Le Mans 24hr Race Thread
Discussion
It really is impossible to say how they’d have faired against other Hybrid entries had there been some. The Porsche evolution is tearing up lap times, albeit in none compliant spec, and the Audi that was developed for last year was by all accounts absolutely rapid. I think EVO did an article on it if you want to look for it. So as a result they may well have not had it easy despite their evident pace.
Also, the lap is now a tiny little bit shorter, 6m, and the weather conditions almost perfect, not too hot and little rain to speak of. So even trying to compare the times/speed is pointless to any previous winners.
Not a great race by any stretch, to the extent we finished watching in Tetre Rouge bar and it’s the first time that’s happened.
Also, the lap is now a tiny little bit shorter, 6m, and the weather conditions almost perfect, not too hot and little rain to speak of. So even trying to compare the times/speed is pointless to any previous winners.
Not a great race by any stretch, to the extent we finished watching in Tetre Rouge bar and it’s the first time that’s happened.
MG CHRIS said:
The Leaper said:
MG CHRIS said:
Um Toyota have gone way back before 98 they actually entered with dome as far back as the 80s.
Agree, but they were not entered as a full works team until 1998 methinks. RLM consistently reported that 2018 is the 20th anniversary of their first works entry.R.
p1stonhead said:
Are those top speeds achieved on a lap?
If they are surely a bit of wind on the mulsanne where the foot is pinned to the floor would account for a lot of that with such small swings?
They're times, so seconds and tenths. Fastest is the quickest lap in each drivers 40 quickest, the Top 40 is the average of those 40.If they are surely a bit of wind on the mulsanne where the foot is pinned to the floor would account for a lot of that with such small swings?
ajprice said:
https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/136849/gdrive-t...
It was an illegal part in the refuelling system to speed up the fuel flow.
The investigation was instigated after it was noted that they took less time to refuel. Not sure how you would overcome that clue. Mind you, Benetton did it for half a season before attempting to burn down the Hockenheim pits and no one mentioned their much quicker times.It was an illegal part in the refuelling system to speed up the fuel flow.
Lynchie999 said:
perhaps ACO are thinking of a LMP1, LMP2 and LMP3 series ?
I doubt it for 2 reasons.1.(Semi-seriously) You get some seriously amateurish driving in LMP3. Mixing them with LMP1s is a recipe for carnage
2. (Seriously) The ACO has got a decent structure with the main series, and Road to Le Mans. The latter is a proper development ground and should remain that
Derek Smith said:
ajprice said:
https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/136849/gdrive-t...
It was an illegal part in the refuelling system to speed up the fuel flow.
The investigation was instigated after it was noted that they took less time to refuel. Not sure how you would overcome that clue. Mind you, Benetton did it for half a season before attempting to burn down the Hockenheim pits and no one mentioned their much quicker times.It was an illegal part in the refuelling system to speed up the fuel flow.
Well... I for one had a great time at Le Mans! 
Toyota could have brought 3 or maybe even 4 cars to the race and that would have been a foregone conclusion and certainly frowned upon. 2 cars is not a certainty at La Sarthe. I've seen enough Toyota's throw themselves off the track or had collisions which ended a dominant race position in an instant.
Rebellion certainly seemed to be racing within their limit.
The penalties due to using too much fuel or going too far on a stint's worth of fuel seem farcical to all bar the ACO.
The GTE Pro mandated stint lengths were an odd choice as well and there were a number of unsafe releases from those teams as they were nose to tail in the opening hours of the race. Let them race to their strengths. A lot of these ideas seem good on paper, but rubbish in practice.
We had a great campsite and some good neighbours I think we've found our number one choice for campsites now. Of course they change over the years and I think that because it is non-numbered (just like the "good old days") you end up with a mix of nationalities and groups and so get like minded race fans around you.
Getting to and from the circuit was certainly a lot easier than in previous years.
The price of beer and food on offer is shocking, but there's only one way that will change.. Vote with your wallet or accept the prices. We certainly drank less beer and ate less food around the circuit. The quality of some of the food has dipped as well - so not only are they charging more for it, I suspect that they are paying less for the product in the first place.
The racing though was good, there were plenty of battles across all 4 classes and a good ebb and flow once the race had settled down a little.
Hopefully there will be a good mix of entries for next year and those who return will be more prepared than this year. I guess all WEC entered entrants are in the 2019 race as it's the transition super season?
The tram continues to be a revelation, as I remember the days before that was in place and getting to and from town (if you wanted to) was a complete PITA. Some great banter and chat to and from the circuit on the tram - particularly for the drivers parade which we've been avoiding for the past few years as it was massively difficult to get back from.
Mad Friday seemed less mad than usual
Somehow the campsites and grandstands seemed quieter than usual but the place was packed.. Maybe people were shunning the onsite campsites and the grandstands in favour of other campsites and general entrance tickets only? The prices of which seem to tick up year on year.
There were some really good fan areas around the village as well and plenty of opportunity to participate in things if you wanted to - some years they looked far too busy to bother with.
