85th Running Of The 24 Hours Of Le Mans, 17-18 June 2017Sports Cars

[IforceV8]

They might have a point if the Corvette wasn't the 2nd slowest car at Daytona in lap time. The Porsches were the only ones to get close to the Ford GTs best lap.

Fastest race laps Rolex 24
67-GT-1:43.385
62-FER-1:43.654
911- 1:43.964
3----1:43.979
912- 1:43.979
4---- 1:44.038

Best Ideal laps
69-GT-1:43.018
67-GT-1:43.031
911- 1:43.153
62 FER-1:43.169
4-----1:43.418
912- 1:43.438
3---- 1:43.481

 

[05XR8]

What does this have to do with Le Mans?

Even though it's not running at Le mans, the article linked it to the 1975 Le Mans art car. Besides, art cars are majorly BMWs.

 

[LongbowX]

@IforceV8 The Porsche managed a 1:43.543 in Practice 4 (the best for the Corvettes was a 1:43.884 in that same session). And the 911s ideal lap time is telling as well. The Porsches maximum speed was 182.5/182.1mph versus the Corvettes 181.7/180.9.

The Porsches probably could be given a bit more though, I sort of agree. However, I also don't know why he thinks that the Corvettes are such a threat, considering the Ford GTs and Ferrari 488s seem stronger.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I'd rather see the Porsche and Vette be given what they have in IMSA rather than the ACO's take on it. Because at least in IMSA I feel any car can win, don't feel fans and teams get the same fair shake come Le Mans

 

[aarror]

I have zero confidence in the ACO coming up with a balanced BOP. Time and time again they've shown that they're utterly incapable of balancing a set of cars that we've seen race extremely closely in IMSA.

 

[trustjab]

Don't forget the Porsche is a brand new (mostly) car so it has more upside to it than the Vette which is going on a few years old now. There's not much more to come from the Vette vs the Porsche. I think the ACO sees there's upside to it and are trying to hold off on giving too much to them.

 

[trustjab]

Live text from here guys http://www.lemans.org/fr/page/TimelineKeynote/suivez-la-journee-test-des-24-heures-du-mans/20 just google translate the site. Haven't found any live timing yet. But Toyota's #7 Mike Conway already in the 3:26.203 less than a half hour in.

edit- live timing is working on the WEC app!

 

[jontikis]

Fresh pictures from today's testing!

 

[trustjab]

Live timing site with sector times here https://timing.71wytham.org.uk/timing/714822cce37346be96aedbe84c894e90

 

[IforceV8]

In the AM session the Dallara's went 340 kph, Oreca 332, Ligier 329, and the Riley 316. The lap times for the trimmed out Dallara were not close to the Oreca's though.

 

[AMPMROCKETFANN]

Badges proudly on.
View attachment 651131

Looks better like this actually

 

[jontikis]

More Toyota! 👍

Porsche's turn!

 

[sumbrownkid]

Wow those trap speeds for the LMP2.

Anyone know what speeds LMP1 were pulling? They must be pulling faster speeds than last year on the straights considering they lost some downforce and associated drag.

And Toyota with that 3:18 lap ain't playing around.

 

[Roo]

I need a high res shot tall enough to make the cars my phone wallpaper

 

[IforceV8]

Toyota 329 kph avg, Porsche 324 avg, CLM 334. But remember that the P1's are lifting and coasting and their speed peaks early and then the hybrid juice runs out. Barrichello who drives the Dallara #29 thinks they might have gone too far with their low drag aero FWIW.

 

[trustjab]

What a session. Kobayashi does a 3:18.3 then a 3:18.1 and the Toyota does 14 lap(!) stints with 3:20 laps in them... They've stepped up their game big time. I'm sure Porsche will respond come race week. I can't wait!

 

[Michelin Man]

Blimey, that's some pace from Toyota and LMP1 in general, and LMP2 is mighty quick too .

In fact, someone remind me, whats the absolute fastest time currently at this configuration of the Sarthe?

 

[sumbrownkid]

What a session. Kobayashi does a 3:18.3 then a 3:18.1 and the Toyota does 14 lap(!) stints with 3:20 laps in them... They've stepped up their game big time. I'm sure Porsche will respond come race week. I can't wait!

For Porsche that 3:20 time while pulling 14 lap stints must be a real cause for concern.

 

[catamount39]

Blimey, that's some pace from Toyota and LMP1 in general, and LMP2 is mighty quick too .

In fact, someone remind me, whats the absolute fastest time currently at this configuration of the Sarthe?

From what I found, in race would be the 3:17.475 that Audi put up in 2015. Outright fastest would be the 3:16.89 done by Porsche in 2015.

 

[Michelin Man]

From what I found, in race would be the 3:17.475 that Audi put up in 2015. Outright fastest would be the 3:16.89 done by Porsche in 2015.

Ok, so with these lap times being posted in testing, and obviously we could assume there's even more progress to be made in Practice through to Quali, wouldn't be too surprised if we saw an outright record in Qualifying, or even the race. What with Toyota's pace at this early stage (obviously, would expect Porsche to respond as well).

 

[sumbrownkid]

I think that 3:18 time is probably Toyota doing a qualifying simulation and is likely the fastest they will go imo. Porsche doing that 3:16 is a combination of perfect weather conditions and the right set up too. Porsche themselves admitted to it.

Then again this is just day one, and maybe Toyota does indeed have more speed somewhere.

 

[catamount39]

I think that 3:18 time is probably Toyota doing a qualifying simulation and is likely the fastest they will go imo. Porsche doing that 3:16 is a combination of perfect weather conditions and the right set up too. Porsche themselves admitted to it.

Then again this is just day one, and maybe Toyota does indeed have more speed somewhere.

Didn't they also peg back the cars further after 2015 for safety?

 

[sumbrownkid]

Didn't they also peg back the cars further after 2015 for safety?

That too, ACO being ACO.

 

[trustjab]

I think that 3:18 time is probably Toyota doing a qualifying simulation and is likely the fastest they will go imo. Porsche doing that 3:16 is a combination of perfect weather conditions and the right set up too. Porsche themselves admitted to it.

Then again this is just day one, and maybe Toyota does indeed have more speed somewhere.

That's a possibility, but Buemi did a 14-lap stint which had 6 laps in the 3:20's. That's race pace! On top of the fact that it's the test day, not even race week.

 

[Bram Turismo]

I'm still mighty impressed that Peugeot ran a 3'18.5, 10 years ago...

I kinda miss the 908.

 

[sumbrownkid]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/129947/porsche-could-not-match-toyota-test-pace

You know you throw down the gauntlet when you make Porsche of all people break a sweat.

What was really eye opening though was reading Kamui saying he could have gone a further half a second faster if it weren't for traffic.

 

[TheElbows]

That's all well and good, but it doesn't preclude race strategy being able to save a team (Audi managed that a few times despite having weaker cars a couple of years). If anything, makes it more interesting.

 

[sumbrownkid]

True, but if Toyota can do same amount of stints Porsche can do while still be around 2-3 seconds faster, I'm not sure what strategy can make up for that deficit. Unless Porsche can pull more stints on a set of tires?

 

[aarror]

The new 911 RSR sounds fantastic. I know who I'm cheering for in GTE Pro now 👍

 

[Michelin Man]

The new 911 RSR sounds fantastic. I know who I'm cheering for in GTE Pro now 👍

You're not wrong, it does sounds fantastic doesn't it .

Mind you, I'm in love with the deeper, guttural growl of the Ford GT LM's 3.5 TT V6



And on-board, gives an even better sense of that growl IMO.