The Le Mans General Discussion Thread

Now, I know I read somewhere about the ALMS P1 category being "Triple" what it was last year- who were they figuring?

2 from Dyson
1 (Maybe 2) from Rebellion
1 Muscle Milk

Where is that other 1 or 2? Was anyone else ever speculated for joining?
 
I wonder when manufacturers start revealing 2014 spec racers. I know that Audi has one lurking somewhere around a racetrack in the dark when no one else is looking....These guys just take sports car racing to the next level.
 
sumbrownkid
I wonder when manufacturers start revealing 2014 spec racers. I know that Audi has one lurking somewhere around a racetrack in the dark when no one else is looking....These guys just take sports car racing to the next level.
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Porsche is also making a return then, no doubt they've got something already planned.

It would be great to see Toyota make a 2014 car, and I wish that we'd see the return of Ferrari, as well as BMW and Mercedes.. The late 90's had such a good pool of different contenders, and that's part of what's missing today I think.
 
That missing "pool" depends on if the 2014 regs truly revive the Group C era of earnest manufacturer support. I think Toyota is also busy tinkering away at Cologne while using binoculars to see what the trolls at Ingolstadt are up to, but they have been awfully quiet with their plans in general.
 
Think I read somewhere that Porsche will roll out their 2014 P1 mid year 2013. Expect Audi to wait until after the WEC season, and Toyota (if at all) early 2014.
 
This is why I think Porsche will clean up next year. Audi and Toyota will be busy fighting each other whilst Porsche quietly get on with development.

They will bring a fully sorted car to the grid in 2014 whereas Audi & Toyota will be playing catch up.

There's no chance of BMW entering. They have already said that they would like to do GTE but they want the Schnitzer team to run it. They can't because too many DTM rounds clash with WEC rounds.
 
I'd feel sorry for the logistics guy if they decided to do both series.

I'm really interested in Audi's story though. I know Porsche and Audi would love to compete against each other, but I don't know if VW can see anymore value of a factory Audi program by that time. Audi has pretty much conquered all eras since 2000, and has nothing much else to prove as an all out factory effort.
 
Tired Tyres
There's no chance of BMW entering. They have already said that they would like to do GTE but they want the Schnitzer team to run it. They can't because too many DTM rounds clash with WEC rounds.
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I'm sure if they tossed RLL some money they could do it
 
sumbrownkid
That missing "pool" depends on if the 2014 regs truly revive the Group C era of earnest manufacturer support. I think Toyota is also busy tinkering away at Cologne while using binoculars to see what the trolls at Ingolstadt are up to, but they have been awfully quiet with their plans in general.
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I highly doubt Toyota needs to spy on their competitors. Toyota probably has the world's most advanced technology center over at Cologne, and I'd be completely baffled if they won't have the outright fastest car at Le Mans for this year. Toyota definitely know what they are doing, they never should have left Le Mans in the first place.
 
Oh at this level everyone needs to spy on everyone!! The cars are now so advanced in the aero front that they can spend countless hours on a wind tunnel going backwards at the cost of hundred of thousand dollars while looking for the extra tenth! Ofcourse they're going to spy to see what the other guy is doing!
 
I'd say that the TS030 had an already more advanced front aero pack than the R18 had. Let's not forget Audi has had 12-13 years of continuous Le Mans entries to build on. Toyota came with a 6 months old car that at a point was actually leading the race. That's a very impressive feat.
 
Jav
Oh at this level everyone needs to spy on everyone!!
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802l.jpg


Bram Turismo
I'd say that the TS030 had an already more advanced front aero pack than the R18 had. Let's not forget Audi has had 12-13 years of continuous Le Mans entries to build on. Toyota came with a 6 months old car that at a point was actually leading the race. That's a very impressive feat.
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This. While Toyota doesn't have the winning record, they have a tendency to be very clever with the rules (Remember how they worked the regs with GT1 at the time?).
 
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RACECAR
This. While Toyota doesn't have the winning record, they have a tendency to very clever with the rules (Remember how they worked the regs with GT1 at the time?).
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I agree, I absolutely adored the GT-One for the way they found so many loopholes in the rules, and it made me smile to see them do the same thing with the rear wing on the TS030. For Toyota to come with a car that was sorta rushed, and temporarily lead Audi, who have been the kings of the track since the R8, is quite a statement.
 
Perhaps this year is the Swan Song for the LF-A in that race?
 
Any Flying Lizard fans might want to head over to their website, enter the code "bigsale" and everything in their store is 75% off. I just got $114 worth of posters and shirts for $28, shipping is a bit expensive though..
 
Mac K
Any Flying Lizard fans might want to head over to their website, enter the code "bigsale" and everything in their store is 75% off. I just got $114 worth of posters and shirts for $28, shipping is a bit expensive though..
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Thanks for this Mac. Gonna get some stuff now!
 
I'd love to get some stuff, but...
I'm a hardcore BMW fan. And I really cant be bothered to go to their DTM site (Because RLL doesn't have stuff) and pay $70 for a T-Shirt.

Edit: Just kidding. Those posters are really cool!

2 T-shirts for me and 1 for my Father

$33, shipping included.
 
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TexasTyme214
Does the front end look different or are my eyes deceiving me?
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The picture isn't very good so it's hard to tell, although it does look slightly different.
 
It's not a GT3 spec. GT3 cars are produced in great numbers. The LFA only has this one race car. I'm guessing it'll be in an EXP class when classified at the N24 and not SP9 like the GT3's.
 
freshseth83
It's not a GT3 spec. GT3 cars are produced in great numbers. The LFA only has this one race car. I'm guessing it'll be in an EXP class when classified at the N24 and not SP9 like the GT3's.
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Wish it was a GT3 homologated car! They really need to look into Blancpain or World GT... The Nurb is great and God knows I'm all for the N24 and VLN, but it would be nice to see more of the car. VLN is kind of an unknown series for many people...

@Racecar, Loving the new avatar!! C7.R is going to be a sweet sweet looking car on the merger series!
 

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