Author Topic: 24 Hours of Le Mans 2017 (Read 11336 times)

kaz1983 · « **Reply #80 on:** June 12, 2015, 01:53:06 pm »

coverage here; http://www.radiolemans.com/

kaz1983 · « **Reply #81 on:** June 12, 2015, 02:42:23 pm »

Porsche on pole position for 2015 Le Mans 24 Hours

Porsche's trio of 919 Hybrids will start this weekend's Le Mans 24 Hours from the top three positions of the grid after maintaining their supremacy in final qualifying. Neel Jani's time of 3m16.887s in the #18 Porsche he shares with Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb, set early in the first of three qualifying sessions held on Wednesday night, was good enough to hold on to top spot throughout today's pair of two-hour sessions.

It is the fastest pole lap set at Le Mans since the introduction of the chicanes on the Mulsanne Straight, and the sixth fastest in history in terms of laptime regardless of configuration. It is also the first Porsche to take pole at Le Mans since Michele Alboreto in the Joest WSC 95 in 1997.

Timo Bernhard qualified the #17 Porsche second, again with his time set early in Wednesday's session, with the #19 car third fastest. None of the Porsches improved in the final two-hour session, with Audi locking out positions four through six.

Filipe Albuquerque was the best-placed driver to improve a car's qualifying time in the final session, but his marginal gain was not good enough to improve the #9 Audi's position from sixth place. That means the #8 Audi is the best placed of the trio, with the #7 car of 2014 winners Andre Lotterer, Benoit Treluyer and Marcel Fassler behind it in fifth.

Toyota continued to struggle, ending up 2.5s behind the slowest Audi and 6.656s off the outright pace with its lead car, the #2 machine qualified by Stephane Sarrazin, in seventh ahead of the #1 machine qualified by Buemi. Rebellion held on to ninth and 10th place, with fellow LMP1 privateer ByKolles 11th with its CLM, which jumped up the order in the second session earlier today in the hands of Pierre Kaffer.

This was despite a late attack from Nissan, with Harry Tincknell putting the #22 GT-R LM NISMO into 12th place with just over 10 minutes remaining, just three-tenths off the CLM and 20.108s off pole. The #23 car of Jann Mardenborough was relegated to 13th as a result, with the #21 Nissan of Tsugio Matsuda in 15th place and behind the fastest LMP2 car.

More: http://m.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/119432

kaz1983 · « **Reply #82 on:** June 12, 2015, 03:07:59 pm »

kaz1983 · « **Reply #83 on:** June 13, 2015, 03:30:24 am »

Le Mans odds... jeez so tight compared to years before, nobody can agree on a favorite haha.. I'm leaning to Audi cos I know they are proven, tough and will last the 24 hours better than Porsche .. that said Porsche are clearly faster than Audi.. its gonna be a great race and with my Australian bias I'm have in regards to Porsche and Webber... I'm going for Porsche.. I'd ideally love to see Webber win it haha

kaz1983 · « **Reply #84 on:** June 14, 2015, 01:21:10 am »

The race is close. 13 hours remaining and 1.30 minute between the top 3 cars. Porsche leading the race.

kaz1983 · « **Reply #85 on:** June 14, 2015, 01:37:37 am »

First to second, gap under 10 seconds now.

Des Equilibrante · « **Reply #86 on:** June 14, 2015, 01:49:20 am »

Nearly halfway through.

Enduro's are tough - I thought doing 2 hours in a kart was tricky, metronomic lap after lap after lap about a second off ultimate pace to ensure lasting the distance!

kaz1983 · « **Reply #87 on:** June 14, 2015, 02:59:45 am »

11 hours to go.

Des Equilibrante · « **Reply #88 on:** June 14, 2015, 03:41:21 am »

Still close, and Brendan hartley is motoring. The leading Porsche isn't quite in sync with stops though.

kaz1983 · « **Reply #89 on:** June 14, 2015, 03:58:59 am »

The Audi's are on pace with Porsche -or possibly quicker- when the temperature is hotter, the Porsche's are quicker when the temperature is cooler. Something to do with the way the energy recovery systems work.

It means if the sun comes out, gets hotter etc...... the race for 1-2-3 will come together again. As for the red Porsche I'm not sure, hopefully they can get back on the lead lap - then who knows.. that stop and go screwed them

voodoo ray · « **Reply #90 on:** June 14, 2015, 04:12:21 am »

the velvety voice bloke who only commentates at night is always one of the best things about this race.

kaz1983 · « **Reply #91 on:** June 14, 2015, 04:32:11 am »

Radio Le Mans commentary player.. http://radiolemans.0157.org/audioplayer.html

kaz1983 · « **Reply #92 on:** June 14, 2015, 04:36:34 am »

Quote from: BMW on June 14, 2015, 01:21:10 am

The race is close. 13 hours remaining and 1.30 minute between the top 3 cars. Porsche leading the race.

Quote from: BMW on June 14, 2015, 02:59:45 am

11 hours to go.

There is 9.30 hours to go.... put into perspective that's like 5/6 F1 races back to back left haha

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

After 14.5 hours of racing, there is 2.87 seconds between 2nd and 1st lol

Des Equilibrante · « **Reply #93 on:** June 14, 2015, 04:40:11 am »

Can the leading Porsche get away with one less stop?

