[LM24] Le Mans 2011 Qualifying Times

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Lola T70

Sorry it is off topic but I have noticed that several posters say the wider front tyres now have a dedicated compound this year. Surely it is the construction that would have changed?

I don't know the construction details (and I don't know if Michelin will divulge them) but it has been confirmed by Aston and maybe Peugeot that there is a front specific wide tire for this season to try and alleviate some of the problems the ARX-O2 had with getting heat into the front tires and such.

[MulsanneMike]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Ok, I'd overlooked the restrictor changes. How much additional power will that give the cars? Still, seven seconds faster?

Restrictor changes are directly correlated to power 1:1; i.e., 13% area increase equates to a 13% power increase.

[gwyllion]

According to Strakka the HPD ARX-01c last year had "approximately 480 bhp" with the 40.7 mm restrictor. A 13% increase (to 43.4 mm) would correspond with 542 bhp.

This is consistent with the other claimed power numbers we are seeing: 550 bhp for Peugeot, 540 bhp for Aston Martin, and 540 bhp for Oak Racing (Judd).

[Félix]

I feel like the pole is going to be a low 3:32 from a Peugeot. I hope the 3 to 5 different cars bunched up within a few seconds of the pole happens, but I just can't see laptimes going that low.

I really think the added drag from the front tires combined with lower power will mean they'll give up time on the straights and won't carry enough downforce to make it up using their superior grip. Le Mans is made up of very long straights and there's only so much one can do under breaking and attacking in the Porsche curves. But yeah I might be wrong.

[BRG]

If the 3.4l v8's from Judd, Zytek,Toyota and HPD are going to have 550hp at 10,000+ revs are they going to last 24 hours without backing off.
Maybe 2011 will be last one standing.

[Tim the Grey]

Why shouldn't they last? DFL's in the 70s/80s were producing that sort of power, at those sort of revs, and finishing happily.

I'll take a pole time around 3.34/35, as the ACO will throw a fit if it's below 3.30, and restrict the inlet sizes, across the board.

We will have a better guide from Test Day, which will prove out LM aero, and Spa race, which gives us reliability and engine performance relative to other packages. THEN we can discuss the merits of engine A over car B! Especially if restrictor breaks go one way or another...

[BRG]

I was thinking of the Judd gv4 engined cars of 2002-2004 very fast over 1 lap but then the wick was turned down for the race

[BRG]

and also lmp2 2004 and 2005

[BRG]

Originally Posted by BRG

1. Peugeot 908 3.26
2. HPD ARX-01e 3.27
3. Audi r18 3.29
4. Aston Martin 3.30
5.Lola Toyota 3.31

Here's my guess for test day

1 Audi r18 3.26
2 Peugeot 3.27
3 Pescarolo v10 3.34
3 Lola TMG 3.34
4 Lola Aston 3.35
5 AMR-ONE 3.35
6 Zytek09 ASM 3.36
7 Oak Pescarolo 3.40

[BRG]

Originally Posted by BRG

Here's my guess for test day

1 Audi r18 3.26
2 Peugeot 3.27
3 Pescarolo v10 3.34
3 Lola TMG 3.34
4 Lola Aston 3.35
5 AMR-ONE 3.35
6 Zytek09 ASM 3.36
7 Oak Pescarolo 3.40

By Lemans race day I think the diesels will be slowed a bit and the petrol cars to be speeded up a bit The AMR-One will be the 2nd quickest Petrol after the HPD. The Lola TMG will not be far behind and the Pescarolo v10 may have its wings cliped if it proves to be the quickest down the striaght and or much quicker than the fastest Oak car durring the test

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by BRG

Here's my guess for test day.....

And mine......

......sandbags, sandbags, sandbags and more sandbags.

[BRG]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

And mine......

......sandbags, sandbags, sandbags and more sandbags.

With everythimg monitored how easy will it be to sandbag

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by BRG

With everythimg monitored how easy will it be to sandbag

How about putting some extra sand bags or lead in the car after scrutineering

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by BRG

With everythimg monitored how easy will it be to sandbag

Very.

The best we can hope for is a theoretical best lap time for each car based on combined best sector times.

[GT6]

Lets se what happens, I am sure some of the teams will hold back if they think the ACO might do something drastic, but for most of the top cars this will thier first time around the circuit so absolutely no way they will compromise and they want to get as much info as possible from the few hours they get.

[Le Vieux]

Originally Posted by GT6

Lets se what happens, I am sure some of the teams will hold back if they think the ACO might do something drastic, but for most of the top cars this will thier first time around the circuit so absolutely no way they will compromise and they want to get as much info as possible from the few hours they get.

You're absolutely right, but that won't stop one team suggesting that another was holding back.

[GT6]

That is always the politic's of motor racing

[Aysedasi]

I'm with James on this - no-one is going to want to show their full hand - unless they absolutely have to.


On that note, look out for my annual predictions comp after the test weekend.

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by GT6

That is always the politic's of motor racing

...and the end-product of the equalization policy.

[BRG]

Originally Posted by BRG

Here's my guess for test day

1 Audi r18 3.26
2 Peugeot 3.27
3 Pescarolo v10 3.34
3 Lola TMG 3.34
4 Lola Aston 3.35
5 AMR-ONE 3.35
6 Zytek09 ASM 3.36
7 Oak Pescarolo 3.40

Not bad

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by BRG

Not bad

The AMR-One is spot on ... not