LeMans racing thread
Discussion
As free practice is running now, I thought it was about time to start a thread for the actual racing.
If you want to watch the simplest/cheapest ways are Eurosport (if you have it) or the WEC stream. Possible that you can use a trial of an Amazon Prime membership if you are struggling - see this thread for more information on TV coverage: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Of course, radio lemans are broadcasting: http://www.radiolemans.co/
Live timing here: https://timing.71wytham.org.uk/s/wec
Qualifying 1 is 9pm this evening and session 2 is 9pm tomorrow (Thursday).
Spotters guide: http://www.spotterguides.com/wp-content/uploads/20...
There is a huge guide to the entries, cars and so on here : http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/06/12/le-mans-r...
We have a weird situation where the LMP2 cars are faster than the LMP1 cars on the straights. Quite possible if the LMP1s run in to trouble we will see an LMP2 on the podium.
LMP2 have been sped up to help them pass GT cars, which has proven to be a problem in the past, the problem has just moved to LMP1 vs LMP2 !
There is also a battle in GTE Pro - the Fords were off the pace in testing, the suggestion is that they are sandbagging. We'll see come qualifying!
The other snippet of news I just heard on Eurosport is that Lucis Di Grassi is not taking part in the race. He broke an ankle last week playing football and the medical team will not permit him to drive, he's been replaced by Michele Rugolo.
Will be back for qualifying, local weather reports say we could see rain for this session.
If you want to watch the simplest/cheapest ways are Eurosport (if you have it) or the WEC stream. Possible that you can use a trial of an Amazon Prime membership if you are struggling - see this thread for more information on TV coverage: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Of course, radio lemans are broadcasting: http://www.radiolemans.co/
Live timing here: https://timing.71wytham.org.uk/s/wec
Qualifying 1 is 9pm this evening and session 2 is 9pm tomorrow (Thursday).
Spotters guide: http://www.spotterguides.com/wp-content/uploads/20...
There is a huge guide to the entries, cars and so on here : http://www.dailysportscar.com/2017/06/12/le-mans-r...
We have a weird situation where the LMP2 cars are faster than the LMP1 cars on the straights. Quite possible if the LMP1s run in to trouble we will see an LMP2 on the podium.
LMP2 have been sped up to help them pass GT cars, which has proven to be a problem in the past, the problem has just moved to LMP1 vs LMP2 !
There is also a battle in GTE Pro - the Fords were off the pace in testing, the suggestion is that they are sandbagging. We'll see come qualifying!
The other snippet of news I just heard on Eurosport is that Lucis Di Grassi is not taking part in the race. He broke an ankle last week playing football and the medical team will not permit him to drive, he's been replaced by Michele Rugolo.
Will be back for qualifying, local weather reports say we could see rain for this session.
Edited by Crafty_ on Wednesday 14th June 17:59
Jury still seems to be out on Ford, they got within a second of the Aston but not sure how significant that is.
no 8 Toyota just quite on track right at the start of the session, currently crawling back to the pits.
I think the LMP1 problem is that the value proposition isn't there for a manufacturer - F1 probably gives a better return but of course the costs are higher still.
Ligier in the barrier at the start of the mulsane, driver ok and on way to medical centre. Barriers being repaired, they said it'd take 35 mins
no 8 Toyota just quite on track right at the start of the session, currently crawling back to the pits.
I think the LMP1 problem is that the value proposition isn't there for a manufacturer - F1 probably gives a better return but of course the costs are higher still.
Ligier in the barrier at the start of the mulsane, driver ok and on way to medical centre. Barriers being repaired, they said it'd take 35 mins
Edited by Crafty_ on Thursday 15th June 18:49
If you bothered to read the comments instead of posting knee-jerk reactions you'd see that my comments are directed to the 'are they / aren't they'.
As is turns out it would appear they were given how close they got to pole time, so I'm really not sure what you are getting so indignant about.
As is turns out it would appear they were given how close they got to pole time, so I'm really not sure what you are getting so indignant about.
Porsche RSR get a 8kg weight break under a BoP change. Apparently ACO are looking at one other change this afternoon too.
Buemi has had a little moan at the qualifying format, he thinks they should have split session as they usually do in WEC.
LMP1 2020 regs unveiled, mostly the same mechanically but there are increased restrictions on in season development, testing & wind tunnel time. The biggest changes are the monocoques are going to be larger and after each pit stop the car must complete 1km purely on electric power, the winning car at LeMans will also have to cross the line on electric power.
