Do you support your "national" team?
Discussion
My mates and I were approached in Houx on the Friday evening by a random drunk French chap with a limited grasp of English (fair play to him though, his English was much better than our French).
He asked us what team we were supporting, and he was staggered when we said we were backing the Audis. He couldn't understand why we would support a German team and not a "national" team e.g. Aston Martin.
Is this a French thing? Do many of the French support Peugeot primarily (or exclusively) because it's a French team? Or was it just a random bloke with an abundance of (soon to be dented, in retrospect) national pride?
He asked us what team we were supporting, and he was staggered when we said we were backing the Audis. He couldn't understand why we would support a German team and not a "national" team e.g. Aston Martin.
Is this a French thing? Do many of the French support Peugeot primarily (or exclusively) because it's a French team? Or was it just a random bloke with an abundance of (soon to be dented, in retrospect) national pride?
The French do tend to get behind their national teams better than we Brits do. Hell we usually end up fighting over if it is a Scottish Team or an English Team whilst the Welsh just cry into their beer and keep digging their dykes.
That said it was very noticeable on Sunday afternoon that the mood of the crowd, especially the French element, had changed from Peugeot support to Audi respect. At the start of the last lap the Audi was cheered and clapped, the Pug was met with silence save a few muted claps.
That said I suspect that the reception of the second place car would have been greatly enhanced if it had been on of Henri's cars.
Personally It is usually it is the drivers I look at when I want to nail my colours to the mast. I was supporting the Audi's for the win (McNish) , AM for petrol class winners if they could last and BMW (or Andy to be precise
) for GTE Pro.
That said it was very noticeable on Sunday afternoon that the mood of the crowd, especially the French element, had changed from Peugeot support to Audi respect. At the start of the last lap the Audi was cheered and clapped, the Pug was met with silence save a few muted claps.
That said I suspect that the reception of the second place car would have been greatly enhanced if it had been on of Henri's cars.
Personally It is usually it is the drivers I look at when I want to nail my colours to the mast. I was supporting the Audi's for the win (McNish) , AM for petrol class winners if they could last and BMW (or Andy to be precise
) for GTE Pro.I support who I prefer, not just go for the default 'nationality' option.
I have supported Audi for years now. Like the way they go about the business of winning the race.
More so now after this years Peugeot dirty tactics.
Don't really follow lmp 2. GT classes there is various interest based on driver, car or make.
Same with f1. Supported Ferrari since 1992. Through the good and bad. Rather than the usual Brit driver or team support. Although I do also like seeing Jenson getting the better of Lewis also.
I have supported Audi for years now. Like the way they go about the business of winning the race.
More so now after this years Peugeot dirty tactics.
Don't really follow lmp 2. GT classes there is various interest based on driver, car or make.
Same with f1. Supported Ferrari since 1992. Through the good and bad. Rather than the usual Brit driver or team support. Although I do also like seeing Jenson getting the better of Lewis also.
In my experience a lot of race-goers support national interests.
Non-local Frenchies TEND to support Peugeot.
Local Frenchies TEND to support that Henry Pesky-Rolo chap (aka Mr Emotional or Mr Cheerful).
The Danes TEND to support Tommy K.
Brits TEND to support British teams/drivers (be it the German Bentley, the never-stood-a-chance Aston or old two-lap 'tash from the Isle of Man).
This year I personally went Audi in LMP1D (it's very bad form to let the French win Le Mans - makes them think it's their race!), Rebellion in LMP1P, Strakka Racing in LMP2 (you're car's too good, we're cutting your power so you can't even overtake GTEPro cars at Paul Riccard) and Lotus in GTE (as a friend knew one of the drivers.
Non-local Frenchies TEND to support Peugeot.
Local Frenchies TEND to support that Henry Pesky-Rolo chap (aka Mr Emotional or Mr Cheerful).
The Danes TEND to support Tommy K.
Brits TEND to support British teams/drivers (be it the German Bentley, the never-stood-a-chance Aston or old two-lap 'tash from the Isle of Man).
This year I personally went Audi in LMP1D (it's very bad form to let the French win Le Mans - makes them think it's their race!), Rebellion in LMP1P, Strakka Racing in LMP2 (you're car's too good, we're cutting your power so you can't even overtake GTEPro cars at Paul Riccard) and Lotus in GTE (as a friend knew one of the drivers.
I am Danish and I have always supported Jan Magnussen (having followed his career since 1993.... and hung out with the family on several occaissions) and this year I support Lotus as their team manager is danish and a former student of mine... Allan Simonsen is higher on my list than Tom K.... never keen on the Essex team for some reason
1 Jan Mag / Lotus
2 Allan S
3 Other danes
1 Jan Mag / Lotus
2 Allan S
3 Other danes
I left my supporting fairly open this year really only wanting the Richard Westbrook car (after the silverstone crash) to do well and Stefan Mucke not to do that well, however after hearing the support for the Peugeot from the locals and just seeing those Audi's drive round in near silence I was mightily impressed, the underdog in me also wanted them to win more after the 2 crashes and peugeot's dirty tactics (including Ant of all people!!!)
that fordGT though
that fordGT though
We Brits like to think we are super-patriotic but in truth most of us are are not. I am up to a point as I support the British drivers, McNish rather than Audi. I don't support any of the foreign drivers. Why would I when we have plenty of our own good drivers.
Im amazed that British fans support Ferrari in F1 or Peugeot in LMS or why someone from London will support Man U for example. Each to their own but I think the French on the whole are far more supportive for their home team Peugeot (even though they are crap
) than we are for ours.
Im amazed that British fans support Ferrari in F1 or Peugeot in LMS or why someone from London will support Man U for example. Each to their own but I think the French on the whole are far more supportive for their home team Peugeot (even though they are crap
) than we are for ours. 
When I was younger (and a lot more naive) I used to think of the UK as one big happy family, and would therefore happily support Scotland or Wales against teams of other nationalities, but now, with raging nationalism and anti English feelings quite prevalent in those countries (they'd rather ANYONE won except England!)I have reacted in kind.
I therefore, for instance, don't support Andy Murray, Wales against France in the Six Nations, or anywhere else, including motor racing (i.e Paul DiResta, Alan McNish, David Coultard etc). Let's face it, even the Cornish have elements who are anti English, and they are English!
Shame we can't just have a team GB and pool our talents, we might win a few more championships that way. France is two and a half times bigger than Britain (I believe), and yet they are quite happy to unite under La Marseillaise.
Quite happy to see Peugeot beaten by anyone though!
I therefore, for instance, don't support Andy Murray, Wales against France in the Six Nations, or anywhere else, including motor racing (i.e Paul DiResta, Alan McNish, David Coultard etc). Let's face it, even the Cornish have elements who are anti English, and they are English!
Shame we can't just have a team GB and pool our talents, we might win a few more championships that way. France is two and a half times bigger than Britain (I believe), and yet they are quite happy to unite under La Marseillaise.
Quite happy to see Peugeot beaten by anyone though!
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