The Le Mans General Discussion Thread

[sumbrownkid]

^probably. The hybrid motor in itself weighs a good chunk, so it makes sense to have that as the starter motor too.

 

[gtone339]

Finally, Frank Montagny has a ride!!

link: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-montagny-joins-level-5-for-monterey/

ALMS: Montagny Joins Level 5 For Monterey:

Former Peugeot factory ace to drive both of team's HPD ARX-03bs next weekend at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca...

Level 5 Motorsports and Scott Tucker head into next weekend’s third round of the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón with a new name amongst its driver line up. Former Formula One and Peugeot Sport driver Franck Montagny will join the team for the six-hour race into the darkness at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

The 34-year-old Frenchman brings not only speed but also a wealth of prototype experience to Level 5 and will be listed to drive both the No. 055 and No. 95 Honda Performance Development ARX-03b P2 entries. Left without a full-time drive after Peugeot’s shocking withdrawal from international sportscar racing just prior to the start of the season, Montagny is excited to be back competing at the highest levels once again.

“I haven’t met Scott yet but I’ve heard a lot about the team because of all their successes over the years so I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone and working with the guys,” says Franck.

“Level 5 seems to have achieved all their goals so far and when you join a team like this it’s very motivational; you want to match that success. I have good memories of racing at Laguna Seca but I prefer to always look forward instead of at the past. The track is maybe not Monaco but it’s a great place in the USA, and a good place to shine!”

Montagny came to sports prototype racing alongside a successful career in open-wheel racing which encompassed time in Champ Car and Indycar and Formula One, racing for the Renault, Toyota and Super-Aguri teams. He made his debut at the Monterey Peninsula road course in 2008, winning the LMP2 class in an Andretti-Green Racing Acura ARX-01B.

Five-time national driving champion Scott Tucker is delighted to welcome Montagny to the team. “Franck comes with a great pedigree,” he notes,“ and I don’t believe it will take any time at all for him to adjust to the P2 HPD and to our Dunlop tires. We know we have a very competitive package and we’re confident that our driver line up can’t be bettered, but we know the race will be tough, as always. The longer format and driving into darkness will provide us with a great rehearsal for Le Mans next month. Together with Sebring, it’s a rare opportunity to race at night and one we intend to make the most of.”

The Wisconsin-based team and its owner-driver are currently leading the ALMS P2 Driver and Team championships after just two rounds, and are looking for a hat-trick of victories in this first part of the season to solidify their hold on the title chase.

With a longer race format than usual and a larger points haul at stake, Level 5’s No. 95 HPD ARX-03b Honda entry will be in the excellent hands of regulars Scott Tucker (Leawood, KS) and Luis Diaz (Mexico City, Mexico) plus Franck Montagny (Grandvaud, France). Both Tucker and Montagny will also pilot the Alpina Watches-sponsored No. 055 with Christophe Bouchut (Voiron, France).

 

[RACECAR]

Great. Now who else is he gonna wreck? Then again, he's driving for Scott Tucker of all people so I guess its fitting: The only employment for this douchebag comes from a douchebag.

I was thinking with the hybrid cars runing electric on pit road, does that mean they no longer have to carry starter motors? They could theoretically use the electric motor as a push start.

If I recall, the car has two electric motors (one by Aisin and one by Denso) in the front and rear and could switch between the two. Could be wrong.

 

[nitrorocks]

Great. Now who else is he gonna wreck? Then again, he's driving for Scott Tucker of all people so I guess its fitting: The only employment for this douchebag comes from a douchebag.
.

Lol. At least he has a ride though.

 

[hawkeye122]

So, Laguna Seca coming up.

Can Aston bounce back from a troubled Spa outing?

Will we see a hardcore battle amongst the GT class like last year?


How will Franck do in the Level 5 Car? Still out for blood?

Muscle Milk or Dyson?

Has BMW had it, or will the old cars hold off the Ferrari/Porsche/Corvette onslaught?

Will the Lotus GTE car do a full lap?

 

[Prince.M5]

Has BMW had it, or will the old cars hold off the Ferrari/Porsche/Corvette onslaught?

