2009 Le Mans/LMS/ALMS Thread

[vikiradTG2007]

It would be terrible for overtaking. That's why they only use it for testing.

The LMS track cuts T17 out, so the last corner is a long fast downhill right-hander at T16.

[Sir Stiggington]

^Still wouldn't improve overtaking. The only thing you could do is turn turn 1 (no pun intended) into a hairpin and making the 16-17-18 chicane very tight.

[Topgearfanatic]

I think he was just noting the difference. And so what if overtaking would be difficult, it would be a great track for racing.

[vikiradTG2007]

^Still wouldn't improve overtaking. The only thing you could do is turn turn 1 (no pun intended) into a hairpin and making the 16-17-18 chicane very tight.

It's a track that encourages mistakes and brave moves. The leading LMPs, at least, were able to pass under braking into T1 with relative ease if they had a good exit out of T15, and mistakes are easy to do into the braking zone for something like T9.

[vikiradTG2007]

Re-watching Le Mans 2009, and there's one interesting thing that keeps popping up about Nigel Mansell.

Seems as if there's still some racing juice left in the old dog, and since he tested a Lola-AER LMP1 last year, he's been talking about possibly doing an endurance race along with his two sons (Leo, currently driving for Team Modena in GT2 in a 430GT, and Greg, currently in WSR).

Apparently he wants to do a race in an endurance car before the racing season is over, and his intention would be to team up with his sons for Le Mans 2010.

[Sir Stiggington]

A team Mansell would be amazing, a great tribute to a great man

[torqueless]

Apparently he wants to do a race in an endurance car before the racing season is over, and his intention would be to team up with his sons for Le Mans 2010.

petit

[Terrible3]

So if this is true that means that there is one less acura P1 car next year?
http://f1.gpupdate.net/en/news/2009/...-indycar-team/

Honestly how long is it before ALMS becomes just GT2? I have nothing against GT2, I love it, but still. Anyways at lease the P2 cars are now racing as the lola mazda has come up to speed with the acura p2.

Audi PLZ come back....

[Terrible3]

Sorry just found this....
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090803/ALMS/908039995

arg......

[vikiradTG2007]

Very good debut for the GT2 C6.R, second and fourth in class against Ferrari, Porsche and BMW.

[torqueless]

wow.

bmw goes 1 and 2.

[ESPNSTI]

wow.

bmw goes 1 and 2.

Though I think BMW would have won regardless, I really hope they can do something about the GT2 field getting split by the pace car, resulting in a few cars getting a "free" lap.
It really put a bit of a damper on the GT2 race for the win (although the race for 2nd on down was still pretty decent).

[torqueless]

http://www.americanlemans.com/index_news.php?n=13593

ALMS revealed a new 2010 class structure, eliminating GT1, merging LMP2 and LMP1 and adding the lmp challange class, th only class mostly unnafected is the gt challenenge class (all porsche cup cars) the lmp challenge class is a class featuring a "customer lmp car" thats is basically spec LMP

so.

LMP
LMP-C
GT
GT-C

interesting

[vikiradTG2007]

http://www.americanlemans.com/index_news.php?n=13593

ALMS revealed a new 2010 class structure, eliminating GT1, merging LMP2 and LMP1 and adding the lmp challange class, th only class mostly unnafected is the gt challenenge class (all porsche cup cars) the lmp challenge class is a class featuring a "customer lmp car" thats is basically spec LMP

so.

LMP
LMP-C
GT
GT-C

interesting

LMP-C is what the ACO calls "Formula Le Mans", basically a prototype built by ORECA with a LSsomething V8 in the back. It's a bit slower than an LMP, but it's relatively cheap and, more significantly, quite faster than all the GTs.

[vikiradTG2007]

petit

Well... no. Nige will be racing in the 1000km of Silverstone in Team LNT's Ginetta-Zytek.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/77768

Mansell enters AUTOSPORT 1000Km

Wednesday, August 19th 2009, 09:41 GMT

Former Formula 1 world champion Nigel Mansell is to make his racing return in this year's AUTOSPORT 1000Km at Silverstone next month.

The 55-year-old British racing legend will return to the cockpit after an absence of nearly two years when he races Team LNT's Ginetta-Zytek LMP1 prototype, alongside his son Greg and team boss Lawrence Tomlinson in the Le Mans Series season finale.

"It's going to be very special for me to be racing again at Silverstone where I've some of my most memorable wins," said Mansell.

"I'm delighted that Lawrence has given us the opportunity to compete in the Ginetta-Zytek."

Both Mansells tested the Ginetta GZ09s at Snetterton on Tuesday, having already driven one of the company's prototypes at Estoril over the winter.

Greg Mansell, who will make his sportscar debut at Silverstone, said: "I'm excited to be making my LMP1 debut and to racing at Silverstone alongside my father."

Greg's brother Leo Mansell will also be competing in the event in Team Modena's Ferrari 430 GT.

The AUTOSPORT 1000km takes place on September 11-13 and tickets are available via www.silverstone.co.uk.

[vikiradTG2007]

Some more interesting news... Drayson Racing expands its operations and will run a LMP1 Lola-Judd alongside the GT2 V8 Vantage at Petit Le Mans.

[MadCat360]

LMP-C is what the ACO calls "Formula Le Mans", basically a prototype built by ORECA with a LSsomething V8 in the back. It's a bit slower than an LMP, but it's relatively cheap and, more significantly, quite faster than all the GTs.

Yes. And it can be run for an entire season for less than a mirrion dorrah.

I hope the class lasts for another decade cause I'm doing that.

[torqueless]

http://murphythebear.com/blog/index....ings/#more-512

"The Bear told you the R15 is likely on its way to Georgia a while back. It’s close to one of those “take to the bank” deals. Don’t look for the silver at Laguna Seca, though."

yes

countdown has been initiated...

[vikiradTG2007]

Petit Le Mans is going to be FAAAAAAAAAAAN-BLEEDIN-TASTIC. Will have to download and watch it.

Audi, Peugeot, Acura, ORECA, Aston Martin... LMP1 will be a crazy battle. Also there's a Lola-Judd that could induce some headaches.

[torqueless]

GT2 is gonna be awesome as well

LMP1
1. Peugeot 908
2. Peugeot 908
3. Oreca
4. Highcroft Acura
5. DeFerran Acura
6. Drayson Lola Coupe/Judd
7. Intersport Lola
8. Autocon Lola
9. Corsa Zytek

Expected not announced
10. Audi R15
11. Audi R15

LMP2
1. Dyson Lola/Mazda
2. Dyson Lola/Mazda
3. Fernandez Acura
4. Cytosport Porsche Spyder
5. Van der Steur Radical

GT2
1. Flying Lizards Porsche
2. Flying Lizards Porsche
3. Corvette C6-R
4. Corvette C6-R
5. Risi Ferrari
6. Krohn/Risi Ferrari
7. Rahal BMW
8. Rahal BMW
9. Robertson Ford
10. PTG Panoz
11. LGM Vette
12. Primetime Viper
13. Farnbacher Porsche

Speculative entries
14. Falken Porsche
15. Vici Porsche
16. Gentilozzi Jaguar