raymond Narac Nicolas Armindo | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | M | 137 |
| 27 | GTE Am | 67 | IMSA Performance Matmut | Raymond Narac Nicolas Armindo | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | M | 137 |
| 28 NC | GTE Pro | 79 | JOTA | Simon Dolan Sam Hancock | Aston Martin V8 Vantage GT2 | D | 105 |
| 28 NC | GTE Pro | 79 | JOTA | Simon Dolan Sam Hancock | Aston Martin 4.5 L V8 | D | 105 |
| 29 NC | LMP1 | 009 | Aston Martin Racing | Stefan Mücke Darren Turner Harold Primat | Aston Martin AMR-One | M | 96 |
| 29 NC | LMP1 | 009 | Aston Martin Racing | Stefan Mücke Darren Turner Harold Primat | Aston Martin 2.0 L Turbo I6 | M | 96 |
| 30 DNF | FLM | 91 | Hope Polevision Racing | Nicolas Marroc Luca Moro Zhang Shan Qi | Oreca FLM09 | M | 93 |
| 30 DNF | FLM | 91 | Hope Polevision Racing | Nicolas Marroc Luca Moro Zhang Shan Qi | Chevrolet LS3 6.2 L V8 | M | 93 |
| 31 DNF | LMP2 | 46 | TDS Racing | Mathias Beche Pierre Thiriet Jody Firth | Oreca 03 | M | 91 |
| 31 DNF | LMP2 | 46 | TDS Racing | Mathias Beche Pierre Thiriet Jody Firth | Nissan VK45DE 4.5 L V8 | M | 91 |
| 32 DNF | GTE Pro | 76 | IMSA Performance Matmut | Patrick Pilet Wolf Henzler | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | M | 2 |
| 32 DNF | GTE Pro | 76 | IMSA Performance Matmut | Patrick Pilet Wolf Henzler | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | M | 2 |
| 33 DNF | GTE Pro | 75 | Prospeed Competition | Marco Holzer Marc Goossens | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | M | 0 |
| 33 DNF | GTE Pro | 75 | Prospeed Competition | Marco Holzer Marc Goossens | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | M | 0 |
| 34 DNF | GTE Pro | 77 | Team Felbermayr-Proton | Marc Lieb Richard Lietz | Porsche 997 GT3-RSR | M | 0 |
| 34 DNF | GTE Pro | 77 | Team Felbermayr-Proton | Marc Lieb Richard Lietz | Porsche 4.0 L Flat-6 | M | 0 |
