# 2003 1000 km of Le Mans

The 2003 1000 km of Le Mans was a one-off sports car event run under the organization of the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) in preparation for the Le Mans Endurance Series that began in 2004. It was run on 9 November 2003 at the Bugatti Circuit near Le Mans, France.

## Development

The ACO, having previous helped in the creation of the American Le Mans Series with the running of the 1998 Petit Le Mans, as well as a failed attempt at a Japanese sportscar series with the 1999 Le Mans Fuji 1000km, created the 1000 km of Le Mans as an experimental event to gauge the desire for teams to participate in a European-based endurance sportscar series under Le Mans rules.
Previously, the FIA Sportscar and FIA GT Championships had run primarily in Europe, but were not running as a combined series, one concentrating on prototypes and the other grand tourers, and featured mostly sprint or middle-distance races. Don Panoz, creator of the American Le Mans Series, had attempted to create a European series to combine the two types of sportscars with the European Le Mans Series, but had failed to gain enough entrants. The ACO, weary of the same occurrence, decided to hold a single race to see how much participation there would actually be.
Although officially run under the Le Mans Endurance Series name, this did not count towards any championship. In order to help bolster the number of entrants, the ACO promised winners in each of the four race classes automatic invitations to the 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Unlike the usual 24 Hours of Le Mans run in June at the 13 km Circuit de la Sarthe, the 1000 km of Le Mans ran on the 4.3 km Bugatti Circuit which did not use closed public roads.