Des Equilibrante · « **Reply #94 on:** June 14, 2015, 04:48:45 am »

I think it can... it's within 4 laps of having it already.

kaz1983 · « **Reply #95 on:** June 14, 2015, 04:52:54 am »

3 seconds the gap between 2nd and 1st in LM GTE Pro as well...

Quote from: Des Equilibrante on June 14, 2015, 04:40:11 am

Can the leading Porsche get away with one less stop?

I didn't think about that.. Porsche are quicker than Audi in the pits also by about 8-10 seconds... so Porche could save nearly 2 pit stops over the remaining 9 or so hours... or at least 1.

kaz1983 · « **Reply #96 on:** June 14, 2015, 04:55:14 am »

Euro Sports stream.. http://www.crichd.tv/eurosport-1-hd-live-stream.php

Audi live-stream camera.. http://www.lemans.audi-motorsport.com/

Des Equilibrante · « **Reply #97 on:** June 14, 2015, 05:08:17 am »

Bit of dew at Mulsanne corner... who is going to make a slipsy?

Quad stint on old tyres for Audi - trying to nip up behind the Porsche.

Interesting that Team Joest is run by a former Porsche driver who took over a works team for Porsche, and than swapped in-house to Audi when Porsche pulled out.

Des Equilibrante · « **Reply #98 on:** June 14, 2015, 05:16:59 am »

#1 Porsche driver change, Audi should have a gain here.

kaz1983 · « **Reply #99 on:** June 14, 2015, 05:23:04 am »

As for trivia, this will be the first time that 3 drivers on debut - have won Le Mans... if in fact the Porche #19 win it.

If they do - the first time a 4 cylinder - super charged or not, has won it ... in a long - long time.

kaz1983 · « **Reply #100 on:** June 14, 2015, 05:25:13 am »

haha

Des Equilibrante · « **Reply #101 on:** June 14, 2015, 05:31:42 am »

Hehe, 4-cylinder is a very liberal nomenclature for that engine. I can only find Bentley who won it with an I4.

kaz1983 · « **Reply #102 on:** June 14, 2015, 05:32:38 am »

Picture from Radio Le Mans.. from 5.20am local time.

kaz1983 · « **Reply #103 on:** June 14, 2015, 06:04:15 am »

Update.

Des Equilibrante · « **Reply #104 on:** June 14, 2015, 06:09:54 am »

What fell off the Audi? Looked like the rear aero.

kaz1983 · « **Reply #105 on:** June 14, 2015, 06:13:12 am »

Webber's Porsche is now on the lead lap 2.30 mins behind the #9 Audi .. come on

kaz1983 · « **Reply #106 on:** June 14, 2015, 06:15:07 am »

Quote from: Des Equilibrante on June 14, 2015, 06:09:54 am

What fell off the Audi? Looked like the rear aero.

Engine cover/under tray... is what I heard.

kaz1983 · « **Reply #107 on:** June 14, 2015, 06:20:48 am »

The Audi #9 is 2.25 minutes off the pace.

kaz1983 · « **Reply #108 on:** June 14, 2015, 06:59:36 am »

This 3 minute gap between 1st and 2nd should be slashed in half, seeing as the #19 Porsche is coming into the pits at the end of this lap - unexpected - a change of rear wing.

kaz1983 · « **Reply #109 on:** June 14, 2015, 07:12:14 am »

Webber back on the lead lap.

Des Equilibrante · « **Reply #110 on:** June 14, 2015, 07:14:11 am »

Porsche 1-2 after the yellows

kaz1983 · « **Reply #111 on:** June 14, 2015, 08:25:45 am »

5 and half hours to go.

edge · « **Reply #112 on:** June 14, 2015, 10:34:19 am »

3,5 to go. Audi chasing, but Porsche looks like taking it.

kaz1983 · « **Reply #113 on:** June 14, 2015, 10:44:53 am »

Yep.. it looks like it will be a Porsche that takes it out.

Des Equilibrante · « **Reply #114 on:** June 14, 2015, 11:03:49 am »

Huge call with still 3 hours to go, so much can happen.

In 1952 Pierre Levegh led for over 23 hours on his own before an engine failure...

edge · « **Reply #115 on:** June 14, 2015, 11:12:33 am »

Patrick Dempsey cheering when the Ferrari spins out

kaz1983 · « **Reply #116 on:** June 14, 2015, 11:12:40 am »

Quote from: Des Equilibrante on June 14, 2015, 11:03:49 am

In 1952 Pierre Levegh led for over 23 hours on his own before an engine failure...

Well I said a Porsche, just in case one of them doesn't finish etc.. a they are 1-2 ...... but yes your right plenty left to go, I agree.

kaz1983 · « **Reply #117 on:** June 14, 2015, 11:21:58 am »

1st and 2nd in the LM GTE Pro class is separated by 6 seconds.

Des Equilibrante · « **Reply #118 on:** June 14, 2015, 11:26:11 am »

Ferrari v Corvette. Come on the Prancing Horse!

1st and 2nd in LMP1 and overall are New Zealand drivers!

kaz1983 · « **Reply #119 on:** June 14, 2015, 11:30:31 am »

Quote from: Des Equilibrante on June 14, 2015, 11:26:11 am

1st and 2nd in LMP1 and overall are New Zealand drivers!

I was waiting for that... ha .. nice one