Arena Zytek 07S

[bernard b]

you understand well

[chocmonster7]

Hillebrands name was on the car (saw it on TV) but it seems there was a lot of stuff going on in the background even while the car was being scrutineered. As the drivers were being interviewed they still didn't really know what was going on but Gounon dropped a big hint about it being a surprise and F1 connected.

[The Badger]

So it could be Gounon-Hillebrand-Johansson then ? Hope it puts up a good show , its certainly got the crew .

This Zytek thing has got me thinking .

For a well organised team there has been a few too many mistakes .

Throttle cable failures like they are going outta fashion .

How could they ever think that Chilton would get a dispensation from the ACO ?

I suspect that the car "could" have been repaired on time but , because their money man (Chilton) didnt get dispensation , and it would have been hard graft to ready the car , they pulled the plug . Thats my thoughts on the situation .

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by The Badger

So it could be Gounon-Hillebrand-Johansson then ? Hope it puts up a good show , its certainly got the crew .

No it's Moreau instead of Hillebrand. At pitstop.tv there's a reaction from Hillebrand (He's very dissapointed. At the time he heard the news he was already wearing the race suit. IMO it sounds not very professional from Courage.)

Originally Posted by The Badger

I suspect that the car "could" have been repaired on time but , because their money man (Chilton) didnt get dispensation , and it would have been hard graft to ready the car , they pulled the plug . Thats my thoughts on the situation .

This crossed by mind too. That's why I asked earlier in this topic who funds the Arena project.

[chocmonster7]

They were originally told that Chilton would be able to do his qualifying laps during the race week practice sessions. When they found out that he wouldn't be able to Zytek tried to arrange for him to be there on the Sunday morning as his first BTCC race at Croft wasn't until midday. Sadly they couldn't get flights to connect - I heard all of that direct from Chilton himself that morning.

The line-up for the #13 car is Johansson - Gounon - Moreau

As I have said in another thread if the test day wasn't so close to race week then there wouldn't have been a problem. I believe the car was more badly damaged than anyone knew until they got it back to the factory and the team just ran out of time.

[paul-collins]

Originally Posted by PascaLM

The delay between Test and qualifs seems to be too short in case of important crash.
It could have been the same decision with the Courage n°13 ; we could have had only 53 cars instead of 55. It's a shame that ACO cannot invite a competitor at the last minute, as it was possible many years ago (less costs, logistics...)

Yes, but keep in mind that the long layoff affects the surrounding series as well.

I guess the question has to be asked, why would you be pushing hard enough to cause that sort of damage in the first place? If you're that far behind in preparation that a crash two weeks before the event is irreparable, then maybe you weren't ready for the race anyway.

It is sad that Zytek won't be there, and Shimoda would have been fun to watch.

[Dani Filth]

any TBA still there ??

[jab]

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

any TBA still there ??

No, that should be all the cars filled now

[FIRE]

At T2M? Or is Terada confirmed?

[Dani Filth]

he was at scruteneering . so he's confirmed

[bernard b]

Originally Posted by The Badger

So it could be Gounon-Hillebrand-Johansson then ? ...

no, it couldn't, as 2 drivers of the final line up must be known for the test day

[bil588]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Yup.

Johansson already drafted into the #13 Courage.

link?

The hull was touched and the car had had to be rappatriée in the workshops in England. Unfortunately, the team is also confronted with insurmountable electronic problems. Too many factors to ensure the presence of the car in track.

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=3746

pics

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/lem...4h-eg-0190.jpg

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/lem...4h-eg-0191.jpg

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/lem...4h-eg-0501.jpg

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/lem...4h-eg-0502.jpg

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by chocmonster7

Sadly they couldn't get flights to connect - I heard all of that direct from Chilton himself that morning.

The line-up for the #13 car is Johansson - Gounon - Moreau

and the team just ran out of time.

Get flights to connect ..... rubbish ..... did they never hear of chartering a jet ?

Glad to hear Moreau is well again .

They never seem to have enough time .....

