Le Mans WEC 2017

[F1Brits_90]

outside of lotterer, going to be interesting for other 4/5 because they spent few yrs getting angry with Gt drivers for getting in the way, holding them up & now they are going to be them

 

[Galahad]

Le Mans Schedule (UK times, add 1h for France)

Wed
21:00 - 23:00 Qualifying 1

Thu
18:00 - 20:00 Qualifying 2
21:00 - 23:00 Qualifying 3

Sat
09:15 - 10:00 Porsche Carrera Cup Race
10:30 - 11:25 Road to Le Mans Race (LMP3 & GT3)
14:00 Start of the 85th Grand Prix d'Endurance

Sun
14:00 Chequered Flag (stationary Toyota parked underneath optional)

 

[F1Brits_90]

Scheduling: The 2017 24 Hours of Le Mans

Wednesday 14th June (Eurosport)
14:45 to 19:10
=> 14:45 – Extra
=> 15:00 – Practice
20:45 to 23:10
=> 20:45 – Extra
=> 21:00 – Qualifying 1

Thursday 15th June (Eurosport)
17:45 to 19:55
=> 17:45 – Extra
=> 18:00 – Qualifying 2
20:10 to 23:10
=> 20:10 – Extra
=> 21:00 – Qualifying 3

Saturday 17th June
08:00 to 08:45 – Warm Up (Eurosport)
13:00 to 23:59 (Eurosport)
=> 13:00 – Extra
=> 13:45 – Race
=> five-minute updates at 15:00, 17:00, 19:00 and 21:00
13:30 to 15:00 – Race Start (Quest TV)
20:00 to 21:00 – Saturday Evening (Quest TV)

Sunday 18th June
00:00 to 14:15 – Race (Eurosport)
=> five-minute updates at 07:00, 09:00, 11:00 and 13:00
09:30 to 14:45 – Race Conclusion (ITV4)
10:00 to 11:00 – Sunday Morning (Quest TV)
13:00 to 14:30 – Race Conclusion (Quest TV)

 

[Galahad]

Questions that may be answered tonight:

Have Porsche closed the pace gap to Toyota since the test day?
If it's dry, will we get a new qualifying lap record? Will Kobayashi be the one to go for it?
Can anything compete with the Orecas in LMP2?
Have Ford been sandbagging again? (Surely not)
Will Tony Kanaan complete his mandatory 10 rookie laps before a red flag or problem strikes?

 

[Incubus]

We might decide to set up a tent in the middle of the living room. Simulate that authentic Le Mans experience. Not wash for four days, drink wine out of plastic cups, turn the volume up to 11 to get that buzz in our ears, ser up a few odour sprays smelling of that subtle mixture of burnt rubber and barbecue smells and record a few drunken sounds to simulate that Le Mans at 3AM atmosphere... Next best thing to actually being there...

 

[F1Brits_90]

I'm not sure if Ford GT are sandbagging because according to the eurosport commentary after 2016 they are now running 20kg more weight than the Ferrari so that could be proper pace or gamesmanship to get bit more performance back, If Kanaan wins the le mans could be a interesting swap with Alonso as Kanaan would only need the Monaco gp to take triple crown (albeit it a class not overall win)

looks very interesting Toyota & Porsche look very similar on race pace. tyre degradation & driver fitness will be the big factor because of the temperatures that especially sunday will reach 31c, 8/10c higher than average

 

[F1Brits_90]

although its very strange all the years ive been watching le mans & never knew there was a retail park on either side of the 1st the mulsanne chicane or at the end of mulsanne straight there is a 9/18 hole golf course

 

[Galahad]

20kg isn't enough to explain the deficit, but if they're truly struggling it serves them right, IMO, after their cynical behaviour last year.

 

[Incubus]

I've just had a look at the local weather forecast the weekend. For the first time in about a thousand years it looks as though the entire race is likely to be run without the tiniest chance of rain and record high temperatures for the area are predicted. That'll put a lot of strain on reliability and fuel usage so the race might develop a slightly different complection to whatever we've been expecting, not to mention the pit-stop frequencies.

 

[Galahad]

Lots of new cars so reliability in hot temperatures will be a concern - plus the drivers will be tested physically.

On Radio Le Mans they were just speculating on the possibility of an LMP2 car on the overall podium, and even a high finish for the leading GTE car.

 

[cider_and_toast]

I've just noticed former French footballer and, world cup winner Fabian Barthez is racing.

 

[Galahad]

LMP2s lapping in 3m30s with gentleman drivers onboard is boggling my mind. That was pole position pace in LMP1 a decade or so ago.

 

[Incubus]

gentlemen drivers? "bentleman" wasn't exactly the first word that came to mind to describe Barthez in his playing days...

 

[F1Brits_90]

I've just noticed former French footballer and, world cup winner Fabian Barthez is racing.

Oh yeah hes been in it for a few years now he a fully fledged racing driver. this is his 3rd le mans 24hrs & 3rd season of European Le Mans Series. but you always some strange anomalies like Chris hoy, Patrick dempsey, Paul Newman & Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason.

if you have amazon prime which im assuming with grand tour most of do, there a few pretty good le mans programs currently on. 1 called racing is everything & another i think about the 1967 ford ferrari battle

 

[cider_and_toast]

Yeah, I've noticed the Prime ads. I don't pay the WEC too much attention but I'll watch Le Mans if I'm around.

Always been a Ford fan.

 

[Incubus]

another i think about the 1967 ford ferrari battle

----------------------------------------

...The year which had the best-looking racing cars ever seen of any period anywhere ever...

 

[cider_and_toast]

The Eurosport commentary is awful. They are drivelling on about nothing and its not even remotely informative.

 

[Incubus]

Ahoy there! Anybody watching quali sessions this evening?

Bit of a sinister omen for Toyota. Problem for the n=8 already...

 

[Galahad]

Just switched on, what caused the red flag?

 

[Incubus]

Massive hole punched in the safey barriers on the exit of the first Mulsannes chicane. One of Oreca's Ligiers - didn't catch which - but driver got out of the car unaided. Taken to hospital for checks.

Not easy to know what's going on with the lack of a camera at that spot?...