The Le Mans General Discussion Thread

I'm only looking at the live timing screen (FP2 - WEC from Spa), so I can't make any judgement on set-up or long distance runs or whose run how many laps on the tires. But judging purely on ultimate pace, it looks like we're going to have the same repeat of Audi domination over Toyota that we saw at Silverstone.
 
jjaisli
I'm only looking at the live timing screen (FP2 - WEC from Spa), so I can't make any judgement on set-up or long distance runs or whose run how many laps on the tires. But judging purely on ultimate pace, it looks like we're going to have the same repeat of Audi domination over Toyota that we saw at Silverstone.
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A second, which is quite a gap, though they might need to fine tune setup on the 2013 spec car. They didn't run Spa last year either, which is a disadvantage in terms of experience.

More impressively, Heidfield in the Rebellion sneaked in front of both the Toyota's, just a second behind the Audi's. Stunning time 👍
 
hawkeye122
CORE Autosport is going to debut their 997 RSR at Laguna this weekend. Pat Long and Tom Kimber-Smith at the wheel, running on Michelins. I know who my new team is...

They took delivery of the car around Sebring, and have been testing since. All in all, another GTE car just makes the ALMS better 👍
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And same story in qualifying. Audi in the top 3 positions with the pole time a full second ahead of the first Toyota.

GTE-P on the other hand has the top 6 positions separated by less than 0.5.
 
The addition of the Core Autosport Porsche reminded me, what ever happened to the TRG Astons in both GA and ALMS? Postponed until 2014?
 
jjaisli
And same story in qualifying. Audi in the top 3 positions with the pole time a full second ahead of the first Toyota.

GTE-P on the other hand has the top 6 positions separated by less than 0.5.
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Audi is using exhaust blowing which adds downforce. They 'dominated' Silverstone because Toyota used 2012 spec tires for the low temperatures experienced there. That caused them troubles with graining and subsequently only allowed them to SINGLE STINT their tires whilst Audi DOUBLE STINTED their 2013 specification tires.

Of note is Audi dialed in more downforce on their cars than Toyota's 2013 spec car. In qualifying Toyota was achieving 305.9kmh on average with the long tail Audi doing 303.4kmh on average. Also Audi only did 20 laps on a stint in practice with the long tail, the other R18's did NO long stints. Toyota on the other hand ran 22 laps with the 2013 spec #7 car. The gap between them isn't great enough to overcome the additional fuel use. At most they'll open up 20 seconds per stint, if that. Factor in pit stop times and it looks WAY different than an Audi domination.
 
Furinkazen
Audi however is the most reliable car.
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Toyota hasn't had any issues with reliability in almost 10 months. They never had any reliability issues at the 6hr races either. They also run a modified version of the same engine Rebellion use. Therefor it's logical to say the cars are equal in terms of reliability.
 
freshseth83
Of note is Audi dialed in more downforce on their cars than Toyota's 2013 spec car. In qualifying Toyota was achieving 305.9kmh on average with the long tail Audi doing 303.4kmh on average. Also Audi only did 20 laps on a stint in practice with the long tail, the other R18's did NO long stints. Toyota on the other hand ran 22 laps with the 2013 spec #7 car. The gap between them isn't great enough to overcome the additional fuel use. At most they'll open up 20 seconds per stint, if that. Factor in pit stop times and it looks WAY different than an Audi domination.
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Whatever helps you sleep at night, TF110. :scared:
 
SagarisGTB
Whatever helps you sleep at night, TF110. :scared:
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You must be new to endurance racing. Races aren't won on pace alone. Peugeot knows that all too well. You know math, thats what you need to use to figure out the potential gap between them. Qualifying pace is not race pace. Judging from practice times Audis gap to Toyota is about a second, if that. The most they ran was 20 laps in a stint with the long tail. Toyota did 22 laps with the #7. Simple math says the gap would be 20 seconds if they can lap a second faster. At a pace of around 2:03 per lap Audi will need an extra stop which would be 9 compared to Toyotas 8 barring cautions or decreased pace from rain.
 
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Sam48
The addition of the Core Autosport Porsche reminded me, what ever happened to the TRG Astons in both GA and ALMS? Postponed until 2014?
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Well, TRG HAD a reserve entry to Le Mans with an Aston, but they've since pulled it. No official word on when that will get here...

The Grand Am one, on the other hand... I thought it was supposed to be here by now?
 
At 1 second a lap, Audi would be able to pull out a lead of almost 3 minutes over 6 hours on pure pace. Subtract a minute for an extra stop, Audi still has almost an entire lap lead to bank on. Audi don't need 1 whole second per lap to win, only around three tenths, and they seem to have that and more, much more.

That's a lot. In 2012, Toyota never lapped a single Audi, not at the much shorter Interlagos, not at the shortish Fuji where the #2 struggled badly, not at Shanghai where Toyota had their biggest advantage in raw pace.

TF110, you need to admit Toyota has almost no chance today. Your optimism is somewhat admirable, but also delusional.
 
How is it delusional when math still says it's possible for Toyota to sneak one away? Granted it's advantage Audi, but qualifying seldom tells the true story come race day, especially in endurance racing.

I think Toyota haven't sorted out the 2013 car completely yet.
 
Motors TV UK is showing the race live 👍
Toyota are just about hanging on here...great racing! :)
 
R0ssingt0n
As much as I love and support Audi it's great seeing them actually have to fight for results!
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Audi appreciates it too. Helps them keep up their game. Though I'm pretty sure they would keep it up regardless of who's competing.:P

And I bet freshseth must be giddy at the moment.:lol:

Edit: Looks like the Toyota has issues. I think that may have just guaranteed an Audi victory, barring an issue for them as well.
 
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Bugger. The 7 car which would have won this race if nothing goes wrong has just gone wrong. :grumpy:

(count back on pitstops and total laps)
 
Tired Tyres
Bugger. The 7 car which would have won this race if nothing goes wrong has just gone wrong. :grumpy:

(count back on pitstops and total laps)
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Without a second safety car, it probably would have been 3rd. But the #7 performed better than indicated in practice, their hybrid system really helped them in traffic.
 
Nope. One less stop for both Toyota's. The cycle though would put the 7 car in the lead on lap 161/2 with 164/5 total laps.
 
Really? I thought Audis pace was sufficiently better that they'd still win.

The comparison that matters though were the two Le Mans spec cars (#7 and #3)and they were very close so hopefully that translates into a cracking Le Mans.
 
Audi is the faster car but not faster enough to compensate for the extra stop.

Audi doing 20 laps verses Toyota doing 22.

The 7 car fastest lap was 2:01:847

The 3 car fastest lap so far is 2:01:362
 
I've only just come in to watch this due to work and climbing afterwards.

How's the race been, any tight battles? Are Toyota keeping up with Audi? I see McNish is leading. 👍
 
Tired Tyres
Audi is the faster car but not faster enough to compensate for the extra stop.

Audi doing 20 laps verses Toyota doing 22.

The 7 car fastest lap was 2:01:847

The 3 car fastest lap so far is 2:01:362
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Yeah but the last stop they'd literally come in for a few seconds get a splash of fuel and be straight off again.
 

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