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Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Nickbat on 11 June 2011, 19:57:21

Title: Le Mans
Post by: Nickbat on 11 June 2011, 19:57:21
Live feed here:

http://justin.tv/freddy49_lemans

 :y :y

Freezes a bit, though.  :(
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Kevin Wood on 11 June 2011, 19:59:53
Already watching it. 8-)

Pining for the place, though. :'( I must go next year. :(
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: henryd on 11 June 2011, 20:40:52
McNish's car looks a bit sick though    http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/13738359.stm
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Shimmy on 11 June 2011, 21:19:31
I saw McNish crash his car live, big big off.

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BghAdbFz_U[/media]

Unfortunate racing incident but very lucky that no one was hurt, the Audi was so close to clearing the barrier and wiping out a few photographers.
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Nickbat on 11 June 2011, 21:46:49
Second Audi (No.1) car in a heavy crash. Looks nasty.
 :( :( :( :(
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Nickbat on 11 June 2011, 22:15:59
Driver (Mike Rockenfeller) got out of wreckage and got over barrier under his own steam, so hopefully OK. Amazing though that this crash was so similar to the first (tangled with slower Ferrari when overtaking).
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Kevin Wood on 11 June 2011, 22:32:46
Hmm. some very dodgy overtaking of the GT cars this year. :o LMPs used to just drive round them off the racing line but it seems this year their setup hasn't afforded them enough grip to do that so they're just barging through with the inevitable consequences. :(
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Shimmy on 11 June 2011, 22:42:45
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Hmm. some very dodgy overtaking of the GT cars this year. :o LMPs used to just drive round them off the racing line but it seems this year their setup hasn't afforded them enough grip to do that so they're just barging through with the inevitable consequences. :(

I'd say the first crash was 50/50 and a racing incident.

Second one though the fault lies solely with the Ferrari imho.  How could he not see that Audi?!
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Nickbat on 11 June 2011, 22:45:03
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Hmm. some very dodgy overtaking of the GT cars this year. :o LMPs used to just drive round them off the racing line but it seems this year their setup hasn't afforded them enough grip to do that so they're just barging through with the inevitable consequences. :(


Yes, Kevin, you're right. At the drivers' meeting they were told to hold the racing line and that it was down to the faster cars to figure a way round. Also, I heard someone say that the LED HIDs on the Audis are so bright that they can disorientate other drivers.  :o :o
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Kevin Wood on 11 June 2011, 22:54:26
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Hmm. some very dodgy overtaking of the GT cars this year. :o LMPs used to just drive round them off the racing line but it seems this year their setup hasn't afforded them enough grip to do that so they're just barging through with the inevitable consequences. :(

I'd say the first crash was 50/50 and a racing incident.

Second one though the fault lies solely with the Ferrari imho.  How could he not see that Audi?!

Depends, IMHO. :-/ Yes, he would undoubtedly know he was behind but could he be sure how far behind, how fast he was closing and which side he was going round? Not sure.

Slower cars are briefed to stay on the racing line, not to yield in any way to overtaking cars. The faster cars in theory should have enough in hand to pass them off the racing line, and on the occasions I've been they have had a staggering advantage in grip. A GT car can be negotiating a chicane on the ragged edge and an LMP will just drive round it like it was parked.

The footage didn't show a wide enough view to say for sure, but what if the Ferrari was following the racing line as he moved over? The LMP dived into a gap that was predictably going to be full of Ferrari very shortly.

The LMPs have had their power restricted to slow them up. I suspect that it has meant they are taking bigger risks to pass the GT cars. Unintended consequences...?
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Nickbat on 11 June 2011, 22:56:38
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Hmm. some very dodgy overtaking of the GT cars this year. :o LMPs used to just drive round them off the racing line but it seems this year their setup hasn't afforded them enough grip to do that so they're just barging through with the inevitable consequences. :(

I'd say the first crash was 50/50 and a racing incident.

Second one though the fault lies solely with the Ferrari imho.  How could he not see that Audi?!

Depends, IMHO. :-/ Yes, he would undoubtedly know he was behind but could he be sure how far behind, how fast he was closing and which side he was going round? Not sure.