Toyota could have brought 3 or maybe even 4 cars to the race and that would have been a foregone conclusion and certainly frowned upon. 2 cars is not a certainty at La Sarthe. I've seen enough Toyota's throw themselves off the track or had collisions which ended a dominant race position in an instant.
Rebellion certainly seemed to be racing within their limit.
The penalties due to using too much fuel or going too far on a stint's worth of fuel seem farcical to all bar the ACO.
The GTE Pro mandated stint lengths were an odd choice as well and there were a number of unsafe releases from those teams as they were nose to tail in the opening hours of the race. Let them race to their strengths. A lot of these ideas seem good on paper, but rubbish in practice.
We had a great campsite and some good neighbours
I think we've found our number one choice for campsites now. Of course they change over the years and I think that because it is non-numbered (just like the "good old days") you end up with a mix of nationalities and groups and so get like minded race fans around you.Getting to and from the circuit was certainly a lot easier than in previous years.
The price of beer and food on offer is shocking, but there's only one way that will change.. Vote with your wallet or accept the prices. We certainly drank less beer and ate less food around the circuit. The quality of some of the food has dipped as well - so not only are they charging more for it, I suspect that they are paying less for the product in the first place.
The racing though was good, there were plenty of battles across all 4 classes and a good ebb and flow once the race had settled down a little.
Hopefully there will be a good mix of entries for next year and those who return will be more prepared than this year. I guess all WEC entered entrants are in the 2019 race as it's the transition super season?
The tram continues to be a revelation, as I remember the days before that was in place and getting to and from town (if you wanted to) was a complete PITA. Some great banter and chat to and from the circuit on the tram - particularly for the drivers parade which we've been avoiding for the past few years as it was massively difficult to get back from.
Mad Friday seemed less mad than usual
Somehow the campsites and grandstands seemed quieter than usual but the place was packed.. Maybe people were shunning the onsite campsites and the grandstands in favour of other campsites and general entrance tickets only? The prices of which seem to tick up year on year.
There were some really good fan areas around the village as well and plenty of opportunity to participate in things if you wanted to - some years they looked far too busy to bother with.
Krikkit said:
What I don't understand is why they think none of the scrutineers would notice - maybe in a 6h race where there's fewer stops, but doing 30+ stops, someone's going to stand around with a stopwatch checking the fuel timings...
If the scrutineers don't do it, I bet the other teams would have done. Is does seem a risk too far, as you point out.OK I had a great Le Mans, just like my other 29. Toyota deserved the victory but it was a hollow one really. The fans don't want to see a single manufacturer given special rules that wins a race by a dozen laps. I must thank Toyota for trying their best to lose the race by being given penalties and forgetting to box when they should...about the only real excitement in LMP1. Hat's off to Rebellion for attending and giving it their best.
One thing though I'd love to know. Approximately 30 seconds after the race ended I couldn't get a beer anywhere around the track. Managed to get a crepe only!. Is it a case of 'OK we've had your money, now **** off!' I can't believe that because they must know that if the weather is hot, a nice drink or two afterwards would earn them much more. Perhaps it's the Brits wonderful reputation abroad that sends them into a closing frenzie? Please let me know Mr ACO. I'm genuinely interested....oh and if you could supply adequate facilities from next year rather than 5 sit down toilets and 5 cold and dribbly showers in a campsit of 2000 people, I'd be most grateful. I think after 30 visits and several thousands of whatever currency you have had spent over the years, I do deserve a bit more than you currently offer.....oh and finally, please don't mess with the Aux Port du Circuit Bar now that you own it, there's a love!!
One thing though I'd love to know. Approximately 30 seconds after the race ended I couldn't get a beer anywhere around the track. Managed to get a crepe only!. Is it a case of 'OK we've had your money, now **** off!' I can't believe that because they must know that if the weather is hot, a nice drink or two afterwards would earn them much more. Perhaps it's the Brits wonderful reputation abroad that sends them into a closing frenzie? Please let me know Mr ACO. I'm genuinely interested....oh and if you could supply adequate facilities from next year rather than 5 sit down toilets and 5 cold and dribbly showers in a campsit of 2000 people, I'd be most grateful. I think after 30 visits and several thousands of whatever currency you have had spent over the years, I do deserve a bit more than you currently offer.....oh and finally, please don't mess with the Aux Port du Circuit Bar now that you own it, there's a love!!
E65Ross said:
LMP2 winner has had their victory taken away.
Oh, and for those saying Toyota don't deserve their win and they were cruising. As an AVERAGE of their fastest 100 laps, they were the quickest in history. And Alonso had the quickest average lap time of all the drivers' top 40 laps.
And what's to say any of the LMP1/Hybrids absent from this years race wouldn't have been even quicker?Oh, and for those saying Toyota don't deserve their win and they were cruising. As an AVERAGE of their fastest 100 laps, they were the quickest in history. And Alonso had the quickest average lap time of all the drivers' top 40 laps.
Toyota's victory was deserved, in that they turned up and finished, but hollow, because there was no competition to push them. This may well apply to other manufacturers in other years, but it doesn't change the fact.
trackside tripod said:
One thing though I'd love to know. Approximately 30 seconds after the race ended I couldn't get a beer anywhere around the track.