Tough one.. The old car is still very fast if you ask me. Their performance in Sebring and Long Beach earlier this year proved that the BMW had not lost anything in terms of pace and reliability. I would guess the BMW to be strong but will they hold the new force of Corvette, Ferrari and many more? I say yes but we will see.

One problem that has haunted the BMW here is their Dunlop tyres. They might perform beautifully in early days when the track temperature is still high but once it's dropped, they will struggle just like in the past years.

 

[gtone339]

Toyota Hybrid TS030 Track Test - Magny-Cours 4th May 2012:

 

[G.T.Ace]

Wow. thanks for that, what a beauty!

 

[Tower Turn 13]

So, Laguna Seca coming up.

Can Aston bounce back from a troubled Spa outing?

Will we see a hardcore battle amongst the GT class like last year?


How will Franck do in the Level 5 Car? Still out for blood?

Muscle Milk or Dyson?

Has BMW had it, or will the old cars hold off the Ferrari/Porsche/Corvette onslaught?

Will the Lotus GTE car do a full lap?

Here's the Seca thread I started: https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=252496

 

[hawkeye122]

Ironically, I posted that before your thread existed.

 

[gtone339]

This is what Allan Mcnish has to say about Toyota's absence at Spa Francorchamps. I feel a bit disgusted about the way he says or thinks that he HATES the fact that their rival Toyota is confident at winning at next months Le Mans or the following rounds of WEC.

More info here: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/in-the-cockpit-allan-mcnish-spa-wec//P2/

Seeing some of the Toyota guys at Spa last weekend, they looked reasonably confident. I don't like seeing competition looking reasonably confident, If I'm honest with you! But I know how much we learn when we race and they weren't able to race in Spa, which I think everyone was disappointed.

It was very odd seeing the picture of the Toyota and the Audi sitting at Eau Rouge, but only for a picture and not seeing them duke it out on track. But we will see that when we get to Le Mans.

 

[Chqr]

This is what Allan Mcnish has to say about Toyota's absence at Spa Francorchamps. I feel a bit disgusted about the way he says or thinks that he HATES the fact that their rival Toyota is confident at winning at next months Le Mans or the following rounds of WEC.

More info here: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/in-the-cockpit-allan-mcnish-spa-wec//P2/

He can say what he likes in my opinion but Toyota will munch competition this year at Le Mans irrespective of what drivers they put out. We all know how serious Toyota are about Le Mans and if Mcnish is more concerned with Toyota than his own team, then you know he is underconfident and frightened of their return.

 

[Bram Turismo]

That or he still feeling a bit sour from Toyota dropping him so suddenly from their F1 program back in '02.

 

[RACECAR]

This is what Allan Mcnish has to say about Toyota's absence at Spa Francorchamps. I feel a bit disgusted about the way he says or thinks that he HATES the fact that their rival Toyota is confident at winning at next months Le Mans or the following rounds of WEC.

You think he's being a snob or something? Now maybe "Confident" is the wrong word and perhaps "Cocky" would be the right one as it does seem rather optimistic that Toyota feels this way and even seeming boastful despite a crash and no actual race miles, Maybe "Overly Optimistic" would be the better description. Lets not Forget that Peugeot had a similar attitude (mostly about their speed) and 90% of the time at Le Mans, that never panned out. It could be that he sees or seems to think there is a similar pattern going on here.

 

[nitrorocks]

That or he still feeling a bit sour from Toyota dropping him so suddenly from their F1 program back in '02.

Maybe this...

 

[Wardez]

Maybe this...

haha, no way, Allan's way too mature to still feel wronged about anything like that, even if it did go down nasty.

That comment seems snobbish on text, but it was completely harmless, an air jab at the competition, I like it. Do you guys really want all of our drivers to just be politically correct robots all the time?

In this case he was quite reserved, I'd love to know what he really thinks of the new troops.

But anyway, pasting here what I posted in the Spa thread:

Hey guys, just wanted to invite this lot over to the GT5 series we're running as a tribute to WEC. It's complete with an on-going, fictional, back story set in 2014 that we update with semi-authentic "news articles" that detail aspects of our attempt to pro-actively fit the limited world of Le Mans racing in GT5 into some real fun racing context.

