The Le Mans General Discussion Thread

[Eva]

The Porsche's in the GT class are annoying that's why , but not as nearly as the unmissed BMWs.

Nah but in all seriousness it is shaping up to be another good battle, and it is good to be passionate, I don't like Vette due to the road cars (though I like them), I like Corvette Racing because of the engineering and great work they do with a car that sees no other aspect of WEC competition other than this one event and they continually prove themselves over time.

Though I will say the Ferrari are pretty and have been ever since the 550 won Le Mans.



Who says Ford is going to GTE? Many still think they're a potential for the top class, so Ford can relive the glory. We'll see.

Everyone, including Ford, has been referring to it as the Ford GT GTE on Twitter, so I'd assume that that's where it's headed so it can break down an hour in (and I'm a diehard Ford GT lover)

 

[catamount39]

Who says Ford is going to GTE? Many still think they're a potential for the top class, so Ford can relive the glory. We'll see.

Well Multimatic...and Ford is unveiling their GTE car the day before the race...and there is zero sign of any prototype aspirations. They made the GT for one reason...winning Le Mans in GT and with their V6T.

BMW I am skeptical just because it sounds like they're just going to take the GT3 car and massage it into a GTE car. While I have no problem with that, I don't know if the ACO would allow the car. BUT there is hope because Marc VDS has a BMW Z4 GTE in ELMS so...who knows. Maybe we might even see a Bentley GTE...

 

[sk8er913]

Design flaw in the rain? For the last hour of this afternoon's session, Jann was lapping among the top three/four fastest cars on a pretty regular basis...

It was inferred by a very limited amount of data that's why I specifically specified that it was speculation.

 

[IforceV8]

If the FIA has a P1 class with trucks a Ford F150 will be there day one.

 

[catamount39]

If the FIA has a P1 class with trucks a Ford F150 will be there day one.

Oh God help us...

 

[Eva]

So, 2016 GTE will look like this...
Corvette C7.R
Ford GT GTE (or whatever the official name will be)
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Porsche 911
Ferrari 458
This class alone makes me want to go next year.

 

[sk8er913]

If the FIA has a P1 class with trucks a Ford F150 will be there day one.

What? Did I miss something on the last page? LOL! A Chevrolet Silverado and a TRD will be there too! lol

So, 2016 GTE will look like this...
Corvette C7.R
Ford GT GTE (or whatever the official name will be)
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Porsche 911
Ferrari 458
This class alone makes me want to go next year.

The 458s and Aston are getting old... The Aston body is a 2006 isnt it? and the 458s 2009?

 

[Furinkazen]

So, 2016 GTE will look like this...
Corvette C7.R
Ford GT GTE (or whatever the official name will be)
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Porsche 911
Ferrari 458
This class alone makes me want to go next year.

I read in last week or so Porsche are evaluating whether to continue after this year. Also wouldn't it be the Ferrari 458 replacement?

 

[catamount39]

So, 2016 GTE will look like this...
Corvette C7.R
Ford GT GTE (or whatever the official name will be)
Aston Martin V8 Vantage
Porsche 911
Ferrari 458
This class alone makes me want to go next year.

That list makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. :3

@Furinkazen Sad to hear about Porsche, but yes the 458 is being replaced by the 488 GTB.

 

[RACECAR]

If the FIA has a P1 class with trucks a Ford F150 will be there day one.

You know Chevy will be there

Oh God help us...

I already feel that way about P2. Class finally grows and The ACO decides to severly clamp it down.

I read in last week or so Porsche are evaluating whether to continue after this year. Also wouldn't it be the Ferrari 458 replacement?

The 488 I would imagine considering its what will replace the 458 GT3 car as well.

 

[catamount39]

GTE is now beginning to look like GT3 car wise...WOOH!!!!

Also for anyone curious, the Vantage is probably being replaced by a new car in 2017.

 

[sk8er913]

That list makes me feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. :3

@Furinkazen Sad to hear about Porsche, but yes the 458 is being replaced by the 488 GTB.

Are the Astons getting replaced too? I think they have the oldest body in the field...

 

[catamount39]

Are the Astons getting replaced too? I think they have the oldest body in the field...

Their was a rumour...and by the sound of it when the new lineup is revealed based on the new "chassis" and engines a successor will be replacing the Vantage GT4/3/E in 2017 or something IIRC. V8 twin turbo from Mercedes and maybe a V12 twin turbo from Mercedes are rumored. Which both **** me off because I love the NA engines SO MUCH.

So soon I'll probably switch sides to the Corvette camp.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

Are the Astons getting replaced too? I think they have the oldest body in the field...

Yes there's a new Aston in the works.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

I read in last week or so Porsche are evaluating whether to continue after this year. Also wouldn't it be the Ferrari 458 replacement?

I'm sure if Porsche did pull Manthey out they would still support their customer teams by loaning them some works drivers.

btw does anybody know what happened to Luxury Racing, they were front runners in GTE Pro in 2011/12 with their Ferrari's but seem to have totally disappeared.

 

[sk8er913]

Their was a rumour...and by the sound of it when the new lineup is revealed based on the new "chassis" and engines a successor will be replacing the Vantage GT4/3/E in 2017 or something IIRC. V8 twin turbo from Mercedes and maybe a V12 twin turbo from Mercedes are rumored.