Slower cars are briefed to stay on the racing line, not to yield in any way to overtaking cars. The faster cars in theory should have enough in hand to pass them off the racing line, and on the occasions I've been they have had a staggering advantage in grip. A GT car can be negotiating a chicane on the ragged edge and an LMP will just drive round it like it was parked.

The footage didn't show a wide enough view to say for sure, but what if the Ferrari was following the racing line as he moved over? The LMP dived into a gap that was predictably going to be full of Ferrari very shortly.

The LMPs have had their power restricted to slow them up. I suspect that it has meant they are taking bigger risks to pass the GT cars. Unintended consequences...?

Henri Pescarolo just said that the very bright HIDs make it very difficult for cars in front to judge the distance. Is that car 5 metres behind or 50 metres behind?   :-?
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Chris_H on 11 June 2011, 23:14:13
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Hmm. some very dodgy overtaking of the GT cars this year. :o LMPs used to just drive round them off the racing line but it seems this year their setup hasn't afforded them enough grip to do that so they're just barging through with the inevitable consequences. :(


Yes, Kevin, you're right. At the drivers' meeting they were told to hold the racing line and that it was down to the faster cars to figure a way round. Also, I heard someone say that the LED HIDs on the Audis are so bright that they can disorientate other drivers.  :o :o
Not sure they can be LED and HID
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Kevin Wood on 11 June 2011, 23:18:09
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Not sure they can be LED and HID
Pretty sure they'll be HID. If they were LED there's be a bloke walking along with a candle in front of each car to help the driver out. ;D
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Nickbat on 11 June 2011, 23:25:12
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Not sure they can be LED and HID
Pretty sure they'll be HID. If they were LED there's be a bloke walking along with a candle in front of each car to help the driver out. ;D

They are LEDs, Kevin.

"Audi has taken its LED technolgoy one step further with the innovative Audi R18 TDI: the new LMP1 is the first Le Mans sports car with full LED headlights."

http://www.automotivedesign.eu.com/article/33672/LED-technology-to-benefit-Audi-Le-Mans-challenger.aspx
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Kevin Wood on 11 June 2011, 23:52:23
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Not sure they can be LED and HID
Pretty sure they'll be HID. If they were LED there's be a bloke walking along with a candle in front of each car to help the driver out. ;D

They are LEDs, Kevin.

"Audi has taken its LED technolgoy one step further with the innovative Audi R18 TDI: the new LMP1 is the first Le Mans sports car with full LED headlights."

http://www.automotivedesign.eu.com/article/33672/LED-technology-to-benefit-Audi-Le-Mans-challenger.aspx

Wow.  :o That does surprise me.
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: feeutfo on 11 June 2011, 23:58:42
On eurosport in HD.  8-)
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: henryd on 12 June 2011, 01:08:19
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Not sure they can be LED and HID
Pretty sure they'll be HID. If they were LED there's be a bloke walking along with a candle in front of each car to help the driver out. ;D

They are LEDs, Kevin.

"Audi has taken its LED technolgoy one step further with the innovative Audi R18 TDI: the new LMP1 is the first Le Mans sports car with full LED headlights."

http://www.automotivedesign.eu.com/article/33672/LED-technology-to-benefit-Audi-Le-Mans-challenger.aspx

Impressive stuff,no doubt soon to be filling our rear view mirrors at night :-/
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: feeutfo on 12 June 2011, 01:48:01
Can't help but think they need separate races for slower classes. Difference in performance is fairly massive.


They had the slower rider debate in BSB at cadwell after Kagayama was taken out by a backmarker moving off line the wrong way. Kagayama expected him to move one way and he went the other, punting Kagayama off track just before the mountain section, where the barrier, which he cleared, is all that separates the riders from the other side of the circuit and on coming traffic on the other side of the lap.
   Big mess and a smashed pelvis for Kagayama.
They later decided that slower riders should stay on line, while quicker traffic should judge the pass alone. It didn't last, and everything resorted to race leaders getting priority etc... And similar happened again of course, although not as serious.

The prototypes are massively quicker, but it wouldn't be the same with separate classes.

