Just back from there. Those 24 hours will be remembered for a long time, what a race! Obviously I was disapointed for JV with #7 missing the win, but that means he have to try again next year, so it's not that bad.
Overall I'm happy with this result, Audi gave a valuable lesson to Peugeot about what real endurence is about. As some of the posters above explained very well, the
"F1 style" agressive approach of the lions wasn't taking miscelaneous condition changes and incidents in account. I agree with the aforementioned theory that they had a very sharp set-up, which obviously wasn't soft enough under the rain. But I agree even more about the shame of the radiators issue. That is one area they reworked heavily since last year, and they thought they had overcome it. Bad work.
Also the truth is that the Peugeot crew showed their lack of experience, with some messy strategy, bad organisation, bad reaction to pressure
(Minassian's tyre choices in the end not only prevented him to get the 2 min gap back, it made him sink one lap down...),unprepared drivers
(don't be harsh with Klien, he had no experience in endurence and only drove the car in testing at HTTT before, the team should have given him a seat in LMS for one race at least!), and maybe some overconfidence, which backside is hurting psychologically. I'm sure they didn't sell the bear before they kill it, as they're not stupid people, but they probably
felt the win was their when they realised the incredible pace advantage they had at the begining of the race.
Dr Ullrich's staff on the other side was absolutely perfect. Rigourous, organised, fast to take the good decision etc. The overall
"classic" approach of Audi, while maybe a little too conservative
(not enough pace in the car, without the rain they would quite certainly even have missed the podium), it proved the best fitted strategy for that very event they know so well.
While Peugeot was stunning because of their car, Audi was amazing as a team, the quality of their prestation was without comparison. They were coping with a 4 sec/lap gap only by extracting 120% of everything, everytime. Pit crew was irreprochable, inginneers & drivers made the perfect tyre choices. And, more than everything else, Audi had experienced endurence drivers, able to give 120% on quadruple stints! With sometime keeping the tyres for three consecutive runs. Seems they had a better comprehension of the Michelins too,as the 908 was destroying them.
With some distance now, I analyse it as the better result possible. This battle is doing good to every actors involved, be it competitors, manufacturers, sponsors, ACO or spectators. BUT both of the two giants have to win it's share of the cake to be satisfied and continue like that. Since Sebring every time you see a Pug near an Audi, it's either overtaking it or distancing it
(both most of times), so for Audi's image, it was not that constructive
(especially coupled with the ALMS issue, where they are teased by LMP2s). That important win is reassuring them that they benefit from the fight as much as Peugeot
(and even more I'd say since the 24 hours are more important than LMS and ALMS), so we will have the same fight again next years, hopefully dragging more manufacturers in the game.
Congratulation to the Dome, which managed to cross the checkered flag, even holding one of the fastest lap time of the
"Petrol Class", along the
(not so lucky) Lola Aston. Even those guys were breaking the 3'30 barrier, so you can be sure next year there wil be some actions taken.
P2 battle was good too, with Saulnier's Pascarollo surprisingly fast enough to pressure the Lola coupe and the Porsches.
GT1 is cruelly missing cars, and GT2 is missing diversity. Both Spykers retired, so it was a F430 vs 997 fight again... That left me disapointed with GT class. They have the better sounding engines though...
Speaking of it, I have to say the diesels engine noise was worse than I thought!
By reading comments here and there, I had understand that they didn't match petrol engines, but comming near the track I realised they makes almost no sound at all! Nearly like an electric engine. A Fiat 500 is doing more decibels, and in a more sporty sounding way... That's shamefull really.
With no Panoz this year, the role of
"eardrum destroyer" was left to the Mugen engine of the red C70, with an exhaust sound very mettalic and so much decibels it was really hurting. Then came the Corvettes V8, incredibly loud and torquy-sounding, followed by the Spykers. All GT V12s where nice, Lamborghini's revving furiously, while Astons sound very clean, linear output. Didn't like the F430 sound, feeling somewhat synthetic. I prefered the Porsche's flat 6.
For now I have to catch up with all the missed work of last week, but as soon as I can I'll upload some of the pics I've taken there.
) them racing during the group C 10 laps race saturday morning. There were also some stands of sponsor brands, a KTM X bow exposed, and a Gran Turismo 5 simulator hall, where I really wanted to go and see if they had added the LM track to prologue like they did at 24 hours of Nurburgring, but unfortunately we had to move at this moment and I didn't come there after. A few pics from the village:
), and if you go away obviously you're just a guy hearing radio Le Mans in the middle of nowhere, so you'd better be at home with live timming.
Me included of course.
You have to admire the commentator, he was able to keep his smile and do his job while they were really jumping on him and shouting like crazy. Those Radical fans weren't looking drunk, but I really wonder if they weren't on LSD...
. (sorry for the focus on the grating)
