83rd Running Of The Le Mans 24 Hours - 13/14 June 2015.

[Niku Driver HC]

Can't believe you, from Valongo of all places, forgot Barbosa. Go Krohn Racing !!! (pity he can't drive the 24 hours though, lol)

Wait, Barbosa is racing too? Oops, forgot about him racing for Krohn's LMP2 team, silly me. Well, I'll cheer him on too, it should be interesting to see him back in a LMP for Le Mans after all those years racing for Pescarolo (RIP)...

 

[mister dog]

so who else who's at the circuit is enjoying this wonderful rain at the mo?

Question, i was doing some laps at Le Mans in PCARS this morning at 10AM local time, and as i had it set on real weather it gave me sunny with a tiny bit of clouds at that moment. Was that correct or were you still laying in your tent with a hangover?

 

[HKS racer]

Nissan grid penalty for being too slow.

There is no point penalizing someone because too slow. They are not being slow on purpose.

 

[Aloha62_2]

There is no point penalizing someone because too slow. They are not being slow on purpose.

It does seem odd that the penalty for being too far down the grid is being pushed further down the grid. But I suppose it makes things easier for the LMP2 field, less road blocks in the chicanes.

 

[Leadfoot530]

So, I decided to check FS1 for TV coverage this morning, and all I could find was live feed from 7:00 PM, 3:30 AM, and 9:00-9:30 AM. Grrrr. I gottanl find more coverage than just a few hours! I've waited for this race all year! I don't get FS2, and theres at least one segment on there, but I'm not shre if I can watch it on FS:GO or not.

Might try to get that 24 Hours of Le Mans app and see if anythings on there. If anyone has it, is it any good?

 

[HKS racer]

It does seem odd that the penalty for being too far down the grid is being pushed further down the grid. But I suppose it makes things easier for the LMP2 field, less road blocks in the chicanes.

I got your point but still. It is basically a sperimental car let them enjoy the race without this additional bitterness of being considered "too slow". Let's not forget what happens to Le Mans may have repercussions in marketing.
You don't want to ruin the hype of someone finally bringing something new to the race. Organizers should applaud them and don't "hurt their feelings".

 

[mister dog]

Might try to get that 24 Hours of Le Mans app and see if anythings on there. If anyone has it, is it any good?

https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/thre...-13-14-june-2015.327838/page-12#post-10767772

 

[Bo]

I can see why percentage rules exist, but I don't think that's the right way to go. One GT car is starting at the back because it missed the 120% over the Porsche pole time - I don't think that's fair at all - they should at least measure them class by class if the method is to make sense, because you can't blame a car in a different class for the top class cars being exceptionally fast all of a sudden.

If they really want the best system, I don't see why the force majeure can't go the other way. If a car is quite literally so far off any other it poses a danger to others, then let the teams raise it first, then the stewards can decide whether to act or not. That's why the F1 107% rule was pointless - even if a car fell outside of it, they'd just let it in under force majeure.

 

[HKS racer]

I just hope this ACO being ACO once agin, doesn't make Nissan considering a rage quit for next year, because that's the risk. They spent money on marketing this year, they don't want some ACO burocrats causing "Nissan too slow" news all around the web.

 

[Bo]

I think everyone knows what their current status is, and I think Nissan themselves would've pulled the plug by now if they thought they really couldn't challenge next year. The criticism this year is half valid, in the sense that the car is fundamentally broken and maybe a bit too complex for its own good, but it's also invalid at the same time because considering how disadvantaged they are, and how insane the concept seems, they have got 3 cars that go round at racing car-like speeds.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

• GT: Since I am a GM guy, and foremost a Chevy guy, the Corvettes will be my favorites for this one. While Corvette had a terrible moment with Kevin Magnussen's crash (wishes of a speedy recovery for him, by the way), hopefully they will be able to bounce back and fight to the best of their abilities. Meanwhile, in the AM class, I'll probably pick Riley, since they are the underdogs, trying to keep the Viper competitive against the likes of AF Corse and such. As I said, it'll be an uphill battle for them, but who knows, maybe they'll be lucky...

Kevin Magnussen doesn't nor hasn't driven a LMGTE car

 

[Niku Driver HC]

Kevin Magnussen doesn't nor hasn't driven a LMGTE car

Yep, my mistake; it's Jan, not Kevin. Sorry about that.

 

[Sertsa]

The announcement video didn't work for me (watching after the reveal), but this was linked from Jalopnik. This hopefully answers my main question, if the GT sounds as awesome as the Corvette. (Hopefully that's the real engine sound, at least). Skip to 1:13 if you just want to get to the new car.

