The ACO Are Playing Tough

[Red Firecracker]

Seems the ACO weren't impressed with the diesel dominance at Sebring so have changed the fuel flow limited from 33mm to 38 mm and added 30kg of extra ballast.

Full story;

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74687

So, slightly slower pit stops and (potentially) slightly slower lap times.

[LancsDriver]

Astons can truly take the challenge to Diesels then this year, although I think reliabilty is going to be key with them.

[Red Firecracker]

LancsDriver said:

Astons can truly take the challenge to Diesels then this year, although I think reliabilty is going to be key with them.

I'll repeat my stance from an earlier thread;

Red Firecracker said:

£10 to the RNLI if they get on the podium.

5 Audi's and 4 Pugs plus the Ginetta's says the Astons aren't going to make it.

The focus really seems to be on the Lola-Aston's to be the main petrol contenders. I think the others are being overlooked somewhat unfairly.

Will be interesting to see what sort of impact the new 'improved' regs have on the diesels at Spa.

[LancsDriver]

We can hope, with two confirmed Astons and maybe a third depending on drivers and sponsorship money there is a slim chance....would be good for their anniversary!.
I dont think the Ginetta-ZyTeks will be anywhere when it comes to it altough i'll be looking out to see how the Pescarolo Pug does......pity the Spanish Epsilon is not running!.

[mbl4]

there is also an Aston in GT2 this year i believe. Lord Drayson(sp?) has been given a starting place with his DBR9 that runs on Bioethanol or petrol. not sure it can make the podium though.

[Red Firecracker]

Also in GT1 with JETALLIANCE RACING

[rev-erend]

What no Pesca's running ?

[Red Firecracker]

rev-erend said:

What no Pesca's running ?

Full list here;

http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/pages/engages...

1 x P1, 2 x P2 & 1 x Pesca/Pug diesel

[Gingerbread Man]

I think they should bring back Panoz. Cracking sounding car.

[5upra]

LancsDriver said:

Astons can truly take the challenge to Diesels then this year, although I think reliabilty is going to be key with them.

The Astons will be reliable running pretty much the same engines as run it the DBR-9's which were uber-reliable......fingers crossed !

[Red Firecracker]

Gingerbread Man said:

I think they should bring back Panoz. Cracking sounding car.

Hardly a 'sound' though, more a 'feeling'

O/T The new Oreca revealed today looks very nice as well.

[Parsnip]

It would be nice to really not know who is going to take the win at LM. As it is with the diesels slaying all in their path it is a bit dull. Being the first petrol car across the line at le mans is impressive, but it could still be 10th place.

The audi's (admittedly the r10) were nowhere in spain, hopefully a taste of things to come at LM - will know for real when the pugs and astons lock horns in may i guess!

[//j17]

Parsnip said:

It would be nice to really not know who is going to take the win at LM. As it is with the diesels slaying all in their path it is a bit dull. Being the first petrol car across the line at le mans is impressive, but it could still be 10th place.

The audi's (admittedly the r10) were nowhere in spain, hopefully a taste of things to come at LM - will know for real when the pugs and astons lock horns in may i guess!

You seem confused - are you anti-diesel or just anti-Audi? You start by complaining diesels slaying all is boring...then seem to look forward to (the diesel) Peugeot fighting for position with the Lola*.

Personally I don't think the last two races have been that easy to judge. Last year it was all a question of could the Peugeots capitalise on their superior speed in the face of the Audis reliability/experience under pressure. In the end reliability and experience won over speed. I doubt it's a co-incidence that the R8 was with us for 7 years ('99-'05) but (in the factory teams at least) the R15 is replacing the R10 after only 3. No it's Peugeot making up ground on reliability and putting the old dog under more pressure.

Of course if you're just anti-Audi none of that matters.

• Note is it traditional to refere to race cars by their manufacturer name, not the team/engine supplier name.

[LancsDriver]

5upra said:

LancsDriver said:

Astons can truly take the challenge to Diesels then this year, although I think reliabilty is going to be key with them.

The Astons will be reliable running pretty much the same engines as run it the DBR-9's which were uber-reliable......fingers crossed !

The gearbox failure in Barcalona? I cant say im entirely confident that Thomas Enge will keep it on the Black stuff.

Edited by LancsDriver on Friday 24th April 16:21

[Parsnip]

//j17 said:

Parsnip said:

It would be nice to really not know who is going to take the win at LM. As it is with the diesels slaying all in their path it is a bit dull. Being the first petrol car across the line at le mans is impressive, but it could still be 10th place.

The audi's (admittedly the r10) were nowhere in spain, hopefully a taste of things to come at LM - will know for real when the pugs and astons lock horns in may i guess!

You seem confused - are you anti-diesel or just anti-Audi? You start by complaining diesels slaying all is boring...then seem to look forward to (the diesel) Peugeot fighting for position with the Lola*.

Personally I don't think the last two races have been that easy to judge. Last year it was all a question of could the Peugeots capitalise on their superior speed in the face of the Audis reliability/experience under pressure. In the end reliability and experience won over speed. I doubt it's a co-incidence that the R8 was with us for 7 years ('99-'05) but (in the factory teams at least) the R15 is replacing the R10 after only 3. No it's Peugeot making up ground on reliability and putting the old dog under more pressure.

Of course if you're just anti-Audi none of that matters.

• Note is it traditional to refere to race cars by their manufacturer name, not the team/engine supplier name.

Maybe my post wasn't clear:

Im not anti-diesel or anti-audi - i am pro competition. You hit the nail on the head when you say it was all about audi and pugeout - the charouz lola aston (happy? :P) didn't really figure. If P1 was a 3 or 4 way battle with petrols and diesels dukeing it out it would be a much better race than 908s Vs. R15s

I look forward to seeing what happens in May when the new petrols take on the 908 to gauge if the ACO have got it right with the regs and the petrols can put up a real challenge to the diesel dominance at le mans in june.

[rev-erend]

Well - it is about time they reined back the diesel cars ..

and that entry list look to promise some pretty exciting racing.

Can't wait