RE: Plucky TVR team finishes Le Mans
Monday 20th June 2005
Tiny team finishes 24-hour raceLe Mans is over for another year, as Tom Kristensen drove his way into the record books with a record seven victories, passing the previous record-holder, Jackie Ickx. He completed 370 laps in his Champion Racing team's Audi R8.
Plucky TVR team finishes Le Mans
As Aston Martin Racing pips third after 24 hours
Tiny team finishes 24-hour race
One issue all teams spoke of was the heat, up to 35 degrees C at times but, the hoped-for overnight respite from the heat didn't happen; as Peninsula TVR reported, the temperature only fell to 25 degrees C. But the great thing was that the team made it home -- with 256 laps completed, it was just over 80 laps behind Alex Job Racing's Porsche 911 GT3 RSR winning entry in the LM GT2 class. Best of all, Peninsula TVR outlasted the Ferrari, Spyker and Panoz entries -- all of which were highly fancied for the class.
Aston Martin Racing had a good race in the LM GT1 class, with plenty of pace compared to its immediate rivals and looked to be a strong finisher. But in the final hours of the race, it all went wrong for the Prodrive-run team. The no. 58 car stopped in the Porsche Curves, seemingly stranded by a fuel feed problem. At almost the same time, the no. 59 car needed a new radiator, and was wheeled into the pit garage.
This double-headed problem mean the class one-two win went to a pair of Corvettes, with Magnussen bringing no. 64 home a couple of laps ahead of O’Connell in the No.63. Stephane Sarrazin managed to grab third for Aston Martin after 333 laps, 16 laps down on the leading Corvette.
Discussion
Poor show all around and little end of race excitement - glad I did not go. :grumpy:
Aston's fragile hair to Corvette's rock solid tortoise (Similar story for the Audi's and Pescarolo's). TVR's snail will not even be officially placed because of not doing enough laps compared to winner, even though it outlasted Spyker and some Porkers and Fezzas (but well done to Peninsula for lasting the full 24h). Pity LNT not there.
My suggestions for Le Mans -
1. Get rid of expensive prototypes and have two or three classes of GT's with cars recognisably developed from road going product (GT1's are quick enough now).
2. Get rid of Mulsanne chicannes
3. Get at least 4 Aston's there next year
4. Get NS to build enough T440's to get the restrictors off and give the Porkers a real run for their money.
5. Make sure a fully equipped and atleast two car LMES TVR team is on the grid.
6. Get more sportscar producers to make LM derivatives, more marques would mean more interest and better competition and coverage.
See you there next year?!
Aston's fragile hair to Corvette's rock solid tortoise (Similar story for the Audi's and Pescarolo's). TVR's snail will not even be officially placed because of not doing enough laps compared to winner, even though it outlasted Spyker and some Porkers and Fezzas (but well done to Peninsula for lasting the full 24h). Pity LNT not there.
My suggestions for Le Mans -
1. Get rid of expensive prototypes and have two or three classes of GT's with cars recognisably developed from road going product (GT1's are quick enough now).
2. Get rid of Mulsanne chicannes
3. Get at least 4 Aston's there next year
4. Get NS to build enough T440's to get the restrictors off and give the Porkers a real run for their money.
5. Make sure a fully equipped and atleast two car LMES TVR team is on the grid.
6. Get more sportscar producers to make LM derivatives, more marques would mean more interest and better competition and coverage.
See you there next year?!
CiderwithCerbie said:What are you babbling on about?
Poor show all around and little end of race excitement - glad I did not go.
I went for the first time, and it was fantastic. The Aston vs Corvette race was gripping for 23 hours - at the 20 hour point there was <1 minute between them, and I got so into it at one point I was timing the gap between the cars to see what was happening.
The RS vs Pescarolo was similarly great. At 20 hours the Pescarolo was steadily gaining on the RS, and it seemed that if it was going to continue like that the RS would loose out.
The mix of cars is great, particularly at night when you see the difference in aero, brakes and acceleration so vividly.
I'll certainly be back - can't believe I never went before!
J
dunno said:It certainly will be. The Aston's had the "edge" for most of the race, just that pesky radiator meant they didn't win it.
A great win for Corvette with their new C6 leading the GT1 class with 1st and 2nd places. Good to see Aston getting close to them after the Vettes have dominated this class for a few years. Will be very exciting next year when they meet again.
I can't wait!
J
CiderwithCerbie said:
Poor show all around and little end of race excitement - glad I did not go. 
