LE MANS 2017

[Jon39]

The cars are now lined up in traditional formation, waiting for the race to begin at 2pm BST.

Aston Martin have pole position in the Pro class.

You can watch the entire race (if you have the wish and stamina) free on the German Eurosport TV channel.
Just point your satellite dish to the Astra 1B 19.2 degrees east satellite.

There are also live timing screens on internet sites and apps.

Try to watch some of the after dark racing tonight. With the on-board cameras it is really spectacular, and however fast the Aston Martin GTE cars might be, when lapped by the overall race leaders, the performance difference is remarkable.

[RobDown]

It's on the English Eurosport channel too if that's easier

[telum01]

We've got it on Fox Sports Go in the US.

[spyker138]

Why does the Aston have a chevy engine ?

[12pack]

...wonder what engine the Corvette has then

Just heard comments that the 98 car is still the original Vantage AM racing car and 7 of the 9 GTE Vantage cars are over 10 years old now. I guess they have to be - but does make me feel good about the robustness of my car.

[Jon39]

12pack said:

Just heard comments that the 98 car is still the original Vantage AM racing car and 7 of the 9 GTE Vantage cars are over 10 years old now. I guess they have to be - but does make me feel good about the robustness of my car.

Oh dear. Little chance of ever being able to buy one then. I thought they might build new cars for each season.
Perhaps it is similar to Trig's long lasting broom. Eight new heads and ten new handles.

..................................

After 3 hours running.

LM GTE Pro ...... Aston Martin = 1st and 2nd.

LM GTE AM....... Aston Martin = 1st

[woodsypedia]

David Richards just said in an interview that they already have and are testing, the new Vantage for next year. Should make an appearance on circuit later this year at the end of the summer he said. I suspect this means a reveal for the new vantage road car will happen pretty soon.

[Vergis]

Anyone driving back from Le Mans the UK Police cars are monitoring French roads ! So watch out. The pigs just cant get enough of 'road safety'. And they complain they dont have enough Police in the UK to protect us.

[Jon39]

Cruel luck for the class leading Aston Martin.
Rear left puncture for GTE Pro leader Sorensen in #95 Aston.

Aston Martin no. 97 now leads LM GTE Pro class, but only by about 1 minute, after 78 Laps.

Aston Martin continue to lead the LM GTE Am class.

[telum01]

The Vantage leading GT-AM had a front right blowout. Just saw a replay... front right fender blew apart! That's a shame... hopefully they can get it back in without too much setback.

[Dal3D]

telum01 said:

The Vantage leading GT-AM had a front right blowout. Just saw a replay... front right fender blew apart! That's a shame... hopefully they can get it back in without too much setback.

New pants for the driver! T'was a tad dramatic wasn't it.

[RobDown]

.....just cancelling my Dunlop order 😜

[Fil.FM]

second tyre blowing for AM so far..shame for the 98, last year they were leading GT AM as well, before bad luck got them.

At least, the 98 is now back on track..

[CharlieB]

Well worth watching this! Final year the Vantage GTE will be racing in Pro class, (possibility of still running in the AM) class.

Currently still in contention for the class win having just pitted from the lead position. A ding dong battle with a 911rsr, Corvette and the Ford GT.

Worth noting that the GTE Pro class is getting a lot more TV coverage as Toyota have had an awful session in the dark, and the racing overnight in pro has been incredibly close.

Exciting stuff so far.

[Welshbeef]

CharlieB said:

Well worth watching this! Final year the Vantage GTE will be racing in Pro class, (possibility of still running in the AM) class.

Currently still in contention for the class win having just pitted from the lead position. A ding dong battle with a 911rsr, Corvette and the Ford GT.

Worth noting that the GTE Pro class is getting a lot more TV coverage as Toyota have had an awful session in the dark, and the racing overnight in pro has been incredibly close.

Exciting stuff so far.

A trip to the gravel they are over a lap down now so out of it.

[petop]

I think its pretty awesome that i can look at the Vantages racing around and minus a "few" accoutrements (!) i can still see the same car sat on my drive!
Just shows how good that original design was with of course racing expertise keeping them competitive.

[CharlieB]

Welshbeef said:

A trip to the gravel they are over a lap down now so out of it.

That was car 95? From what I can see car 97 is currently leading the class, ahead of the corvette? Unless I am missing something!

[Jon39]

If you do not a television available, you can also watch the race live on YouTube.

[Voguely]

1. 97 a minute and a half down but seems to be making time back up, lapping a couple of seconds faster than the category leader. 4 hours to go, could still be in contention.

[jonby]

Voguely said:

#97 a minute and a half down but seems to be making time back up, lapping a couple of seconds faster than the category leader. 4 hours to go, could still be in contention.

Pro this year is one of the most exciting races in years

There have been and still are 7 teams in contention, who unbelievably have all done the same number of laps, so after 20 hours of racing, less than 4 minutes between 7 cars from 5 manufacturers (ford, Ferrari, corvette, Aston, Porsche)

Each time one of them pits, the order swaps around. They have all been first and all been 7th. The Aston which came off was in that bunch. Incredibly tight and incredibly exciting. At times less than 10 seconds between the first 3

The Canadian aston am team were so unlucky this year after what Happened to then last year but beachdeen still have a chance in that category, certainly of a podium

Edited by jonby on Sunday 18th June 10:01