Motorsport on Monday: 31/03/14
Porsche proves its gunning for victory at LM 2014
Did Hamilton blow Rosberg away?
However, twelve months on from 'Multi 21', team orders hit the headlines in Malaysia once more. Massa ignored a message to let Williams teammate Bottas through during the final stage of the race - but we can see his point. Sort of.
The radio call told the Brazilian, "Valtteri is quicker than you" - coded, maybe, but not necessarily a direct order as Massa argued, claiming it wasn't clear and that he was right to defend his position. Talking about re-writing the F1 rulebook last week, do team orders have a place in Formula 1? We'll open the floor to suggestions...
919 pipped the Audi R18 at Paul Ricard...
Prior to the second F1 round of the season, Porsche proved the performance of its 919 Hybrid LMP1 challenger at the 2014 World Endurance Championship "Prologue" (that's just a fancy test, isn't it?), sending a shot across the bows of Audi and Toyota.
24-year-old rookie LMP1 driver Brendon Hartley posted a 1 min 41.289 second lap in Friday night's session, with cooler temperatures giving the V4 turbo motor more power and lower track temperatures possibly allowing a softer tyre.
Compare that to Lotterer's 1 min 42.073 on Friday afternoon in the #2 Audi R18 and it shows despite claims of high staff turnover and vibration issues from the V4 - although murmurings of a revised firing order for the 919's engine may have cured this - Porsche could really run Audi close for honours at the Circuit de la Sarthe this season.
.. maybe explains no Audi pics from the 'Prologue'
That massive power output sets it out as the most powerful P1 car in a long time, with the front and rear electric motors delivering a 480hp hybrid boost alongside the 520hp 3.7-litre naturally aspirated V8. When was the last time a 1,000hp-plus car raced at Le Mans? Some form of Nissan RC90 in the early '90s we'd wager.
Hot air
What is interesting about the times the three big LMP teams posted at Paul Ricard was the different specifications the cars were running in. Ricard replicates the long straights of Le Mans, as well as a few other situations, pretty well, so it's a good place to glean some all-important data from. Especially if you're Porsche.
Cooler temps at night benefitted Porsche
Maybe Porsche was sick of rumours it was trailing the Audi by up to two seconds a lap at the previous Sebring test?
Factor in its recent announcement that the 919 will harvest only six megajoules of energy instead of the targeted eight - on a par with the Toyota in terms of energy recovery and ahead of the two megajoule Audi - and Hartley's time nearly eight tenths faster than the lead R18 means either Weissach has pulled its finger out, or Ingolstadt is sand bagging. Which brings us to Toyota again.
Don't forget the third contender in this battle
The Japanese firm's sports car programme is now in its third year, so the bean counters will be expecting results. With 1,000hp down the Mulsanne, it should help.
However, despite fuel quantities per lap already allegedly confirmed by the FIA and ACO, neither opted to make those numbers public over the two days. This means it's going to be extremely difficult to predict which car will emerge as the dominant package if the exact amount of energy (electric and chemical) the petrol and diesel outfits will get per lap is still up in the air, despite preliminary numbers.
With so many different types of circuit on the WEC calendar - Le Mans, Circuit of the Americas, Fuji and Bahrain to name a few - it's going to be a difficult season to forecast. Won't stop us having a go, though: Audi to win Le Mans 2014. There you go, we said it. What do you reckon?
I'm not really interested in Motor Sport like this so maybe I'm totally wrong. Love to hear what the experts have to say.
As an aside, can John Hindhaugh (sp?) take on the F1 commentary please? I 'd love to hear the name "Valtteri Bottas" in a Geordie accent...
. I would argue he has a Mackem accent though.Still an amazing commentator, I would love to hear him commentate on everything!
I'm loving the prospect of WEC this year, different ideas to solve the same problem. Looking forward to seeing petrol having a crack at beating nasty diesel over 24 hours!
Don't forget anything can happen to anyone at any time at the Sarthe, and that is not factoring in the weather which from past experience can be hot, wet,cold miserable fantastic or any combination.
Porsche's perception of competitive isn't making up the numbers it's being sure they've a 80% chance of winning Le Mans specifically outright(More than once they've not entered factory cars being unsure of their performance and have privateer teams running Porsche cars or engines win)
I'll be watching this year for sure
I moved up from the South West to the Midlands last year, so Silverstone is now very drivable from the new house. Unfortunately I've already got something arranged for the WEC weekend there. Massive fail on my part.
I'm not really interested in Motor Sport like this so maybe I'm totally wrong. Love to hear what the experts have to say.
I think endurance racing right now has a lot of potential to see a surge in popularity.
Until they reshuffle the season to make Le Mans the last race, then it will be double-points-at-the-last-race.
Also should not be on a circuit , but start at a certain point lets say Calais ....and drive flat out in any direction on public roads for 24 hours ...and whoever gets the furtherest wins ! ...if there is a dispute on rules it is to be settled with a duel
Also should not be on a circuit , but start at a certain point lets say Calais ....and drive flat out in any direction on public roads for 24 hours ...and whoever gets the furtherest wins ! ...if there is a dispute on rules it is to be settled with a duel
As for this year I reckon Toyota might be in with a chance, 2 years in the running not as an also ran they seem to hace the kit and skills, just need a bit more luck.
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