LeMans racing thread
Discussion
As free practice is running now, I thought it was about time to start a thread for the actual racing.
If you want to watch the simplest/cheapest ways are Eurosport (if you have it) or the WEC stream. Possible that you can use a trial of an Amazon Prime membership if you are struggling - see this thread for more information on TV coverage: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Of course, radio lemans are broadcasting: http://www.radiolemans.co/
Live timing here: https://timing.71wytham.org.uk/s/wec
Qualifying 1 is 9pm this evening and session 2 is 9pm tomorrow (Thursday).
Spotters guide: http://www.spotterguides.com/wp-content/uploads/20...
There is a huge guide to the entries, cars and so on here : http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/06/12/le-mans-r...
We have a weird situation where the LMP2 cars are faster than the LMP1 cars on the straights. Quite possible if the LMP1s run in to trouble we will see an LMP2 on the podium.
LMP2 have been sped up to help them pass GT cars, which has proven to be a problem in the past, the problem has just moved to LMP1 vs LMP2 !
There is also a battle in GTE Pro - the Fords were off the pace in testing, the suggestion is that they are sandbagging. We'll see come qualifying!
The other snippet of news I just heard on Eurosport is that Lucis Di Grassi is not taking part in the race. He broke an ankle last week playing football and the medical team will not permit him to drive, he's been replaced by Michele Rugolo.
Will be back for qualifying, local weather reports say we could see rain for this session.
If you want to watch the simplest/cheapest ways are Eurosport (if you have it) or the WEC stream. Possible that you can use a trial of an Amazon Prime membership if you are struggling - see this thread for more information on TV coverage: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Of course, radio lemans are broadcasting: http://www.radiolemans.co/
Live timing here: https://timing.71wytham.org.uk/s/wec
Qualifying 1 is 9pm this evening and session 2 is 9pm tomorrow (Thursday).
Spotters guide: http://www.spotterguides.com/wp-content/uploads/20...
There is a huge guide to the entries, cars and so on here : http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/06/12/le-mans-r...
We have a weird situation where the LMP2 cars are faster than the LMP1 cars on the straights. Quite possible if the LMP1s run in to trouble we will see an LMP2 on the podium.
LMP2 have been sped up to help them pass GT cars, which has proven to be a problem in the past, the problem has just moved to LMP1 vs LMP2 !
There is also a battle in GTE Pro - the Fords were off the pace in testing, the suggestion is that they are sandbagging. We'll see come qualifying!
The other snippet of news I just heard on Eurosport is that Lucis Di Grassi is not taking part in the race. He broke an ankle last week playing football and the medical team will not permit him to drive, he's been replaced by Michele Rugolo.
Will be back for qualifying, local weather reports say we could see rain for this session.
Edited by Crafty_ on Wednesday 14th June 17:59
Looking forward to this as always, though it is going to be very weird without Audi.
Lapping is going to be very interesting with the P1 V P2 speed difference, what are the rules for this in endurance racing?
Might as well get my annual "I'll go to Le Mans next year" comment out the way early I guess!
Lapping is going to be very interesting with the P1 V P2 speed difference, what are the rules for this in endurance racing?
Might as well get my annual "I'll go to Le Mans next year" comment out the way early I guess!
andy97 said:
Time to scrap LMP1 and just run with LMP2 and LMP3, alongside GTE and GT3.
Much as I've loved the 'halo' effect of the P1s for endurance racing as a whole, I'm inclined to agree. It just looks unbalanced and for me it's not Le Mans when only five cars are in with a realistic shout of winning. The extreme cost of P1 means that's not likely to change any time soon, either.Trouble is, losing P1 means losing factory teams, so a change would only work from a prestige point of view if the regs allowed GTEs and P2s to compete equally for the overall. Then you'd keep the works GT entries happy (and probably attract audi back with a GT) while also giving the best P2 squads a proper shot at glory.
greeny12 said:
andy97 said:
Time to scrap LMP1 and just run with LMP2 and LMP3, alongside GTE and GT3.
Much as I've loved the 'halo' effect of the P1s for endurance racing as a whole, I'm inclined to agree. It just looks unbalanced and for me it's not Le Mans when only five cars are in with a realistic shout of winning. The extreme cost of P1 means that's not likely to change any time soon, either.Trouble is, losing P1 means losing factory teams, so a change would only work from a prestige point of view if the regs allowed GTEs and P2s to compete equally for the overall. Then you'd keep the works GT entries happy (and probably attract audi back with a GT) while also giving the best P2 squads a proper shot at glory.
Indeed endurance racing has often been an important privateer team arena.
