[LM24] NASCAR returns to Circuit de la Sarthe...

[joeb]

If you are a fan of logistics and trans-Atlantic movement of goods, then this is the story for you!

https://racer.com/2023/05/17/the-art...rs-to-le-mans/

The G56 team is getting their gear together and shipping today.

[skycafe]

Awesome!

The mind boggles at the enormity of the project. They sent personnel to Sebring to observe the WEC paddock's arrival and unloading to gain insight on what they need to do!



The personnel cost alone of this project must be staggering.

A tiny bit of joy seeing a cardboard box in that shipping container. May be a high tech world now, but there is still room for cardboard

[GT6]

Well in under 3 weeks now those of us lucky enough to be at le mans will see it blasting around le mans lets hope it can cope with the corners (only joking). It will be something different to see and hear at le mans this year

[GTfour]

Originally Posted by GT6

Well in under 3 weeks now those of us lucky enough to be at le mans will see it blasting around le mans lets hope it can cope with the corners (only joking). It will be something different to see and hear at le mans this year

Truely looking forward to this brute!
Apart from previous NASCAR(like) entries, this one looks well sorted out.
If ever one could name a dank horse for the GT class..

[broadrun96]

Be ready trackside, Cup motors don't sound anything like a Vette. Just a bit higher pitch

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Forgot to mention this earlier, but last weekend ran into Jordan Taylor at the Laguna Seca IMSA race. I honestly couldn’t remember what team/car he was going to be driving for at Le Mans this year so I asked him to remind me. So he tells me he’s there as the adviser/coach of the Garage 56 car (I remembered then once he said it). So I asked him, strictly between him and I, (and now here I go blabbing it on the internet ) who is the best driver of the group, and unsurprisingly he says it’s a tie between Jenson and Rocky. But then he does also say that with Jimmy’s NASCRAP (sorry, it’s what I always call it, not a fan) experience that if the car were set up strictly the way he prefers to drive it would probably be quickest because it would be the most slippery. Just some interesting insight and I was amazed at how well he answered a loaded question.

[kartman24]

This car will make an awesome sound round the Le Mans circuit, i went to a few NASCAR races about 20 years ago, the great sound they made the hairs stand up on my neck.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

Forgot to mention this earlier, but last weekend ran into Jordan Taylor at the Laguna Seca IMSA race. I honestly couldn’t remember what team/car he was going to be driving for at Le Mans this year so I asked him to remind me. So he tells me he’s there as the adviser/coach of the Garage 56 car (I remembered then once he said it). So I asked him, strictly between him and I, (and now here I go blabbing it on the internet ) who is the best driver of the group, and unsurprisingly he says it’s a tie between Jenson and Rocky. But then he does also say that with Jimmy’s NASCRAP (sorry, it’s what I always call it, not a fan) experience that if the car were set up strictly the way he prefers to drive it would probably be quickest because it would be the most slippery. Just some interesting insight and I was amazed at how well he answered a loaded question.

Exactly one of the reasons i love sportscar racing. You can bump into driver and they will actually talk to you! I had a run in with Alan McNish at Sebring, he had finished a stint and was walking out of the back of pit lane. I was walking by and told him 'good job' or something equally lame and he stopped and started talking about his experience on track. It was awesome!

[skycafe]

I thought Taylor was also reserve driver for Corvette GTE AM effort. With his sportscar as well as Nascar (w/Hendrick) experience, and the fact that he was sort of unengaged he was perfect for set-up work on the Camaro.

His observations about the driving team are interesting.

[Adam43]

Originally Posted by ATLFalconsFAN

Forgot to mention this earlier, but last weekend ran into Jordan Taylor at the Laguna Seca IMSA race. I honestly couldn’t remember what team/car he was going to be driving for at Le Mans this year so I asked him to remind me. So he tells me he’s there as the adviser/coach of the Garage 56 car (I remembered then once he said it). So I asked him, strictly between him and I, (and now here I go blabbing it on the internet ) who is the best driver of the group, and unsurprisingly he says it’s a tie between Jenson and Rocky. But then he does also say that with Jimmy’s NASCRAP (sorry, it’s what I always call it, not a fan) experience that if the car were set up strictly the way he prefers to drive it would probably be quickest because it would be the most slippery. Just some interesting insight and I was amazed at how well he answered a loaded question.

