Le Mans 24 hours 2007

vyselegend · Post 14 Jun 2007, 20:11

Second qualy is undergoing right now, but it's raining...
I hope it will dry up soon so there is some fight again.

Tom · Post 14 Jun 2007, 21:48

Seeing as its a big event why not stay on IRC while you watch it and comment on what you see?

vyselegend · Post 14 Jun 2007, 22:07

Well, I'm on it but I'm alone obviously. You should follow your own advice...
I'm not the one who can help anyway, as I've no access to TV for the moment, but I too would be glad to read some comments from TV viewers.

It' quite fun to see some names like Villeneuve, Fittipaldi, Prost, and even Newey on the same timesheet.It reminds me of the Capcom 2D fight games with bitchload of heroes fighting in the same game

dumrick · Post 14 Jun 2007, 23:40

Well, no way times are coming down today. N.7 Peugeot and an Alphand Corvette are even out of track and everyone is just setting up for the wet (and spinning a lot).

So, grid will be defined by yesterday's times...

*****************************

If it rains over the weekend, I wonder what a Porsche RS Spyder could achieve this year...

mx_tifoso · Post 15 Jun 2007, 01:01

I can't believe they're still racing the 575 Maranello! I hadn't seen it before this in a long long time (race version).

Quick question: Does anyone know if Ferrari is planning to race the 599 GTB?

West · Post 15 Jun 2007, 05:58

I doubt they'll race the 599B. Ferrari was being a b*tch about Prodrive's 550 GT and the 575 GTC wasn't any better, if at all.

Rumors were that Montezemolo figured the C5 was too strong for them.

Ranald · Post 15 Jun 2007, 10:51

mx_tifosi wrote:I can't believe they're still racing the 575 Maranello! I hadn't seen it before this in a long long time (race version).

Quick question: Does anyone know if Ferrari is planning to race the 599 GTB?

Thats NOT a 575, its a 550 and I would be willing to bet that it will be the cars last appearance at Le Mans. The 575 and 550 have been racing fairly regularly across Europe for the last few years.
Ferrari have said on more than one occasion that they will not be racing the 599 which is a great shame because it would look fabulous in race trim.

BTW keep an eye out for the #59 Team Modena Aston (my car

). I think they have a good chance of a podium if all goes well.

monkeyboy1976 · Post 15 Jun 2007, 14:42

I find it a great shame that Ferrari are scaling back their road going cars (versions of) in sports car racing. Obviously the F1 programme is the main focus but sports car racing is, let's face it, more relevant to the road cars.
Maybe they cannot justify the expense required to be fully competitive and take focus from F1? It would be very damaging to have a 599 or, dare I say it, an Enzo (FXX ugly though it is) making up the numbers at Le Mans.

One for all you graphic wizkids out there. Let's have your proposals for a race prepared 599 or Enzo.

monkeyboy1976 · Post 15 Jun 2007, 14:53

Ranald wrote: BTW keep an eye out for the #59 Team Modena Aston (my car ). I think they have a good chance of a podium if all goes well.

Great to see Astons doing well with pole in GT1.
Now that they are more independent and under the eye of Dave Richards, could we see more motorsport activity from them?
By the way, there is already a lot of change at Gaydon following the official deal signing 2 weeks ago. They are currently building their own styling studio on the front lawn (they previously shared a studio on site).
Rapide is also a go which is good news for me!

vyselegend · Post 15 Jun 2007, 23:42

Here a nice vid of a full lap (well, starting from the pits) onboard of the corvette C6R:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyDdIdQEYH4

It also allows to discover the redisigned "tertre rouge" turn, which makes the lap around 2sec faster now.
It's unusual from a race onboard that the sound from aero turbulence is so strong that you have difficulties hearing the engine and downshifting sound sometimes!:shock:

As a reminder, I repost the vid of the old lap (without chicanes) from last year's "a lap at Le Mans" topic. A must see for those who missed it

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... 6824248734

vyselegend · Post 16 Jun 2007, 15:54

Nearly 1 hour has past, and it seems Peugeot can't really match Audi's pace (same proportion as Pesca/ Audi last year). They are between 1 and 3 sec a lap slower, but on the other hand pitted for fuel 1 lap later. Maybe Audi were on max turbo level for the start, to the cost of consumption, that would explain they pitted one lap before.

The Astons are impressive so far. It will be hard for chevy...

EDIT: 16h35

The n°3 Audi is destroyed! Rockenfeller hit the wall at tertre rouge...

West · Post 17 Jun 2007, 19:14

Disappointed Corvette got a DNF early in the race, and the sister car not winning. But the Peugeots were really good; I hope they beat Audi next year.

vyselegend · Post 17 Jun 2007, 23:09

West wrote:Disappointed Corvette got a DNF early in the race, and the sister car not winning. But the Peugeots were really good; I hope they beat Audi next year.

Yeah, that was close. Actually, I think they (Peugeot) were really lacking experience, it is strange that by 3 o'clock in the night they suddenly broke through the 3'30 barrier, while they were on a 1'33 / 1'34 race pace on the dry during the first part. It's not like they can "put more wing" like in F1, the car was the same so it was down to the drivers to understand their machinery more and more through the race.

I'm glad a Pesca is on the podium! there were 5 unbeatable cars in front, but they still managed to be there in the end. Respect.

Also, it's a shame for the 'vettes, but I think Aston really deserved the victory. In the end, that's the race, the best wins...
But it was very unusual to see a chevy break so early in the race! I mean, the reliability of the car have been proven many times, and I think it broke after only two or three hours.

I'm happy also Villeneuve seems to say he'll be there next year, which wasn't clear at all with his nascars ideas...