LM24 Race McNish and Rockenfeller Accidents

The Badger · 11 Jun 2011, 23:06 (Ref:2896214)

Looking at the accident ..... I reckon one of the issues is the increased height of the front wheel arch , due to the increased diameter of the front tyre .

You cant see **** outta the window , never mind the side window .

To be honest , Im not sure I agree with this type of prototype design .

I dont blame Nishy , nor do I blame the Ferrari ..... I understend McNish saw a gap , went for it , didnt see the Ferrari , bang .

McNish doesnt normally make mistakes .

I dont think the fwd wheel arch is safe is my point .

beau1 · 12 Jun 2011, 03:15 (Ref:2896382)

Just McNish's mistake I'm afraid. Shouldn't have attempted to pass his team and the Ferrari into the corner.

Dead-Eye · 12 Jun 2011, 03:46 (Ref:2896408)

50/50 I'd say. McNish couldn't see the Ferrari in front of his teammate, Beltoise couldn't see McNish behind the Audi. The definition of a racing incident.

Purist · 12 Jun 2011, 03:53 (Ref:2896422)

I'm not so sure McNish had no idea the Ferrari was there. Wouldn't he have seen the GT up ahead as it went through the chicane some distance in front of the other Audi? Therefore, wouldn't he have known what his teammate was slowing for?

And aside from all that, apart from the pit straight, there is NOWHERE on that circuit where it is advisable for someone to even attempt a double pass on two other cars that are fully on the track.

Finally, of course, I don't think any GT driver would have even dreamt that a prototype, much less an Audi, much less McNish himself, would even try a move like that at that point.

Bonanza · 12 Jun 2011, 10:16 (Ref:2896817)

as Martin Haven pointed out, Mcnish''s accident is justificiation for using closed top prototypes. All LMPs should be closed for safety and aesthetics IMO. (This is also means no need for rule balancing etc etc). If Mcnish was in last year's car, things could have been very different.

davyboy · 12 Jun 2011, 10:30 (Ref:2896835)

That was a real close one... a little bit higher and there could have been unthinkable consequences for those standing the other side of that barrier. Very lucky incident indeed.

The Badger · 12 Jun 2011, 11:07 (Ref:2896888)

Its a vision issue I think ..... you cant see past the front wheel arch , big front tyres this year .

JAG · 12 Jun 2011, 11:08 (Ref:2896891)

It was McNish's fault, it's a tricky place to pass at the best of times, let alone in the first hour when coming through backmarkers.

It also shows coupes should be mandatory, they offer so much added protection, and apart the AMR-One and Zytek, each manufactuer appears to be going that direction.

As for the track, gravel beds only work in slow sections, at speed they tend to launch a car or flip it over. A large tarmac run-off with no out seide kerb would have seen the R18 scrub off plenty of speed.

Speed-King · 12 Jun 2011, 11:24 (Ref:2896920)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Badger

Its a vision issue I think ..... you cant see past the front wheel arch , big front tyres this year .

IIRC the Acura-drivers had the same problem with the ARX-02...

JAG · 12 Jun 2011, 11:54 (Ref:2896960)

Visibility will be an issue in any racing car, it's for such reasons you don't make moves like McNish did.

Audi drivers have pushed this race, and made mistakes, the kind of mistakes Peugeot were castigated for in previous years.

dxk1 · 12 Jun 2011, 16:06 (Ref:2897173)

They lower horsepower, they regulate weight, they slow refueling, etc. Why don't they regulate visibility? Make sure all drivers can see what's in front of them and what's behind them. I agree with some of the previous comments, it was just hard for McNish to see the Ferrari and it was difficult for the Ferrari to see McNish. Lucky no one was killed or seriously injured.

DK

Toto87 · 12 Jun 2011, 17:59 (Ref:2897281)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ80Nd1PyfU

That's the most scary crash I have seen so fa. We were all worried about the marshals & photographers...

deggis · 12 Jun 2011, 18:08 (Ref:2897292)

Ullrich: "I don't think that the accidents were related to visibility."

dxk1 · 12 Jun 2011, 18:30 (Ref:2897308)

Quote:

Originally Posted by deggis

Ullrich: "I don't think that the accidents were related to visibility."