Brilliant pictures from eurosport HD btw.  8-)
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Kevin Wood on 12 June 2011, 10:36:14
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Can't help but think they need separate races for slower classes. Difference in performance is fairly massive.

Problem is, a 24h endurance race with a dozen cars would be a bit tedious. ;D

I don't think it has been much of an issue until this year. As I said, they've meddled with the rules to make it safer and it's made it more dangerous. ::)

So, cut to the chase. Who's up for an OOF Le Mans pilgrimage next year?

Kevin
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: feeutfo on 12 June 2011, 10:59:38
Yep, I'm in.  :y
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Banjax on 12 June 2011, 12:28:06
Marc Gene was an utter disgrace trying to run the last Audi off the road - I remember him in F1 - he was pish then as well :o
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: feeutfo on 12 June 2011, 13:40:12
AAAAAAH, nearly there... I almost can't watch.  :o

And it's starting to rain...
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: TheBoy on 12 June 2011, 13:44:19
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Can't help but think they need separate races for slower classes. Difference in performance is fairly massive.

Problem is, a 24h endurance race with a dozen cars would be a bit tedious. ;D

I don't think it has been much of an issue until this year. As I said, they've meddled with the rules to make it safer and it's made it more dangerous. ::)

So, cut to the chase. Who's up for an OOF Le Mans pilgrimage next year?

Kevin
I'm in Kevin Wood  :y
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: feeutfo on 12 June 2011, 13:51:43
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Can't help but think they need separate races for slower classes. Difference in performance is fairly massive.

Problem is, a 24h endurance race with a dozen cars would be a bit tedious. ;D

I don't think it has been much of an issue until this year. As I said, they've meddled with the rules to make it safer and it's made it more dangerous. ::)

So, cut to the chase. Who's up for an OOF Le Mans pilgrimage next year?

Kevin
I'm in Kevin Wood  :y
;D I knew it, Admin team, I've said it before  ;D
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: henryd on 12 June 2011, 13:53:04
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Can't help but think they need separate races for slower classes. Difference in performance is fairly massive.

Problem is, a 24h endurance race with a dozen cars would be a bit tedious. ;D

I don't think it has been much of an issue until this year. As I said, they've meddled with the rules to make it safer and it's made it more dangerous. ::)

So, cut to the chase. Who's up for an OOF Le Mans pilgrimage next year?

Kevin
I'm in Kevin Wood  :y
;D I knew it, Admin team, I've said it before  ;D

they will probably need a whipping boy as well :D :D
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Kevin Wood on 12 June 2011, 13:55:17
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Can't help but think they need separate races for slower classes. Difference in performance is fairly massive.

Problem is, a 24h endurance race with a dozen cars would be a bit tedious. ;D

I don't think it has been much of an issue until this year. As I said, they've meddled with the rules to make it safer and it's made it more dangerous. ::)

So, cut to the chase. Who's up for an OOF Le Mans pilgrimage next year?

Kevin
I'm in, Kevin Wood  :y
;D I knew it, Admin team, I've said it before  ;D
:o
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: Kevin Wood on 12 June 2011, 13:57:20
This is fantastic! 24 hours and down to a nail-biting finish.

Although I'd like to see the Pescarolo car still in place as the fastest non-tractor. :'( I've got a lot of respect for him against the corporate money-no-object teams.
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: feeutfo on 12 June 2011, 13:59:14
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Can't help but think they need separate races for slower classes. Difference in performance is fairly massive.

Problem is, a 24h endurance race with a dozen cars would be a bit tedious. ;D

I don't think it has been much of an issue until this year. As I said, they've meddled with the rules to make it safer and it's made it more dangerous. ::)

So, cut to the chase. Who's up for an OOF Le Mans pilgrimage next year?

Kevin
I'm in, Kevin Wood  :y
;D I knew it, Admin team, I've said it before  ;D
:o
Pmsl  ;D
Title: Re: Le Mans
Post by: feeutfo on 12 June 2011, 14:01:19
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This is fantastic! 24 hours and down to a nail-biting finish.

Although I'd like to see the Pescarolo car still in place as the fastest non-tractor. :'( I've got a lot of respect for him against the corporate money-no-object teams.
Awesome, we must go.  :y