[LM24] Le Mans 2007: Will it discredit the ACO?

[canam]

We are all very involved with the petrol vs diesel debate and generally seem to feel that the ACO will only respond with any changes at the end of this year (if they do at all); however, there is a reasonable chance that there will be a diesel walkover that could discredit the very notion of the race and make the ACO a laughing stock of the general public.

Some have cited that the diesel advantage was limited by looking at last year's race. Audi won it and they rarely needed to push. It was the R10s first LM and they did not want to take any chances.

This year with the Pugs in the game, both will be pushing. There is a good chance that it will be 1,2.3.4 for the diesel brigade--with the nearest petrol engined car more than 10 laps adrift in P5.

In the eyes of the general public, there is a good chance that the race will be viewed to have been heavily fixed by the ACO for one of two manufacturers to win it. The bias in favour of the diesels would be clear cut and the ACO would be openly ciriticised for not taking action when the bulk of the sportscar community (including other manufacturers) has warned of this problem (and the ACO has ignored it).

Having had their heads deeply immersed in the sand, they may now have to cover their backs at the same time. The action they take for 2008 may need to be more robust than would have otherwise have been necessary.