2018 24hrs of Le Mans

[HBradley]

Just received the tickets from Travel Destinations, so I thought it was about time to start a Le Mans thread for, arguably THE motoring event of the year.
We’re crossing the Channel at 0700 Wed 13 Jun via Le Shuttle, staying at Flexotel. Red 10 will on display at the Aston Martin Festival Paddock (Maison Blanche) with other AMs. On Friday we’ll be heading out to Saint-Saturnin for the Classic British Welcome in the morning & then the Drivers’ Parade in the evening.
Saturday is, of course the Aston Martin Festival Race (see below for timings)

Details here:
http://www.astonmartin.com/en/testing123/racing/20...
If it’s a dry race the car will lead the Green Flag Lap before diving into the pits at the start of the race proper.
Looking forward to seeing as many of you as possible.
Humph

Edited by HBradley on Monday 28th May 22:13

[steveway]

Humph, hopefully w will catch up with you, my son and myself are coming down in the aston so fingers crossed will bump into you

[JaseB]

I'll be there, also having lunch at the Hotel de France on Friday.

[johns355]

We’re travelling down Thursday morning in our V8 VR for the weekend at the AMOC campsite, hopefully see you down there?

[IanV12VSRs]

We travel down Wednesday evening (Plymouth to Roscof) and are staying in the Flexotel area as well. When we booked didn’t know about the Aston race so that is a big bonus. We are doing AMR hospitality as well.

When we were there last time we left the course before it went dark to return to out accommodation so really excited about staying on the circuit this time to see those brakes glowing in the dark.

Should be fun!!!

[David W.]

Travelling down on Thurs through tunnel using Yvetot route, Caudebec-en-Cax for lunch. Staying in old town and traming to and from circuit.
Across to Rennes after the weekend doing Brest peninsula then WW2 Normandy beaches before returning home.
Fingers crossed weather is fair.
Will look out for Red 10 at the “welcome”.
DW

[Rappa]

Reading this is making me jealous.

Some friends and I did it last year - great win for AMR and we tend to do it every other year.

With a visit to the Canadian GP and Angoulême in Sep, this would be marital sucicide.

Good luck to all, I will watch Eurosport, camp
In the garden with the engine running and build me own beer wall.

Sean

[RL17]

Just over two weeks to go

18 days 7 hrs 32 mins and 20 secs per my countdown to main race!

[RL17]

https://fncd.net/v?id=pdZnnyc

can also put app from here on phone

[RL17]

2 AM Festival practice sessions and a qualifying session on Thursday.

trust you've got Liber T tag and high vehicle on shuttle sorted Humph?

[HBradley]

RL17 said:

2 AM Festival practice sessions and a qualifying session on Thursday.

trust you've got Liber T tag and high vehicle on shuttle sorted Humph?

Thanks Reg, both done! We're both really looking forward to the drive down, the biggest problem will be keeping control of the right foot, could really do without a trip to the cash point..... or worse! Cruise Control on!

[northernmedia]

Ferry from Hull to Zeebrugge on the Wednesday.

Great British Welcome and Hotel De France on the Friday.
Oh and AMOC (Sorry again Jon!) needn't worry about me blocking them in the car park this year as we're all piling into a mates F Pace.

Can't wait!

[Stevejay]

Hi Humphrey not doing the 24 hrs this year so will miss you unless you are doing the Classic in July

[IanV12VSRs]

HBradley said:

Thanks Reg, both done! We're both really looking forward to the drive down, the biggest problem will be keeping control of the right foot, could really do without a trip to the cash point..... or worse! Cruise Control on!

Don’t worry if you haven’t been to the cash point before you get fined by the police they can normally recommend one for you to go to to get your cash. Well they allowed me to do that a few years ago

[MCSV8]

Really looking forward to seeing/hearing the Vulcans. I wonder if they will be louder than the LMP1 Lola-Aston ?

Intending to visit St Saturnine and Chartre-sur-Loire on Friday and the usual unofficial Aston meet-up at the Champagne stand at midnight on Saturday.

As it's the first year for the GTE it would be too much to expect a win, but it was not too shabby at Spa. Has the BoP been altered ?

I'm usually accompanied by a large white Aston flag - this was last year...

[Jon39]

Session 1 of the Le Mans Test Day took place this morning.

I can only guess from the lap times, that the AMR team might be disappointed with the Balance of Performance restrictions. I think it was mentioned, that they were hoping the BoP for the new Vantage could be reviewed earlier than the agreed date.

GTE Pro
17 cars from 6 manufacturers.
Ford set the leading time 3:53.008

AMR # 95 = 3:59.614 16th place
AMR # 97 = 4:01.879 17th place

The 7 seconds gap, is presumably a big margin.
Car # 95 was badly damaged during the session.


GTE Am
13 cars from 3 manufacturers.
Ferrari set the leading time 3:58.569

TF Sport (Vantage 1st Gen) = 4:00.130 5th place
AMR # 98 (Vantage 1st Gen) = 4:01.224 10th place

Those who followed the WEC first round at Spa, will remember that these two cars had a very close battle at the end of the race for the class, won by car #98.



[ Edit - I have just read that the Balance of Performance system (car weight, engine restrictors etc.) for the Le Mans 24 Hours race meeting, does not follow the WEC rules, and can be amended for the LM event. Penalties might be applied, if the performance of a car changes between the Test / Qualifying / Race. ]

Edited by Jon39 on Sunday 3rd June 16:55

[David W.]

Live radio feed here
http://radiolemans.0157.org/nplayer.php
DW

Edited by David W. on Sunday 3rd June 13:49

[HBradley]

Nasty crash for #95 after an altercation with an LMP. Marco Sørensen's OK, but the car's written off so AMR are using the spare chassis, not ideal!

1. 98 also had a spat with an LMP car which ended in a serious oil leak & consequently a new engine.

As they said in Apollo 13, 'Looks like we've had the glitch(es) for this mission'! Hopefully!!!

[RL17]

Good to see he's OK after high speed crash - just before Indianopolis?

Barriers and cars (like Ford at Spa) getting safer.

[RL17]

MCSV8 said:

Really looking forward to seeing/hearing the Vulcans. I wonder if they will be louder than the LMP1 Lola-Aston ?

Intending to visit St Saturnine and Chartre-sur-Loire on Friday and the usual unofficial Aston meet-up at the Champagne stand at midnight on Saturday.

You on the road yet?