THIS. Never quite understood why all the bars / cafes / eateries etc shut up straight away. Whats worse is that Le Mans town is dead as a Dodo on a Sunday. No wonder those who are left resort to burning, trashing and pillaging the campsites.
olliethehut said:
trackside tripod said:
One thing though I'd love to know. Approximately 30 seconds after the race ended I couldn't get a beer anywhere around the track.
THIS. Never quite understood why all the bars / cafes / eateries etc shut up straight away. Whats worse is that Le Mans town is dead as a Dodo on a Sunday. No wonder those who are left resort to burning, trashing and pillaging the campsites.
Does seem a missed commercial opportunity - another concert to round the weekend off, more beers and food sold. It's like the whole place just switches off at 4.30.
trackside tripod said:
One thing though I'd love to know. Approximately 30 seconds after the race ended I couldn't get a beer anywhere around the track. Managed to get a crepe only!. Is it a case of 'OK we've had your money, now **** off!' I can't believe that because they must know that if the weather is hot, a nice drink or two afterwards would earn them much more. Perhaps it's the Brits wonderful reputation abroad that sends them into a closing frenzie? Please let me know Mr ACO. I'm genuinely interested....oh and if you could supply adequate facilities from next year rather than 5 sit down toilets and 5 cold and dribbly showers in a campsit of 2000 people, I'd be most grateful. I think after 30 visits and several thousands of whatever currency you have had spent over the years, I do deserve a bit more than you currently offer.....oh and finally, please don't mess with the Aux Port du Circuit Bar now that you own it, there's a love!!
Agree on close down as 20 of us from various sites last year all met up for podium and found it shut for drink asap.Stayed at camp site with bar and viewed slow down lap and opening of road at entrance to Porsche curves. Did stop about 7 oclock after lots of beers to make latish Monday exit OK
Newish toilets with 2 urinals airport side of start/finaish line tunnel is a joke considering how much they make on beer sales!
Mountain Man said:
On the subject of the BMW, any idea why the GTE version is an 8 series, but the GT3 is a 6 series?
Ferrari, Porsche, Aston Martin all manage it off the same platform.
I can't think of any other manufacturer where the GTE and GT3 are based on different cars (I know some do one not the other)
Back last night and pretty tired but great eventFerrari, Porsche, Aston Martin all manage it off the same platform.
I can't think of any other manufacturer where the GTE and GT3 are based on different cars (I know some do one not the other)
Aston GTE Pro is new platform Vantage and different to 2 entries in AM (think Porsche had different RSRs), new Aston GT3 and GT4 were at AM Festival paddock but only built 7-10 days before so most of GT3s racing this year as still V12s on old platform.
So assume GT3 BMW 8s may follow in time.
RL17 said:
Back last night and pretty tired but great event
Aston GTE Pro is new platform Vantage and different to 2 entries in AM (think Porsche had different RSRs), new Aston GT3 and GT4 were at AM Festival paddock but only built 7-10 days before so most of GT3s racing this year as still V12s on old platform.
So assume GT3 BMW 8s may follow in time.
GTE Am runs cars a year behind, hence they had last year's outgoing V8 Vantage and rear engined RSR, the Pro teams had the new turbocharged Aston and the mid-engined RSR.Aston GTE Pro is new platform Vantage and different to 2 entries in AM (think Porsche had different RSRs), new Aston GT3 and GT4 were at AM Festival paddock but only built 7-10 days before so most of GT3s racing this year as still V12s on old platform.
So assume GT3 BMW 8s may follow in time.
Couldn’t agree more about the prices, toilet/showers and food, we had 1 beer around the circuit no food inside and 2 showers in 5 days, we went overboard on our supermarket shop on booze and food. Saved a fortune and eat and drank like kings. You can get a lot of tins of krone for the price of 1 pint.
A pint of Stella at the parade was 5e and a damn sight better than carlsberg.
A pint of Stella at the parade was 5e and a damn sight better than carlsberg.
Krikkit said:
GTE Am runs cars a year behind, hence they had last year's outgoing V8 Vantage and rear engined RSR, the Pro teams had the new turbocharged Aston and the mid-engined RSR.
New Aston GTE will be homogulated from next March (2019) - so also over a full year behind. I was sure the mid engined RSR was there in 2017.Does anybody know what cars GTE Amare allowed in the long season Le Mans next year - will Am car for Aston change mid season or will BMW field them in Am too
RL17 said:
New Aston GTE will be homogulated from next March (2019) - so also over a full year behind. I was sure the mid engined RSR was there in 2017.
Does anybody know what cars GTE Amare allowed in the long season Le Mans next year - will Am car for Aston change mid season or will BMW field them in Am too
Yes, the mid engined Porsche was there in 2017.Does anybody know what cars GTE Amare allowed in the long season Le Mans next year - will Am car for Aston change mid season or will BMW field them in Am too
I'm not sure about the regulations for the AM cars, but I'd imagine they'd stick with the same rules for the full season.
It looks like Toyota will be there in 2020 for the new hypercar regulations.
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