Le Mans 2015 (And general WEC talk)

[XHawkeye]

‏@townsendbell (https://twitter.com/townsendbell/status/610081735309660160) Podium!! Unreal. We had: 4 flat tires, 2 penalties, one spin, overheating engine, broken starter , but the will to fight on @Scuderia_Corsa

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Is Nico Hulkenberg the first contemporary (https://twitter.com/henryhopefrost/status/610070867020763136) #F1 driver to win LM since @johnnyherbertf1 in '91? Think he might be...

@henryhopefrost Almost certainly as it was around then that Bernie deliberately began putting the Canadian GP on LM w/e @johnnyherbertf1

@Stuart_Dent @henryhopefrost @johnnyherbertf1 wonder if he'll resort to such tactics again...

@henryhopefrost @johnnyherbertf1 and Gachot! pic.twitter.com/vXpgxVxHR3

[XHawkeye]

Check out the amazing viewing setups of Le Mans 24 fans (http://blog.axisofoversteer.com/2015/06/check-out-amazing-viewing-setups-of-le.html)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kPoWKHsf0u0/VXwzVOEPenI/AAAAAAAANXc/y3YLMLIpRQU/s1600/11406368_10152771626740989_6010011872005841439_o.j pg

[Godson]

I'm happy Audi didn't win. I'm content about Porsche, as I was happy to see them return to Let Mans. I wish Nissan did better.



Very happy for Corvette boys.

[Freude am Fahren]

So, apparently there were a couple of Toyotas in the race? Did you guys know that?



:lol: Do not want to be in that board room tomorrow.

[MR2 Fan]

So, apparently there were a couple of Toyotas in the race? Did you guys know that?



:lol: Do not want to be in that board room tomorrow.

ugh...

[Alan P]

So, apparently there were a couple of Toyotas in the race? Did you guys know that?



:lol: Do not want to be in that board room tomorrow.

Depends really. If the team Manager/Principal has been truthful in hiss reports to the board (we're too slow, both Porsche and Audi have outpaced us in development like I said your lack of investment would lead to etc.) then he might say 'told you so', only more politely.

[Rare White Ape]

Great win by the Porsches. They were formidable.

And only two laps shy of the race distance record. That's impressive.

[The359]

Toyota have already come out and said they're fast-tracking their 2017 engine and drivetrain for 2016 because they know the 2015 car isn't adequate. They're strongly leaning toward a turbocharged engine and batteries instead of a V8 and supercapacitor.

So I'm sure they've already had some board meetings.

[Freude am Fahren]

Yeah, I read the Batteries are certainly coming.

As for Nissan, I know they were very slow, but they were probably about 500hp down from where they would be if their ERS worked as they originally planned. Also down in the braking department because of that. And certainly low speed traction without the rear wheels working. Really tough to say just how much difference it made, but I suspect it's huge. No idea where they'll be next year.

Anyone have sector times, or corner speeds from the Porsche curves? That's the one place I imagine the Nismo would be showing close to its true speed, just missing their special tires there.

[Alan P]

Some posters on Pistonheads that were there said they were spinning up the front wheels in some traction zones. The Hybrid stuff would really help there.

[XHawkeye]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHeMv3JWIAA40-x.jpg:large

With an average of 248.459 (https://twitter.com/Audi__Sport/status/610111029083799554) kph [154.385 mph] @andre_lotterer set the fastest ever race lap at the #LM24. #AudiSport #WEC

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Last rookie pair to win #LM24 outright? (https://twitter.com/henryhopefrost/status/610125061849239552) I'm thinking, ottomh, Christophe Bouchut and Eric Helary for Peugeot in '93...

[The359]

Yeah, I read the Batteries are certainly coming.

As for Nissan, I know they were very slow, but they were probably about 500hp down from where they would be if their ERS worked as they originally planned. Also down in the braking department because of that. And certainly low speed traction without the rear wheels working. Really tough to say just how much difference it made, but I suspect it's huge. No idea where they'll be next year.

Anyone have sector times, or corner speeds from the Porsche curves? That's the one place I imagine the Nismo would be showing close to its true speed, just missing their special tires there.

http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/05_2015/03_LE%20MANS/86_FIA%20WEC/201506131500_Race/Hour%2024/13_BestSpecificSectors_Race.PDF Best times through Timing Loop 6, Loop 7, Porsche Curves, and Ford Chicane. Nissan appears way off the pace in this spots.

http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/05_2015/03_LE%20MANS/86_FIA%20WEC/201506131500_Race/Hour%2024/15_EventMaxiumSpeed_Race.PDF Maximum speed through the speed trap before the 1st Mulsannes Chicane. Nissan was on pace with the Toyotas, but slower than the Porsches and Audis.

http://fiawec.alkamelsystems.com/Results/05_2015/03_LE%20MANS/86_FIA%20WEC/201506131500_Race/Hour%2024/13_BestSectors_Race.PDF If the Nissan had the best lap based on their conbined sectors, they could have set a 3:35 lap, but would have still be the slowest LMP1 car. They were 23rd fastest in Sector 1 (Start to Tertre Rouge), 11th fastest in Sector 2 (Mulsanne) and 19th fastest in Sector 3 (Mulsanne Corner to Finish)

[Freude am Fahren]

So they were still pretty fast considering the lack of power on the straights. Must be pretty slippery.

[The359]

Yes, I remember watching sometime during practice and qualifying an onboard from an Audi or Porsche exiting Mulsanne Corner just behind a Nissan. The following car moved to the side to attempt to pass the Nissan because it was slow out of the corner (apparently the drivers were told not to give it full throttle until the wheels are pointed straight), but as they went down the straight the Nissan stayed alongside him. So they're starting from a lower corner exit speed and still reaching nearly the same top speed.

[Kchrpm]

The Nissans were still bumping their ride height down all weekend, so downforce isn't maximized and cornering speeds aren't where they should be. This is really just an extended test for them, and I bet they'll be back in Bowling Green a few times in the next 11 months as well.

[The359]

Now for something completely different...

http://sportscar365.com/industry/honda-confirms-hpd-arx-04b-to-run-at-pikes-peak/

Honda is going to use an LMP2 HPD ARX-04b to take on the Pikes Peak Hill Climb unlimited class with Justin Wilson driving. The car will have a different motor in it though.

[Rare White Ape]

Cool!

I can't wait to see what crazy wings they come up with.

[Freude am Fahren]

And it will probably have a crazy engine with like 800+hp

[XHawkeye]

Fun while it lasted (http://www.racer.com/north-american-racing/item/118410-pphic-honda-forced-to-withdraw-p2-car-from-pikes-peak)


A series of engine-related issues, including turbocharger failures that caused significant damage to the internals of the 3.5-liter V6 motors used in the ARX-04b LMP2 prototype, has forced Honda to withdraw its marquee entry at the 93rd "Race to the Clouds."

[FaultyMario]

V6 turbo hybrid failures for Honda? Whowouldathunkit.

[Rare White Ape]

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[IMOA]

Starting to get my photos loaded up, should be there by tonight

https://c2.staticflickr.com/4/3678/19337637926_fd37d0b5b6_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/vsNs3s)