 

[Aloha62_2]

I just hope this ACO being ACO once agin, doesn't make Nissan considering a rage quit for next year, because that's the risk. They spent money on marketing this year, they don't want some ACO burocrats causing "Nissan too slow" news all around the web.

The rule was there before the team entered, if they didn't know or didn't care then that's their own problem not the ACO. The ACO have done nothing other then apply the rules and send out a notice which is their job. If it wants sugercoating then that's Nissans job.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

The rule was there before the team entered, if they didn't know or didn't care then that's their own problem not the ACO. The ACO have done nothing other then apply the rules and send out a notice which is their job. If it wants sugercoating then that's Nissans job.

He does this nearly every year, finding a reason to complain about the ACO in lieu to the race without hard evidence based on his dislike of actions they take, only following the legal parameters that have been in place.

 

[Hun200kmh]

The announcement video didn't work for me (watching after the reveal), but this was linked from Jalopnik. This hopefully answers my main question, if the GT sounds as awesome as the Corvette. (Hopefully that's the real engine sound, at least). Skip to 1:13 if you just want to get to the new car.

And skip to 1:42 for a laugh!

 

[Earth]

Im looking at the Fox Sports Go App and all I see for the first 12 hours is the Corvette and pit crew camears?

 

[RobertM525]

Nissan had a huge improvement over QP1 which is good (about 3 seconds each) still got beat by an lmp2 though. Poor Nissan.

No, no, they're just not pushing it yet.

Yeah, their effort this year has been doomed from the start. It's weird that they did this big marketing push (they had a two page spread with an insert in Motor Trend, for instance) when the car doesn't seem ready to do anything impressive yet at all. Sounds to me like a disconnect between the engineers (who probably knew the car was having issues) and their executives/marketing team.

Really, they may have been better off just not running this year and spending more time getting the car ready for Le Mans 2016.

Hopefully the #64 can pull the team back up with a class podium, or better yet, a win, tomorrow.

Yeah, I wouldn't count them out. The Corvette team has a good track record (no pun intended) at Le Mans.

 

[Bo]

Really, they may have been better off just not running this year and spending more time getting the car ready for Le Mans 2016.

If they did that, they'd be in the same position as they are this year. The only way you can improve a car is by continually running it, and a private test just won't cut it for race simulation.

 

[RobertM525]

If they did that, they'd be in the same position as they are this year. The only way you can improve a car is by continually running it, and a private test just won't cut it for race simulation.

Maybe, but apparently it's a mess under the hood and will be a real challenge to work on. It's not like they had the fundamentals down and just needed to fine tune it. From what I've been reading, the car really was not ready.

I got your point but still. It is basically a sperimental car let them enjoy the race without this additional bitterness of being considered "too slow". Let's not forget what happens to Le Mans may have repercussions in marketing.
You don't want to ruin the hype of someone finally bringing something new to the race. Organizers should applaud them and don't "hurt their feelings".

Why should the ACO be babying Nissan? 'Cause they've thrown a lot of money at this? It's not the ACO's fault that Nissan did a huge marketing push on a car that wasn't ready to compete with Audi, Porsche, and Toyota. The rules for qualifying slow apply to every car on the grid. Nissan shouldn't get a pass "because it'll make them bitter" and "they might look bad." If they look bad because their car is too slow, do they not deserve that?

 

[Bo]

Maybe, but apparently it's a mess under the hood and will be a real challenge to work on. It's not like they had the fundamentals down and just needed to fine tune it. From what I've been reading, the car really was not ready.

It's tight, but not a mess. It's a masterpiece of packaging. Again, even if the car is broken, stopping the programme to keep pushing it back won't develop it. You just have to keep going.

 

[Tired Tyres]

I can see why percentage rules exist, but I don't think that's the right way to go. One GT car is starting at the back because it missed the 120% over the Porsche pole time - I don't think that's fair at all - they should at least measure them class by class if the method is to make sense, because you can't blame a car in a different class for the top class cars being exceptionally fast all of a sudden.

If they really want the best system, I don't see why the force majeure can't go the other way. If a car is quite literally so far off any other it poses a danger to others, then let the teams raise it first, then the stewards can decide whether to act or not. That's why the F1 107% rule was pointless - even if a car fell outside of it, they'd just let it in under force majeure.

They do measure them by type. That was Autosport being idiots. No one can expect a GTE car to lap within a time set by an LMP1. The Ferrari was measured against the GTE pole.

 

[Aloha62_2]

If they did that, they'd be in the same position as they are this year. The only way you can improve a car is by continually running it, and a private test just won't cut it for race simulation.

