Aston Martin Enthusiasts - Miscellaneous
Discussion
As it's (sort of) on topic, I'm just catching up with emails on my return from 2 weeks on holiday and I came across a link to this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W4_oOXjkC0
apologies if it's been posted before, and it is a little late now.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2W4_oOXjkC0
apologies if it's been posted before, and it is a little late now.
Hope we can get out there again next year.MO55 said:
The gearbox failure of the AF Corse #71 Ferrari on the final lap (which was running 4th in class) is a potent reminder of the maxim 'it ain't over till its over' the finish line.
Too true Bob, nothing says that better than the leading Toyota failure with three minutes to go in 2016, agony and ecstasy...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_7sZ00cAmE
LTP said:
I'm going to pose a question that I've often contemplated but never researched, so I'm hoping those more knowledgeable about endurance racing and the Le Mans series here can help; with apologies if this is off thread topic.
Surely, in an endurance race of over 8 hours the actual starting position on the grid is not so important as, say F1 at Monaco. So what's the incentive, apart from bragging rights, for going 10/10's in qualifying to only get hit by BoP penalties? What's to stop the teams sandbagging during qualifying? I know pro racing drivers are so skilled at aspects like tyre, fuel and temperature management that if they're in slightly superior machinery they can put in lap after lap at a blistering, competitive pace whilst still having something in reserve - which they'd need for the actual race anyway, as you can't do qualifying laps for the entire duration.
Don't think there were BoP adjustments this year apart from a slight increase in Porsche full capacity as each team had one fast, one slow and I think Porsche expected a wet race (as forecast) and went for more downforce and more aero so suffered on top speed (and they said acceleration out of corners).Surely, in an endurance race of over 8 hours the actual starting position on the grid is not so important as, say F1 at Monaco. So what's the incentive, apart from bragging rights, for going 10/10's in qualifying to only get hit by BoP penalties? What's to stop the teams sandbagging during qualifying? I know pro racing drivers are so skilled at aspects like tyre, fuel and temperature management that if they're in slightly superior machinery they can put in lap after lap at a blistering, competitive pace whilst still having something in reserve - which they'd need for the actual race anyway, as you can't do qualifying laps for the entire duration.
Fastest GTE lap done in race by Alex Lynn - think AMR were on wrong tyres for Hyperpole.
If starting outside top 5 or so in class it's easy get split up from front cars in class especially as LMP1 and especially loads of LMP2 cars (over 20) come through the field (GTE leaders 3 laps down on LMP1 and 2 down on leading 8 or LMP2 cars after just 1 hour). Slow zones at 80kph also spread out cars and especially if they then go into full safety car periods (with 3 SCs coming out at a time at LM). So small gaps after first 30 mins or so can soon get split into 30s or 1 min or so. These gaps then get bigger over time with overtakes and more SC periods.So position does count as overtaking in class most of time not easy unless a car set up wrong.
When watching videos (Youtube) from onboard the leading LMP1 Toyotas, the performance difference between LMP1 and the GTE class cars (Aston Martin) is enormous. It is especially impressive during darkness when overtaking the GTEs.
As you say (time losses with overtakes), the GTE drivers must lose time whenever there is an imminent overtake, at awkward points on the circuit. Getting in the way of a car which is probably cornering 50 mph faster must be tricky. At night, looking in the rear view mirror must presumably be 'blinding', because there is no dipping of headlights.
high speed sweeping curves yes on speed difference (mainly better downforce) but usually easier to pass GTEs there like Porsche curves
GTE hold own in tighter corners (as downforce less a factor at those speeds), e.g Ford & Mulsanne chicanes, final bit of Indianapolis and Arnage etc and hybrids have so much electric torque out of those corners it should not be a problem to wait until exit
LMP2's also much faster on straights and more tempted to dive in before chicanes etc to get racing line and max acceleration afterwards plus LMP2's have much better breaking! Really breaks up chains of GTE's
GTE hold own in tighter corners (as downforce less a factor at those speeds), e.g Ford & Mulsanne chicanes, final bit of Indianapolis and Arnage etc and hybrids have so much electric torque out of those corners it should not be a problem to wait until exit
LMP2's also much faster on straights and more tempted to dive in before chicanes etc to get racing line and max acceleration afterwards plus LMP2's have much better breaking! Really breaks up chains of GTE's
With AML's return to top level single seater racing next year, here is a wonderful historic film showing their preparations for F1 racing in the late 1950s.
I see the drivers are Roy Salvadori and Stirling Moss. Can anyone put names to other faces?
For AML at that time, their entry coincided with the transition to mid-engine racing cars, so it was unfortunate that the car soon became uncompetitive.
https://www.goodwood.com/grr/race/historic/2020/10...
Edited by Jon39 on Monday 12th October 17:55
Thanks for sharing!A couple of miscellaneous points.
1). Aston Martin still compete every year in the World Endurance Championship, sports car races.
This year they won the Constructors and the Drivers Championship for their class.
I have not even seen anyone mention that on PH. There must be enormous cost involved for AML to race two cars in that championship. Having already won so many WEC races in the past, is it still worth it?
2). Many of you will have met Steve Waddingham. He is one of the Gaydon tour guides.
The owner of a 1990s Ford Thunderbird, discovered that his car had first been used by Aston Martin, for development purposes.
Steve Waddingham, who once worked at Newport Pagnell, wrote a reply to the owner.
Click to enlarge.
You might have read between the lines regarding our topic title.
Any mention of a certain type of AML racing, and the topic is moved to another place where the discussion promptly dies.
Here is a puzzle. I don't know what the underlying principle is here.
A name change one way, which now seems to have been reversed ?
Looks like they created a company to use the AMR GP Ltd name last year. It’s a way to ensure no one else uses the name. Then this year they changed the name to Racing Ventures so the name was no longer in use and then immediately renamed the Racing Point company to AMR GP limited (it’s a separate company with a different company number). It’s all fairly standard legal steps. Interesting point is that they picked the name a year ago - long before Stroll was in the picture.
Thank you WLD.
The incorporation was in fact after Lawrence Stroll became involved with Aston Martin.
His original offer was in January 2020, then the revised offer was agreed at the end of March 2020.
How time flies !
This company is just one of a group. Do you think the Racing Point company will remain owner of the F1 team, meaning it is really just Aston Martin's name which is being used and not a full 'works' team? If so, probably just as well. The top F1 teams do well financially, but the past has repeatedly shown, that those unlucky to becoming a 'tail enders', eventually fail.
Jon39 said:
Thank you WLD.
The incorporation was in fact after Lawrence Stroll became involved with Aston Martin.
His original offer was in January 2020, then the revised offer was agreed at the end of March 2020.
How time flies !
This company is just one of a group. Do you think the Racing Point company will remain owner of the F1 team, meaning it is really just Aston Martin's name which is being used and not a full 'works' team? If so, probably just as well. The top F1 teams do well financially, but the past has repeatedly shown, that those unlucky to becoming a 'tail enders', eventually fail.
Jon39 said:
Because every other F1 team enters with the intention of never winning the championship 
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