The Le Mans General Discussion Thread

[hawkeye122]

It could also be read here as well.

Anyhow, looks like things have gone from bad to worse for that guy. Also, that article confirms my suspicion that he has been released from Ferrari as a factory driver.

Although its a bit late now, he could have picked up a seat somewhere like Krohn, Ram, or JMW

 

[Tower Turn 13]

Sad, sad, sad. I loved to watch that guy drive, when he was on it. He was who got me paying attention to Risi/Luxury teams in the first place. Unfortunately he took the race car driver hotheadedness to an extreme and caused a lot of ruffled feathers with some questionable on-track performances. Sebring and Seca with the Lizards, etc. I always wondered why he drove like such a jackrabbit when he was so fast that it didn't seem like he needed to take so many risks and rub so many doors. Guy had no patience whatsoever. And opposing Brazilian military police? Doesn't sound very smart to me...

 

[RACECAR]

Sad, sad, sad. I loved to watch that guy drive, when he was on it. He was who got me paying attention to Risi/Luxury teams in the first place. Unfortunately he took the race car driver hotheadedness to an extreme and caused a lot of ruffled feathers with some questionable on-track performances. Sebring and Seca with the Lizards, etc. I always wondered why he drove like such a jackrabbit when he was so fast that it didn't seem like he needed to take so many risks and rub so many doors. Guy had no patience whatsoever.

Always wondered that myself. He sorta had a tendency to do that a lot (though at times, it wasn't nearly as bad as some of the dirty driving Vilander has done).

And opposing Brazilian military police? Doesn't sound very smart to me...

Yeah, not that I recommend opposing ANY police force known to man but a Military Police Force is the last group I would even think about opposing.

 

[Hun200kmh]

Brasil isn't just the overcrowded cities of Rio de Janeiro or São Paulo, and many smaller cities or towns can be a great and safe place to live, so maybe Melo, local boy in Cascavel, thought he would get away with it.

I don't like him much to be honest. Met him once, at Estoril, in a pre-race (ELMS) autograph session in the paddock. He looked and acted like someone that is full of himself, not even hiding some apparent disdain for the passing fans. Fisichella, fresh out of F1 in that year, was quite the opposite.

 

[Tower Turn 13]

I don't doubt that he's full of himself. It's unfortunate for someone who had an apparent talent for sports cars.

 

[Mac K]

Thank god he didn't kill or injure anyone or himself..

 

[Hun200kmh]

Porsche says F1's lack of road relevance pushed it to LMP1

"We are a sportscar company.

"Porsche has always lived for the transfer of racing to production cars. For that reason it was clear two or three years ago that we had to be back in high-level motorsport, and it was a choice between top-flight sportscars or Formula 1.

"But the final decision was the only logical one. F1 was an alternative, but the road relevance is not there.

"Also, there is a lot of publicity around politics and tyres, but not so much about the engines and chassis.

"The aero, too, is incredible, but so extreme that it cannot result in any development in our road car understanding."

Hitting nails on the head multiple times 👍

source: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/107007

 

[Mac K]

That's why I love Porsche 👍

 

[Furinkazen]

Christ. That sound. 0:55 (a 2012 clip though) is like a bloody stealth bomber!!!

Note more complex rear aero on the 2013 spec car.

 

[gtone339]

^ Nice. Here's some more shot's of it.

 

[RACECAR]

Christ. That sound. 0:55 (a 2012 clip though) is like a bloody stealth bomber!!!

Note more complex rear aero on the 2013 spec car.

Its interesting to hear the air around it in comparison to the 2012 Car:

 

[Mac K]

So I was thinking.. (uh oh) but how does ESM get away with having two pro drivers (Sharp and Cosmo) in 01 car? Don't the rules require at least one gentlemen driver?

 

[cnd01]

So I was thinking.. (uh oh) but how does ESM get away with having two pro drivers (Sharp and Cosmo) in 01 car? Don't the rules require at least one gentlemen driver?

The geniuses that classify drivers have classified Guy as an amature driver.

 

[phil bell]

How does the classification between Pro and AM drivers work anyway? Seems fishy.

 

[cnd01]

How does the classification between Pro and AM drivers work anyway? Seems fishy.

