Le Mans 24hrs 2013

[Red Firecracker]

RobGT81 said:

I know what you mean. All private teams, some with random backing from Caterham, Alpine, Morgan etc. There is some seriously good driver line ups though! Hartley, Krumm, Brundle Jnr, Ordonez, Kimber-Smith, Rossi, Luhr.. the list of top sports car drivers goes on!

GTE looks like an epic battle. I fancy Ferrari to take it but the Astons are very quick.

Quite. Rossi did look a bit over-awed though and not exactly consistently quick, so will be interesting to see how he steps up (especially as his travel plans for Test Day were a bit hectic). I'd really like to see TKS get a fourth on the trot, but a good showing from Murphysmen would be most welcome.

I'm also extremely hopeful that the 'Lotus' LMP2 cars will take the flag on Saturday as well, although that is looking iffy after last nights shenenigans. Should pack I suppose, ferry tonight.

[Henry Fiddleton]

Missing it this year with a little due soon, GTE class looks mega HOWEVER, tv coverage will no doubt focus on Audi VS Toyota for 98%, and 1% on their pit, 1% on other classes.

[Ash1751]

There's a good read on the race here: http://lendurance.co.uk/issues/2013-2/the-le-mans-...
Also from page 58(I think) there's a car by car guide to get you up to speed on who's who!

[woof]

Ash1751 said:

There's a good read on the race here: http://lendurance.co.uk/issues/2013-2/the-le-mans-...
Also from page 58(I think) there's a car by car guide to get you up to speed on who's who!

Excellent - thanks

[BelperJim]

Looking forward to it again. Hope Davidson/Buemi/Sarrazin have a good race and would like to see the Prost/Jani/Heidfeld car on the podium sod all chance of that though!

[Galileo]

Johno said:

eastlmark said:

FourWheelDrift said:

eastlmark said:

could always look in the Le Mans thread.....

What Le Mans thread in here. Or do you mean the Le Mans forum?

Yes forum whatever, the one titled "Le Mans" more importantly its where all the Le Mans stuff is.

Yes, the Le Mans forum .... Where the following things are discussed every year . .

Speeding fines
Beer mountains
Car stickering
Tolls
Toll badge things
Photos at Boulogne peage
Tickets
Camping arrangements
Weather
Routes to Le Mans
Ferry crossings
Tunnel crossings
Speeding fines
Car stickering
Weather
And speeding fines

What is never discussed in a Motorsport forum fashion is the actual race, never, it gets brief mention after the event .... Sort of in despatches, a footnote to the weekend of you like.

So a proper race discussion thread, of the race itself, is probably best in here TBH.

Here, here. Well said. I would say 90% of the contributions in the Le Mans section is written by people that have no interest in the race itself. It's just an excuse to put rediculous and highly unimaginative stickers all over their cars and go and get drunk with all the others.
If you've ever been you'll see the race fans. They're the ones still watching the race at 3 in the morning. Very few speak english.

[Red Firecracker]

Galileo said:

Here, here. Well said. I would say 90% of the contributions in the Le Mans section is written by people that have no interest in the race itself. It's just an excuse to put rediculous and highly unimaginative stickers all over their cars and go and get drunk with all the others.
If you've ever been you'll see the race fans. They're the ones still watching the race at 3 in the morning. Very few speak english.

I've found the Dutch and Danish fans speak quite good English at that time of the morning.

[Galileo]

Red Firecracker said:

Galileo said:

Here, here. Well said. I would say 90% of the contributions in the Le Mans section is written by people that have no interest in the race itself. It's just an excuse to put rediculous and highly unimaginative stickers all over their cars and go and get drunk with all the others.
If you've ever been you'll see the race fans. They're the ones still watching the race at 3 in the morning. Very few speak english.

I've found the Dutch and Danish fans speak quite good English at that time of the morning.

Indeed. And conversely most of the English are talking beered up doubledutch!

[Altrezia]

As always, I am not going. I wish I was, but work/life has conspired against me yet again.

Still, I have plenty of beer, food and a big telly, so will watch it all from the comfort of my sofa.

Here's to another great race!

[heebeegeetee]

Galileo said:

Johno said:

eastlmark said:

FourWheelDrift said:

eastlmark said:

could always look in the Le Mans thread.....

What Le Mans thread in here. Or do you mean the Le Mans forum?

