2016 24 Heures du Mans

[The359]

Well their diesel from the last few seasons wasn't legal in LMP2, and I don't think they have the money invested from Mazda for a Le Mans program now.

[Kchrpm]

Team AAI's C6.R is getting swapped for a C7.R, which might in fact be the race winner from last year.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2016/0...-24-hours.html

[The359]

But it's team AAI, so they're going to be backmarkers for the whole race anyway. They qualified last and second to last with two Porsches last year.

[Kchrpm]

Why were they invited? Politics of something?

[The359]

They were given two automatic entries in 2015 for finishing 1st and 2nd in the Asian Le Mans Series GT championship. They were the only team to run all four races.

They have one (not automatic) entry and one reserve this year. Likely for the sake of diversity, to help promote the Asian Le Mans Series as they continue to run multiple GT entries and now an LMP3 effort. They're also the only team to ever represent Taiwan at Le Mans.

[Kchrpm]

So yeah, politically motivated if not solely responsible. Good to know when I will see them doddling around in last.

[The359]

I wouldn't view it as political. The ACO has always said their selections are not based solely on an applicants performance, that they also try to promote diverse and unique entries. It's why they were only given one entry and not two.

[Dudley]

Yeah, there's nothing especially political about giving a single entry to the winner of an official regional series. It's not really the ACO's fault the entry list was a bit pants.

There's a very local car to me in the race, The Beechdeen-AMR in GTE-Am, the company and the owner-driver are from High Wycombe about 10 miles from me.

And of course it's an Aston Martin, named partially after the village Aston Clinton. A place which I could possibly hit with a rock if I threw it well from here.

[Kchrpm]

Thanks for the clarification.

Registered for the National Corvette Museum's LeMans Viewing Party: http://www.corvettemuseum.org/event/...viewing-party/

Commercial free coverage on a 28 foot screen in their theater, Skype with the team every hour, two breakfasts, dinner, snacks/refreshments, and hourly prizes. Hopefully Nate will be able to come as well.

[Kchrpm]

SAFER barriers installed at the Porsche Curves

http://www.autoblog.com/2016/06/02/l...t-motorsports/