Interesting that Ulrich should say that since he wasn't driving the car and yet McNish and the Ferrari driver (sorry I can't remember his name) both said/implied they did not see the other car.

DK

deggis · 12 Jun 2011, 18:57 (Ref:2897331)

Clearly he means visibility out of the car was not the issue.

**Adam43** · 12 Jun 2011, 19:04 (Ref:2897336)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Badger

McNish doesnt normally make mistakes.

It isn't unknown.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxk1

Interesting that Ulrich should say that since he wasn't driving the car and yet McNish and the Ferrari driver (sorry I can't remember his name) both said/implied they did not see the other car.

DK

It is ourageous that the Audi team boss offered an opinion on this

Anyway, I blame Peugeot.

It seemed a little risky considering the point of the race.

DavyC412 · 12 Jun 2011, 21:44 (Ref:2897538)

Quote:

Originally Posted by deggis

Clearly he means visibility out of the car was not the issue.

yeah, it really looked like it had nothing to do with what you could see out the windshield and everything to do with just unfortunate positioning of all the cars on the track. the audi in the middle of the sandwich was really blocking mcnish from seeing the ferrari moving in and likewise blocked the ferrari from seeing mcnish behind his teammate. a really unfortunate coincidence of events so i dont think you can really assign blame to any one driver for what happened.

the #1 audi incident howerver, i would pin that on the ferrari. he should have held his line, he was clearly holding one side of the track then starting veering over as the audi passed, maybe to try to get out of the way, who knows, forcing the rockenfeller off the track. i think the penalty they handed out may have been a bit harsh since i dont think it was intentional, but that one i pin on the ferrari. i dont get how hindhaugh could have blamed the audi for that incident, the closing speed is so high that he would have had to make that decision to pass on the left or right way back, slamming the door on that is just silly.

deggis · 12 Jun 2011, 22:13 (Ref:2897605)

Q & A: McNish on his huge crash
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/92271

JAG · 13 Jun 2011, 00:53 (Ref:2897679)

Crash from another angle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djX3AHHJyrQ

**joeb** · 13 Jun 2011, 01:10 (Ref:2897684)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

Crash from another angle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djX3AHHJyrQ

Wow, great shots of the car. McNish is a lucky man.

Flat12-Aircool · 13 Jun 2011, 02:34 (Ref:2897720)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

As for the track, gravel beds only work in slow sections, at speed they tend to launch a car or flip it over. A large tarmac run-off with no out seide kerb would have seen the R18 scrub off plenty of speed.

That only stands-up in the dry, in the wet you can't beat a bit of gravel for slowing down a car.

As I see it, the main problem was the almost Ski-jump like profile to the gravel trap just before the wall of tyres.

AUSRSR · 13 Jun 2011, 03:23 (Ref:2897729)

Scary scary shunt. I thinkt he prototype drivers need to learn that the GT cars won't just move over if you dive in from along way back, they need to be a bit more patient I believe.

Glad they're all OK

ensign14 · 13 Jun 2011, 06:15 (Ref:2897763)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Allan McNish

I put it down to one of these racing incidents.

Like Hamilton-Maldonado?

Do as I say, comrade...

Audi Racer · 13 Jun 2011, 06:35 (Ref:2897771)

nvm

marcosgt · 13 Jun 2011, 07:14 (Ref:2897790)

What was amazing to me was the way the car seem to bound for the photographers and then miraculously seemed to spin back on to the track side of the barrier.

Did some of the suspension catch on the barrier or something?

Le Mans was VERY lucky not to see some fatalities this weekend.

Great race overall, but that would have REALLY taken the shine off...

M

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
No Sound from the Diesel Engine(led to Rockenfeller and McNish accidents?)	Audi Racer	Sportscar & GT Racing	31	20 Jun 2011 18:09
[LM24 Race] Rockenfeller	Adam43	24 Heures du Mans	6	14 Jun 2010 16:13
So, Audi sign Luhr and Rockenfeller	Audi R8R	Sportscar & GT Racing	4	20 Dec 2006 15:15
accidents	Raglanparade	Motorsport History	8	1 Feb 2004 18:16