Le Mans 24hr Race Thread

Le Mans 24hr Race Thread

Author
Discussion

VladD

7,853 posts

264 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
olliethehut said:
Dr Z said:
Pace wise Toyota had no competition at this race but I wouldn't consider this a hollow win because they proved themselves to be more than competitive with the other manufacturers when they were in the series in previous years.

They showed good pace and better pace than last year's winners. It’s just as likely that they would have beat the VAG cars if they'd bothered to turn up, IMO.

Plus I liked that Alonso's presence made some sections of the sportscar fans uncomfortable. Whatever you think of this guy's talents behind the wheel of a car, he made a significant contribution to the race win with his night driving, IMO.
Alonsos presence was a massive impact on the race. Many sports car fans (and commentators) should be a little ashamed of their treatment of him IMHO.
Maybe he wasn't as open with the press as they would have liked, but he had been brought in to do a job, and he did it very, very well.
The whole Toyota organisation seemed on point this weekend - No stupid offs, no silly pit mistakes. Just a metronomic, almost Audi like running of the race. Fair play to them, Alonso wouldn't have come cheap, hopefully he'll be back next year to complete the world championship.
Alonso is signed up for the whole season, so it'll be interesting to see if he ends up as world champion. If he does, I can see him doing a full season of Indy Car and trying to win that too. A champion at the top level of three difference championships could even out do Graham Hill.

The Surveyor

7,576 posts

236 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
Dr Z said:
Pace wise Toyota had no competition at this race but I wouldn't consider this a hollow win because they proved themselves to be more than competitive with the other manufacturers when they were in the series in previous years.

They showed good pace and better pace than last year's winners. It’s just as likely that they would have beat the VAG cars if they'd bothered to turn up, IMO.

Plus I liked that Alonso's presence made some sections of the sportscar fans uncomfortable. Whatever you think of this guy's talents behind the wheel of a car, he made a significant contribution to the race win with his night driving, IMO.
You're right with regard to the pace, they were hardly cruising around for an easy win, they racked up some 388 laps which is only circa 9 laps less than the highest distance covered on the current track configuration, that record being held by Audi in 2010. I know it's often safety car dependant, but 388 laps is a pretty impressing total, pretty decent pace and pretty decent reliability.

Toyota deserve all the credit for their victory IMHO.

Z06George

2,519 posts

188 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/no-67-ford-pena...

Some movement in places after the time penalties being announced, clearly Ford weren't great at keeping time!

rdjohn

6,135 posts

194 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
The race in the 21st hour between the Rothmans Porsche and French Ford GT was the best bit of hard racing I have seen this year. Pity it was ruined by the 14 lap rule.

I am a fan of Porsche and not a fan of Seb Bordais, but after Priaulx had shown him the way to pass Makoweicki, Bordais maintained really good pressure that was soaked up the 911, but his manager clearly thought he should have passed despite having the same fuel load, so he just whinges on about driving standards. Even when he gets replaced after just one stint.

It was not F1 rules and it was not Max style weaving, but it was bloody entertaining.

Despite the lack of sleep and the foregone win for Toyota, it was a great day out.

joema

2,644 posts

178 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
That was great racing between ford and the Porsche and I’m glad there were no penalties.

I don’t like these shortened stint lengths. So many Pit stops are unnecessary and not really endurance imo.

Say what you want about Toyota but I don’t begrudge them the win after 16 (?) .And they haven’t bailed like VAG and committed to racing wec when they could have withdrawn too. The cars are great and I live watching them.

I’m not sure Audi got so much stick in 2013? Although that race was overshadowed by tragic events.

Alonso’s night stint was epic. Up there with Tandy’s 2015 night stint. Glad He is enjoying though. Deserves some success.

Not a classic race but we have been spoiled recently. I was there so I enjoyed it as much as usual.


ajprice

27,317 posts

195 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
chrisr111r said:
Apart from #7 missing the pit altogether for some seemingly inexplicable reason - can only have been driver brain fade as surely they would've/should've been on the radio
https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/136843/kobayash...

Kobayashi says he 'forgot' to pit.

Vaud

50,289 posts

154 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
ajprice said:
Kobayashi says he forgot to pit.

Tin foil hats are as prevalent in this forum as some F1 threads... Why are so many so cynical?

Derek Smith

45,514 posts

247 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
I've been swapping emails with friends over the day. The general opinion seems to be that Toyota turned up and therefore deserved to win.