I 've been to a few and been drenched and burned in equal amount and I can honestly say I wouldn't have missed any of them. Its the total package not just what happens on the track.
Watching it on TV this year just wasn't the same (although I did get drenched and burnt this weekend)
CiderwithCerbie said:
Poor show all around and little end of race excitement - glad I did not go.
I'm slightly confussed, if you didn't go how can you say it lacked excitement. Its not the same as watching a 2 hour race on TV. Its a full 24 hours and frankly id be stunned if it lacked excitement or entertainment
Congrats to Peninsula hopefully next year there will be more TVR's on the grid
Just got back about an hour or so ago.
It was really exciting the last 2 hours.
The 59 Aston came in with overheating Problems and as it was being wheeled into the garage, the 58 car also came to a halt. Just as this was happening the TVR ran on (at indianappolis IIRC) into the gravel, and appeared to touch the tyre wall. 3 British cars all coming to grief within a minute!!
I am still waiting to download some 500+ photos.
There was a lucky escape in the historic qualifier. I was on Mulsanne corner when one of the rear wheels came off an old vintage open top racer. The car slid sideways then rolled in the gravel
You saw the drivers head hit the gravel 
The car stopped back on its wheels. The driver got out a bit dazed and after a while was stretchered into the Ambulance. There was a round of applause and the driver gave a thumbs up as he was lifted in. For one moment we feared there could have been a serious injury of even fatality.
It was really exciting the last 2 hours.
The 59 Aston came in with overheating Problems and as it was being wheeled into the garage, the 58 car also came to a halt. Just as this was happening the TVR ran on (at indianappolis IIRC) into the gravel, and appeared to touch the tyre wall. 3 British cars all coming to grief within a minute!!
I am still waiting to download some 500+ photos.
There was a lucky escape in the historic qualifier. I was on Mulsanne corner when one of the rear wheels came off an old vintage open top racer. The car slid sideways then rolled in the gravel
You saw the drivers head hit the gravel The car stopped back on its wheels. The driver got out a bit dazed and after a while was stretchered into the Ambulance. There was a round of applause and the driver gave a thumbs up as he was lifted in. For one moment we feared there could have been a serious injury of even fatality.
Hi, I am a NKOTB and my dad gave me these 3 initials,
he obviously didn't know tvr then. I am owning an 1800S and a Cerb6 and felt pretty helpless this weekend, with the Peninsula car running last all of the time. Great that they finished nonetheless. What might we be able to do to ensure a 2 car team to compete at Le Mans next year? Apart from buying NS cars.....
he obviously didn't know tvr then. I am owning an 1800S and a Cerb6 and felt pretty helpless this weekend, with the Peninsula car running last all of the time. Great that they finished nonetheless. What might we be able to do to ensure a 2 car team to compete at Le Mans next year? Apart from buying NS cars.....
CiderwithCerbie said:
Poor show all around and little end of race excitement - glad I did not go.
Aston's fragile hair to Corvette's rock solid tortoise (Similar story for the Audi's and Pescarolo's). TVR's snail will not even be officially placed because of not doing enough laps compared to winner, even though it outlasted Spyker and some Porkers and Fezzas (but well done to Peninsula for lasting the full 24h). Pity LNT not there.
My suggestions for Le Mans -
1. Get rid of expensive prototypes and have two or three classes of GT's with cars recognisably developed from road going product (GT1's are quick enough now).
2. Get rid of Mulsanne chicannes
3. Get at least 4 Aston's there next year
4. Get NS to build enough T440's to get the restrictors off and give the Porkers a real run for their money.
5. Make sure a fully equipped and atleast two car LMES TVR team is on the grid.
6. Get more sportscar producers to make LM derivatives, more marques would mean more interest and better competition and coverage.
See you there next year?!
Hmm, I'll reply to each of your points in turn:
1. If you want a 24 hr race which caters solely for GTs, then there's always Spa. There's a demand for a prototype class and the fans love them - plus Audi and Peugeot will soon be back. I agree with you to an extent because I've always been a fan of closed roof cars, but there's little doubt (after my involvement with one this weekend) that proptotypes are just a bit more special.
2. Good idea but will never happen.
3. There probably will be - four customer cars have been sold already.
4. Very funny! Oh, you weren't joking... As they promised both us and Rollcentre that they'd build enough as long ago as '01, I'd say it's pretty clear that's not going to happen. (Rather OT, but you really have to ask questions about Smellyski when he doesn't even want to knock out enough T400Rs to help TVR's exposure on the World stage, but that's another discussion altogether...)
