The Le Mans General Discussion Thread

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

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.

NASCAR and Indy as well considering how much money they fund into that more so than many other areas. Also that isn't there only GT3 car...

 

[CodeRedR51]

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

Because it works.

Until someone else comes along and changes the whole ballgame. For good? Time will tell.

 

[Nessy]

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

I saw them testing the the Ginetta/Nissan LMP3's at Snetterton the other week. They sounded and looked great.
Are they actually competing at Le Mans this year, or are they just testing?

 

[catamount39]

NASCAR and Indy as well considering how much money they fund into that more so than many other areas. Also that isn't there only GT3 car...

Well I wasn't sure if I should count the Callaway Corvette and Reiter Camaro. And I thought the Indycar and NASCAR operations were too obvious. (plus I was on my tablet and couldn't stand typing anymore...bless this keyboard. )

@Nessy Just testing this year...they'll possibly be at Le Mans in the future IIRC. I think that Ginetta and the FIA/ACO are probably curious to see where they would fit in maybe? Or Ginetta wanted to just give it a shot.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I saw them testing the the Ginetta/Nissan LMP3's at Snetterton the other week. They sounded and looked great.
Are they actually competing at Le Mans this year, or are they just testing?

Last I saw there were only two P3 cars/teams in at Le Mans...so if you want to call the competition.

 

[RACECAR]

Well I didn't say GM didn't care, just that VWAG has such broad involvement.

I didn't say you did, I know VW has a broad involvement. I just found out they own Scania and if what I'm reading is true, they also own Suzuki.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Well I wasn't sure if I should count the Callaway Corvette and Reiter Camaro. And I thought the Indycar and NASCAR operations were too obvious. (plus I was on my tablet and couldn't stand typing anymore...bless this keyboard. )

The cars are built by GM and just developed by the team. Hell Katech the engine builder for the Factory team builds the engine for those two cars, if you want to stick to factory efforts that's fine. You have NASCAR, Indy, Le Mans/TUDOR, and PWC in order of invested interest and money.

 

[danardif1]

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...

I completely understand, but let's be a bit philosophical about that for a second... might the reason they all stick to a somewhat similar concept is that they know the other teams are doing the same thing so even if they are all 'wrong' they are as wrong as each other and there is still a chance of winning?

Nissan have certainly been brave in asserting there is to them a better way of designing a car to race at Le Mans... who's to say that 1. they're not wrong, and 2. there might be even better ways than that?

Remember that despite having a clear example set to them by the German Auto Union cars of the 30's, racing cars were built with front engines right through until the late 50's when Cooper showed that there was a better way of building a racing car. Advances in technology have made it possible to deviate from a technological baseline (ie. mid-engined, rear wheel drive) in racing cars, so new opportunities and avenues for performance gains are there to be found. What all other manufacturers are doing are still building cars to a base standard first proven in the 1930's... surely we're at a time where we can set new standards?

It's why I applaud Nissan for their bravery in this project.

 

[sk8er913]

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.



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.

M6 for GTE? Eww, M6 is a nice road car but its a little big... an M3 or M4 would be more suitable imo.

 

[catamount39]

M6 for GTE? Eww, M6 is a nice road car but its a little big... an M3 or M4 would be more suitable imo.

I know right? I can't believe it's a GT3...it's like a tank. It makes the Bentley look small!

 

[sk8er913]

I know right? I can't believe it's a GT3...it's like a tank. It makes the Bentley look small!

They should try the M235i hehe thats a nice car... ugh BMW motorsport why you so bad!

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

M6 for GTE? Eww, M6 is a nice road car but its a little big... an M3 or M4 would be more suitable imo.

Considering the M6 has been used before...it's not a bad idea

 

[RACECAR]

I know right? I can't believe it's a GT3...it's like a tank. It makes the Bentley look small!

You think that's a tank? Take a look at this:

 

[catamount39]

Considering the M6 has been used before...it's not a bad idea

Yeah...when it was skinny...and WAAAAYYYYY back in the 80's.

 

[IforceV8]

Back to mirrorgate for a second.

Before

After

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

Yeah...when it was skinny...and WAAAAYYYYY back in the 80's.

Still counts, there was some probably like you questioning why they didn't go with the M3 back then too.

 

[RACECAR]

Yeah...when it was skinny...and WAAAAYYYYY back in the 80's.

Compared to that massive barge I posted that gets away with being a car, Its not nearly as big. If anything, its only a slightly bigger M3 with similar proportions.

 

[fortbo]

 

[danardif1]

Back to mirrorgate for a second.

Before

After

So Nissan have to move their mirrors but Audi are allowed to keep the ones they've got which are basically completely invisible to the driver?

 

[IforceV8]

So Nissan have to move their mirrors but Audi are allowed to keep the ones they've got which are basically completely invisible to the driver?

Well they are Audi so yeah.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

So Nissan have to move their mirrors but Audi are allowed to keep the ones they've got which are basically completely invisible to the driver?

As long as they conform to the rules then it's fine.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I honestly don't see how it makes a difference, but whatever.

 

[catamount39]

Wait...the Audi has mirrors?!

 

[RACECAR]

Nothing like slow motion to truly show you the beating these cars take.

Wait...the Audi has mirrors?!

Yep, just where you wouldn't expect to find them.

 

[TDZdave]

Wait...the Audi has mirrors?!

Yeah I don't get German comedy either,

 

[sk8er913]

Wait...the Audi has mirrors?!

Haha I just looked it up on google images. Check it out.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

Haha I just looked it up on google images. Check it out.

Spot the mirrors

 

[ProjectWHaT]

I personally thought it was obvious to put them behind the wheel arches. How come other people didn't think of it first?

 

[catamount39]

#Awkward

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

I personally thought it was obvious to put them behind the wheel arches. How come other people didn't think of it first?

Because rear arches.

 

[redsoxboy80]

Just goes to show how much I care about this type of racing.

What? Why get involved in the discussion to begin with?

Eh, we're two test sessions in.

At any rate, I'm done discussing it because I feel like I'm talking to a wall.

Yeah I didn't understand why you were being so argumentative. And after seeing that you don't even care about the topic we're discussing, I'm wondering what your egg was in this basket ???? Did you just want me, or the other critics of the car, to submit to your opinions?

Toyota also didn't run the same configuration nor had the issue with a structure that they to go back and redesign ONTOP of trying get the Hybrid unit to work. Not even close to being comparable.

They both entered in the same category that are governed by basically the same regulations. Do you have a better comparison in mind?

Why are so many people being sensitive about this topic?