Le Mans 2019 - The Very Last Time For The Classic Vantage
Discussion
IanV12VSRs said:
I am not sure why they bother with qualifying as the BOP adjustments seem to allow the organisers to manipulate as they wish. I wonder if AMR will continue with GTE Pro once the Hypercar series comes in.
I think this is a critical point. Being on pole position is meaningless in a 24 hour race. All that we will see in future is cars cruising around slowly and not trying to set a fast qualifying lap if the officials are going to make draconian adjustments afterwards
laterontoday said:
Not just a BOP issue though, the vantage is munching its tyres far quicker than the others.one lap good but race set up just isn’t there.
Possibly, but then if it wasn't hobbled for top speed on the straight maybe it wouldn't have to push its tyres so hard through the corners.RobDown said:
I think this is a critical point. Being on pole position is meaningless in a 24 hour race.
All that we will see in future is cars cruising around slowly and not trying to set a fast qualifying lap if the officials are going to make draconian adjustments afterwards
All that we will see in future is cars cruising around slowly and not trying to set a fast qualifying lap if the officials are going to make draconian adjustments afterwards
BoP handicapping may be thought of as being artificial, but how remarkable in the GTE Pro class, that the first few finishers after 24 hours of racing, all completed an identical number of laps, and consisted of three different makes of car.
Jon39 said:
BoP handicapping may be thought of as being artificial, but how remarkable in the GTE Pro class, that the first few finishers after 24 hours of racing, all completed an identical number of laps, and consisted of three different makes of car.
Perhaps Aston knew the weather conditions would be against them (I understand they really needed a wet race) so went for fastest lap in qualifying and accept whatever that brought with it. Having used Dunlop’s last year they have not had the experience the others have had with the Michelin tyres as the others have.
The systematic problem with BoP is it should be based upon a competitive session. Qualifying, particularly for a 24 hour race, isn't competitive-enough. They should have based the BoP on may be Spa or Sebring? Or, a rolling average of the last 3 races? Otherwise people just sand-bag qualifying and not only avoid penalties, they actually get assistance from BoP.
IanV12VSRs said:
Not sure how relevant that is - or perhaps just a coincidence. Interesting to me that the winner qualified 8th and more or less said in an interview that they didn’t bother with qualifying to make sure they didn’t get any adverse BoP handicap, so used their experience.
Perhaps Aston knew the weather conditions would be against them (I understand they really needed a wet race) so went for fastest lap in qualifying and accept whatever that brought with it. Having used Dunlop’s last year they have not had the experience the others have had with the Michelin tyres as the others have.
But why couldn't they have used Dunlops this year?Perhaps Aston knew the weather conditions would be against them (I understand they really needed a wet race) so went for fastest lap in qualifying and accept whatever that brought with it. Having used Dunlop’s last year they have not had the experience the others have had with the Michelin tyres as the others have.
I believe the new car was tested exhaustively at Sebring, so seems weird their underlying problem is tyre wear.
IanV12VSRs said:
This is an unusual season for WEC with the season running 18 months (I think) so the GTE AM cars are still racing in the old shape. This season there were two Le Mans counting in one season. No doubt someone will correct if that is wrong. Not sure when the season ends.
Correct that was the last race of the super season hence why Alonso was world champion. First race of new season is 1st September with the 4 hrs of Silverstone. Has been 6 hrs race in the past but now reduced to 4 for the new season.
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