BMW is my favorite road car manufacturer. But honestly, their motorsport division is really sucking. GO MERCEDES! GO NISSAN! lol

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

BMW is my favorite road car manufacturer. But honestly, their motorsport division is really sucking. GO MERCEDES! GO NISSAN! lol

I lost a lot of respect for BMW when they cut all of the funding from the Prodrive Mini WRC program after barely half a season.

 

[catamount39]

BMW is my favorite road car manufacturer. But honestly, their motorsport division is really sucking. GO MERCEDES! GO NISSAN! lol

If AMR switch to turbo power I'm running back to Corvette.

 

[sk8er913]

I lost a lot of respect for BMW when they cut all of the funding from the Prodrive Mini WRC program after barely half a season.

As I said, there motorsport division is terrible. The only thing they have that is decent right now their Z4 GT3 and Z4 GTD cars... and their 328i e90 won last year in an entry level pro am series... Still better than Fords... they have to have like 17 cars just to win the race. lol.

VWG are the only ones that are seeming to do well.

 

[catamount39]

Don't forget Ginetta! They may be on a smaller scale but they are one awesome group!

On the large scale VWAG is definitely the most innvolved:
WRC
GT3
GTE
GT4
F3
LMP1
WRX
BTCC
WTCC

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

Vwag aren't officially involved in btcc.

 

[catamount39]

Vwag aren't officially involved in btcc.

True, but there is a VW in it.

 

[danardif1]

Toyota led their first Le Mans (Their first race), and won their 3rd race in the WEC. They were competitive with Audi from the start (Winning 3 of 6 races entered), even though they were forced to join the series a year earlier than planned due to Peugeot's withdrawal.

So no, your point really doesn't stand.

Toyota also built a car that sticks to the traditional format of a prototype sportscar, so the knowledge base and proof of concept was there at the start which means that Toyota only really had to make sure they used their R&D wisely to build a car as close to Audi's 'blueprint' as possible.

Porsche are the same but even more closely modelled on Audi. They have almost completely replicated the Audi Sport setup at Weissach and are spending similar amounts on R&D. Whilst we all praise the diversity of the P1 field, the only real differences in car concept are in the powertrains. Nissan are jumping straight in with a completely new concept, so cutting them some slack would be best as their entry is not comparable with any other...

 

[RACECAR]

Don't forget Ginetta! They may be on a smaller scale but they are one awesome group!

On the large scale VWAG is definitely the most innvolved:
WRC
GT3
GTE
GT4
F3
LMP1
WRX
BTCC
WTCC

Not all that hard considering they have the largest group with the most makes.

 

[catamount39]

Not all that hard considering they have the largest group with the most makes.

True, but it's good to see that they care about motorsports. :3

 

[danardif1]

We broke like 3 records at Spa during the race...I wouldn't bet against it is all I will say.

Gentleman...we may see the Le Mans distance record broken this year. And maybe even the average speed record...

Which makes me feel a bit disappointed I'm not going to this race, because I think these cars will be pegged back by the FIA/ACO next season so this may be the best time to see these cars at full tilt setting crazy laptimes...

I'm glad I saw them at Silverstone though

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Well Multimatic...and Ford is unveiling their GTE car the day before the race...and there is zero sign of any prototype aspirations. They made the GT for one reason...winning Le Mans in GT and with their V6T.

BMW I am skeptical just because it sounds like they're just going to take the GT3 car and massage it into a GTE car. While I have no problem with that, I don't know if the ACO would allow the car. BUT there is hope because Marc VDS has a BMW Z4 GTE in ELMS so...who knows. Maybe we might even see a Bentley GTE...

That's what every GT3 does because GTE=GT3 with a slightly wider trim...and the M6 is going to be their GTE racer in 2016.

As for Ford, they build the GT for whatever reason, just like the last one. Not because it is a shoe-in for the GT class of racing. Multimatic has had a lot of projects with prototypes being one of them.

Everyone, including Ford, has been referring to it as the Ford GT GTE on Twitter, so I'd assume that that's where it's headed so it can break down an hour in (and I'm a diehard Ford GT lover)

I haven't seen any twitter post on any of the available threads talking about that, and this community is probably the biggest I know to utilize such information. So some insight would be nice, I'm purely suggesting nothing has been confirmed until next month, not that they are planning to go P1.

 

[RACECAR]

True, but it's good to see that they care about motorsports. :3

Pretty sure GM cares too, they just don't have as many makes to show it.

 

[catamount39]

Pretty sure GM cares too, they just don't have as many makes to show it.

Well I didn't say GM didn't care, just that VWAG has such broad involvement. GM is also quite involved in racing. The Corvette's in GTE, the new Caddy GT3, interest in Prototype in IMSA (it seems) and quite a few more.

 

[aarror]

Toyota also built a car that sticks to the traditional format of a prototype sportscar, so the knowledge base and proof of concept was there at the start which means that Toyota only really had to make sure they used their R&D wisely to build a car as close to Audi's 'blueprint' as possible.

Porsche are the same but even more closely modelled on Audi. They have almost completely replicated the Audi Sport setup at Weissach and are spending similar amounts on R&D. Whilst we all praise the diversity of the P1 field, the only real differences in car concept are in the powertrains. Nissan are jumping straight in with a completely new concept, so cutting them some slack would be best as their entry is not comparable with any other...

And I get that. I was correcting R1600's post about Toyota being off the pace in their first year.

However, you can't help but think that the other 3 use a similar concept for a reason...