The Le Mans General Discussion Thread

[Hun200kmh]

By LRGP you mean the ex-Toleman/Bennetton/Renault team run by Genii and ex-sponsored by Lotus but-decided-to-keep-the-title-sponsor-name therefore are still referred as Lotus?

If you do, then I don't think that F1 team "sponsors" other teams.

The closest we get of F1 related material in this edition of Le Mans is what Joe Saward wrote about, using a clever title

 

[hawkeye122]

So Toyota is allegedly sending at least one car to each remaining round, right? This could still be good, as far as race wins go...

 

[nitrorocks]

By LRGP you mean the ex-Toleman/Bennetton/Renault team run by Genii and ex-sponsored by Lotus but-decided-to-keep-the-title-sponsor-name therefore are still referred as Lotus?

If you do, then I don't think that F1 team "sponsors" other teams.

The closest we get of F1 related material in this edition of Le Mans is what Joe Saward wrote about, using a clever title

Haha. I didn't know Williams designed that.

 

[Tired Tyres]

So Toyota is allegedly sending at least one car to each remaining round, right? This could still be good, as far as race wins go...

They are entered in the Championship. You are allowed to miss two races.

They have missed two already so they have to enter every other race this season.

 

[gtone339]

Is it possible for Toyota to use the scavenged no.8 TS030 to be repaired in time for the 6 hours of Fuji? Since it's acquired by Toyota Corporation? So 2 factory works prototypes in time for that race?

 

[prisonermonkeys]

The Six Hours of Fuji is four months away. If the #8 chassis is too heavily damaged, Toyota will be able to build a new one in that time.

The more-challenging question is whether or not Toyota want to enter two cars for Fuji. They were only ever going to do a limited campaign in the World Endurance Championship this year, with Spa and Le Mans as two of the races they intended to appear at. However, the testing crash that forced them to build a new chassis and now Davidson's accident (which may force them to build another) may have put significant strain on their resources, so cancelling the rest of their 2012 plans and concentrating on 2013 may be a) a distinct possibility, and b) in their best interests.

 

[Tired Tyres]

They are full season entrants. They have to do all the remaining races.

They originally wanted to do a limited development season but when Peugeot pulled out the ACO/FIA put pressure on them to enter the championship.

They did this. They can't miss any more races.

Edit. If memory serves, Toyota did say at Le Mans that the chassis of the crashed car was intact.

 

[gtone339]

Well we shall wait and see in the next months or so for news and updates from Toyota themselves. And yes they do have a very tight budget on their hand as at the very beginning of the year they were intended to use only 1 car for the limited races they were offered in the WEC but the ACO/FIA decided for them to change that as Peugeot pulled the plug out of their endurance programme, thus granting them to race in the full WEC in 2012.

Wonder why Toyota had so much sponsors from Europe, such as TOTAL, MATMUT and other brands out there to support their debut back to sports car racing.

Hopefully the Team President decides for the team to repair the 2nd damaged chassis in time for the 6 hours of Fuji in 4 months time. If not then they can put their budget on their sole-remaining chassis for the 5 rounds.

Photos of the damaged/scavenged No.8 TS030 Hybrid.

 

[nitrorocks]

Why does everyone say that the TS030 and the e-tron Quattro are the first hybrids at Le Mans when Pescarolo had the C60 back in 2005?

 

[sumbrownkid]

Why does everyone say that the TS030 and the e-tron Quattro are the first hybrids at Le Mans when Pescarolo had the C60 back in 2005?

Not sure if serious...

But to answer your question, they were considered hybrids because they were 2004 spec cars conforming to 2005 rules.

 

[RACECAR]

Why does everyone say that the TS030 and the e-tron Quattro are the first hybrids at Le Mans when Pescarolo had the C60 back in 2005?

Because they were the first cars to have Hybrid systems. The Pescarolo was a "hybrid" of the rules packages, not an actual Hybrid car.

Wonder why Toyota had so much sponsors from Europe, such as TOTAL, MATMUT and other brands out there to support their debut back to sports car racing.

Because of a certain French team helping them out that also used to have those sponsors.