Yes forum whatever, the one titled "Le Mans" more importantly its where all the Le Mans stuff is.

Yes, the Le Mans forum .... Where the following things are discussed every year . .

Speeding fines
Beer mountains
Car stickering
Tolls
Toll badge things
Photos at Boulogne peage
Tickets
Camping arrangements
Weather
Routes to Le Mans
Ferry crossings
Tunnel crossings
Speeding fines
Car stickering
Weather
And speeding fines

What is never discussed in a Motorsport forum fashion is the actual race, never, it gets brief mention after the event .... Sort of in despatches, a footnote to the weekend of you like.

So a proper race discussion thread, of the race itself, is probably best in here TBH.

Here, here. Well said. I would say 90% of the contributions in the Le Mans section is written by people that have no interest in the race itself. It's just an excuse to put rediculous and highly unimaginative stickers all over their cars and go and get drunk with all the others.
If you've ever been you'll see the race fans. They're the ones still watching the race at 3 in the morning. Very few speak english.

Supersoakers - I can't believe nobody's mentioned these abominations, used by those who don't have an attention span of 24 seconds never mind 24 hours.

But enough already, let's keep this thread for the race only.

[williamp]

So the lmp lotus have both been seized by a french court. Very interesting..

[HoHoHo]

Galileo said:

If you've ever been you'll see the race fans. They're the ones still watching the race at 3 in the morning. Very few speak english.

We go every year (tomorrow in fact) and get very, very drunk.

We meet the drivers on Friday, sober up Saturday am and watch the start walking around various parts of the track to see different views.

We have more Saturday pm and watch from the grandstand during the evening.

Have more and food and then hop on our bikes and cycle for 40 minutes or so to Arnage at around 2am to watch the cars with red hot brakes driving like loons in the dead of night. Sitting there in the dry/rain/wind/cold/warm (delete as necessary) is a must and is utterly, utterly brilliant.

Whilst at Arnage we tend to have chips and more

Go back to bed around 6am and crash until we wake.

Then off to the grandstand to watch the last couple of hours until the final lap - the atmosphere is amazing

The head home and wonder where did the weekend go!

We are English, we do drink and we do watch the race - we're not all the same

Without a doubt it's the highlight of my motor sport calendar and I can't wait until tomorrow when it all starts again.

Most of all we have a good time mixing (in the most) with like minded fans from around the world - and to clarify, we don't do supersoakers

[Red Firecracker]

williamp said:

So the lmp lotus have both been seized by a french court. Very interesting..

Bits of, the chassis are still there.

[joema]

Some balancing went on in LmP1. Should help toyotas.

Not going this year. gutted.

Next year is on though!

[Galileo]

Never mind me, it's just sour grapes 'cos I'm not well enough to travel.

I've got Eurosport player sorted, so when I'm not sat infront of the TV at home I'll be watching on my phone or at work.

I hope the Toyotas take the fight to Audi but I think it'll end up a fight between the germans again.

It will be interesting to see how the new Porsche gets on in GTE pro. Will this be a chance for the pit crew to practice for next years return to LMP1?

It could be a classic year between Porsche and Aston Martin.

So much to watch I'm going to need 3 TVs just to keep up!

[Vocal Minority]

So have Toyota actually won their Balance of Performance claim (if that is the right term?)

[Red Firecracker]

Vocal Minority said:

So have Toyota actually won their Balance of Performance claim (if that is the right term?)

Petrol hybrids have been given an extra 3 litres in their fuel tank.

[Munter]

Red Firecracker said:

Petrol hybrids have been given an extra 3 litres in their fuel tank.

It doesn't sound much. Any idea what the intended impact of that is?

E.g. 3 liters = 2 laps longer = 1 less pitstop over the race. That kind of thing?

[Vocal Minority]

Well, every little helps.

Though 3 litres won't be enough for a lap will it? 0.657 of a gallon, so need to be doing 12.93 mpg to make it worth a lap. I have no idea what their consumption is though.

Based on their pace concerns I expect they will keep consumption the same in terms of laps in a stint(it was considerably better than Audi at Spa already), and use the extra to turn the wick up a bit, which IS where they are lacking (Audi have sacrificed economy to blow their diffuser I understand).

[DanglerDoo]

Bugger. Next year I'll make it.