Will LM 2018 be Quieter than usual?

[Truckosaurus]

Ahoy Comrades,

It seems that there might be reduced interest in this year's running on LM.

There's not much chunter on this forum (or am I misremembering previous years?).

Of our group of chums who go it is the smallest group ever. (3 adults, 1 youth - has been a dozen or so in recent years)

Sales of spare tickets on eBay aren't going for massive sums.

The result of the race might be considered a foregone conclusion (although I think it might be the best race in a long while)

Am I talking nonsense as usual?

[ThirstyMonk]

Factoring in Toyota's curse, the impressive privateer entries, the new GTE line up (Aston and BMW fielding new cars) I think it'll be a great race..

There have always been peaks and troughs as far as the excitement goes.. but I'd take this years running over the Audi dominance of the early 2000s

[Tyre Smoke]

ThirstyMonk said:

Factoring in Toyota's curse, the impressive privateer entries, the new GTE line up (Aston and BMW fielding new cars) I think it'll be a great race..

There have always been peaks and troughs as far as the excitement goes.. but I'd take this years running over the Audi dominance of the early 2000s

Or the Audi whoosssshhhhhhhh. I won't miss that.

I understand the need for technological advances, but when the aero on a vehicle makes more noise than the engine, something is wrong with the ethos of LM. I do miss the Radio LM pitlane interviews with Dr Oetker though.

[Man-At-Arms]

Tyre Smoke said:

with Dr Oetker though.

[generationx]

Spa WEC this year was the busiest I've seen for a long time and a lot was due, I believe, to the Alonso Effect.

I expect Le Mans to be much the same.

[99dndd]

I'm going for the 1st time.

Knowing the 2 guys I'm going with, we'll make sure it's pretty loud.

[Truckosaurus]

generationx said:

... the Alonso Effect....

Good point, plus Jenson Button interest from Brits who would not normally go.

[VladD]

It does clash with the start of the world cup this year, so maybe some footyheads will stay at home to watch that on TV instead.

[Some Gump]

Quieter? Hahah you're having a laugh.

The new private P1's will be much louder than the hybrids. 3 of them are even N/A V8's
The LMP2 grid is massive (20) and all V8's.
2 Corvettes. 2 BMW's. 4 Astons. 10 of the epic sounding 911 RSR's

Who cares what size the crowds will be, I reckon that this year's 24h symphony will be the best one since the AMR-One was screeching around the Mulsanne. I'm truly gutted I can't be trackside this year =(

[Nosynchro]

Maybe less people but less dry ground too = busier camp sites. Based on the Beausejourometer (the site that sees the flex in numbers) it has got quieter last couple of years but still a lot busier than 10-12 years ago

[RL17]

Loads of locals came in last year as weather fine and most seemed behind Toyota so would expect similar influx if weather good. Some of the private sites must be busier based on some comments and discussions.

[OvalOwl]

On pure lap times from the test day the Rebellions are going to keep the Toyotas honest. The GT battle looks great.

I know I'm in a minority but I was always amazed at how quiet the Audi's were. For fans of noise there is always the Corvettes.

[gt6]

Well if the noise is important, and it is to me, you will be very disappointed by both the new astons and the BMW's both were very quiet and slow at Spa as they went past. But the old astons still sounded great.

Agree numbers would appear to be lower this year with the ACO still selling grandstands and camping, and prices on e bay dropping faster than usual, time to pick up a bargain and go if you have not already booked

[surveyor]

Nosynchro said:

Maybe less people but less dry ground too = busier camp sites. Based on the Beausejourometer (the site that sees the flex in numbers) it has got quieter last couple of years but still a lot busier than 10-12 years ago

I think they have been adding overflow capacity to BSJ and closing it earlier in the last 2 years.

[C70R]

This conversation comes up every year - and every year the attendance figures stay flat or increase. Last year was ~260k, and I'll be shocked if this year isn't >250k.

[eps]

I don't care!