[jhansen]

Originally Posted by paul-collins

I guess the question has to be asked, why would you be pushing hard enough to cause that sort of damage in the first place? If you're that far behind in preparation that a crash two weeks before the event is irreparable, then maybe you weren't ready for the race anyway.

It is sad that Zytek won't be there, and Shimoda would have been fun to watch.

In my opinion, it begs the question, does the test day have any present day relevance? If they're not going to add reserve entries at this late date, and we need the test day closer to the race for overseas teams, why have it? Add a test day on Tuesday and be done with it. Three days of testing is more than enough time to bring new drivers up to speed, get night laps in, and sort the cars.

And I agree regarding Shimoda. I was looking forward to his flying laps.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by paul-collins

Yes, but keep in mind that the long layoff affects the surrounding series as well.

I guess the question has to be asked, why would you be pushing hard enough to cause that sort of damage in the first place? If you're that far behind in preparation that a crash two weeks before the event is irreparable, then maybe you weren't ready for the race anyway.

It is sad that Zytek won't be there, and Shimoda would have been fun to watch.

Maybe if they pushed the reserve date to the day before scrutineering and made that the final day to withdraw without penalty,barring some sort of obvious catastrophic failure. Then let the reserve(s) called up (only), "Q" the drivers in qualifying/test days. Rather tedious for the reserve teams but at least they would have the option.

L.P.

[Aysedasi]

[quote=bil588]link?


Here.

It was posted, from Planet Le Mans, I believe - as early as about 4.30 yesterday. The trouble is that people have been posting car and driver info in som many threads the stuff gets lost.

[bil588]

Will the car be repaired? The car doesn't seem to have that many sponsors.

[gwyllion]

I read the following on the french version of lemans.org:

La Zytek #32 au ralenti en fin de séance

Alors que la vague des améliorations était lancée, la Zytek #32 de Barazi Epsilon était signalée au ralenti. La voiture était pendant un moment immobilisée au début de la ligne droite des stands, câble d'accélérateur cassé. Grâce Ã* un réglage moteur specifique, dicté par son stand, Juan Barazi parvenait tout de même Ã* revenir Ã* son stand au ralenti.

So the LMP2 Zytek also suffers from the throttle cable problem

[Ace Daddy]

I was so bumed to hear this. After seeing them win Laguna Seca a few years ago and getting to meet Tom Chilton, I became a huge fan of those guys. That car can fly, well at least when the throttle cable works.

[C6R Racing Fan]

Originally Posted by Ace Daddy

I was so bumed to hear this. After seeing them win Laguna Seca a few years ago and getting to meet Tom Chilton, I became a huge fan of those guys. That car can fly, well at least when the throttle cable works.

Same here! After seeing Chilton/Shimoda run at Mid-Ohio a few years back and seeing Stefan in the Zytek last year at Petit, I was looking forward to this ARENA lineup and the race.

[chocmonster7]

If it's any consolation Chilton was really depressed about not being able to make it to Le Mans to do his qualifying laps. I had a long conversation with him during the pitlane walkabout session at Croft BTCC, shows that the guy can multitask too as he carried on signing autographs during it!

[Ace Daddy]

Chilton is the man! Such a cool down to earth guy. Hopefully they will be back at Le Mans next year.

[bil588]

How has the development gone?

Which paying drivers will race at PLM and Laguna Seca?

http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...13/1547/RACING

[sceptic]

Originally Posted by bil588

How has the development gone?

Which paying drivers will race at PLM and Laguna Seca?

http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...13/1547/RACING

Apparently they are testing at Paul Ricard in early September with Tom Chilton and his brother Max behind the wheel, but I'd expect either Shimoda or Johanssen with Tom in the races.

[isynge]

Originally Posted by sceptic

Apparently they are testing at Paul Ricard in early September with Tom Chilton and his brother Max behind the wheel, but I'd expect either Shimoda or Johanssen with Tom in the races.

I would have thought Highcroft have first call on Johansson's services at PLM and Laguna Seca, which would argue against his presence.

More seriously though do we know that Arena are going to PLM and Laguna? As they're one of the teams reported to be skipping Interlagos are they likely to be crossing the Atlantic at all?