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- Essex
Looks awesome! Slightly R18-esque...
The Le Mans General Discussion Thread
- Thread starter arvin charles
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- Blackburn
- Furinkazen_54
It's a brand new design, was announced last year.
freshseth83
(Banned)
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- freshseth83
I just linked to a story that proved this is not accurate a couple pages back
The T128 is a clean sheet design. All LMP's share alike design features because that's what works.
Here's a couple more shots;
In other LMP news, Rebellion racing are testing the 'Toyota-style' double rear wing/endplate extension
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- Auckland New Zealand
- gtone339
PORSCHE : NEW WEBSITE "MISSION 2014"
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Another shot of the T128:
Source
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Another shot of the T128:
Source
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- Belgium
- bramturismo
Going by how the end plates curl upwards, I'm going with downforce. They're probably entering the 2004-2008 period of F1 where teams kept adding fins and winglets everywhere they could to maximize the amount of downforce available.
I don't really mind the Lotus looking like the R18. It's obvious that the design of the R18 and the TS030 is the fastest you could go going by current regulations, so it's only logical Lotus is taking a similar approach with their car.
It is noticeable that it's an LMP2, though. You can just see on the images that it's a much lighter car. Looks kind of more flimsy as well.
freshseth83
(Banned)
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- freshseth83
It's written in the rules and is only allowed for LMP1. It won't be allowed for next season. There is no relation to F1 with adding winglets, the rules stipulate there are only certain areas where 'wings' are allowed. Toyota found a loophole in the rule by stating it was an 'extension of the rear wheel arch'. The ACO/FIA allowed it and have written it in this year's regulations. There is explicit lettering saying this isn't allowed on the front fenders. And yes, it adds a significant amount of downforce. It basically extends the rear wing to the full 2000mm width of the car.
- 3,915
- California
- gdwest1
Speaking of LMP2, it looks like Starworks has yet to find a sponsor (or a car) to go to Silverstone. I'm gonna hate it if Scott Tucker is the one who has to raise the flag for the USA at Le Mans.
Also, I thought of a way to keep support for the AsLMS, ALMS, and ELMS. If you are a WEC Team, and want to run more than 1 car at Le Mans, you must run one in one of the regional series for each extra entry you want.
Example: Audi "We're bringing 4 cars! Get on our level!" Well then, they would have had to run 3 Audi's in the ALMS or ELMS. Obviously neither has an LMP1 class anymore, but still. Imagine if that was the rule circa 2009.
Oak Racing "We're bringing 3 LMP2 Cars!" Well, if they count the Conquest (Which was a lease from Oak) and one in the ELMS, they would be able to do it.
Aston Martin "We want (Up to) FIVE cars at Le Mans!" So they get their 1 WEC entry, and then they'd have to sponsor/Lease/support 4 other cars in the various other series. The rumored TRG would be one of them.
Greves would be set, they get their one entry, and one for running ELMS. Obviously its not an automatic entry, but if you want to apply at all, your extra cars have to be run full-time in the other series. Rebellion would also be all good.
AF Corse? Looks like you better get moving.
A rule like this would keep the lower series healthy, and encourage a much broader diversity of teams at Le Mans.
Also, I thought of a way to keep support for the AsLMS, ALMS, and ELMS. If you are a WEC Team, and want to run more than 1 car at Le Mans, you must run one in one of the regional series for each extra entry you want.
Example: Audi "We're bringing 4 cars! Get on our level!" Well then, they would have had to run 3 Audi's in the ALMS or ELMS. Obviously neither has an LMP1 class anymore, but still. Imagine if that was the rule circa 2009.
Oak Racing "We're bringing 3 LMP2 Cars!" Well, if they count the Conquest (Which was a lease from Oak) and one in the ELMS, they would be able to do it.
Aston Martin "We want (Up to) FIVE cars at Le Mans!" So they get their 1 WEC entry, and then they'd have to sponsor/Lease/support 4 other cars in the various other series. The rumored TRG would be one of them.
Greves would be set, they get their one entry, and one for running ELMS. Obviously its not an automatic entry, but if you want to apply at all, your extra cars have to be run full-time in the other series. Rebellion would also be all good.
AF Corse? Looks like you better get moving.
A rule like this would keep the lower series healthy, and encourage a much broader diversity of teams at Le Mans.
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I don't think that would change much. Greaves, IMSA Performance, Larbre and AF Corse run their additional cars in ELMS, Rebellion runs their 2nd car in AmLMS, and OAK were rumoured to be running their third in AsLMS. The only two teams that don't do this are Audi and Aston, factory teams that the FIA and ACO will bend over to if they have to. And even then, Aston is entering 4 cars in the full WEC and the fifth LM entry was only originally a reserve until Extreme Speed pulled out. And Audi will also race 3 cars at Spa.
Anyway, bad news out of the Asian Le Mans Series. The start of the 2013 season will be moved back to August and the Ordos and Shanghai rounds are scrapped. The entry-less GTE category has been scrapped as well. Link
Not terribly unexpected, but sad nevertheless.
In better news, Karun has a seat at Murphy for Le Mans.
Anyway, bad news out of the Asian Le Mans Series. The start of the 2013 season will be moved back to August and the Ordos and Shanghai rounds are scrapped. The entry-less GTE category has been scrapped as well. Link
Not terribly unexpected, but sad nevertheless.
In better news, Karun has a seat at Murphy for Le Mans.
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freshseth83
(Banned)
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- freshseth83
GTE hasn't been scrapped. It's combined. That means if someone wants to enter a GTE they can, but they'll race in the 'GT class' with GT300 cars and GT3's.
braunracing88
(Banned)
- 908
- Troy, MI, USA
- braunracing88
Pedro Lamy is returning to Aston Martin for the upcoming WEC season.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/106502
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/106502
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When does Silverstone start, you guys know? I'm bad at time conversions...
Never mind it's next weekend. Doh!
Never mind it's next weekend. Doh!
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- Auckland New Zealand
- gtone339
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Toyota Motorsport Movie Concept:
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- gtone339
Seems Porsche AG is interested with Mark Webber, current Redbull F1 driver, to join their LMP1 program for 2014 and onwards?
link: PORSCHE INTERESTED IN MARK WEBBER
link: PORSCHE INTERESTED IN MARK WEBBER
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- Essex
Hopefully! Would be awesome to see Mark back in sportscars.
braunracing88
(Banned)
- 908
- Troy, MI, USA
- braunracing88
Hopefully in one that won't pull a blowover on him!
- 3,207
Porsche may have a good driver line-up for GT cars, but Lietz, Lieb, Pilet and Bergmeister are long time 911 GT3-RSR drivers and they haven't raced top level prototypes. Porsche might not select these drivers for their LMP1 project and leave them in 911s (whether it's with a continued factory effort or with private teams like Felbermayr doesn't really matter), and Porsche needs drivers to fill (likely) 2 cars in WEC and 3 at Le Mans. And I can't think of a better start than teaming top level driver talent like Webber and Heidfeld with the LMP1 experience of Bernhard and Dumas.
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