2008 French GP - what about Le Mans ?

[nrayner]

Wonder if anything would rule the circuit out of the equation.

[rude-boy]

Full track would be the mutts nuts but too fast for the poor little dears, too much chance of turning themselves into jam.

The Bug track is a bit too short imo and not enough of a challenge. Would be interested to know that sort of lap times an F1 car could do around there though...

[FourWheelDrift]

If they ran at Le Mans, without doing the full lap they could (with a little road/track modification) start the full lap, enter the Mulsanne straight then do a right at the first roundabout off the Mulsanne up the Avenue Antares and join the back straight of the Bugatti circuit to finish the lap. Would be a good length for an F1 circuit.

Have a look on Google Earth to see.

Ideally they could go further down the Mulsanne though to the 2nd roundabout (just after the 1st chicane is) and turn right, go along the Route de Ruadin to join the track at the Porsche Curves, but unfortunately the road naturally goes under the track so a new section would have to be built to join the two together. But this could still be too long for an F1 track, still 6miles+ at a guess.

Edited by FourWheelDrift on Thursday 5th July 13:45

[Marki]

They should use the same track (full circuit) that would be interesting to see

[rude-boy]

Interesting thoughts but for the cost of putting that together with the mods that would be needed you might as well go the whole hog and modify the perfectly good (if a touch on the ‘kin hell that’s a tad fast in an F1 car) full track’s safety facilities.

[johnph]

The full track would get mauled to meet B&M's safety rules and the drivers would whinge about it being too long/bumpy/tiring.

I suggested the Bug track a while ago. Its about the same length as indy/montreal.

Bugatti has got the facilities. 55 garages - enough to hold the F1 grid and GP2 grid, the Porsche supercup and FBMW would go in the large and well equipped paddock.

It has political support as Sarkozy is on the ACO board.

It has history as the first GP was held at le mans in 1906.

It has experience of hosting major international events as seen with the MotoGP.

All it would need is some temporary grandstands.

Edited by johnph on Thursday 5th July 16:47

[Eric Mc]

The Bugatti circuit was used for the 1967 French GP. Back then, everyone griped that it was boring and featureless - but that was because they also used Reims, Clermont Ferrand and Rouen in the 1960s.

The French GP is the oldest GP of them all and 2008 will be the first year where it has been missed off the calendar - I think.

[IrishDave]

Eric Mc said:

The French GP is the oldest GP of them all and 2008 will be the first year where it has been missed off the calendar - I think.

I think there wasn't a French GP in 1955, but excluding WW2 there has been one every other year

[Dr JonboyG]

The ACO and the FIA aren't the bestest of friends now, are they? Can't see them getting into bed together.

[Eric Mc]

I presume the 1955 race was cancelled after the Le Mans disaster - which would have had a traumatic effect on French motor racing.

[iamthestig]

Dr JonboyG said:

The ACO and the FIA aren't the bestest of friends now, are they? Can't see them getting into bed together.

Good point, and one I think we'd all forgotten about untill you mentioned it.