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[chrisgixer]

First of all, Allan Simonsen killed 10minutes into the race. 
Rumoured to have spun into a barrier at the only point where said barrier touched a tree. An enquiry under way. He later died from his injuries in the medical centre, according to reports anyway. 

It's also said though, that he would have wanted the race to continue. Which it is...

Dramatic night shots as usual but it's amazing to see the massive difference in performance between the prototypes and the normal cars like the 'vet, Ferraris and Astons. (Aston currently leading in class btw )

I wonder, would these prototypes give an F1 car a run for their money..? Audi diesel v an F1 Caterham..?

[TheBoy]

I wonder, would these prototypes give an F1 car a run for their money..? Audi diesel v an F1 Caterham..?

I think the F1 would still have a massive aerodynamic advantage?

[chrisgixer]

I wonder, would these prototypes give an F1 car a run for their money..? Audi diesel v an F1 Caterham..?

I think the F1 would still have a massive aerodynamic advantage?

I assumed the F1 would have a massive advantage in all areas. Weight, power, down forces, the lot. But to see the leading prototypes go through the Porsche esses(?), its really quite incredible. As the commentary team said, from the inboard cameras, the footage looks speeded up.  It isn't.

These are basically an f1 car design, with the open wheels filled in with bodywork, an ecnclosed cockpit, and a diesel hybrid engine, or whatever the hell it is.

[mantahatch]

Covering the wheels gives a massive reduction in vehicle drag. Even on a road car putting flat plates in front of the front wheels will reduce body drag, imagine mudflaps fitted in front of the wheels and you will get the idea.

[Kevin Wood]

Dramatic night shots as usual but it's amazing to see the massive difference in performance between the prototypes and the normal cars like the 'vet, Ferraris and Astons. (Aston currently leading in class btw )

This is what makes it much less tedious to watch than any other form of motorsport IMO. It is awesome at night.

I wonder, would these prototypes give an F1 car a run for their money..? Audi diesel v an F1 Caterham..?

F1 car would be quicker off the line due to the light weight but slower at the top end due to the massive cost of generating all the downforce, and less aerodynamic shape, IMHO. The Le Mans track isn't that tight except in a few places so massive downforce wouldn't give it much of an advantage yet you have long straights where drag makes a huge difference. An LMP is doing average lap speeds around 150 MPH (yet down to 30 MPH for some of the tighter complexes). Oh, and the F1 car wouldn't have a cat in hell's chance of keeping the pace up for 24 hours without something breaking.

[chrisgixer]

Just looking at the tyres says the LMP has loads in hand, by the looks anyway. Or at that pointing the race they weren't pushing too hard.

It would be great to see an F1 car grid start the race with the others, see how far ahead they got(or not) then watch the various components fail/fall off/explode/disintegrate as the race developed.


Anyway, it's like sharks after tiddlers. Love it.

[Kevin Wood]

Anyway, it's like sharks after tiddlers. Love it.

Yep, and to see an LMP passing a GT car in the flesh really brings home the difference in performance.

911GT3 / Ferrari 458 completely committed into a chicane, for example (all stripped out in race form, on slicks and way faster than anything we can dream of driving on the road, but perhaps at a level of performance us mortals can at least comprehend?).

LMP car comes up from behind, brake disks go orange, completely outbreaks it, drives right round the outside as if the GT isn't moving then back on the power and is out of sight before the GT is even back on the power.

[dbug]

First of all, Allan Simonsen killed 10minutes into the race. 
Rumoured to have spun into a barrier at the only point where said barrier touched a tree. An enquiry under way. He later died from his injuries in the medical centre, according to reports anyway. 

It's also said though, that he would have wanted the race to continue. Which it is...

Dramatic night shots as usual but it's amazing to see the massive difference in performance between the prototypes and the normal cars like the 'vet, Ferraris and Astons. (Aston currently leading in class btw )

I wonder, would these prototypes give an F1 car a run for their money..? Audi diesel v an F1 Caterham..?

Remember seeing John Woolfe die at the '69 Le Mans - was at the White House bend when he went straight on in his Porsche - guy came clean out of the car - will never forget it.  Particularly as I spoke to him just before the race, when he confided he was scared of the car - IIRC it was a Porsche 917 (which he had just bought).  Did ofer to drive it for him but was turned down   Its a tough circuit to drive - been round it in my Cooper "S" racer and in a Carlton 3.0 lit GSI - managed 152mph indicated in the latter down the Mulsanne straight

[chrisgixer]

First of all, Allan Simonsen killed 10minutes into the race. 
Rumoured to have spun into a barrier at the only point where said barrier touched a tree. An enquiry under way. He later died from his injuries in the medical centre, according to reports anyway. 

It's also said though, that he would have wanted the race to continue. Which it is...

