Le Mans Le Mans 2015
- Thread starter FB
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Indeed, not just here. All of the various news outlets are banging on about how Nico Hulkenberg has "won" Le Man, as if he drove the full 24 hours on his tod. 5Live this morning interrupted important news about the World Free Style Ironing Championships to tell it's listeners that Nico Hulkenberg and some English bloke had won Le Mans, Earl Bamber didn't even get a mention. Prior to this 3 second announcement you would not have even known Le Mans was taking place in BBC land.
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I was wondering how Ligier were the Ligier cars ?? is it in name only or is their any connection to Guy's F1 team ??
From what I understand, the shock result was the Vette winning the GT Pro class.
Another thing to join the rant on coverage. I was looking forward to seeing all the winners howvever, despite some excellent coverage by Eurosport, they only devoted 24 minutes to the post race coverage which only included enough time to see the presentation for the LMP1 catagory. The organisors should seriously think about awarding the LMP1 trophies last which would then mean that the networks would a) have to stick with the coverage to see the LMP1 winners and b) feel compelled to show the other classes.
From what I understand, the shock result was the Vette winning the GT Pro class.
Another thing to join the rant on coverage. I was looking forward to seeing all the winners howvever, despite some excellent coverage by Eurosport, they only devoted 24 minutes to the post race coverage which only included enough time to see the presentation for the LMP1 catagory. The organisors should seriously think about awarding the LMP1 trophies last which would then mean that the networks would a) have to stick with the coverage to see the LMP1 winners and b) feel compelled to show the other classes.
The cars are produced by OAK, or Onroak, for Ligier. Ligier is now the largest producer of Microcars in Europe (after Smart) and the company is run by Guy's son, although the old man is still involved (from what I can glean from the interwebz).
http://www.onroak.com/en/
http://www.onroak.com/en/
Il_leone
World Champion
FB
Mephistopheles Greenlantern101
I've already posted this on Nico's own thread but he'd better get some good PR going next week or get his manager to spread the word around to get a good drive because staying at Force India means he's marooned in the midfield
Mephistopheles Greenlantern101
I've already posted this on Nico's own thread but he'd better get some good PR going next week or get his manager to spread the word around to get a good drive because staying at Force India means he's marooned in the midfield
F1Brits_90
World Champion
Finally watched final 4hr of le mans 24 tonight that had to miss while at work with England match ad well ladt night & im really chuffed for Nico Hulkenberg & the other 2 bamber & British tandy FB because you right its a team effort but come on its not a surprise if hulkenburg & webber get most of the attention they are most well known / liked
Incubus
Champion Elect
And these were the rules anyway.
It's no good at Le Mans thinking too much about how much time did so-and-so lost because of this-and-that. These things are par for the course in endurence racing. Staying clear of them as much as possible is just as much what makes a team competitive as much as pace.
It's no good at Le Mans thinking too much about how much time did so-and-so lost because of this-and-that. These things are par for the course in endurence racing. Staying clear of them as much as possible is just as much what makes a team competitive as much as pace.
DaveD
Learner
You guys think you got it bad because the British media barely covers Le Mans, well you should try it here in the States. Until Fox bought the coverage this year, you couldn't even see the race unless you were willing to watch some grainy stream you probably had to pirate anyway. I've been WILLING to pay for coverage but they only let us buy the "regular" WEC races and then withheld the Le Mans race like we had somewhere else to watch it. Really annoying but then again, we Americans are not exactly global in our motorsport...or much of anything else.
Of course, if you have some oil...we'll be happy to come "visit".
Of course, if you have some oil...we'll be happy to come "visit".
DaveD
Learner
As greenlantern said, they lost about half a lap including time driving in and out of the pits for the 1 minute penalty. But even with that, they lost ground and ended up losing my more than a lap so it's doubtful they could have overtaken the #19 sister car anyway. Especially as Webber kept losing more time during his stint.
But Hartley is going to have to grow up. He is very quick, but he made that bonehead move to cut through the wall and almost run over some martials at Spa and get them a penalty that very likely DID cost them the race and now he passes under yellow at Le Mans? He's not 17 years old anymore. He has to stop this mess.
But Hartley is going to have to grow up. He is very quick, but he made that bonehead move to cut through the wall and almost run over some martials at Spa and get them a penalty that very likely DID cost them the race and now he passes under yellow at Le Mans? He's not 17 years old anymore. He has to stop this mess.
