Monday 11th August 2014

Motorsport on Monday: 11/08/14

New LMP3 class proves sportscars in the ascendance, while safety issues cause conflict

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Two main things hit me about motorsport this week - both of which have been in the news. Motorsport on Monday isn't just about the racing, it's about everything that goes with it. So when an issue provokes thought, it's often worth covering rather than delivering a straight race report. Hopefully, this is about insight, too.

The old orange Ginetta sportscar...

So, first off, sportscar racing - and why it's in the ascendance following an interesting announcement.

The World Endurance Championship has been fascinating so far this season, with the introduction of the new-for-2014 rules proving that technology - and a number of different solutions to the same problem - can deliver almost identical results from very different approaches in LMP1.

The battles have been hard and fast, and they're only set to get harder and faster as more major manufacturers feel the heat to join the pack - endurance racing is the arm of the sport with (horrible marketing buzzword alert) the most synergies to modern road cars and their development, so if big car companies want to get involved to convince their respective boards it's going to benefit their products and profits as a result, as a race fan I'm fine with that. It's the old Porsche Cayenne for future GT3s argument.

Depth of talent
It's not just LMP1 that's the big draw though. LMP2 has proved time and time again that there's a serious pool of class to pick from and, with these cars going coupe in the future, the relationship to the blue riband field will be stronger than ever.

... and the new one. Bring on LMP3!

British drivers Brundle and Mardenborough at Le Mans this year in the new Ligier showed just how quick an LMP2 car can be hustled - snapping at the heels of the Rebellion R-One LMP1 proved so.

Now more drivers will get a chance to show their talent, as there'll be another class soon, called LMP3, and there should be a big British presence.

At the end of last week British race and road car manufacturer Ginetta announced it had bought Juno Racing Cars and would enter the new series with its delightfully orange Ginetta-Juno LMP3.

This is like GT4 to top-level GT racing. It's a series to give rising talent and those who fancy a punt at prototype racing a more forgiving (not to mention much cheaper) taste of playing at being McNish, Kristensen et al.

Three is a magic number
Starting next year, LMP3 will be incorporated into the European and Asian Le Mans Series championships, potentially as a water tester for inclusion at Le Mans in the future.

LMP3 has to make it to La Sarthe, surely?

Powered by a 6.2-litre Chevy V8 tweaked by Oreca and kicking out 420hp it'll provide a not-too-quick platform to learn driving a sportscar with downforce. And, it's another British manufacturer with history proving why the sport is very much in the ascendance.

That's a good news story. It means there'll be a few interesting track cars knocking around in the classifieds in a few years time, don't you think? Now, if we could just get someone to sort out the Lola situation...

Moans over Monza
The second thing that provoked some thought this week was the discussion on the internet on paving over the Parabolica at Monza.

A return of the World Superbikes to the home of the Italian Grand Prix has forced the circuit to scratch some of the gravel trap at the very end of the back straight, replacing it with a car park sized expanse of Tarmac. There's also a strip running right around the edge of the turn to the left of the track limits.

Is this the right thing for Parabolica?

It seems the risk of a superbike travelling at nearly 200mph, bouncing off the gravel and going airborne into the catch fence is the catalyst for the alteration. A brief exchange on twitter with Martin Brundle shone some light onto why it could be a good thing.

It definitely isn't as pretty as a neatly raked bed of aggregate, but as Formula One race director Charlie Whiting told us in Hungary, cars slow twice as fast on asphalt as they do on gravel.

Brundle's argument is if you've outbraked yourself to the point of using the run-off, you've already been penalised in terms of lap time. His exact words:

"Monza's Parabolica corner is about the track not run off. Providing it costs heavily to run wide, may as well be tarmac as race ending gravel.

"Smart thing to do would be making all run offs like Monza chicanes where you're forced into a slow section before rejoining so it hurts more."

BMW would surely prefer tarmac to gravel...

My reply was to ask what happens in the event of a car failure in the braking zone, on turn-in or through the corner? Surely the lack of gravel to slow the car will increase the speed at which it might hit the tyre wall?

Charlie Whiting's information comes into play here again. Mixed with Brundle's experience - "I had suspension failure testing at Magny Cours for Ligier. Hit front edge of gravel and flew until I head butted the barrier" - you can see where he's coming from. See McNish at the Dunlop Esses during the 2011 Le Mans 24 hours, and you'll understand what he means.

Fundamentally, if it makes it safer for drivers - and riders - here it has to be a positive, regardless of the aesthetic impact. That doesn't mean we all can't have an opinion on the challenge posed by one of the fastest, most difficult corners in motorsport. Over to you for your thoughts...

[Images: @ESPNF1, Chad Hessoun, David Merrett]

[GrahamG]

LMP3 is not going to be powered by a Chevy V8 (it will be a Nissan) and it is not, in any way and by anybody, being touted as a potential class for Le Mans (neither was the predecessor LMPC/ FLM class) Sean

[designndrive62]

Indeed. Formula Le Mans only ever appeared at Le Mans as a support race didn't it? I actually rather like the look of the old formula Le Mans cars too. That new lmp3 to me just doesn't look quite right. Though it could be the rendering I suppose.

[Ahonen]

Graham, pointing out the mistakes makes no difference - they'll never correct it or even acknowledge that they've made a cock-up. Top marks for trying though.

[Great Dane]

I am sure Graham that you wouldn't let your 'folk' put out a piece like that - nothing like a well researched article

[GrahamG]

It's easy to be critical but I absolutely applaud anyone's effort to expand interest levels in the sport.

As is so often the case on t'internet you can lose a tone of voice so wouldn't want this to have come across as sharp

Neither though would I want anyone putting down €195,000 with a though that they would be able to race the car at LM any time soon

I think the Ginetta-Juno might well be the most significant new LMP for years, not only because it is part of a new class, not only because the cost is relatively accessible, not only because Ginetta are committing to a big number of initial builds, but because they have their own ladder of talent, some of whom might be willing to trust their supplier to take them to the next level. It's POTENTIALLY a very big deal

Edited by GrahamG on Wednesday 13th August 00:05