The Le Mans General Discussion Thread

[Cowboys965]

I generally disagree when people complain about the ESPN3 coverage because it is the best coverage I've had available to me. I thought I would enjoy the ESPN2 coverage just as much, but I have to agree with all the comments here. It was horrible.

EDIT:. In case anyone cares; Adam Carolla won the Celebrity Pro/Am race in Long Beach earlier today.

The guy from The Car Show?

That's what I was thinking. Hope more teams get into LMP1.

It's like F1, the big money teams win.

 

[Patrick]

The guy from The Car Show?

Yes.

It's like F1, the big money teams win.

True.

 

[Mac K]

Same here. Personally, I still think GTC needs to be cut as I still feel its not necessary with the existance of all these One Make Porsche series.

It would be better if they added a few more cars to the GTC class that aren't Porsches. Does the European series have a GTC class?

 

[Cowboys965]

I generally disagree when people complain about the ESPN3 coverage because it is the best coverage I've had available to me. I thought I would enjoy the ESPN2 coverage just as much, but I have to agree with all the comments here. It was horrible.

EDIT:. In case anyone cares; Adam Carolla won the Celebrity Pro/Am race in Long Beach earlier today.

I found it was on TV while I was already on ESPN3.com watching it, I found was 20 minutes behind the live stream on ESPN 3, and it didn't have the Radio Le Mans announcer I think.

 

[Patrick]

I found it was on TV while I was already on ESPN3.com watching it, I found was 20 minutes behind the live stream on ESPN 3, and it didn't have the Radio Le Mans announcer I think.

The TV coverage was garbage. I have Time Warner, but I can't use ESPN3.

 

[FoolKiller]

The guy from The Car Show?

I suddenly feel old realizing that some people are only old enough to remember him for that. Yes.

But also, in the 90's he was on K-ROCK radio in LA with Jimmy Kimmel, then co-host of Loveline with Dr. Drew, then co-host of The Man Show with Jimmy Kimmel, co-creator of Crank Yankers, voice actor in Drawn Together on Comedy Central, and now has the world's most downloaded podcast. He also has a car podcast and a home improvement (he was a carpenter before he got into comedy and radio) podcast, wrote and created a boxing movie (The Hammer), has also been on a couple of reality shows, and is a fill-in writer and guest for Jimmy Kimmel Live. Oh, and best friends with Jimmy Kimmel.

He also has quite an impressive collection of cars.

 

[hawkeye122]

Wait... the espn3 version HAS the radio le mans guys? I feel totally played. I put up with that horrible commentary..

 

[Northstar]

Does the European series have a GTC class?

Yes, nobody was entered in it at Paul Ricard though. Fairly sure if there were any they would be Porsche's though as it is a one make class like the ALMS one.

 

[Patrick]

Great video of the R18 Ultra in the wet. The title is wrong, though. This is my favorite YouTube channel. You guys should check out his other videos. Sorry if it has already been posted.

 

[Tower Turn 13]

Going to have to disagree guys about GTC. Generally some great racing in that class. It just doesn't get as much attention. JDX was doing great, not sure what happened there. Though Green Hornet is always good as well. This race in general broke up the battles with wrecks and mistakes because of the nature of the course and the lack of P1 participation, making a lot of the lead battles less than interesting.

Ah, well. What's next, Spa?

 

[gtone339]

Great video of the R18 Ultra in the wet. The title is wrong, though. This is my favorite YouTube channel. You guys should check out his other videos. Sorry if it has already been posted.

It was, by me.

 

[Patrick]

Going to have to disagree guys about GTC. Generally some great racing in that class. It just doesn't get as much attention. JDX was doing great, not sure what happened there. Though Green Hornet is always good as well. This race in general broke up the battles with wrecks and mistakes because of the nature of the course and the lack of P1 participation, making a lot of the lead battles less than interesting.

Ah, well. What's next, Spa?

Yeah, May 5th. Then ALMS Monterey May 13th, both are 6 hours long.

It was, by me.

Woops.

 

[gtone339]

[YOUTUBEHD]jZGT2iD47zs[/YOUTUBEHD]
[YOUTUBEHD]WR-rVw9fsfk[/YOUTUBEHD]

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Dyson withdraws from Le Mans:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/98909

Status and Murphy promoted in their places.

 

[nitrorocks]

Damn it.

 

[Organ-Donor]

Good win for Corvette 👍

 

[hawkeye122]

Good to see that the American Teams put a lot of value into going to one of the most famous endurance races ever.

Dyson
Muscle Milk-Pickett
Level 5 Motorsports (May or may not still be going)
BMW RLL

Basically Flying Lizard and Corvette (who are always there anyways) are the only teams willing to make the journey. What a joke. I know it's hard to justify expediture to go to a race where you FOR SURE wont be on the podium(LMP1), but surely some international exposure, even after the expense of getting there would be worth it? Does the FIA not give money to F1 teams to travel? How about to ALMS teams?

I know that of the group only Level 5 and BMW (Maayyyybe Muscle Milk, assuming all Audi's and Toyota's expire before the end of the race[Based on Sebring Results]) have actual chances of being successful, but still. As a partial American, it pisses me off.

 

[JohnBM01]

I'm pissed. I COMPLETELY forgot about the ALMS race at Long Beach on ESPN2 Saturday night. I was watching most of the NASCAR race at Texas (epic fail for a sportscar racing fan to forget a sportscar race to watch NASCAR instead... I know). Congratulations to all class winners at the Long Beach event.