The Ford/Porsche battle was seen as the highlight of the race, but there were others through the 24 hours. My opinion that the Fords were as robust early on as the Porsche was later was not supported 100%.

Alonso though split my friends. Whilst his quality came through there was a certain resentment about him being slotted into the best car when there was no competition, not quite the epitome of the confident super driver. I can see their point. He did what one would expect.

Perhaps he's learned from his previous poor choices of drive.

Button went for a Ginetta, much more praiseworthy.

Overall a good race. There were lots of positives, and it was 24 hours of fascinating motor racing - but thank heavens for the BT box so the adverts could be cut out.

ajprice

27,317 posts

195 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
Vaud said:
ajprice said:
Kobayashi says he forgot to pit.

Tin foil hats are as prevalent in this forum as some F1 threads... Why are so many so cynical?
I was quoting the 'forgot' from the Autosport article, ask them about tinfoil hats.

MG CHRIS

9,077 posts

166 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
The Leaper said:
Toyota have not had 20 attempts. This year was the 20th anniversary of their first attempt in 1998. They have been absent for a significant number of years

R.
Um Toyota have gone way back before 98 they actually entered with dome as far back as the 80s.

Red Firecracker

5,276 posts

226 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
Derek Smith said:
I've been swapping emails with friends over the day. The general opinion seems to be that Toyota turned up and therefore deserved to win.

The Ford/Porsche battle was seen as the highlight of the race, but there were others through the 24 hours. My opinion that the Fords were as robust early on as the Porsche was later was not supported 100%.

Alonso though split my friends. Whilst his quality came through there was a certain resentment about him being slotted into the best car when there was no competition, not quite the epitome of the confident super driver. I can see their point. He did what one would expect.

Perhaps he's learned from his previous poor choices of drive.

Button went for a Ginetta, much more praiseworthy.

Overall a good race. There were lots of positives, and it was 24 hours of fascinating motor racing - but thank heavens for the BT box so the adverts could be cut out.
Button went for an SMP, much more sensible wink

David HeinemeierHansson posted this of the top fastest 40 lap averages. Alonso's average was 0.4 second faster than the second place driver, Buemi. That is impressive.




Edited by Red Firecracker on Monday 18th June 20:13

Vaud

50,289 posts

154 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
ajprice said:
I was quoting the 'forgot' from the Autosport article, ask them about tinfoil hats.
Then my apologies. I've hit my limit of viewing on Autosport for the month...

The Leaper

4,937 posts

205 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
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.

The Leaper

4,937 posts

205 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
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.

E65Ross

34,946 posts

211 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
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.

TCEvo

12,625 posts

201 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
Fourth placed Ford also penalised meaning the Corvette moves up one place from fifth smile

ajprice

27,317 posts

195 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/136849/gdrive-t...

It was an illegal part in the refuelling system to speed up the fuel flow.

eps

6,272 posts

268 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
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.
They are appealing the decision...

MG CHRIS

9,077 posts

166 months

Monday 18th June 2018
quotequote all
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.
They were a works entry end of 80s and early 90s then had a break and came back in 98.

p1stonhead

25,489 posts

166 months

Tuesday 19th June 2018
quotequote all
Red Firecracker said:
Derek Smith said:
I've been swapping emails with friends over the day. The general opinion seems to be that Toyota turned up and therefore deserved to win.

The Ford/Porsche battle was seen as the highlight of the race, but there were others through the 24 hours. My opinion that the Fords were as robust early on as the Porsche was later was not supported 100%.

Alonso though split my friends. Whilst his quality came through there was a certain resentment about him being slotted into the best car when there was no competition, not quite the epitome of the confident super driver. I can see their point. He did what one would expect.

Perhaps he's learned from his previous poor choices of drive.

Button went for a Ginetta, much more praiseworthy.

Overall a good race. There were lots of positives, and it was 24 hours of fascinating motor racing - but thank heavens for the BT box so the adverts could be cut out.
Button went for an SMP, much more sensible wink

David HeinemeierHansson posted this of the top fastest 40 lap averages. Alonso's average was 0.4 second faster than the second place driver, Buemi. That is impressive.




Edited by Red Firecracker on Monday 18th June 20:13
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?

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.
Who has said they didnt deserve it? Most have said they were not racing anyone on pace. Would their average have been the fastest if they were battling someone else at the same time? Impossible to say.