5. Well if Lawrence maintains hs commitment levels and wins LMES he'll get in on merit.
6. Not a chance. The best hope would be less or no LM derivatives, so that things like the Lambo could be competitive. Tighter homologation rules but more relaxed technical regulations would help.
It was a great race, all in. Our early dice with the Audis, the terrific will they/won't they Pescarolo fightback, the amazing GT1 scrap (dead even on pace throughout), a great GT2 fight and a number of offs and blowouts all added up. Pescarolo took the fight all the way to the last hour and the GT1 battle was only settled in the last two.
It wasn't the greatest ever but it was a hell of a race, played out at extraordinary temperatures. I enjoyed it anyway.
Just got back.. I'm not so sure I am into the event enough to go again, especially camping, in that heat!!!! But I have tried it and it was an experience!
Well done to Peninsula for making it to the end... in that heat, amazing. I have new deep respect for the drivers, especially watching them at night 3 abreast into Porsche curves.
Drove virtually entire route away from autoroute, and this was the best bit about the weekend!! We rounded it off with a great 'Chambre Dhote' B&B last night.
My only negative comment... this day and age, with the money they take on the gate, I did honestly expect more free access areas rather then sneeking around in the woods at 2am this morning...
Well done to Peninsula for making it to the end... in that heat, amazing. I have new deep respect for the drivers, especially watching them at night 3 abreast into Porsche curves.
Drove virtually entire route away from autoroute, and this was the best bit about the weekend!! We rounded it off with a great 'Chambre Dhote' B&B last night.
My only negative comment... this day and age, with the money they take on the gate, I did honestly expect more free access areas rather then sneeking around in the woods at 2am this morning...
Just back well done the TVR guys and a big thank you to Jon Hartstone's daughter for trying to find me a mobilephone charger after my one got left back in the UK.
Piers Johnson put in some amazing stints.
Oh and the temprature was more like 48 degrees C
Well done guys think Ted should organise a BBQ for the them to celebrate the result.
Piers Johnson put in some amazing stints.
Oh and the temprature was more like 48 degrees C
Well done guys think Ted should organise a BBQ for the them to celebrate the result.
Ambient temp was 34/35C. We were all waiting for it to cool off a bit so that the mechanics could recover a little, but as soon as had it finally dropped to 22C the sun came up again. Track temperature was crazy though and I'd hate to think what the cockpit temps were in the front-engined cars.
:CiderwithCerby said:
Aston's fragile hair to Corvette's rock solid tortoise
[Englishteacher]it's a "hare" not a "hair"[/Englishteacher]
Also the Corvette is hardly a tortoise as it finished 5th & 6th overall so beat everything except for 3 Audis and a Pesky Rolo......and the Aston was not exactly a "Hare" as it's biggest lead over the Corvette was 4mins 42 secs and that was after the Corvette had suffered 2 punctures.
What a grin, my first time and certainly not the last
http://image44.webshots.com/44/7/71/98/375277198zhNyEu_ph.jpg
photo taken from dunlop bridge, hanging over the edge on Saturday what a sound especially the corvettes, poor old T400 did sound quiet next to the others, hey but at least we finished. Well done Peninsula boys in that extreme heat, it was almost to hot to drink beer
PS why does that photo not appear?
PPS how can I insert some of the sounds?
rjc
http://image44.webshots.com/44/7/71/98/375277198zhNyEu_ph.jpg
photo taken from dunlop bridge, hanging over the edge on Saturday what a sound especially the corvettes, poor old T400 did sound quiet next to the others, hey but at least we finished. Well done Peninsula boys in that extreme heat, it was almost to hot to drink beer
PS why does that photo not appear?
PPS how can I insert some of the sounds?
rjc
We did notice that the Tiv was breaking deep into the corners and their rivals were not !
Not sure why this was - perhaps amateur drivers, poor balance etc .. but it sure slowed them down.
They also disappeared for a few hours - not sure if this was to change parts or just to ensure a finish..
Congrats to them all anyway but sometimes when you are there - you have to come home and watch the Euro sport coverage to find out what happened
We were pretty busy whilst there
The above is not a dig in anyway !
Not sure why this was - perhaps amateur drivers, poor balance etc .. but it sure slowed them down.
They also disappeared for a few hours - not sure if this was to change parts or just to ensure a finish..
Congrats to them all anyway but sometimes when you are there - you have to come home and watch the Euro sport coverage to find out what happened
We were pretty busy whilst there
The above is not a dig in anyway !
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