 

[FoolKiller]

I'm pissed. I COMPLETELY forgot about the ALMS race at Long Beach on ESPN2 Saturday night. I was watching most of the NASCAR race at Texas (epic fail for a sportscar racing fan to forget a sportscar race to watch NASCAR instead... I know). Congratulations to all class winners at the Long Beach event.

Can you get ESPN3? If so, you can still watch the race.

 

[nitrorocks]

Good to see that the American Teams put a lot of value into going to one of the most famous endurance races ever.

Dyson
Muscle Milk-Pickett
Level 5 Motorsports (May or may not still be going)
BMW RLL

Basically Flying Lizard and Corvette (who are always there anyways) are the only teams willing to make the journey. What a joke. I know it's hard to justify expediture to go to a race where you FOR SURE wont be on the podium(LMP1), but surely some international exposure, even after the expense of getting there would be worth it? Does the FIA not give money to F1 teams to travel? How about to ALMS teams?

I know that of the group only Level 5 and BMW (Maayyyybe Muscle Milk, assuming all Audi's and Toyota's expire before the end of the race[Based on Sebring Results]) have actual chances of being successful, but still. As a partial American, it pisses me off.

Yeah. And another thing that makes me mad is the reason Corvette doesn't run FIA GT or VLN, ADAC GT, or the WEC. Cost is a big part of it. (obviously) and a lot of customer teams were running their chassis, but that's now all gone this season. Not that many teams are running a Corvette chassis.

 

[spooble]

Is it just me, or does there seem to be some unspoken tension between ALMS (Panoz) and the FIA/WEC? Didn't the FIA schedule a WEC event on the same weekend as the Petit Le Mans? I think they ended up moving the date or cancelling it, but it seemed like a stiff middle finger towards the ALMS. Krohn Racing which is basically IN Road Atlanta is running the WEC series instead of ALMS?? And it seems like it would help if the classes were a little more unified. When trying to explain the ALMS classes to a racing newbie, their eyes usually glaze over by the 3rd one. By the time you're finishing with "then, if it's a WEC event, there's also GTE-AM", they're looking at you like you're crazy.

 

[Northstar]

Basically Flying Lizard and Corvette (who are always there anyways) are the only teams willing to make the journey. What a joke. I know it's hard to justify expediture to go to a race where you FOR SURE wont be on the podium(LMP1), but surely some international exposure, even after the expense of getting there would be worth it? Does the FIA not give money to F1 teams to travel? How about to ALMS teams?

Starworks has an LMP2 car in the WEC and Krohn has a 458 in GTE-Am.

I think the fact Dodge is coming back to ALMS(and presumable Le Mans) is a sign that motorsport is beginning to make a comeback in the US so hopefully there will be a few more US teams in the future.

 

[nitrorocks]

Is it just me, or does there seem to be some unspoken tension between ALMS (Panoz) and the FIA/WEC? Didn't the FIA schedule a WEC event on the same weekend as the Petit Le Mans? I think they ended up moving the date or cancelling it, but it seemed like a stiff middle finger towards the ALMS. Krohn Racing which is basically IN Road Atlanta is running the WEC series instead of ALMS?? And it seems like it would help if the classes were a little more unified. When trying to explain the ALMS classes to a racing newbie, their eyes usually glaze over by the 3rd one. By the time you're finishing with "then, if it's a WEC event, there's also GTE-AM", they're looking at you like you're crazy.

Yeah I've been thinking about this for the past few days. Is the WEC still going to Bahrain?

 

[hawkeye122]

Starworks has an LMP2 car in the WEC and Krohn has a 458 in GTE-Am.

I think the fact Dodge is coming back to ALMS(and presumable Le Mans) is a sign that motorsport is beginning to make a comeback in the US so hopefully there will be a few more US teams in the future.

Starworks and Krohn aren't ALMS teams.

Starworks DOES have a LMPC team, but LMPC doesnt get invites to Le Mans..

 

[Northstar]

Starworks and Krohn aren't ALMS teams.

And that makes them not a US team how?

Starworks DOES have a LMPC team, but LMPC doesnt get invites to Le Mans..

They are running LMP2 in WEC though, which does.

 

[hawkeye122]

And that makes them not a US team how?

I wasnt complaining about the lack of US teams. I was complaining about the lack of ALMS teams. I knew there was US teams, and I'm really glad that there is.

The Starworks LMP2 Car is in the WEC. While I'm sure they would be allowed to come to any race they pleased, they wouldnt be eligible for points. So far the only ALMS event that the Starworks LMP2 car ran in was Sebring, but that was for the WEC anyways.

 

[Hun200kmh]

Audi signed Marc Gene as reserve for Le Mans.

Source:

Allan McNish ‏ @AllanMcNish
“@Audi__Sport: Audi Sport has signed Marc Gene as a reserve driver for LeMans 24 Hours. He will compete in Spa 6 Hours. Welcome aboard Marc.

 

[Northstar]

I wasnt complaining about the lack of US teams. I was complaining about the lack of ALMS teams. I knew there was US teams, and I'm really glad that there is.

Sorry about the misunderstanding.

 

[nitrorocks]

Audi signed Marc Gene as reserve for Le Mans.

Source:

Good for Marc. What was he driving before?

 

[RACECAR]

Good for Marc. What was he driving before?

Ironically enough, Peugeot.