Interesting feedback - thanks.

As for NASCRAP - it's just racing. No need to slag off something else just because we belong to the superior class of sportscar fan.
The sub forum here isn't that active, but those that do post tend to be sportscar fans too.

[Mike E]

Jordan's general experience of the event has to be useful to the team, more so than any driver 'coaching' he may provide.

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Originally Posted by Adam43

Interesting feedback - thanks.

As for NASCRAP - it's just racing. No need to slag off something else just because we belong to the superior class of sportscar fan.
The sub forum here isn't that active, but those that do post tend to be sportscar fans too.

My reasons for the NASCRAP comment is because I am American. And as such I am sick of the countless years where NASCRAP has sucked all of the oxygen out of the car racing coverage here in The States. I can recall times in the past where the 24 Hours of Le Mans (one of if not the greatest motor sports events in the entire world had live coverage preempted in order to switch over to NASCRAP practice. Something I will never forgive. So please excuse my own personal biases that are for good reasons (IMHO).

[broadrun96]

Willing to bet the practice drew more viewers and allowed the funding at a loss for the LM coverage so there's that

And Nascar fans could complain they would have been bigger sooner if TransAm/CanAm/Cart hadn't sucked all the oxygen out of the racing scene back in the day. Things cycle and tv isn't made for the smallest group, it's a profit driven exercise

[JT240Z]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Willing to bet the practice drew more viewers and allowed the funding at a loss for the LM coverage so there's that

And Nascar fans could complain they would have been bigger sooner if TransAm/CanAm/Cart hadn't sucked all the oxygen out of the racing scene back in the day. Things cycle and tv isn't made for the smallest group, it's a profit driven exercise

Agreed! Nascar has its fan base and sports car racing has its base. Nascar's base is simply larger and more profitable for the media. It almost collapsed during the COT years (2007-2012). Nascar forgot what their fan base wanted and was loyal to. They adjusted and the fan base returned. Just a matter of good marketing. Not too sure how the sports car racing market will adjust to recent changes as well. Time will tell if IMSA and ACO will do good marketing or not.

[seanyb505]

All this nascarping.. am I doing this right?

Also, I think it's time someone posted a picture that I unfortunately haven't saved.

[JT240Z]

Originally Posted by seanyb505

All this nascarping.. am I doing this right?

Also, I think it's time someone posted a picture that I unfortunately haven't saved.

See if this helps:

https://www.nascar.com/gallery/garag...eveal-daytona/

[Mike E]

I hadn't thought about this car not having side windows. If they were to ever race it in the rain, which obviously won't happen at Le Mans, I wonder how much water would get in.

[seanyb505]

Originally Posted by JT240Z

See if this helps:

https://www.nascar.com/gallery/garag...eveal-daytona/

Lol no, the picture was of atlfalcon sitting in a stock car display vehicle at Charlotte I think.

[seanyb505]

Originally Posted by Mike E

I hadn't thought about this car not having side windows. If they were to ever race it in the rain, which obviously won't happen at Le Mans, I wonder how much water would get in.

Two of the drivers have raced with their noggins in the precipitation that must not be named. One was pretty good at it iirc.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Mike E

I hadn't thought about this car not having side windows. If they were to ever race it in the rain, which obviously won't happen at Le Mans, I wonder how much water would get in.

And what about the negative aero impact of the open window? Top speed has to be hindered.

[broadrun96]

I would have assumed they would at least use the superspeedway side window but it appears no

[Mike E]

'The Garage 56 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 NASCAR that forms part of the entry list for the 2023 Le Mans 24 Hours is set to head to Brands Hatch for the American Speed Fest event at the Kent circuit on June 17-18.'

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...5-05-2023.html

[GT6]

Oh might pop over there and see it again, brands is only 20 minutes from me

[skycafe]

Button sounds almost in awe of what they are going to put on track.

https://youtu.be/Ht5MAPBeQBo

[joeb]

Originally Posted by skycafe

Button sounds almost in awe of what they are going to put on track.

https://youtu.be/Ht5MAPBeQBo

That was a big smile on his face the whole time he was talking!

Seeing the car go through scrutineering in the background made me think - what are they checking? This car is not built to any rules!