The Exciting Sounds of Le Mans

In the age of instant everything it's hard to imagine experiencing the 24 Heures du Mans  on a vinyl LP  yet,  in 1967 that was as close as an enthusiast could get get without traveling to northern France.

Published by Decca/ London Records and chronicles the sounds and atmosphere of the 1966 edition of the endurance classic.    Copies of the LP occasionally pop up at auction

The 84th edition of the 24 hours of Le Mans will take place this week end and will be broadcast and streamed in real time to the whole planet but take a moment to travel back to another, simpler time.

Embed from Getty Images

"The Mulsanne Straight at night - In the distance a 7-Litre Ford prototype is heard at 210 miles an hour. As it roars past on its way to the sharp right-hander at Mulsanne Village another is heard hurtling up from the left and slowing down for the turn. In their wake the pack follows: the fiery red Ferraris of Italy, the long-tailed Porsches from Germany, the vivid blue Alpines from France. As the cars from eight countries devour the night, the commentary sets the scene for this greatest race of all."



"The preparation - At the beginning of the week cars and mechanics arrive in Le Mans and settle into the host of garages scattered around the ancient city. Favourites to win the race outright are Ferrari - lurking in the former municipal slaughter-house - and Ford, who have set up a sort of miniature racing car factory in the big Peugeot garage on the outskirts. Will Ford be the first American car to win the race? After 34 years, in which Britain, France, Italy and Germany have shared the spoils, and the United States has tried so hard with her Stutz, her Chrysler and her Cunningham, at least it seems possible for Ford to take the outright prize across the Atlantic. Carroll Shelby, entrant of three of the Fords, and himself a former winning driver in 1959 at the wheel of an Aston Martin, is optimistic as he talks in the garage."

The Best way to watch the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

The 24 Hours of LeMans is more than just a race, it's an experience everyone should try at least once in your life.  
If getting to France is not possible you have several options to follow all the action on the Circuit de la Sarthe.

In the US, your worst option will be broadcast TV.
Fox Sports will carry 12 hours of the race on cable,  only 5 and 1/2 of those hours on the  widely available Fox Sports 1 channel with the remainder on Fox Sports 2 which many providers do not carry in HD if at all.

However, Fox will be showing the entirety of the race on the Fox Sports Go App and web site.
 
In addition to the world feed and commentary by the team lead by Bob Varscha, you will have access to onboard cameras on the two Corvettes and one for the pit crew.
You have to be a subscriber to their service via your cable package to have access, if your provider does not carry Fox Sports you are out of luck.

I suspect that most fans automatically expect the booming, indefatigable voice of John Hindhaugh   commenting any race lasting longer than two hours.  
We will be tuning to hear him and the team on the Radio Le Mans web site.   Hindy will also be commenting on the  Porsche, Audi and Nissan web sites where you will find onboard cameras from their respective racers.  Also here on YouTube

Your best option is the official  WEC app.  The basic app will provide you with timing and scoring info for free but for $9.99 you can purchase full access to the Le Mans race.

That premium subscription will give you live video, multiple camera feeds, driver bio, highlights...the works.    Unlike the F1 app,  WEC was able to link the app subscription to their web site so for the same ten bucks you can have the main feed up on your laptop and follow the extras on your mobile device.

The app is available at the AppStore  and GooglePlay.

Will Porsche go Back to the Future at Le Mans?

Fans love it, it's no accident Porsche chose it as one of the retro lovelies for the 918 Hybrid super car but, will they have the classic Martini livery on their Le Mans prototype when it lines up at la Sarthe next year?

Autosprint thinks there's a decent chance,  it certainly gets our vote!!

Check out more classic Martini liveries after the jump

80th 24 Hours of le Mans Live Streams

Follow live on the web
http://radiolemans.com/
http://live.lemans-tv.com/
http://www.audi-liveracing.com/desktop/index.jsp?l=en_US
http://live.nissan.co.uk/uk/base/deltawinglive
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nissan-motorsports
http://stream.speedtv.com/corvette
http://tensport.com.au/lemans-live-streaming.htm

Weather this morning was nasty.... Audi will be happy.   Here 's is a clip from the Le Mans Legends race

A thought about the big Audi crash at Le Mans

Manufacturers have an opportunity to make a point relating to their consumer safety products. Blind spot detection system are now pretty standard, why not mandate an implementation of those systems for LMS GT cars. It could be as simple as two LED or , perhaps integrate a screen as a extra rear view mirror, like on the Ferrari FXX. In fact it could even have enhanced night vision... Just a thought.


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Big rule changes at Le Mans from 2011

(photo: Grant Sager)

Hybrids, "low cost", GT1 canned in favor of an expanded GT2 class, less tire wear, less noise. The 2011 regulations for Le Mans were released today by the ACO.
Details afteer the jump

The 2011 Le Mans 24 Hour regulations have been drawn up in the context of sustainable development and respect for the environment. The ACO and the motor industry have concentrated on two aspects that are crucially important from their point of view:


* An endurance race like the Le Mans 24 Hours must enable entrants to test new technologies.
* The focus of the Le Mans 24 Hours must be aimed even more strongly towards both the
reduction of CO2 emissions and fuel consumption.

HYBRID SYSTEMS

The ACO wishes to give manufacturers the widest possible scope to use and develop such systems by putting a certain number of controls in place. Energy recovery systems will be allowed provided that they respect the following rules :


* Recovery and release of the energy on two wheels (front or rear axle) to be choice free.
* Maximum quantity of energy released between two braking phases: 500 kJ.
* Energy storing: electrical or mechanical systems
* System actuated by the accelerator pedal only (push to pass buttons forbidden).
* Hybrid safety specification drawn up by the ACO.
* Other means of energy recovery will be allowed: exhaust, engine heat, dampers etc. provided that they respect the specifications drawn up by the ACO (safety, driver aids banned, evaluation of the increases provided by the system, the reduction of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions).
* Energy recovery systems using brakes must not be active in curves (driver aids banned).
* Fuel tank capacity reduction: 2 litres less for both petrol and diesel-engined cars.
* Pit lane test obligatory for the cars in the hybrid category according to Article 1 / Definitions, Section 1.12 of the ACO LM P1 & LM P2 technical regulations, which stipulate that a car in this category must be able to cover the distance of the pit lane (400 m.) at a speed of 60 km/h using only the power generated by its hybrid system.

LM P1 & LM P2 PROTOTYPES

The new regulations follow the current evolution of the car in relation to the environment: namely, reduction in the power and overall performance of the engines.

2010 LM P1's eligible in 2011 provided that as announced two years ago, the cubic capacity of the LM P1 prototypes will be reduced. The 2011 regulations for the Le Mans 24 Hours, the ILMC, ALMS, LMS and the Asian Le Mans series have been revised to take into account the current economic situation and ensure a transition period. It gives the 2010 LM P1 prototypes an extra year with their performance adjusted in relation to the new 2011 cars. The development of the current chassis will be frozen as at 31/12/2010.

* LM P2 " A Low Cost Formula" powered exclusively by production series engines with engine regulations close to those in LM GT2.
* Capped costs : that of an engine must not exceed 75,000 €, the sales price of a complete chassis with options without the engine will be 325,000 € maximum - 400,000 € for a complete car.
* Minimum engine life: The life of an engine between two revisions will be 30 hours in 2011, 40 hours in 2012 and 50 hours in 2013.

The current LM P2s can still race in 2011 on 3 conditions :

* 1. Installation of a new engine derived from a production series.
* 2. Chassis development frozen as at 31/12/2010.
* 3. Performance adjusted in relation to the new 2011 models.

CREATION OF THE GT ENDURANCE CATEGORY

In 2011, there will be no LM GT1 category for the following three major reasons:


* Numerous date clashes on the event calendars.
* Very small fields outside the Le Mans 24 Hours.
* The current category is entirely sprint based.

This is why in agreement with the GT manufacturers the ACO has decided to create a GT Endurance category with a single set of regulations valid between 2011 and 2013. These regulations are based on the current GT2 cars complying with the 2009 ACO rules with the following modifications:

* Steering wheel mounted paddle gearshifts allowed.
* Only 1 evolution per year allowed.
* 2 evolutions per year will be allowed for new cars.
* Measures will be taken to reduce top speeds without reducing overall power.

The GT Endurance category will be for one type of car but divided into two classes from 2011:

* GT Endurance PRO: a professional category, cars and drivers free.
* GT Endurance AM: cars over one year old and with a minimum of two drivers classified in the bronze or silver categories (defined under LM P2 LMS 2010 regulations).
* The Michelin Green X Challenge will continue in the PROTOTYPES and GT classes.
* Reduction in tyre consumption (as defined in 2009 and 2010 ACO Regulations)
* Reduction in noise level decibels (From 112DB in 2010 to 110DB in 2011)

Le Mans.org.

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2010 Le Mans 24 Hour Qualifying live stream

Live Timing

First Qualifying is over. Tomorrow, session two, is expected to be wet so everyone guesses these times will stand.

LMP1

1. Peugeot Sport Total 908 HDi Sebastian Bourdais 3:19.711
2. Team Peugeot Total 908 HDi Alexander Wurz 3:20.317
3. Team Peugeot Total 908 Hdi Stephane Sarrazin 3:20.325

LMP2

1. Strakka Racing HDP ARX.01 Jonny Kane 3:36.168
2. Highcroft Racing HPD ARX.01 David Brabham 3:37.202
3. Quifel-ASM Team Ginetta-Zytec 09s Olivier Pla 3:41.968

LM GT1

1. Young Driver AMR Aston Martin DB9 Tomas Enge 3:55.026
2. Matech Competition Ford GT Matech Thomas Mutsch 3:57.296
3. Luc Alphand Adventures Corvette C6.R Julien Jousse 3:58.810

LM GT2

1. Risi Competizioni Ferrari F430GT Gianmaria Bruni 3:59.233
2. Corvette Racing Corvette C6 ZR1 Antonio Garcia 4:00.097
3. Corvette Racing Corvette C6 ZR1 Emmanuel Collard 4:01.012




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Race in 24

Another huge racing week end coming up with the Grand Prix of Canada and of course the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Le Mans is the only race where the prototype class is even remotely interesting these days with a full field of Peugeots vs Audi vs Lolas but I, like many of you, will be watching the LM GT2 class.

In GT2 it's Ferrari vs Porsche vs BMW vs General Motors. It's Dunlop vs Michelin. It's American teams vs European teams. In other words, it should be a hell of a race.

We will cheer for an underdog, the Hankook Ferrari if anything because, not so long ago, Leh Keen was just another club racer who enthusiastically posted videos on YouTube and internet forums.... come to think of it, he still posts on Rennlist like a regular guy! Keep is fast Leh!

After the jump, a basic category primmer, entry list and spotters guides.




LMP1

Minimum weight: 900kg for petrol-fuelled cars and 930 kg for diesels
Wing length: 1m60
Maximum engine capacity: 6,000cc for petrol atmospheric engines, 4,000cc for turbo engines and 5,500cc for diesel engines
Maximum disc diameter: 38cm
Tank capacity: 90 litres (81 litres for diesel engines)
Headlamp beam: White
Race numbers: 1-24
LMP1 Category sticker: red

Peugeot (Peugeot 908): Wurz-Gené-Davidson
Peugeot (Peugeot 908): Minassian-Sarrazin-Montagny
Peugeot (Peugeot 908): Bourdais-Lamy-Pagenaud
Oreca (Peugeot 908): Panis-Lapierre-Duval
Beechdean (Ginetta-Zytek): Mansell-Mansell-Mansell
Oreca (Oreca-AIM) - Ayari-Andre-Meyrick
Audi Joest (Audi R15) - Kristensen-Capello-McNish
Audi Joest (Audi R15) - Lotterer-Fassler-Treluyer
Audi North America (Audi R15) - Rockenfeller-Bernhard-Dumas
Drayson (Lola-Judd Coupé) - Drayson-Cocker-Pirro
Rebellion (Lola-Judd Coupé) - Prost-Jani-Andretti
Rebellion (Lola-Judd Coupé) - Belicchi-Boullion-Smith
Kolles (Audi R10) - Albers-Tucker-Rodrigues
Kolles (Audi R10) - Bakkerud-Jarvis-Bouchut
Autocon (Lola-AER) - Lewis-Willmann-Burgess
Aston Martin (Lola Aston Martin) - Primat-Mucke-Fernandez
Aston Martin (Lola Aston Martin) - Turner-Barazi-Hancock
Signature (Lola Aston Martin) - Ragues-Ickx-Mailleux

LMP2

Minimum weight: 825kg
Wing length: 1m60
Maximum engine capacity: 3,400ccs and a maximum of 8 cylinders for atmospheric engines or 2,000ccs with a single turbo and a maximum of 6 cylinders for turbo engines
Maximum disc diameter: 38cm
Tank capacity: 80 litres
Headlamp beam: White
Race numbers: 25-49
LMP2 category sticker: blue

OAK (Pescarolo-Judd) - Nicolet-Hein-Yvon
OAK (Pescarolo-Judd) - Lahaye-Moreau-Charouz
RML (Lola-HPD Coupé) - Newton-Erdos-Wallace
Highcroft (Acura-HPD) - Brabham-M.Franchitti-Werner
Racing Box (Lola-Judd Coupé) - Pirri-Cioci-Perazzini
Welter (WR-Zytek) - Salini-Salini-Gommendy
Pegasus (Norma-Judd) - Schell-Da Rocha-Zollinger
KSM (Lola-Judd) - De Pourtales-Noda-Kennard
ASM (Ginetta-Zytek) - Amaral-Pla-Hughes
Bruichladdich (Ginetta-Zytek) - Ojjeh-Greaves-Chalandon
Strakka (Acura-HPD) - Leventis-Watts-Kane

LM GT1

Minimum weight: 560 bhp with a minimum weight of 1,200kg or 600 bhp with a minimum weight of 1,250kg
Maximum width: 210cm
Maximum engine capacity: 8,000ccs for atmospheric engines, 4,000cc for turbocharged engines
Carbon brakes authorised
Tank capacity: 90 litres
Maximum 6 speed gearbox
Headlamp beam: Yellow
Race numbers: 50-74
LM GT1 category sticker: green

Larbre (Saleen S7R) - Berville-Canal-Gardel
Young Driver AMR (Aston Martin DBR9) - Nygaard-Enge-Kox
Matech (Ford GT) - Mutsch-Grosjean-Hirschi
Matech (Ford GT) - Gachnang-Frey-Allemann
Jloc (Lambo Murcielago) - Yogo-Yamanishi-Iiri
VDS (Ford GT) - De Doncker-Leinders-Palttala
Alphand (Corvette C6R) - Gregoire-Policand-Hart
Alphand (Corvette C6R) - Jousse-Maassen-Goueslard

LM GT2

Minimum weight: 1,145kg
Maximum width: 200cm
Maximum engine capacity identical to the LM GT1 category
Carbon brakes forbidden (exclusively iron based)
Tank capacity: 90 litres
Maximum 6 speed gearbox
Headlight beam: Yellow
Race numbers: 75-99
LM GT2 category stickers: Orange

Corvette (Corvette C6 ZR1) - Magnussen-O’Connell-A.Garcia
Corvette (Corvette C6 ZR1) - Gavin-Beretta-Collard
Prospeed (Porsche 997) - Van Splunteren-Hommerson-Machiels
Imsa (Porsche 997) - Narac-Pilet-Long
Felbermayr (Porsche 997) - Lieb-Lietz-Henzler
Felbermayr (Porsche 997) - Felbermayr-Felbermayr-Konopka
BMW (BMW M3) - J.Muller-Farfus-Alzen
BMW (BMW M3) - Priaulx-D.Muller-D.Werner
Flying Lizard (Porsche 997) - Neiman-Law-Bergmeister
Jaguar (Jaguar XKRS) - Gentilozzi-Dalziel-Goossens
Risi (Ferrari 430) - Melo-Bruni-Kaffer
Risi (Ferrari 430) - Krohn-Jonsson-Van de Poele
Spyker (Spyker C8) - Coronel-Dumbreck-Bleekemolen
Farnbacher (Ferrari 430) - Farnbacher-Simonsen-Keen
JMW (Aston Martin Vantage) - Bell-Sugden-Miller
AF Corse (Ferrari 430) - Fisichella-Alesi-Vilander
AF Corse (Ferrari 430) - Companc-Russo-Salo
Scuderia Italia (Porsche 997) - Holzer-Westbrook-Scheider




More LE MANS on Axis

Raikkonen and Loeb at the 2010 Le Mans 24 Hours...

Keep an eye on the 2010 24 Hours, it has the potential of being the most interesting in years. The latest rumors are of a Red Bull sponsored Peugeot 908 Hdi driven by Kimi Raikkonen, Sebastien Loeb and perhaps David Coulthard. Certainly would attract media attention, something RedBull has show to have a certain talent for over the years...

Also in 2010, BMW will return to contest as an official factory team for the first time in years. There will be GT2 M3s but perhaps also the new GT3 class Z4 racer the bavarians have cooked up. Stay tuned for updates.
(autohebdo.fr, motorsportblog.it)






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