[LM24] Le Mans 2023 Test Day Thread

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Adam43

For reference the fastest times last year were:

All were set in the second session.

Edit: Added a comparison to now (*end of first session, the red became the chequereed).


The hypers are close from the start. LMP2 taking their time?

And great to see the decent pace of the NASCAR. Currently 41st and would be 4th in GTE Class!

Impressed with the pace from G56, right out of the gate they are on par with the GT cars.

Initially I would have thought Toyota would be faster than last year with their updated car, but then I remembered all that extra weight.

[Adam43]

I’m impressed too.

Running with the pace comparison for the NASCAR here is the sector and top speed comparison of #24 to the best GTE-Am.

#	1	2	3	ideal lap	Actual best	Top speed
24	36.831	90.125	109.166	3:56.122	3:56.880	298.8*
	Rockenfeller	Rockenfeller	Button
66	36.845	90.923	108.512	3:56.280	3:56.623	298.0
	Prette	NeuBauer	Prette

*GTE-AM fastest top speed was 302.2 by Ferrari #54

Wonderful. I am even more worried it will go out early now!

Jimmie loves it: https://twitter.com/nascarg56/status...847959042?s=61

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by joeb

Initially I would have thought Toyota would be faster than last year with their updated car, but then I remembered all that extra weight.

In first test session last year they ran 1070kg and 3:31.626. This year 1080kg and 3:31.856. According to the Kobayashi fact 10kg is worth about 0.33s.

It’s easy too early to read anything into this. I feel like an ignorant buffoon just posting the comparison even with the disclaimer.

[Gerard C]

Interesting top speed comparison, #51 Ferrari 341 kph, the Pugs 333 and 331. First LMP2, #47 Cool Racing is 323, first LMGTE #54 Ferrari is 302 kph (Camaro 298 kph). Is the speed trap before the first chicane?

[Hedley Verity]

Worrying looking accident in the Ligier race.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Nice. Brummm brummmmm.

Thanks. Did you take that?

Sadly not. Only getting there Wednesday night.

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by Mike E

https://youtu.be/RelOmP5W0i8

Mon Dieu, Nascar!!!

Sounds wonderful and it is right up with them funny furrin cars!

[pach233]

No surprise, once you bring BoP back into play everyone settles in just above 3:30.

[Gerard C]

Sector 3 first Fuoco (Ferrari #50) 1'36"91, second Menezes (Peugeot #94) 1'36"95. Surprising to say the least…

[Adam43]

I’m not that surprised. To a certain extent the lack of the rear wing is a red herring with the top speed/downforce thing. It’s got downforce, just not from that. All the cars are in a similar window, by definition.

[Adam43]

A lot less laps in the first session this year. Presumably because of the disruptions.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by joeb

Impressed with the pace from G56, right out of the gate they are on par with the GT cars.

Initially I would have thought Toyota would be faster than last year with their updated car, but then I remembered all that extra weight.

Much, much hotter this year than last year as well. The test day morning last year was fairly overcast and pretty cool although it warmed up a little in the afternoon.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Much, much hotter this year than last year as well. The test day morning last year was fairly overcast and pretty cool although it warmed up a little in the afternoon.

Good point.

Last year: Air Temp: 23.50C, Track temp: 18.31C and it was declared WET
This year: 45.9C, 27.00C and DRY.

I do not know if that is an average, or at the beginning, end, or whenever. It wasn’t WET overall, but must of had some of the non sun at some point.

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

I see they're pinging track limits good and early......

oh yes!

[Gerard C]

In the last sector, the kerbs are either too high or flat and rather smooth. They (Pugs) need to keep permanently the ride height at a certain level.

[Aysedasi]

Test Day was wet last year? News to me. The track may have been a little damp at the start but I don't recall any non-sun.....

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

In the last sector, the kerbs are either too high or flat and rather smooth. They (Pugs) need to keep permanently the ride height at a certain level.

Interesting. Is this an observation, or something from the team?

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Test Day was wet last year? News to me. The track may have been a little damp at the start but I don't recall any non-sun.....

I assume that is what it is.

A comparison of the Hyper times. Ranked by fastest Top 5 laps:

Average Lap time

Rank	Car	Fastest	Top 5	Top 10	Top 20
1	51 Ferrari	3:31.163	3:32.394	3:33.697	3:39.429
2	94 Peugeot	3:31.189	3:32.457	3:33.947	3:37.172
3	50 Ferrari	3:30.686	3:32.572	3:34.208	4:23.675
4	7 Toyota	3:31.856	3:32.602	3:33.472	3:41.082
5	8 Toyota	3:32.889	3:33.370	3:34.343	3:45.345
6	93 Peugeot	3:32.764	3:33.478	3:35.559	5:13.161
7	6 Porsche	3:30.787	3:33.626	3:39.502	6:50.000
8	3 Cadillac	3:32.073	3:34.152	3:35.086	7:10.802
9	2 Cadillac	3:32.336	3:34.465	3:36.070	5:50.360
10	708 Glickenhaus	3:33.771	3:34.465	3:35.974	4:24.352
11	311 Cadillac	3:34.399	3:35.156	3:36.144	NA
12	38 Porsche	3:31.477	3:35.218	3:39.623	5:21.649
13	5 Porsche	3:34.314	3:35.935	3:44.575	5:48.828
14	4 Vanwall	3:35.458	3:36.241	3:37.682	4:27.530
15	709 Glickenhaus	3:34.274	3:36.510	3:37.989	3:51.259
16	75 Porsche	3:38.922	3:45.429	6:12.709	NA

Due to the limited running I wouldn't read much into the Top 20, and maybe not the Top 10. It really is too early to start looking at this. Looking at the running they really were just shaking down. I am setting stuff up for the race week so this stuff is just falling out.

75 Porsche just settling in...

[Ferrari333SP]

Looks like live timing is ranked still based on number of laps completed

[Gerard C]

Not forgetting that some tenths on this 13,6 km means a really small difference.

[Gerard C]

Re live timing, each penalty cancels the time it was given not obviously the best lap. Sorry, I feel not clear here…

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by Gerard C

Re live timing, each penalty cancels the time it was given not obviously the best lap. Sorry, I feel not clear here…

FWIW, cancelled laps are removed from my analysis.

[Gerard C]

I understand!! After 17 minutes of practice, almost fifty lap times deleted. Just a start!

[Adam43]

Including a 3:32 from Vanwall.

[Aysedasi]

It's a clear signal from Eduardo.... Good man.

[Mike E]

This timing order is pretty annoying