There are a half dozen other races a year including the two they skipped this year to 'get ready' for Le Mans. Instead they have jumped into one of the most viewed motorsport arenas in the world unprepared and ill equipped. Now they face the situation of doing a 24 hour race for very questionable testing value and under a very cynical press and public eye. There are times to forge on and try anyway and there are times when you say 'our 1200bhp 4wd car is currently stuck at 500bhp and 2wd, it simply isn't ready for this'.

 

[CodeRedR51]

From what I've been reading, the car really was not ready.

Well idea in someone's brain to 3 cars at Le Mans in 10 months isn't too shabby.

 

[IforceV8]

Im looking at the Fox Sports Go App and all I see for the first 12 hours is the Corvette and pit crew camears?

I just checked it and the have it listed at 7:30 am between the Moto GP qualifying and the pit cam feed.

It looks like they plan to alternate between the stream and the TV schedule.

make sure when you search it is showing all of the channels.

 

[Panoz]

Personally I believe Nissan's late start on building and testing the car has hinder them a lot. Compared to Porsche, who unveiled the 919 a full year before its Le Mans debut.

Especially for a radical layout that Nissan choose to use, its going to take time for them to workout the gremlins.

 

[Bo]

There are a half dozen other races a year including the two they skipped this year to 'get ready' for Le Mans. Instead they have jumped into one of the most viewed motorsport arenas in the world unprepared and ill equipped. Now they face the situation of doing a 24 hour race for very questionable testing value and under a very cynical press and public eye. There are times to forge on and try anyway and there are times when you say 'our 1200bhp 4wd car is currently stuck at 500bhp and 2wd, it simply isn't ready for this'.

As I said, it doesn't matter how fundamentally broken it is now. Entering it is the only thing they can do to make it a better car. They could come out and say "our car isn't ready", but literally everyone knows that, and saying it won't help the car get faster. The more they beat around the bush, the more tentative they are, the further behind they fall - that's why they have had to dive in. I'm sure they don't mind getting on with the project either - in the end, all they want to do is win Le Mans next year. The more they can do between now and then can only make that more possible.

 

[Bram Turismo]

As I will be driving to the airport tomorrow to get back home from holidays, I will most probably miss the start. Probably the first time I have not seen the start since 2003 or 2004.

The airport has free WiFim so I am hoping to tune in with Radio Le Mans around 4 or 5 pm. 👍

 

[RobertM525]

It's tight, but not a mess. It's a masterpiece of packaging. Again, even if the car is broken, stopping the programme to keep pushing it back won't develop it. You just have to keep going.

I can't remember where I read it now, but I'm not making this up. Apparently it looks very cobbled together under the hood. I found this...

The reliability issues the car has suffered come as no shock to me at all. I look at the space under the front of the car and it is just so full of complicated things. The engine, the turbos, the front crash box, coolers, there is barely any space for the suspension and I cannot even see the gearbox. This looks to me to be the worst car I have ever seen in terms of serviceability, so I feel very sorry for the mechanics. There are just pipes and wires running everywhere.

...but I know that's not where I originally read about it and Google is failing me.

I know a lot of people think very highly of this car, but I’m not really sure why. An AWD car that became FWD because the AWD system wouldn’t work? A car that’s massively slower than its competition? To me, these things say that they don’t have a good car right now.

Is it because it’s a Nissan? Or that it’s an underdog? What is it about this car that’s impressing people so much, despite all the evidence pointing to it not being a good car? Which is not to say that it can’t be in the future, but that it isn’t yet. Maybe next year they’ll have an awesome car on their hands. But at the moment, the evidence suggests (to me, anyway) that the car isn’t ready.

And honestly, I don’t know that I buy the argument that because they did deploy the car at Le Mans this year (though not the first two rounds of the WEC as they originally intended) that they had to do so to continue developing the car. They could’ve gotten it to the point that, for instance, their AWD system was running. Or that it would be easier to work on in the pits. A lot of work goes into these cars before we ever hear about them or see them. Saying that you know Nissan had reached the point where it should’ve been publically announced and entered into Le Mans is strange to me, because I don’t really see the evidence for that. Obviously, they could do that, because they did. But I don’t think a manufacturer makes a big stink about a Le Mans entry that they intend to have do poorly just to continue the development of their program. Some people at Nissan wanted a contender for this year, whether they had one or not.

I hope this doesn't come off as combative, because I don't intend to be. I'm just kind of confused by some of the reactions I'm seeing to this car. I really didn't expect my skepticism about it to be controversial.

 

[Leadfoot530]

Just found the "Next Race" tab for the Le Mans app. Probably just going to do that, since this is really the only race I pay attention to on the whole schedual. Just need to figure out the cost and how to pay for it!

EDIT: $11.13. So getting it.