Dramatic night shots as usual but it's amazing to see the massive difference in performance between the prototypes and the normal cars like the 'vet, Ferraris and Astons. (Aston currently leading in class btw )

I wonder, would these prototypes give an F1 car a run for their money..? Audi diesel v an F1 Caterham..?

Remember seeing John Woolfe die at the '69 Le Mans - was at the White House bend when he went straight on in his Porsche - guy came clean out of the car - will never forget it.  Particularly as I spoke to him just before the race, when he confided he was scared of the car - IIRC it was a Porsche 917 (which he had just bought).  Did ofer to drive it for him but was turned down   Its a tough circuit to drive - been round it in my Cooper "S" racer and in a Carlton 3.0 lit GSI - managed 152mph indicated in the latter down the Mulsanne straight

Difficult enough, without a shark up ones jacksie flashing 6trillion lumin head lights in the mirrors.

I'd stick to me line, stuff em. (if I had the talent, fitness and could afford to get a license up to scratch of course. With proof of at least one international race a year in your class.   )

[chrisgixer]

Anyway, it's like sharks after tiddlers. Love it.

Yep, and to see an LMP passing a GT car in the flesh really brings home the difference in performance.

911GT3 / Ferrari 458 completely committed into a chicane, for example (all stripped out in race form, on slicks and way faster than anything we can dream of driving on the road, but perhaps at a level of performance us mortals can at least comprehend?).

LMP car comes up from behind, brake disks go orange, completely outbreaks it, drives right round the outside as if the GT isn't moving then back on the power and is out of sight before the GT is even back on the power.

Its a different planet of performance.
http://youtu.be/MyYmk_geEd4

There is footage of the afore mentioned crash too if anyone cares to look, ran onto the kerb on exit, slight twitch as the rear wheel dropped over the far side of the kerb, and speared off left. All over way before I could react, I'm sure. Wet kerb perhaps?

Certainly didn't fit the crime.

I'm sure the prototypes have all the stability programmes in place, but if it gets put of shape that quick in a GT car...

[dbug]

Yep my licence at the time was not valid for racing at Le Mans - just put my racer (road reg) and a company car round the circiut for the fun of it - have to say had major issues getting round the tight right hander at the end of the straight in the Carlton as brakes not really up to it

[albitz]

I remember reading an interview with Derek Bell about driving (testing iirc) at Le Mans many years ago in the works Porsche.
As he was belting down the Mulsanne straight at way over 200mph the rev counter kept shooting up momentarily.The team couldn't find anything wrong with the car so sent some mechanics to look at that part of the circuit.There was a sheet of black ice about 150 yards long.

[chrisgixer]

Audi had a link to live on board footage during the race

Data logging running alongside the video. Slightly out of sync, but just shy of 3g on the brakes, 2.5 odd g in the bends at one part of track iirc.

...even on a bike I suffered what I referred to as brain stretch if I'd had a lay off from riding. Fight or flight response screaming at you to brake, and brake now or your going to die... While the practical brain, the bit with memory of the last time I braked for the same corner on the same bike, was telling me to wait, don't brake yet, you know full well you can brake another x amount of yards further up the track with NO PROBLEM AT ALL.
Obviously your brain learns, and the "brain stretch" goes, along with slight nausea and fear of death or injury that your survival instincts tell you MUST follow. Until you make it round, as you know you can, and the "see god, then brake" theory no longer works.
 You have to then work out the exact latest braking distance of the vehicle for that turn, not the rider/drivers perception of it.

Presumably, you sus that vehicle, your career progresses hopefully, to the point your then faced with a Factory prototype car/bike, whatever.

Unless a driver has progressed to the level your brain can cope with taking a corner at that speed, there's no way on this earth he can drive it. Not and keep everything up to temp. to the point the car actually works with any grip.

Just imagine the process/career you have to go through to reach that level. Well, its probably best not to actually, there's a good chance of giving up before you've even started.  

[chrisgixer]

Yep my licence at the time was not valid for racing at Le Mans - just put my racer (road reg) and a company car round the circiut for the fun of it - have to say had major issues getting round the tight right hander at the end of the straight in the Carlton as brakes not really up to it

Personally, I don't care what anyone says, omega brakes are shite, much less Carlton ones. (I believe the omega brakes where upgraded from Carlton? )

[dbug]

Yep my licence at the time was not valid for racing at Le Mans - just put my racer (road reg) and a company car round the circiut for the fun of it - have to say had major issues getting round the tight right hander at the end of the straight in the Carlton as brakes not really up to it

Personally, I don't care what anyone says, omega brakes are shite, much less Carlton ones. (I believe the omega brakes where upgraded from Carlton? )

"Normal" driving ok, but pressing on leave a lot to be desired.  Not sure Omega brakes "upgraded" from a Carlton GSi though