The Le Mans General Discussion Thread

That depends on what Audi want to do. Toyota's Pascal Vasselon claims they will use a variation of the double endplate wing at LeMans this year.

Audi definitely are trying for more downforce to match Toyota's. They were lacking in that area last season in comparison. But what Audi may gain Toyota may gain. So there might be an impasse.
 
Hun200kmh
Caterham paid for by Lotus? No, forget Lotus, it has nothing to do with this.

As for the Caterham-Alpine-Renault-Nissan connections, here's what you should know:


1. Alpine is now co-owned by Renault AND Caterham

2. Renault and Nissan are themselves one BIG automotive group so that explains why an Alpine will get a Nissan engine to start with.
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As someone who has a Renault, from what I understood, the Alpine cars were produced in what is now the RenaultSport factory. Dunno if this confuses things but I am given to believe Alpine is to Renault what Caterham is to Lotus. Like the performance brand. But not what VXR is to Vauxhall or Cosworth is to Ford. Those brands as far as I am aware improve just the mechanical side. Alpine and Caterhams are car manufacturers owned by Renault and Lotus respectively.

In 2012 it was announced that Lotus and Caterham had bought 50% of Alpine to produce new Alpine and Caterham cars.

Am I correct?

I don't quite though understand that if it is still Oreca why it has been badged as Alpine. Is the Alpine engines in the Nissan chassis to be built by Oreca?
 
I dont think theres a Nissan chassis. Oreca (And Zytek) build the Chassis, and then the teams put Nissan engines in them. I thought they were going to a new Chassis altogether.
 
Life got in the way this year, but my wife and I hope to make it next year. We're going to the Grand-Am race at Road Atlanta next month and Petit again, though.
 
This makes me sad. (I don't have speed)

ALMSOfficialVideos 6 hours ago
The 12 Hours of Sebring race broadcast will be on TV on SPEED (for viewers inside of the US) and on alms.com (for viewers outside of the US only). Unfortunately, we will not be on ESPN3 for this race. We will be back on ESPN3 starting at Long Beach. See our schedule for broadcasting details for each race: alms.com/schedule/2013
 
Annnnnd this is why we watch illegal feeds. See you on justin.tv, folks. 🤬 ALMS can't get their 🤬 together with broadcasting. Should run on alms.com for everyone. Sigh.

Also I think motors tv is for non-us residents, although I'd love to be corrected on that!
 
I may miss out on most or all of this year's 12 Hours of Sebring. Otherwise, I'm jacked Speed will have coverage of Sebring. I'll try to catch as much as I can.
 
I searched for 3 hours last weekend trying to find the Grand-Am COTA race on Speed and couldn't find a single, working feed. Hopefully we'll get lucky since Sebring is more of a headlining event.
 
spooble
I searched for 3 hours last weekend trying to find the Grand-Am COTA race on Speed and couldn't find a single, working feed. Hopefully we'll get lucky since Sebring is more of a headlining event.
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The great thing about Grand-Am is that they upload full replays of the races to their website a few days after each event.

I think ALMS is starting to do that, too.
 
Speed isn't even showing the whole thing. There's an hour of NASCAR practice (boring) and AMA (replayed constantly) for a bit too. Plus the horrible Bob Varsha commentary. He knows nothing about endurance racing as evidenced by Grand-Am
 
Sorry to double post, but...


First test session done, Rebellion 1st, Muscle Milk 2nd, Audi 3rd.

I know it's just the first one, but this gives me hope for a great race up front!
 
hawkeye122
Speed isn't even showing the whole thing. There's an hour of NASCAR practice (boring) and AMA (replayed constantly) for a bit too. Plus the horrible Bob Varsha commentary. He knows nothing about endurance racing as evidenced by Grand-Am
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I liked his F1 coverage, his endurance racing coverage is so bad I want to fall asleep. I get the vibe many people didn't like Leigh Diffey, but at least he was enthusiastic about it and knew what he was talking about.
 
Ardius
Well I now know which GTE-Pro car I'm picking for fantasy Le Mans this year...
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105958

:D
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I still think Porsche has the best driver line up of all the teams.

I wouldn't be surprised to see René Rast driving in something soon besides Grand Am. He absolutely wiped up in Porsche Supercup last year even missing a race to go finish on the podium at the 24 Hours of Nurburgring.
Plus Daytona.
He really is an excellent driver.
 
Ardius
Well I now know which GTE-Pro car I'm picking for fantasy Le Mans this year...
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/105958

:D
Click to expand...

I really don't know who I'll be picking... I know the Vipers will be strong early on, but not sure if they'll be a contender on the long run, I wanna say Corvette but those BMWs should be interesting and I've always been a fan of BA and JH... Gonna be an awesome race indeed!! Even better when watching from the fence!!
:P
 
Jav
I really don't know who I'll be picking... I know the Vipers will be strong early on, but not sure if they'll be a contender on the long run, I wanna say Corvette but those BMWs should be interesting and I've always been a fan of BA and JH... Gonna be an awesome race indeed!! Even better when watching from the fence!!
:P
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Viper has some awesome drivers. If the car holds up, they will be there at the end I think.
 
Tower Turn 13
Annnnnd this is why we watch illegal feeds. See you on justin.tv, folks. 🤬 ALMS can't get their 🤬 together with broadcasting. Should run on alms.com for everyone. Sigh.

Also I think motors tv is for non-us residents, although I'd love to be corrected on that!
Click to expand...

Considering the broadcast schedule was actually shown last year in October, I'm pretty sure they already had this put together. It pretty much showed this and Petit Le Mans on Speed while every other race is on ESPN. Also, why is it NOW a big deal that its on Speed in comparison to the mjority of the seasons past where it basically has always been on it?
 
My pick is one of the Corvettes, after the embarrassment that was Le Mans they aren't letting this one slip away, especially since it's the last ALMS event at Sebring.
 
Mac K
My pick is one of the Corvettes, after the embarrassment that was Le Mans they aren't letting this one slip away, especially since it's the last ALMS event at Sebring.
Click to expand...

I fear they may have less of an upper hand, after their domination last year, I'm sure their engines have been reeled in. I hope not though.
 
Quick Sebring notes from the practise session just ended:

1 - Muscle Milk's HPD (don't know who driving) set the fastest overall time, but not quicker than what the Audis were doing yesterday. Anyway, MM's car has been consistently quicker than both Rebellion cars.

2 - Level 5 dominates LMP2.

3 - Bruno Senna (Aston) set the fastest GT time in the session just ended. Everyone is close though.

4 - This new iteration of the DeltaWing doesn't seem to be as quick as the previous, and that is odd, I think I read somewhere that this "elan" engine had more power than the Nissan used last year. Anyway, the DW's best lap is 14th overall, mixed not with LMP2 cars, but within the LMPC class.

for more detailed info: http://scoring.alms.com
 
Hun200kmh
4 - This new iteration of the DeltaWing doesn't seem to be as quick as the previous, and that is odd, I think I read somewhere that this "elan" engine had more power than the Nissan used last year. Anyway, the DW's best lap is 14th overall, mixed not with LMP2 cars, but within the LMPC class.
Click to expand...

Remember that it also has different tyres this year too - Bridgestone instead of Michelin. Perhaps the Bridgestones are not as fast or not suited for low fuel laps?
Also, the engine might have more power, but if it doesn't put it down effectively (torque curve) then its almost irrelevant.
 

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