24 hours of Le Mans 2014

[this_is_gav]

Well there was no safety car or yellows (none obvious anyway, with the Porsche still having its accident). Racing drivers are racing drivers. You'd normally expect them to keep their foot down normally, so either they were on slicks and those following on wets, or they slowed for the accident.

I'd argue everyone who didn't pit, hoping the safety car came out and they weren't the cause, was moronic, especially in a 24 hour endurance race, but as is often said in motorsport, hindsight is a wonderful thing.

 

[SoliD]

Been a great race so far, so much happening! That rain came out of nowhere and caused absolute chaos! Shame for the Audi, no hope in doing anything to avoid that accident. Should be a good couple of hours, hopefully the Porsche can get back some time on fresher slick tyres if they have just chucked them on!

 

[Vertigo]

Yeah great race so far - to have the first four cars, from three different manufacturers, all still on the lead lap is great

 

[Flibster]

Was great to see that the Dempsey Proton Porsche is actually doing well rather than just hovering around midfield.

That'll make my other half happy. Interviews with a happy 'McDreamy'.....

 

[rpstewart]

That was some serious rain.

Not half! Glad I went with grandstand seats...

Great action so far, I can cope with two quite short showers if this is what we get as a result.

Just going to finish the curry at the campsite's self styled Taj Arnange and then were off to Mulsanne for a bit.

 

[Ceryndrion]

Somewhat off topic, interesting to hear them mention in passing that Caterham may not make it to the next F1 race..

edit: And Tony Fernandez denying it..

 

[Skeeter]

Just caught up with the race and seen the crash. 100% the fault of the 4 guys going slow, including the Audi.

Sure it was wet so you felt you needed to slow down, but driving 4 a breast at walking pace on the mulsanne straight with minimal visibility but no flags is simply retarded. Say all you like about the Toyota and Ferrari and how they "should have slowed", but with no warning or reason too, how would they know there's 4 people blocking the road? The guys are good, but they aren't psychic!

People blaming the Toyota and Ferrari seem to forget they were entering a flat out straight with no warning at all that would have told them to slow down.

You can't block the whole road and not expect people to hit you.

 

[Vertigo]

Let's just agree to disagree

Meanwhile... what a battle for the lead in GTE Pro!!

(oh, and the Yokohama advert they keep running on Eurosport is the single most pathetic piece of advertising junk I've ever seen)

 

[Ceryndrion]

(oh, and the Yokohama advert they keep running on Eurosport is the single most pathetic piece of advertising junk I've ever seen)

And there I was thinking that the ZEOD RC sponsorship message that they keep showing was rather ironic considering how early it retired.

 

[Vertigo]

Aww leave them alone, they gave it a shot and succeeded in hitting the 300km/h mark and doing a full lap on electric power alone.

 

[Skeeter]

Yet they have successfully killed the Delta Wing, the most exciting race car for years, and got given the Garage 56 slot based on a fully electric car, yet turn up with a petrol powered car with nothing more than an electric mode that's barely more advanced than the ones already in the Audi, Toyota and Porsche.

Safe to say I'm a little bit glad they retired, and do find the constant ZEOD advert quite funny.

"Nissan electrifies Le Mans". Yeah, for 1 lap and a short speed run.

 

[vanpeebles]

I love the night time at Le Mans

 

[Flibster]

3 minute stop and go penalty for the #77 Dempsey Proton for spinning his wheels in the pitlane.

 

[vanpeebles]

Seemed quite harsh that

 

[Skeeter]

I heard that. Is it spinning while on the jacks, or wheel spinning while pulling out of the pit box?

 

[vanpeebles]

Pulling away I think?

 

[Skeeter]

In that case its mega harsh.

 

[weeble]

Heads-up btw, the official ACO app for iOS & Android is pretty decent with live timings, news & info and even live streams of the on-board cameras from each of the Audi, Toyota & Porsche cars.

Cheers for the heads up...proved ace when I had to pop out for a few hours.

Seems to have calmed down now that the heavy rain has passed...recent gt battle was fun.

 

[benhaha85]

Nooooooo woke up to find the #7 Toyota is out. I really wanted someone other than Audi to win. Still, there's plenty of time left.

 

[Vertigo]

Shame for the Toyota team but endurance racing is about reliability first and speed second. It's Audi's reliability record that's brought them so much success in recent years, not just their raw pace.

Race is still far from over though with the Porsche #20 only about a lap behind so if anything happens to the lead Audi...

Porsche have done an amazing job in their first year back, regardless of where they finish but I hope they can get a podium or even hold onto second.

EDIT: Oh the epic GTE Pro battle is still raging