Factories could always provide support with suitable engine packages (and the GTs) and reap their marketing and engineering reward there. In many respects wouldn't that be more appropriate than in producing bespoke prototypes chassis.
If LMP1 is to survive at all as a factory effort then perhaps the regs need to allow for non factory chassis (Dallara, Ginetta, Ligier etc etc) to be fitted with factory hybrid engine packages that have the same architecture and capacity as the F1 Hybrids with the cars being avaialble to purchase by private teams: Mercedes - Ligier, Ferrari - Dallara, Renault - Ligier, Williams Mercedes - Ginetta etc anyone?
OK my 2 cents worth
....firstly REALLY sucks im not there this year!
Ford aren't struggling, theyre playing games still. 4 seconds slower than last year, and with development of the car for a year, 2 cars are below the AM leaders. I just don't buy it. my guess is they are still trying to get the BOP changed before the start of the race.
Toyota V Porsche. Looks tight at the moment, Porsche have improved but Toyota haven't reached their peak yet.
LMP2.....ligier need to get there stuff together next year. this years car hasn't been competitive in a straight line
LMP1...should continue but use the DPI rules in America. sack the hybrid off and bring in manufacturers that can rebrand chassis built for LMP2 and put in alternate, more powerful engines.
....firstly REALLY sucks im not there this year!
Ford aren't struggling, theyre playing games still. 4 seconds slower than last year, and with development of the car for a year, 2 cars are below the AM leaders. I just don't buy it. my guess is they are still trying to get the BOP changed before the start of the race.
Toyota V Porsche. Looks tight at the moment, Porsche have improved but Toyota haven't reached their peak yet.
LMP2.....ligier need to get there stuff together next year. this years car hasn't been competitive in a straight line
LMP1...should continue but use the DPI rules in America. sack the hybrid off and bring in manufacturers that can rebrand chassis built for LMP2 and put in alternate, more powerful engines.
37chevy said:
OK my 2 cents worth
Ford aren't struggling, theyre playing games still. 4 seconds slower than last year, and with development of the car for a year, 2 cars are below the AM leaders. I just don't buy it. my guess is they are still trying to get the BOP changed before the start of the race.
.
Harry Tinknell on Autosport just now - Ford running with +20kg and -15bhp compared with Spa, when they were beaten fair and square by Ferrari, which is running unchanged. Doubt it can be sandbagging.Ford aren't struggling, theyre playing games still. 4 seconds slower than last year, and with development of the car for a year, 2 cars are below the AM leaders. I just don't buy it. my guess is they are still trying to get the BOP changed before the start of the race.
.
Curator said:
Harry Tinknell on Autosport just now - Ford running with +20kg and -15bhp compared with Spa, when they were beaten fair and square by Ferrari, which is running unchanged. Doubt it can be sandbagging.
Other than the fact it's exactly what they did last year....and then got a massive break coming into race weekend.Let's put it like this, there's no way a full factory squad of pro drivers in the most advanced gt car in the field is slower than an amateur team and driver just because of 20kg and 15hp....I don't buy it...and neither do any of the fans, commentators and other teams that remember fords 'tactics' from last year
Jury still seems to be out on Ford, they got within a second of the Aston but not sure how significant that is.
no 8 Toyota just quite on track right at the start of the session, currently crawling back to the pits.
I think the LMP1 problem is that the value proposition isn't there for a manufacturer - F1 probably gives a better return but of course the costs are higher still.
Ligier in the barrier at the start of the mulsane, driver ok and on way to medical centre. Barriers being repaired, they said it'd take 35 mins
no 8 Toyota just quite on track right at the start of the session, currently crawling back to the pits.
I think the LMP1 problem is that the value proposition isn't there for a manufacturer - F1 probably gives a better return but of course the costs are higher still.
Ligier in the barrier at the start of the mulsane, driver ok and on way to medical centre. Barriers being repaired, they said it'd take 35 mins
Edited by Crafty_ on Thursday 15th June 18:49
Don't forget ginetta are building privateer lmp1 cars for next year and I believe another constructor is as well so lmp1 numbers should raise soon.
What a lap 3.14 for the Toyota and they were meant to be slowing them down, also lmp2 broke its lap record as well not surprising giving the extra power for this year.
What a lap 3.14 for the Toyota and they were meant to be slowing them down, also lmp2 broke its lap record as well not surprising giving the extra power for this year.
skeggysteve said:
Hindy said earlier that yesterday the Fords were not using the racing line, they were miles away from the apex!
Yup unfortunately for Ford it's a case of the boy who cried wolf too many times...the ACO fell for it last year but people have seen through their tricks this year. real shame as it's not the way to go about sportscar racing...especially when the other teams have them a dispensation to race in the first place Gassing Station | General Motorsport | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff