TBK-Light.com

When you are sitting at home. When you are at the circuit there is actually very little running at times. It isn't like a BTCC weekend where it's race after race after race. You spend a week there, watch lots of practice sessions, and then the replace the support series with some properly terrible stuff. So you end up sitting around for most of the day twiddling your thumbs.

Watching the Group Cs and Classics was awesome. Maybe it's just me, but Teslas aren't as good. And that is why I said -

I've been to LeMans be the last 3 years in a row and I don't think I have ever watched a support race. I think this is a combination of the ridiculous traffic surrounding the circuit and making the use of non-spectacle activities to going to get some food, or resting.

We usually get down there on the Thursday, usually arriving some way through qualifying. The day is full up with setting up camp, a quick food run, and then watching what is left of qualifying. Friday is always a case of getting up, walking to the pit straight to spend the day wandering the various stands, looking at other group cars and catching a glimpse of cars on the pit walk. Then the afternoon is then spent making our way to the drivers parade in central LeMans by tram. The Sunday is usually a case of another food run to start the day, and then making our way to where we want to watch the start, which can take a while.

Time seems to go fast when you are at the track! Perhaps its just me, but I go to LeMans for the 24hour race; I have never really been bothered about the other goings on.


Oh and FYI, I am not going this year either. Unfort its a case of work commitments.

I go to Le Mans for the 24 hours too, just like when you go to a BTCC race you go for BTCC, not the Porsches (although we all want to see the Clios), but everything counts. I've been 5 times now, this is my first missed year since 2005.

We travelled down on the Tuesdays, arriving late Tuesday night and getting the tens up and nothing else. Wednesday morning was spent getting properly setup with equipment from Carrefour. Wednesday and Thursday evenings was obviously spent watching qualifying. 'Mad-Friday' gets a little dull after your the only sober person not throwing up. On Saturday morning it is usually too hot to sleep (although this year it appears it may rain) so your awake early, otherwise you might drown in your own sweat. We were setup track side, literally against the fence at Karting Nord. Getting up and watching the classics, Group C and Formula Le Mans was always a good build up to Le Mans and helped build the excitement.

Now Formula Le Mans is gone, the Group C race appears to have disappeared (I'm sure that's an error, they have a qualifying session after all) and it's been replaced by some electric cars and GT3 Porsches? :-\ 2 cool series replaced by 2 terrible series.

Must be an error because it is in the French schedule on the website:

http://www.lemans.org/fr/courses/24h/in ... aires.html

Plus Eurosport lists it on their schedule.

That's the same time as the Teslas are meant to be racing, lol. Someones cocked something up.

Edit: Right, I see what they did.

11:05 – 11:50 Group C
12:10 – 12:30 GP ELEC
15:00 24 Heures du Mans

The English schedule is missing a slot then.

GP ELEC was changed from what was originally a race to a two-lap exhibition session - basically demo laps.

at least were all sorted now

Acura are faggots that don't want to race their LMP1-car here. That was one awesome machine, they should at least try it. They made a longtail body for the LMP2-car, so please make one for the LMP1 as well.

By the way, does anyone have a picture of the new longtail version?

The P1 car would get raped here. It's really designed specifically for ALMS and tight circuits. You could make along tail version and rip off the front louvres, but it'd still be terrible. At least the P2 car kinda fits.

Highcroft are posting images on Twitter - http://twitter.com/highcroftracing

It is still a waste of an amazing car to park it after just one season without decent opposition.

Oh I agree. I'd love to see it still in competition in ALMS and maybe LMS. But at Le Mans it'd be so bad that it'd be pointless. I do agree in principle though.

It's no longer Acura Motorsports operation.

You've probably noticed that since the start of the year, the car and engine has been rebranded as HPD... well, that is what it really is, so big deal but the deal with Highcroft has changed. It's now more typical customer deal with maybe little bit more support from the leaser. But HPD has plans for post-2011, including supplying engines to P2 cars (production based V6 turbo) and maybe a proper P1 attack: "We want to be back at the pinnacle in the P1 class and we need a new generation to be back in there". So maybe "Acura" will return.

Link: http://gordonkirby.com/categories/colum ... no231.html

It was a risky move to design the P1 car without a bespoke engine and altogether miserable timing (Audi quitting). Proper fans will not give a shit but at least they won the championship so maybe it wasn't so huge failure financially.

there's something new at Eurosport, every day there is a 30 minute magazine at Le Mans live

_________________
Twitter - rallyman69

looks like Eurosport hired that clueless blonde chick again

Internets can be quite expensive in France http://telecom.lemans.org/catalogue/epreuves.asp?lg=en

comparison of the front of the Audi 2009 and 2010

_________________
Twitter - rallyman69

This BMW will really run the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
beautiful car

_________________
Twitter - rallyman69

Already a fan of the Matech girl only line-up




Does anyone know if the race will be produced in native HD this year?? Scrutineering pics were only upscaled...

I'll catch the re-airing later today or tomorrow because there are lots of them. Even during the race (wtf).

I gather Henri Pescarolo is part of the French Eurosport commentary team...doesn't strike me as the most ideal man to have in to listen to, given his facial issues

Still, it'll probably be easier to understand him than trying to fathom what Carlton Kirby will be wittering on about/screaming about (delete as appropriate)

that Audi really isnt nice to look at

@

Echti: who is that on the right?