## Official results

Class winners in bold. Cars failing to complete 75% 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 | LMP900 | 5 | Audi Sport Japan Team Goh | Tom Kristensen Seiji Ara | Audi R8 | M | 208 |
| 1 | LMP900 | 5 | Audi Sport Japan Team Goh | Tom Kristensen Seiji Ara | Audi 3.6L Turbo V8 | M | 208 |
| 2 | LMP900 | 2 | Pescarolo Sport | Stéphane Sarrazin Franck Lagorce Sébastien Bourdais | Courage C60 Evo | M | 205 |
| 2 | LMP900 | 2 | Pescarolo Sport | Stéphane Sarrazin Franck Lagorce Sébastien Bourdais | Peugeot A32 3.2L Turbo V6 | M | 205 |
| 3 | LMP900 | 8 | Racing for Holland | Jan Lammers Andy Wallace | Dome S101 | D | 204 |
| 3 | LMP900 | 8 | Racing for Holland | Jan Lammers Andy Wallace | Judd GV4 4.0L V10 | D | 204 |
| 4 | LMP675 | 13 | Courage Compétition | Wim Eyckmans Roman Rusinov Enrico Muscioni | Courage C65 | M | 197 |
| 4 | LMP675 | 13 | Courage Compétition | Wim Eyckmans Roman Rusinov Enrico Muscioni | JPX 3.4L V6 | M | 197 |
| 5 | GTS | 88 | Care Racing | Jamie Davies Darren Turner | Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello | M | 195 |
| 5 | GTS | 88 | Care Racing | Jamie Davies Darren Turner | Ferrari F133 5.9L V12 | M | 195 |
| 6 | GTS | 80 | Care Racing | Peter Kox Tim Sugden | Ferrari 550-GTS Maranello | M | 194 |
| 6 | GTS | 80 | Care Racing | Peter Kox Tim Sugden | Ferrari F133 5.9L V12 | M | 194 |
| 7 | LMP675 | 18 | Intersport Racing | Jon Field Duncan Dayton Larry Connor | Lola B01/60 | G | 191 |
| 7 | LMP675 | 18 | Intersport Racing | Jon Field Duncan Dayton Larry Connor | Judd KV675 3.4L V8 | G | 191 |
| 8 | GTS | 86 | Larbre Compétition | Christophe Bouchut Vincent Vosse Sébastian Dumez | Chrysler Viper GTS-R | M | 190 |
| 8 | GTS | 86 | Larbre Compétition | Christophe Bouchut Vincent Vosse Sébastian Dumez | Chrysler 356-T6 8.0L V10 | M | 190 |
| 9 | LMP900 | 9 | Taurus Racing | Phil Andrews Justin Keen Giovanni Lavaggi | Lola B2K/10 | D | 190 |
| 9 | LMP900 | 9 | Taurus Racing | Phil Andrews Justin Keen Giovanni Lavaggi | Judd GV4 4.0L V10 | D | 190 |
| 10 | GT | 47 | Cirtek Motorsport | Philipp Peter Klaus Engelhorn Andrea Montermini | Ferrari 360 Modena GTC | P | 189 |
| 10 | GT | 47 | Cirtek Motorsport | Philipp Peter Klaus Engelhorn Andrea Montermini | Ferrari F131 3.6L V8 | P | 189 |
| 11 | GT | 39 | Freisinger Motorsport | Stéphane Ortelli Stéphane Daoudi Alexey Vasilyev | Porsche 996 GT3-RS | D | 189 |
| 11 | GT | 39 | Freisinger Motorsport | Stéphane Ortelli Stéphane Daoudi Alexey Vasilyev | Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | D | 189 |
| 12 | GT | 38 | PK Sport Ltd. | Robin Liddell Jean-Philippe Belloc | Porsche 996 GT3-RS | P | 188 |
| 12 | GT | 38 | PK Sport Ltd. | Robin Liddell Jean-Philippe Belloc | Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | P | 188 |
| 13 | GT | 36 | Sebah QM Automotive | Xavier Pompidou Emmanuel Collard | Porsche 996 GT3-R | D | 186 |
| 13 | GT | 36 | Sebah QM Automotive | Xavier Pompidou Emmanuel Collard | Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | D | 186 |
| 14 | GT | 33 | Bernard Jubin | Sylvain Noël Christophe Tinseau | Porsche 996 GT3-RS | P | 186 |
| 14 | GT | 33 | Bernard Jubin | Sylvain Noël Christophe Tinseau | Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | P | 186 |
| 15 | LMP675 | 24 | Rachel Welter | Olivier Porta Richard Balandras Yojiro Terada | WR LMP01 | M | 185 |
| 15 | LMP675 | 24 | Rachel Welter | Olivier Porta Richard Balandras Yojiro Terada | Peugeot 2.0L Turbo I4 | M | 185 |
| 16 | GT | 30 | Scuderia Ecosse | Tim Mullen Marino Franchitti Chris Niarchos | Ferrari 360 Modena GTC | P | 185 |
| 16 | GT | 30 | Scuderia Ecosse | Tim Mullen Marino Franchitti Chris Niarchos | Ferrari F133 3.6L V8 | P | 185 |
| 17 | GT | 46 | DeWALT-Racesports Salisbury | Michael Caine Richard Stanton Bob Berridge | TVR Tuscan T400R | D | 182 |
| 17 | GT | 46 | DeWALT-Racesports Salisbury | Michael Caine Richard Stanton Bob Berridge | TVR Speed Six 4.0L I6 | D | 182 |
| 18 | GT | 49 | Morgan Motor Company | Adam Sharpe Neil Cunningham | Morgan Aero 8R | D | 178 |
| 18 | GT | 49 | Morgan Motor Company | Adam Sharpe Neil Cunningham | BMW (Mader) 4.5L V8 | D | 178 |
| 19 | GT | 45 | DeWALT-Racesports Salisbury | Amanda Stretton Fanny Duchateau Liz Halliday | TVR Tuscan T400R | D | 175 |
| 19 | GT | 45 | DeWALT-Racesports Salisbury | Amanda Stretton Fanny Duchateau Liz Halliday | TVR Speed Six 4.0L I6 | D | 175 |
| 20 | LMP675 | 12 | PiR | Pierre Bruneau Marc Rostan | Pilbeam MP84 | D | 173 |
| 20 | LMP675 | 12 | PiR | Pierre Bruneau Marc Rostan | Nissan (AER) VQL 3.0L V6 | D | 173 |