 

[nitrorocks]

Not sure if serious...

But to answer your question, they were considered hybrids because they were 2004 spec cars conforming to 2005 rules.

Oh okay. So it was a Petrol car then. Thanks.

 

[Ardius]

Wonder why Toyota had so much sponsors from Europe, such as TOTAL, MATMUT and other brands out there to support their debut back to sports car racing.

Very little of the team or car is actually Japanese.

 

[RACECAR]

Very little of the team or car is actually Japanese.

As far as I know, only the engine and system itself is Japanese. Funny thing is, they actually had to give their drivers a Manual just on how to start the car

 

[LancerEvo7]

There's still the Oreca Swiss Hy-Tech Hybrid that raced last year.

 

[CodeRedR51]

The team is actually based out of Germany if I remember right. (heard that somewhere)

 

[nitrorocks]

It is. It's Toyota Team Europe basically. That's what their WRC team was called back in 1993. I think it's a different name now though.

 

[Azure Flare]

There's still the Oreca Swiss Hy-Tech Hybrid that raced last year.

[color=#6600cccc]That one was more of a KERS than a true hybrid.[/color]

 

[Ardius]

The team is actually based out of Germany if I remember right. (heard that somewhere)

It is. It's Toyota Team Europe basically. That's what their WRC team was called back in 1993. I think it's a different name now though.

TMG. Based in Cologne - ran the WRC team, then the TS020 Le Mans team then Formula 1 and now back to Le Mans.
So German base and German engineering.

Then Oreca run the race team and presumably provide the mechanics, etc. So French team.

Finally Toyota themselves provide the engines and electronics as well as the hybrid technology (and the money!).

So its a German-French-Japanese mix - but thats normal for motor racing really. It wouldn't make sense for Toyota to hire a whole new team with no experience of Le Mans so of course they employ experienced teams to carry out their motorsport programme.

 

[hawkeye122]

Im starting to wonder how much longer Audi will keep McNish around. Thats 2 costly mistakes he has now made, and with Dindo possibly leaving, it may just be time to change the guard.

Although, I really hope that doesnt happen. The #2 is currently my favorite car in Racing.

 

[ZEROX]

Im starting to wonder how much longer Audi will keep McNish around. Thats 2 costly mistakes he has now made, and with Dindo possibly leaving, it may just be time to change the guard.

Although, I really hope that doesnt happen. The #2 is currently my favorite car in Racing.

Until he retires.
I doubt Audi will sack him despite two big mistake he'd done.
He have more experience with them and sacking him is the last thing they or us want to happen.

 

[gtone339]

Inside Toyota at Le Mans:



Toyota Motorsport GMBH & The 24 Hours of Le Mans - The Downshift Episode 21:



Nissan DeltaWing at LeMans 24h: Satoshi Motoyama Interview:



DeltaWing Accident:

 

[RACECAR]

Until he retires.
I doubt Audi will sack him despite two big mistake he'd done.
He have more experience with them and sacking him is the last thing they or us want to happen.

And the last thing they want to do is take a chance on him rejoining his old friends

 

[nitrorocks]

And the last thing they want to do is take a chance on him rejoining his old friends

Oh yeah. That wouldn't be a bad gig for Toyota.

 

[gtone339]

Toyota uncertain to return to Le Mans in 2014, instead decides to return to WRC in 2014?

link : http://www.caradvice.com.au/177991/toyota-returning-to-wrc-in-2014/

I hope not. If they do have a tight budget up their hands then they would pull out like Peugeot did last year. The future of Toyota racing in WEC and Le Mans in 2014 is still uncertain at this very moment.

 

[nitrorocks]

That's not good. Hopefully they can do both.

 

[hawkeye122]

Hmmm, we did well considering our lack of preparation. Lets do something else.

 

[nitrorocks]

Hmmm, we did well considering our lack of preparation. Lets do something else.

That's what I thought.

 

[hawkeye122]

Well upon reading the article, you find that Toyota thinks the Fuel consumption regs are in Audi's favor, and totally unrealistic.

 

[StGeorge]

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=99d_1340659921

Super slow motion of Le Mans.

Quality video!