2018 LMP-2 winners disqualified

[MartG]

The winners of this years Le Mans LMP-2 class have been disqualified. Scrutineers have found an extra part in the refuelling system which appears to have altered the characteristics of the flow restrictor, allowing the team to refuel significantly quicker

https://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2018/06/lmp2-cl...

[Welshbeef]

A bit like Naughty Honda F1 all those years ago with Button and Alonso where they had a very big fuel tank and could run it extremely low and much lighter than allowed during the race and qualifying. Banned from the entire season.

[smack]

Welshbeef said:

A bit like Naughty Honda F1 all those years ago with Button and Alonso where they had a very big fuel tank and could run it extremely low and much lighter than allowed during the race and qualifying. Banned from the entire season.

Hmm, I didn't know Alonso drove for Honda.... Which parallel universe was this?

[Alex Langheck]

Faster by approx. 6 seconds per pit stop.....

No sympathy really - blatant cheating.

[Welshbeef]

smack said:

Hmm, I didn't know Alonso drove for Honda.... Which parallel universe was this?

Oops before his time but he has a lack lustre Honda engine and has had for years. Got can you remember he last time he won a title??

[Blaster72]

It was Sato at BAR with Button wasn't it?

This LMP2 refuelling shenanigans sounds a bit like a certain F1 team and their dodgy refuelling rig some time ago. Don't they learn.

[Welshbeef]

Why did the team principle allow this development to happen? Knowing it’s illegal / in breach of the rules and a would be a disqualifiication.


Sponsors must be spitting feathers

[chunder27]

As usual they are appealing and will no doubt say it was not offering any advantage. So, why do it then, when no other teams did?

By all accounts the team in third that were banned used the same system, it was a machined part in the refuelling system, that was really a kit of parts anyway. So, it seems GDrive used their own part in a kit.

Similar to what TWR Benetton did in 94 with the refuelling rig, that was also a system used by everyone and modified by Benetton to allow more fuel to pass through.

But let's be honest Walkinshaw was involved, why would anyone be surprised.

[Welshbeef]

Appealing due to no advantage?

6 seconds per refuel quicker.

[IanUAE]

And 2 Ford cars have been penalised for 2 drivers not driving their minimum 6 hours in the race.

[MartG]

IanUAE said:

And 2 Ford cars have been penalised for 2 drivers not driving their minimum 6 hours in the race.

https://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/fords-hit-with-le-mans-minimum-drive-time-penalties-1046658/

[chunder27]

I would guess they will try and say the part they changed offered no advantage and provide evidence to back it.

Why change it then?

[eastlmark]

chunder27 said:

By all accounts the team in third that were banned used the same system, it was a machined part in the refuelling system, that was really a kit of parts anyway. So, it seems GDrive used their own part in a kit.

.

Gdrive is run by TDS racing so no surprise they were both thrown out.

[Vocal Minority]

Welshbeef said:

A bit like Naughty Honda F1 all those years ago with Button and Alonso where they had a very big fuel tank and could run it extremely low and much lighter than allowed during the race and qualifying. Banned from the entire season.

Swing and a miss on the ban as well - it was 2 races

[Rude-boy]

Vocal Minority said:

Welshbeef said:

A bit like Naughty Honda F1 all those years ago with Button and Alonso where they had a very big fuel tank and could run it extremely low and much lighter than allowed during the race and qualifying. Banned from the entire season.

Swing and a miss on the ban as well - it was 2 races

Indeed.

it was Toyota who were banned from Rallying for the rest of the 1995 season after their Turbo restriction plate defeat device was found.

Link about it all here (very interesting):-

https://jalopnik.com/how-the-best-racing-cheat-of-...

I spoke to one of the people who inspected that in about 12 months after the event. They considered it one of the most impressive bits of engineering that they had ever seen.

[GravelBen]

chunder27 said:

But let's be honest Walkinshaw was involved, why would anyone be surprised.