Le Mans 24 hours 2010

[dumrick]

Qualifying has ended and at the top of LMP1, the status quo has little varied.

You'll find the results and the timing data here.

I hope not, but it's starting to look a lot like the 2009 for me. I don't know where Audi's superior top speed from the 8h du Castellet is gone and looking at sector time data, the Peugeots look faster all-around. Furthermore, the image of the Audis in the box, seemingly for setup work, mirrored last year's Le Mans week. The Peugeots seemed to go round a lot more and the relaxation at the pits was perceivable.

Every pundit looks sure the Audis will have longer stints, but my peeks at Paul Ricard and Spa data seem to demonstrate otherwise. Maybe Audi has traded some power for fuel efficiency for the big one? Let's wait and see, keeping in mind that unstable weather could play a part also. So far, in light rain conditions experienced at Spa and Paul Ricard, the Audis rushed earlier than anyone else to take the slicks out, but in heavier rain condition, the open cockpit could be an advantage (at least Wolfgang Ullrich hinted at it).

Let's hope there will be some close battles and that the TV direction is intelligent enough to show them, in any class they may unfold...

[WhiteBlue]

Unless all the Peugeots hit unreliability (which I don't think they will) Audi will loose that one like last year. The Pugs have sandbagged nicely and should be in for top honors.

[raceman]

Bourdais for pole in Le Mans 24 Hours



Front roe lockout by Peugeot!

[Pandamasque]

Bourdais for pole in Le Mans 24 Hours



Front roe lockout by Peugeot!

First and second rows in fact

[dumrick]

It seems the #82 Risi Competizione failed tech inspection and could be demoted from its GT2 pole.

Another thing: can someone confirm if the #81 Jaguar RSR is really the first Indian vehicle to compete in Le Mans?

[Pandamasque]

Another thing: can someone confirm if the #81 Jaguar RSR is really the first Indian vehicle to compete in Le Mans?

What could be more Indian than a very private American outfit with a car that's vaguely similar to a British car by a manufacturer owned by an Indian businessman.

[dumrick]

It's almost time, so I'll post some video appetizers.

The first is a (in my opinion) superbly edited video, with some beautiful footage, called "Summer Night At Le Mans", that touches the nostalgic chord, going from the 1950's to early 1980's.

http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/gDnKGYk85Cs/

The second is a video with some poor image and audio, but nicely edited (it shortens the outlap with some clever outboards) of the inboard cam from Blundell's Nissan R90CK in his famous 1990 qualifying lap, where he ignored the engineers asking him to turn the engine down and made pole with boost enough for reported 1100bhp. It was a lot wilder like that



Are you now in the mood?

[Shrek]

NO I NEED MORE!!!!!

[WhiteBlue]

The second is a video ... of the inboard cam from Blundell's Nissan R90CK in his famous 1990 qualifying lap, where he ignored the engineers asking him to turn the engine down and made pole with boost enough for reported 1100bhp. It was a lot wilder like that

The insane speed combined with the early downshifts (in comparison with F1) make this really look weird. Look at how much steering work he does.

[WhiteBlue]

The Peugeots are leading the race as expected and the Mansell car is already out. Nigel had a spin and crashed out probably related to mechanical failure.

[DaveKillens]

Word is Nigel is OK.

[DaveKillens]

It seems the #82 Risi Competizione failed tech inspection and could be demoted from its GT2 pole.

The #83 Risi Competizione LM GT2 Ferrari F 430 GT driven by Tracy Krohn, Niclas Jönsson and Eric van de Poele set a potential LM GT2 pole time, only to have it cancelled last night when an ACO official discovered a minor irregularity with the car's rear wing during a routine check. This will mean that they start the race from the back of the grid.

The team are obviously disappointed with their own mistake, but they are still confident, and with good reason. They have won each of six major sportscar races in which it has competed since June 2008.

http://www.lemans.org/en/news/Risi-82-LM-GT2-pole-time-cancelled-due-to-minor-wing-irregularity_717.html

Some fasteners on the rear wing were missing, and led the officials to believe the that some parts of the rear wing could have flexed under aero load, and resulted in a loss of drag on the straights.

Great stuff going on, and the battle between the Audis and Peugots is fascinating.

[richard_leeds]

Shame Mansell's Ginetta is out already, they're a local firm. The father & 2 sons was a bit gimmicky, but I suppose without that publicity they wouldn't have got the funding to get on the track?

Caused by a puncture apparently.

Anthony Davidson sets fastest lap. I'm glad for him, but it barely compensates missing his commentary from Canada

[fenix4life]

Already one peugeot down.
Suspension failure

[WhiteBlue]

Boullion in the 13 Rebellion spins out and damages the rear. He is ok but probably out of the race.


The Peugeots can go the higher pace and will have put two laps on the Audis by half way time. Unless they mess up with reliability or driver error they should win this one.