I think it will be an amazing race - full of competition across all 4 classes. Rebellion must surely fancy their chance.

Credit to Toyota, they've "only" got 2 entries. If they had done an Audi and gone with 3 or 4 then I would have been less than impressed. The potential for slip ups is huge at Le Mans. If they win, they will have deserved to do so.

Have a good race everyone!

[ellroy]

ACO reporting that all campsites are sold out on twitter. So not that quiet.

[Some Gump]

eps said:

I don't care!

I think it will be an amazing race - full of competition across all 4 classes. Rebellion must surely fancy their chance.

Credit to Toyota, they've "only" got 2 entries. If they had done an Audi and gone with 3 or 4 then I would have been less than impressed. The potential for slip ups is huge at Le Mans. If they win, they will have deserved to do so.

Have a good race everyone!

Au contraire.. Imo Toyota are sandbagging. the Alonso car was running calm pace at spa, and was still laps ahead. The other car lost loads of time and still was able to quite easily come back to 2nd. Doing 19's on test day when we do know they could do much better smacks a little of Ford's return and puts a dampener on their probable victory. Imo if the Eot stays the same, they can run at 90% and walk it.
If they had shown any kind of true pace at the test day I'd be cheering them on, but tbh I'm hoping to see an Oreca on the top step, and I'm not even expecting it to be a rebellion!

[VladD]

Some Gump said:

eps said:

I don't care!

I think it will be an amazing race - full of competition across all 4 classes. Rebellion must surely fancy their chance.

Credit to Toyota, they've "only" got 2 entries. If they had done an Audi and gone with 3 or 4 then I would have been less than impressed. The potential for slip ups is huge at Le Mans. If they win, they will have deserved to do so.

Have a good race everyone!

Au contraire.. Imo Toyota are sandbagging. the Alonso car was running calm pace at spa, and was still laps ahead. The other car lost loads of time and still was able to quite easily come back to 2nd. Doing 19's on test day when we do know they could do much better smacks a little of Ford's return and puts a dampener on their probable victory. Imo if the Eot stays the same, they can run at 90% and walk it.
If they had shown any kind of true pace at the test day I'd be cheering them on, but tbh I'm hoping to see an Oreca on the top step, and I'm not even expecting it to be a rebellion!

I think if one of the Toyotas either breaks down or crashes in the first quarter of the race, leaving just one racing for victory, it could be very intriguing. Given that they broke down with a lap to go the year before last, they won't be taking anything for granted until they've crossed the finish line. In some respects I hope Toyota win so that they finally get a return on their investment, but part of me, being a bit of a Mazda fan, hopes that Mazda remain the only Japanese manufacturer to win it. I'd also feel a bit sad for Anthony Davidson if Toyota won it.

[eps]

Some Gump said:

eps said:

I don't care!

I think it will be an amazing race - full of competition across all 4 classes. Rebellion must surely fancy their chance.

Credit to Toyota, they've "only" got 2 entries. If they had done an Audi and gone with 3 or 4 then I would have been less than impressed. The potential for slip ups is huge at Le Mans. If they win, they will have deserved to do so.

Have a good race everyone!

Au contraire.. Imo Toyota are sandbagging. the Alonso car was running calm pace at spa, and was still laps ahead. The other car lost loads of time and still was able to quite easily come back to 2nd. Doing 19's on test day when we do know they could do much better smacks a little of Ford's return and puts a dampener on their probable victory. Imo if the Eot stays the same, they can run at 90% and walk it.
If they had shown any kind of true pace at the test day I'd be cheering them on, but tbh I'm hoping to see an Oreca on the top step, and I'm not even expecting it to be a rebellion!

Ford had 4 cars vs everyone else with 2.... Not the same imo. I don't believe you can sandbag at the front of Le Mans with 2 cars, 3 maybe, 4 defo. I definitely don't think they can sandbag for a 24 hour race at La Sarthe either but I've only been going to Le Mans since 1997.