[LM24] La Sarthe/Arnage Track and Other Changes

[Deleted]

Why would the Le Mans city council, or whoever it is funding this (Syndicat Mixte?) want asphalt shoulders for a section of a road that is gonna be removed from the public road section in very near future anyway? As you say, it's in line with the other sections. I don't know, I just think this is all comes just as request of FIA. And before you jump into saying that not everything can be blamed on FIA, their name has often been mentioned (as recently as with the Corvette Corner extension) with these sanitations.

Anyway, whatever the case it doesn't matter to me who wants them and where, the end result is the same sad one.

edit
*Composition of the Syndicat Mixte of the 24 Hours of Le Mans
The Syndicat Mixte is 50% Conseil Général de la Sarthe, 25% Conseil Régional des Pays de la Loire, 15% Metro Le Mans and 10% City of Le Mans.

This year there were many little asphalt runoff tweaks here and there that were left completely unannounced in the press releases such as the Dunlop esses, that trend will surely continue too every year...

[deggis]

Because city council and logic in the same sentence? Maybe it is even a road safety thing, how would a normal road look like if suddenly a section of it had no shoulders. And when was the removal from the public road map going to happen exactly and is that even definitely going to happen?

Don't mix the other changes to this since there is no other connection other than timing.

[Deleted]

I don't know, I'm not accustomed to such shoulders in our roads anyway, really

The removal of Indy-Arnage is either for 2015 or 2016, but it's very definite.

And why shouldn't I drag the other changes into this, Syndicat Mixte apparently spent 2,2 million for the circuit "upgrade" this year which included Tetre Rouge, Corvette Corner and number of other things here and there, AND I guess these asphalt shoulders (450,000 euros) are included in that number as well since it's still 2014.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by Chiana

I don't know, I'm not accustomed to such shoulders in our roads anyway, really

Finnish term doesn't come to mind right now but e.g. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...u_Maikkula.jpg

And why shouldn't I drag the other changes into this, Syndicat Mixte apparently spent 2,2 million for the circuit "upgrade" this year which included Tetre Rouge, Corvette Corner and number of other things here and there, AND I guess these asphalt shoulders (450,000 euros) are included in that number as well since it's still 2014.

If one of the changes was wanted by FIA does that mean rest of the changes were too especially this one? But apparently tarmac = tarmac, even if the purpose looks entirely different.

[ederss7]

I would like to know what the drivers think of these changes. Hasn't any driver said something about it yet?

[vincegail]

From PH forum. Picture is from today's newspaper (La Maine?). Not looking good for Maison Blanche campsite.

[jc_nl]

It's not the building that worries me, that's not on the campsite, it's next to the entry for the Ford chicane.

But there probably will be a lot of big spenders there during the race needing parking spots for their toys etc. That is probably what will effect the campsite most.

[kpkorsager]

That will absolutly ruin my Sunday morning.
Use to lay on the banks at the ford Cichane and see the cars go in to the pits and round to start finsh. Might have to change my location.

Hope they will not use "my" space for parking. they already destroyed my spot at Karting Nord, and now they start going after my spot at Maison Blance.

[Richard117]

I hope I can still take pictures at one of my favourite spots, exit of Porsche:

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Richard117

I hope I can still take pictures at one of my favourite spots, exit of Porsche:

I'm sure you will. They'd have to ban people from the entire area to prevent that. It will be interesting to see what else gets altered within the site.

[Gingers4Justice]

Not looking anywhere near as bad as I first feared.

PS, this stretch of road looks awesome in the autumn!

[batmobile]

Some news from the track. Today was a very nice day to ride on the track so the tarmas is finished.
From Mulsanne to Porsche curve : https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/y...22742228712026
and back : https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/y...22742228712026
Many thanks to my wife for holding the camera.
Next year a new campsite called "Les épinettes" will open behind the Houx. Due to the works I think it will be here :https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/y...22742228712026
At least the Porsche Center :
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1...22742228712026
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1...22742228712026
https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/1...22742228712026

[GT6]

Thanks Eric

[Simmi]

Great work Eric - much appreciated and it gives a better impression than any still photo can.

I hope whoever requested these changes is happy. I can't help thinking it is just a bit pointless.

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Could you tell if the view from the Ford grandstand will be blocked much by the Porsche Center?

I sure hope not. That would be very uncool.

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

Could you tell if the view from the Ford grandstand will be blocked much by the Porsche Center?

I sure hope not. That would be very uncool.

The bit it will block, you couldn't see anyway. I'm 90% sure on that...

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

Could you tell if the view from the Ford grandstand will be blocked much by the Porsche Center?

I sure hope not. That would be very uncool.

Ford Chicane grandstand is facing away from that area.

[Simmi]

If you look out of the side of it you can see the cars come into view before they enter the Porsche Curves, way off in the distance. But it's not like you can pick out what the cars are.

None of the primary viewing is going to be affected.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Great work Eric - much appreciated and it gives a better impression than any still photo can.

I hope whoever requested these changes is happy. I can't help thinking it is just a bit pointless.

Completely agree. Has the ACO actually given an explanation for these works?

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Completely agree. Has the ACO actually given an explanation for these works?

[Mike E]

Well, yes, I figured it would be for 'safety', but I don't understand how that objective will be achieved with these changes.
Cars travelling faster, in a straighter line, closer to the barriers.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Well, yes, I figured it would be for 'safety', but I don't understand how that objective will be achieved with these changes.
Cars travelling faster, in a straighter line, closer to the barriers.

I was just listening to some Minassian interview from this year where he was talking about how hot the track was, but also it being 'much wider than it used to be' and drivers taking bigger risks.

But yeah I've said it many times that it's due to the asphalt runoffs at nearly every corner (and now straight) of the public road section and permanent facility that the percentage of larger accidents has increased so rapidly in the past few years. Particularly traffic related. When there is more flexibility, one gets greedy. But that's not how the organizing bodies and circuit ratifiers see it, more incidents just gives more reason to add them.

Now yes I realize that these particular Mulsanne-Indy-Arnage changes might be partly due to Le Mans council / commune / whoever wanting extra shoulders for their own roads, but that's just speculation. There's more data to support for the usual nanny stateing. Also part of the new asphaltized zone is soon disappearing from the road map (and that Indy-Arnage gap isn't really even much of a straight)

I might be repeating the same vinyl again, but for 2015 there will surely be other unannounced changes related to the permanent circuit as well. Numerous asphalt extensions for 2012-2014, other than Corvette Corner and Tetre Rouge - were done with no spoken words at all. And since this ain't F1 media, the word doesn't always get around. You only really notice them for the first time during the Test Day (or some maybe at MotoGP & French GT Bugatti runs)

[batmobile]

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

Could you tell if the view from the Ford grandstand will be blocked much by the Porsche Center?

I sure hope not. That would be very uncool.

Not at all, only the view from the Maison blanche campsite is blocked as you can see on the pictures that were taken from the top rows of the grandstands.

[batmobile]

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

Could you tell if the view from the Ford grandstand will be blocked much by the Porsche Center?

I sure hope not. That would be very uncool.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/11767562...22742228712026

Reassured?

[Simmi]

Okay they will put glass in those windows but the view might actually be marginally improved?

That's assuming they don't try to squeeze in the big wheel between the building and the tribune...