DaveD
Learner
I was thinking the same thing. The Fox feed in the US did exactly the same thing and cut out the second the LMP1 trophies had been presented. That seemed so anti-climactic after watching 24 hours of racing and then they act like they had to hurry up and cut away? For the American audience they missed the chance to see Patrick Dempsey on the podium which would be a big boost for the sport over here. What a wasted opportunity. Fox would gladly pay him money to do some promo's and then they wasted a perfect opportunity to reach the American market. SMH
Il_leone
World Champion
Someone mentioned Brendan Hartley ...I remember him as a 19 year old who got interests from Toyota and was made Red Bull reserve driver back in 2009 but just did not make it into F1.. really not making most of the opportunities then and got trounced by Ricciardo in Renualt 3.5 series and subsequently got dropped by Red Bull
US television don't really care about global motorsports when you have Indycar, and Nascar to fill your tv then probably AMA superbikes.. F1 is improving but that is thanks to Hamilton knowing a few US friends which helps
WEC -I remember Mario Andretti use to make a big thing about doing Le Mans so he could complete the triple crown of F1 World champion, Indy 500 winner and Le Mans winner
US television don't really care about global motorsports when you have Indycar, and Nascar to fill your tv then probably AMA superbikes.. F1 is improving but that is thanks to Hamilton knowing a few US friends which helps
WEC -I remember Mario Andretti use to make a big thing about doing Le Mans so he could complete the triple crown of F1 World champion, Indy 500 winner and Le Mans winner
soccerman17
Race Winner
AMA Superbikes almost never on TV stateside. Not too hard to find supercross or motocross though. And F1 improving doesn't really have anything to do with Hamilton knowing US friends. Coverage hasn't really changed much, although NBC Sports is doing a lot more to promote it (and doing a great job as a network in general). F1 is legitimately growing here. And props to FOX for picking up Le Mans, wish I could've watched more of it on TV but in fairness they were showing other live sporting events, not highlight/talk shows or paid programming.
DaveD
Learner
Yes, what surprised me was that I saw Mario at an event before the COTA F1 race last year that Will Buxton and NBC put together. It was a fun event and had a number of people there including Ericsson and Alexander Rossi and a host of other people.
But during the QA, someone asked Mario if he thought Formula 1 might go to a closed cockpit in light of the Bianchi accident and how it worked in Le Mans for better safety. But Mario just sneered at the poor guy and said "if you want that crap go watch NASCAR" and then turned away like the guy was a moron.
I don't think closed cockpits would have made any difference with Bianchi, but it would have with Massa and might eventually save someone's life. I'm not saying I'd like to see F1 go that way but it is not a stupid question considering what had just happened. Celebrities are just people like the rest of us and make mistakes, but that was a big turnoff for me.
Enclosing the wheels would do far more for the safety in F1 than an enclosed cockpit.
You already have the likes of Lauda saying that there needs to be more danger put back into F1.
Back on topic: there has never been any television coverage anywhere that has been able to do justice to the 24hr. If you ever attend the race, you will realize just how true that statement is.
You already have the likes of Lauda saying that there needs to be more danger put back into F1.
Back on topic: there has never been any television coverage anywhere that has been able to do justice to the 24hr. If you ever attend the race, you will realize just how true that statement is.
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I was going to do a detailed race analysis, but it's a lot more work than a GP (should have expected that really, shouldn't I?!). I still might, but for now, congratulations to the winning team. All three drivers were absolutely brilliant, and all the more impressive given their lack of experience of the event and conditions. I've followed Nick Tandy since Formula Ford days, when he was bloody quick as well, and held his brother Joe's team together after his untimely death in a road accident (JTR are still going strong). Credit too to Porsche, who have more or less built this racing team up from scratch in-house, rather than the notionally easier option of partnering with an existing specialist racing team, as they did with Penske previously.
The heart of their success lay in being able to go up to the 8MJ category for recovered energy without, remarkably, increasing the overall size or weight of their storage medium - batteries. Toyota are highly likely to move from supercapacitors to batteries for their new car next season, and if Audi cannot increase their capacity with the existing flywheel system, are surely going to consider the same. So whoever is responsible for the rapid development in battery technology, huge credit is deserved.
The moment I'll remember is Paul Dalla Lana crashing the Am class-leading Aston Martin with 90-odd minutes left to go. The anguished reaction of the team in the garage; and then his dawning realisation as the marshals helped him from the car, were such a contrast with the winners on podium, and it is still a race that produces extremes of emotion. Long may it continue (and long may the broadcasters ignore it; they'd only ruin it anyway!)
The heart of their success lay in being able to go up to the 8MJ category for recovered energy without, remarkably, increasing the overall size or weight of their storage medium - batteries. Toyota are highly likely to move from supercapacitors to batteries for their new car next season, and if Audi cannot increase their capacity with the existing flywheel system, are surely going to consider the same. So whoever is responsible for the rapid development in battery technology, huge credit is deserved.
The moment I'll remember is Paul Dalla Lana crashing the Am class-leading Aston Martin with 90-odd minutes left to go. The anguished reaction of the team in the garage; and then his dawning realisation as the marshals helped him from the car, were such a contrast with the winners on podium, and it is still a race that produces extremes of emotion. Long may it continue (and long may the broadcasters ignore it; they'd only ruin it anyway!)
