[LM24 Race] GT1: Congrats to Larbre!

[MJ_N_09]

Who would have thought that a car that was off the last of the S7.R line in 2005 would outlast, out-rely, and outrun the newer GT1 cars. They had questionable results with the Saleen in FIA GT and LMS, but they did win a race in class for the LMS last year and now...........they win their class at Le Mans.

My hat goes off to them the most out of all the teams.

[WMUCarGuy]

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

Who would have thought that a car that was off the last of the S7.R line in 2005 would outlast, out-rely, and outrun the newer GT1 cars. They had questionable results with the Saleen in FIA GT and LMS, but they did win a race in class for the LMS last year and now...........they win their class at Le Mans.

My hat goes off to them the most out of all the teams.

I was pulling for them too. Corvette and Aston Martin have had things all their own way for the past 5 year, so it's great to see Saleen get its moment in the spotlight, especially as it's the last GT1 race to be run at Le Mans.

Their particular chassis is actually almost brand new though. After the MASSIVE crash at the Spa 24 in morning warmup last year, 1 final car #082R was built for them. But you are correct that it was the last off the line, in terms of both road going AND racing S7s.

[cmk]

Ironic that Saleen should draw last blood during its 10th year of racing. Larbre dragged the old girl - or new girl in this car's case - to a reasonably successful run given the drivers and budget available. The potential of Sebring 2001 is finally lived up to? Interestingly, that very winning car was the Atlas FX car at Spa this year!

[MJ_N_09]

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

I was pulling for them too. Corvette and Aston Martin have had things all their own way for the past 5 year, so it's great to see Saleen get its moment in the spotlight, especially as it's the last GT1 race to be run at Le Mans.

Their particular chassis is actually almost brand new though. After the MASSIVE crash at the Spa 24 in morning warmup last year, 1 final car #082R was built for them. But you are correct that it was the last off the line, in terms of both road going AND racing S7s.

Really? I had no idea that this chassis was new. Infact, I know about that Spa crash, but I had always assumed that the car had been rebuilt and was the same one.

[WMUCarGuy]

Originally Posted by cmk

Ironic that Saleen should draw last blood during its 10th year of racing. Larbre dragged the old girl - or new girl in this car's case - to a reasonably successful run given the drivers and budget available. The potential of Sebring 2001 is finally lived up to? Interestingly, that very winning car was the Atlas FX car at Spa this year!

I'm pretty sure that's not correct. Larbre are running their car, which is one of the re-engineered, ex-Oreca cars. The Atlas FX car was chassis #003R, the 3rd S7 built and a much older, less developed car.

[MJ_N_09]

If this was the 3rd ever S7 car, that means that it's literally 10 years old!!!!!!!!!!! How did they do at Spa? I remember reading a post about about which Saleens cars were being used, and the years varied immensely. You'd have Larbre with #82, then ARC running the old Konrad car (#14), while the 2nd Full Speed Racing car was #04 It's like people were trying to get their hands on Saleens, no matter how old, and race them.

[cmk]

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

I'm pretty sure that's not correct. Larbre are running their car, which is one of the re-engineered, ex-Oreca cars. The Atlas FX car was chassis #003R, the 3rd S7 built and a much older, less developed car.

I said that the Atlas car was 003R, which it was. 003R was the winning car at Sebring in 2001.

[WMUCarGuy]

Originally Posted by cmk

I said that the Atlas car was 003R, which it was. 003R was the winning car at Sebring in 2001.

Oh, misread your statement. I thought you were saying the Larbre winning car was 003R.

But yes, Saleens, no matter how old are still being raced. Pretty impressive that the car can still be reasonably competitive. But it winning this year is a great end to the GTS/GT1 era!

[marcosgt]

I've always had a soft spot for Saleen S7Rs.

I think they're great looking racecars, so it was with some pleasure that I saw one win the last Le Mans they're eligible for.

Will we see one at Silverstone I wonder?

M.

[MJ_N_09]

Maybe Larbre cam move over full time to FIA GT1 with the car, or just drop to GT2 and stay in the LMS?

[rich07]

Well done to Larbre! Very happy for them. Having been a fan of the team ever since I got into GT racing, this was a great result for them indeed and fantastic to see the beautiful Saleen get a win at long last.

Does anyone know where I can find pics of the GT1 podium? I've looked on the official site but no luck..

[911targa]

Originally Posted by rich07

Well done to Larbre! Very happy for them. Having been a fan of the team ever since I got into GT racing, this was a great result for them indeed and fantastic to see the beautiful Saleen get a win at long last.

Does anyone know where I can find pics of the GT1 podium? I've looked on the official site but no luck..

have a look at these
http://www.motorsport.com/photos/pop...79477&S=LEMANS

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/pop...79477&S=LEMANS

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/pop...79477&S=LEMANS

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/pop...79477&S=LEMANS
Labre is an experienced team,it's their 3rd LM class win this time,they have won 1993/1994 GT/GT2 with a Porsche 964 Carrera RSR before

[rich07]

Originally Posted by 911targa

have a look at these
http://www.motorsport.com/photos/pop...79477&S=LEMANS

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/pop...79477&S=LEMANS

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/pop...79477&S=LEMANS

http://www.motorsport.com/photos/pop...79477&S=LEMANS
Labre is an experienced team,it's their 3rd LM class win this time,they have won 1993/1994 GT/GT2 with a Porsche 964 Carrera RSR before

Many thanks 911targa!

[The Badger]

I met up with some in the know friends of mine . They told me that the drivers approached Jack Le Conte and asked for a price for Le Mans . He gave them his cheapest offer , he could manage , and look at the result they grabbed .

Im really pleased for them ..... about time the Saleen got a class win there .

[MJ_N_09]

Another incredible thing about Larbre is that to this day, they are the ONLY team to have won the FIA GT championship over the Vitaphone Maseratis.

It was in 2005 when Vitaphone first switched to Maseratis from ironically.....Saleens, while Larbre has the 550 Maranellos. They won the Driver's Championship with Gabriele Gardel (who was also one of the drivers in the team this year for Le Mans), but only finished 3rd in the team standings.

Simply put, this team knows how to win with older cars.

[pederb]

This was the first win for the Saleen SR7 at Le Mans right?

[cmk]

Originally Posted by The Badger

I met up with some in the know friends of mine . They told me that the drivers approached Jack Le Conte and asked for a price for Le Mans . He gave them his cheapest offer , he could manage , and look at the result they grabbed .

That sounds about right for not just this race but the last couple of seasons of Larbre in the LMS.

Originally Posted by pederb

This was the first win for the Saleen SR7 at Le Mans right?

Yes.

[pederb]

Originally Posted by cmk

That sounds about right for not just this race but the last couple of seasons of Larbre in the LMS.



Yes.

Better late then never, right

[TheNewBob]

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

Simply put, this team knows how to win with older cars.

I guess you could also say that about the FIA GT Championships they took in 2001 and 2002 with the ageing Viper.

Great to finally see the Saleen win. I'm sure the car should have had a lot more early success than it actually did, but thats maybe why I like it so much now!