Buemi has had a little moan at the qualifying format, he thinks they should have split session as they usually do in WEC.
LMP1 2020 regs unveiled, mostly the same mechanically but there are increased restrictions on in season development, testing & wind tunnel time. The biggest changes are the monocoques are going to be larger and after each pit stop the car must complete 1km purely on electric power, the winning car at LeMans will also have to cross the line on electric power.
I think its quite interesting that they are pandering to manufacturers in that respect. In contrast, In Canada Ross Brawn made the point that manufacturers and F1 are ultimately moving apart - that would suggest he is making provision for the support not to rely on manufacturers in the future ?
F1 was going to have a rule that only electric power was used in the pit lane, they binned that one, let alone for 1km of race distance / corssing the line at LeMans (which personally I think is a shocking suggestion).
I wonder if they are hedging their bets, if privateer LMP1 comes off (Ginetta have a car in Williams wind tunnel right now and allegedly have customer ready to buy), other manufacturers are said to be interested too) they can bin all that stuff. If it doesn't then they still need the manufacturers in the class.
The other bit of news I forgot is that that the Porsche RSRs and Ford GTs may well be available to buy as customer cars next year.
F1 was going to have a rule that only electric power was used in the pit lane, they binned that one, let alone for 1km of race distance / corssing the line at LeMans (which personally I think is a shocking suggestion).
I wonder if they are hedging their bets, if privateer LMP1 comes off (Ginetta have a car in Williams wind tunnel right now and allegedly have customer ready to buy), other manufacturers are said to be interested too) they can bin all that stuff. If it doesn't then they still need the manufacturers in the class.
The other bit of news I forgot is that that the Porsche RSRs and Ford GTs may well be available to buy as customer cars next year.
Warm up in progress, looks to be a beautiful morning there.
Apparently Oreca asked for all engine wiring harnesses to be returned to them, reason unknown.
We've seen a couple out on track travelling slowly returning to the pits.
The #17 car lost the back end and tapped the wall and ended up in the gravel trap at the porsche curves.
Sessoin now done.
The #17 got out again, damage fairly minor.
Some quick laps in all classes - Kobayashi does a 3:18.6, Nick Tandy a 3:20.1m Davidson 3:20.9
Edit: Nakajima snuck in a 3:18.3
Alex Lynn did a 3:27.0 in the G-Drive car, the #31 Rebellion only a couple of seconds behind.
Briscoe did a 3:51.7 in the Ford, the #92 Porsche not far behind on a 3:52.5
Apparently Oreca asked for all engine wiring harnesses to be returned to them, reason unknown.
We've seen a couple out on track travelling slowly returning to the pits.
The #17 car lost the back end and tapped the wall and ended up in the gravel trap at the porsche curves.
Sessoin now done.
The #17 got out again, damage fairly minor.
Some quick laps in all classes - Kobayashi does a 3:18.6, Nick Tandy a 3:20.1m Davidson 3:20.9
Edit: Nakajima snuck in a 3:18.3
Alex Lynn did a 3:27.0 in the G-Drive car, the #31 Rebellion only a couple of seconds behind.
Briscoe did a 3:51.7 in the Ford, the #92 Porsche not far behind on a 3:52.5
Edited by Crafty_ on Saturday 17th June 08:50
Edited by Crafty_ on Saturday 17th June 09:17
ByKolles may not make the start, apparently the engine went pop in warm up, this is a second unit and they are struggling.
Ford onboard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byfmOYqaO5U
Porsche onboard: http://www.porsche.com/specials/en/international/l...
Ford onboard: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byfmOYqaO5U
Porsche onboard: http://www.porsche.com/specials/en/international/l...
t.
95 Aston gets a puncture and limps back to the pits, now back out but last in class.
97 Aston leads, Ford 2nd, Porsche 3rd. Who says BoP is bad ?
2 Porsche LMP1 in pits, seems to be a bit of fault finding going on. Seems to be hybrid system related
Toyota looking good out front.
97 Aston leads, Ford 2nd, Porsche 3rd. Who says BoP is bad ?
2 Porsche LMP1 in pits, seems to be a bit of fault finding going on. Seems to be hybrid system related
Toyota looking good out front.
Edited by Crafty_ on Saturday 17th June 17:47
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