It's about as accurate as the pre season college football rankings are every year.

 

[hawkeye122]

How does the classification between Pro and AM drivers work anyway? Seems fishy.

Has something to do with how many championships they win in lower formula, etc. If you win F3, GP3, GP2, Le Mans itself, or drive for a factory team, you're automatically a pro. If you've ever held a Super License you are also automatically a pro. But I think those are the platinum requirements. Toward the middle of the spectrum it gets fuzzy.

 

[RACECAR]

Honestly, I find the whole system silly and an unnecessary hassle.

 

[gogatrs]

Honestly, I find the whole system silly and an unnecessary hassle.

I think the system is a good idea, but obviously needs to be overhauled.
It could be used as an excellent way to get up and coming drivers into the spotlight.

 

[Hun200kmh]

I think the system is a good idea, but obviously needs to be overhauled.
It could be used as an excellent way to get up and coming drivers into the spotlight.

Agreed. In fairness, it isn't easy to get a completely flawless system. For clarity, here the rules:

1/ Platinum: professional driver generally recognized as a well-known driver on the international scene, under the age of 50 and satisfying at least one of the following criteria:
- has held a Super Licence (for Formula One);
- has won the Le Mans 24 Hours outright;
- has been a Works Driver, paid by a car manufacturer;
- has finished in the top 10 in the general classification in F3000, CART/Champcar, IRL or GP2;
- has finished in the top 6 in the general classification of an F3 international series (British/Euro F3) or a major international single-seater Championship (e.g. World Series by Renault);
- is a driver whose performances and achievements, despite note being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Platinum by the Endurance Committee.


2/ Gold: semi-professional driver in international series or who has distinguished himself in national Championships and satisfying at least one of the following criteria:
- driver satisfying the criteria of the category A (Platinum) but aged 50 to 59;
- has competed competitively in the World Karting Championship or single-seater series and is under 35 years of age;
- has finished in the top 10 in the general classification of a secondary international single-seater series (A1 GP, Renault V6, FR2000 international…);
- has finished in the top 6 in the general classification of a national single-seater series (F3, FR2000…);
- has finished in the top 5 in the general classification of an entry level single-seater series (F-Ford, F-BMW, F-Zip, Autosport Academy…);
- has finished in the top 6 in the general classification of the Porsche Supercup;
- has finished in the top 3 of the general classification of a national or international series organised by a manufacturer (Porsche, Seat, Peugeot, Renault…);
- is a driver whose performances and achievements, despite note being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Gold by the Committee.


3/ Silver: amateur driver satisfying at least one of the following criteria:
- driver aged under 30 and not satisfying the criteria of categories A (Platinum) and B (Gold) ;
- driver satisfying the criteria of the Platinum category but aged 60 or over;
- driver who has finished in 1st place in the general classification of national Championships or international series in association with a professional driver;
- driver who has won a non-professional drivers’ series (Ferrari Challenge, Maserati Trofeo, Lamborghini Supertrophy…);
- is a driver whose performances and achievements, despite note being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Silver by the Endurance Committee.

4/ Bronze: amateur driver. Any driver holding an International B licence without a significant record of achievements in motor sport but whose level of performance can be considered as Bronze by the Endurance Committee.

 

[karl53]

Some stuffs about the new 'long tail' R18 --> https://www.audi-motorsport.info/v2/public/en/2013/press-release/single/id/7139

 

[sumbrownkid]

A long tail R18?

Can't wait until the first photos pop up on the internet.

 

[Bram Turismo]

It's not really a long-tail as the dimensions of the car are still the same. The rear bodywork has just been pulled back a little further to the endplate or something. But in no sense is it a "longtail" as was seen with the McLaren F1.

 

[Tower Turn 13]

 

[Mac K]

Beat me to it..

 

[sems4arsenal]

Slow motion

 

[Mac K]

👍

 

[karl53]

http://www.fiawec.com/en/news/toyota-to-introduce-new-ts030-at-spa_1065.html

Stuff about the 2013 spec. TS030

 

[sumbrownkid]

So officially the TS030 is running 830 HP when both engine and battery are working in conjunction.

Wow.

 

[Mac K]

 

[hawkeye122]

And who else can spot what's wrong with the poster?