| 21 | GT | 40 | Seikel Motorsport | Johnny Mowlem Alex Caffi Gabrio Rosa | Porsche 996 GT3-RS | Y | 173 |
| 21 | GT | 40 | Seikel Motorsport | Johnny Mowlem Alex Caffi Gabrio Rosa | Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | Y | 173 |
| 22 | LMP900 | 7 | Fred Goddard | Earl Goddard Martin Short Warren Carway | Reynard 01Q | D | 172 |
| 22 | LMP900 | 7 | Fred Goddard | Earl Goddard Martin Short Warren Carway | Ford (Nicholson-McLaren) 4.0L V8 | D | 172 |
| 23 | GTS | 66 | Konrad Motorsport | Wolfgang Kaufmann Toni Seiler Franz Konrad | Saleen S7-R | D | 170 |
| 23 | GTS | 66 | Konrad Motorsport | Wolfgang Kaufmann Toni Seiler Franz Konrad | Ford 7.0L V8 | D | 170 |
| 24 | GT | 32 | System Force Motorsport | Peter van Merksteijn Sr. Frans Munsterhuis | Porsche 996 GT3-RS | P | 169 |
| 24 | GT | 32 | System Force Motorsport | Peter van Merksteijn Sr. Frans Munsterhuis | Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | P | 169 |
| 25 | GT | 42 | Spyker Automobilien | Patrick van Schoote Norman Simon | Spyker C8 Double-12R | D | 169 |
| 25 | GT | 42 | Spyker Automobilien | Patrick van Schoote Norman Simon | Audi 4.0L V8 | D | 169 |
| 26 | GT | 41 | T2M Motorsport | Georges Forgeois Paul Daniels Wim Coekelberghs | Porsche 996 GT3-RS | M | 165 |
| 26 | GT | 41 | T2M Motorsport | Georges Forgeois Paul Daniels Wim Coekelberghs | Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | M | 165 |
| 27 | LMP675 | 25 | Gerard Welter | Jean-René de Fournoux Bastien Brière William David | WR LMP02 | M | 163 |
| 27 | LMP675 | 25 | Gerard Welter | Jean-René de Fournoux Bastien Brière William David | Peugeot 3.4L V6 | M | 163 |
| 28 | GT | 34 | Noël del Bello | Jean-Luc Maury-Laribière Patrick Caternet Philip Collin | Porsche 996 GT3-RS | M | 161 |
| 28 | GT | 34 | Noël del Bello | Jean-Luc Maury-Laribière Patrick Caternet Philip Collin | Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | M | 161 |
| 29 | LMP900 | 4 | Lister Racing | Jamie Campbell-Walter Nathan Kinch Tom Coronel | Lister Storm LMP | D | 144 |
| 29 | LMP900 | 4 | Lister Racing | Jamie Campbell-Walter Nathan Kinch Tom Coronel | Chevrolet LS1 6.0L V8 | D | 144 |
| NC | GT | 48 | Olivier Baron | Bruno Houzelot Denis Cohignac André-Alain Corbel | Porsche 996 GT3-R | P | 125 |
| NC | GT | 48 | Olivier Baron | Bruno Houzelot Denis Cohignac André-Alain Corbel | Porsche 3.6L Flat-6 | P | 125 |
| DNF | LMP675 | 15 | Didier Bonnet Racing | Renaud Denoit Roland Bossy | Debora LMP200 | M | 141 |
| DNF | LMP675 | 15 | Didier Bonnet Racing | Renaud Denoit Roland Bossy | BMW (Mader) 3.4L I6 | M | 141 |
| DNF | LMGTP | 10 | JML Team Panoz | Olivier Beretta David Saelens | Panoz Esperante GTR-1 | M | 126 |
| DNF | LMGTP | 10 | JML Team Panoz | Olivier Beretta David Saelens | Ford (Élan) 6L8 6.0L V8 | M | 126 |
| DNF | GT | 35 | XL Racing | Gilles Vannelet Bernard Rousselot Gaël Lesoudier | Ferrari 550 Maranello | P | 84 |
| DNF | GT | 35 | XL Racing | Gilles Vannelet Bernard Rousselot Gaël Lesoudier | Ferrari F133 5.5L V12 | P | 84 |
| DNF | LMP675 | 14 | RML | Thomas Erdos Mike Newton Chris Goodwin | MG-Lola EX257 | D | 65 |
| DNF | LMP675 | 14 | RML | Thomas Erdos Mike Newton Chris Goodwin | MG (AER) XP20 2.0L Turbo I4 | D | 65 |
| DNF | LMP900 | 6 | Intersport Racing | Clint Field Rick Sutherland John Graham | Riley & Scott Mk III C | D | 23 |
| DNF | LMP900 | 6 | Intersport Racing | Clint Field Rick Sutherland John Graham | Ford (Roush) 6.0L V8 | D | 23 |
| DNS | GT | 31 | RJ Cole Xero Competition | Ricky Cole Peter Le Bas Paula Cook | Chevrolet Corvette LM-GT | D | - |
| DNS | GT | 31 | RJ Cole Xero Competition | Ricky Cole Peter Le Bas Paula Cook | Chevrolet LS1 5.7L V8 | D | - |
| DNS | LMP900 | 3 | Team Nasamax | Robbie Sterling Werner Lupberger Romain Dumas | Reynard 01Q | D | - |
| DNS | LMP900 | 3 | Team Nasamax | Robbie Sterling Werner Lupberger Romain Dumas | Cosworth XD 2.7L Turbo V8 (Bio-Ethanol) | D | - |

### Statistics

* Pole Position - #5 Audi Sport Japan Team Goh - 1:27.775
* Distance - 869.44 km
* Average Speed - 144.952 km/h

## Post-Race

Following a successful turn out from a large number of European teams, as well as a handful of American and Japanese teams, the event was considered a success. With this, the ACO pushed forward with their development of the Le Mans Endurance Series, debuting in 2004. This move would also lead to the demise of the FIA Sportscar Championship, as prototype teams chose instead to participate in LMES.
Since this event, the LMES has not returned to Le Mans as part of their regular schedule, although many LMES participants race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.