We're doing a simulated driver stint of 3 hours for our Le Mans race, the week before WEC's first Le Man running this June.

Should be lots of tight and exciting racing to be had, so sign up even if you can only make one race. Races are every two weeks, with the five rounds besides Le Mans all being two hour long enduros.

http://bit.ly/calmmain

 

[FoolKiller]

This is what Allan Mcnish has to say about Toyota's absence at Spa Francorchamps. I feel a bit disgusted about the way he says or thinks that he HATES the fact that their rival Toyota is confident at winning at next months Le Mans or the following rounds of WEC.

More info here: http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/in-the-cockpit-allan-mcnish-spa-wec//P2/

What did he say that was disgusting? He hates seeing his competition looking confident? Anyone competing for victory should feel that way, not out of some negative feeling towards your competition, but because a confident opponent has good reason to believe they will beat you.

I saw nothing smug about that. More like saying, "Uh-oh. If they are honestly that confident I might not be able to win.". I only read what you quoted, so I might be missing context, but if I happened to see my competition out looking good and confident I'd say the same thing. Who wouldn't prefer to see their competition struggling, especially when it is your job to win and your financial future is affected by the results?

 

[Furinkazen]

I saw nothing disgusting in that either.

 

[Tower Turn 13]

I don't think drivers are ever politically correct. They're usually hot-heads, which makes it interesting for the fans

I mean look at the way the P driver cut into the flag guys at Long Beach after the Lotus crash. Look at the way drivers talk crap about each other when one of them blocks or causes a crash. Sometimes they fist fight.

I think sometimes sportsmanship only goes so far in racing

 

[Furinkazen]

I don't think drivers are ever politically correct. They're usually hot-heads, which makes it interesting for the fans

I mean look at the way the P driver cut into the flag guys at Long Beach after the Lotus crash. Look at the way drivers talk crap about each other when one of them blocks or causes a crash. Sometimes they fist fight.

I think sometimes sportsmanship only goes so far in racing

Couple corners, at most

 

[FoolKiller]

I don't think drivers are ever politically correct. They're usually hot-heads, which makes it interesting for the fans

I mean look at the way the P driver cut into the flag guys at Long Beach after the Lotus crash. Look at the way drivers talk crap about each other when one of them blocks or causes a crash. Sometimes they fist fight.

I think sometimes sportsmanship only goes so far in racing

Keep in mind that in racing mistakes or stupid actions can lead to life or death situations. Few other sports have such reason to be angry at each other for.

 

[nitrorocks]

haha, no way, Allan's way too mature to still feel wronged about anything like that, even if it did go down nasty.

That comment seems snobbish on text, but it was completely harmless, an air jab at the competition, I like it. Do you guys really want all of our drivers to just be politically correct robots all the time?

In this case he was quite reserved, I'd love to know what he really thinks of the new troops.
:]

You do have a point there. I'm sure all our Audi drivers are happy that there is some of he old guys that they had good battles with at Peugeot. They allow know that it is healthy for new manufacturers to come back to the sport, and they are all pro drivers, thy love to race, so they must be happy to have some possible competition coming back.

 

[gtone339]

Hopefully at next months 24 hours of Le Mans is still sponsor by Sony, Gran Turismo 5, like last years.

 

[Hun200kmh]

Finally and after a very long time I'm finding one good thing about this monolythical oversized non-topic // off-topic LM "general thread" prisonermonkeys left us as the true legacy of his moderator days.

That good thing being that here we have the ability to post about any off-topicness LM related, even if slightly, interesting enough to share with fellow petrolheads.

Like this. I strongly recommend a look:

http://www.speedhunters.com/2012/05/donington-historics-2012-group-c-rules/

 

[nitrorocks]

That's awesome! I wan to go so
Bad!!

 

[Tower Turn 13]

I think Audi should welcome closer competition to garner more viewers for the sport.

 

[gtone339]

I found a interview with Peugeots refugee driver, who now drives for Level 5 motorsports team. What do you guys think about this guy?

 

[gtone339]

 

[nitrorocks]

You mean Franck Montagny?

 

[gtone339]

You mean Franck Montagny?

What?