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20 Apr 2004, 12:15 (Ref:945383)
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Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 527
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Best Le Mans since...
I ´ve just seen (and participated) in the poll between tha Audi line ups and wondered a question. We all would prefere to have 4 different cars battling for the lead in the race, and what we will get is 4 equal cars with strong driver lineups, but after 3 factory Audi efforts and the Bentley one last year, teams that were so superior from the rest, this year promises to be the best since 1999. What do you think?
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20 Apr 2004, 12:20 (Ref:945392)
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 13,763
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I particularly like the rule change about the gearbox changes . That should even things up a little , but they all have the same rules too . My darkhorse picks are the RfH and Rollcenter cars .
As for the Audi's ..... I would like to see the Champion Audi car do the trick cuz they do deserve it . I cant see any weak link (maybe Gearbox) in their armour apart from some young drivers but they showed what they can do in that car too . I reckon its going to be a great race . The most wide open for years , agreed Javi . But the best winner for me would be RfH Dome ..... in no uncertain terms showing the finger to the  ACO 
Last edited by The Badger; 20 Apr 2004 at 12:22. |
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20 Apr 2004, 12:28 (Ref:945400)
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Team Crouton
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I wouldn't exactly be crying in my beer either if RfH brought it home. Be difficult to leave their second car out next year, wouldn't it?
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44 days...
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20 Apr 2004, 13:17 (Ref:945474)
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#4 | |
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Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,761
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i also didn't realize the driver line-ups were this good between the four audis... i really do think this is going to be a great race, and i personally dont care if there are four of the same car, all that matters is that there are four very different teams running them. my darkhorse pics are the rfh dome and henri pescarolo's cars, both looked very strong at the paul ricard test days in relation to the audis
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20 Apr 2004, 13:19 (Ref:945480)
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Team Crouton
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Join Date: Oct 2001
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Yes, good point tblincoe - the Pesca effort was surprisingly strong at Ricard. I hope they can give it a good go as well. They've got a good driver line-up, for sure.
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44 days...
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20 Apr 2004, 14:34 (Ref:945571)
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#6 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 13,763
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The Judd GV5 in the Pescarolo had already done over 2500 miles last year in the states with Doran Racing . Im hopeing for great things from Pescarolo this year .
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20 Apr 2004, 15:14 (Ref:945627)
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#7 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 6,704
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I want a courage to win!
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__________________
Chase the horizon
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20 Apr 2004, 15:45 (Ref:945650)
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#8 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,227
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Pesca on the podium... might be a possability if they get a good run. Now that would be a sight. Personally i can't see much getting past the Audi UK boys if they avoid troubles, no matter how strong the other Audi/ rfh teams are. Should be a good race though.
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__________________
You're either at Le Mans, or waiting for Le Mans. ('86, '87, '88, '89, '90, '91, '93, '94, '95, '97, '98, '00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '11, '12, '13, '14, '15, '16, '17)
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20 Apr 2004, 16:02 (Ref:945669)
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#9 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 6,699
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I have a lot of anticipation for this year's race (even though I feel the field could be much stronger). The battle between the four customer Audi's could well be very memorable. I also think that RfH and Pescarolo will give the Audi boys some fits. Especially in qualifying and the early part of the race. They clearly demonstrated their outright pace at Paul Ricard. LMP2 and GTS are just not exciting me this year. GT should be a hell of a battle though.
Question for the stat hounds. When's the last year that the first two or more cars finished on the same lap? |
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"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." Albert Einstein
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20 Apr 2004, 19:03 (Ref:945869)
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Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 9,482
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Re: Best Le Mans since...
Quote:
We'll have the Audi battle, but a strong field behind too... and now the Pescarolos are in for a real fight ! Woohoo !
Last edited by Fab; 20 Apr 2004 at 19:05. |
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20 Apr 2004, 19:56 (Ref:945923)
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,241
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Quote:
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20 Apr 2004, 20:55 (Ref:945990)
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#12 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,215
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It was actually a Ferrari 550 that was being confgured to GT specs somehow....
I still think it will be an Audi to beat.... It amazed me how dominant they were at Sebring...and I haven't even seen Team Goh run yet... IMO, it'll take two of the four dropping out of the race or having a very lengthy repair for whatever reason to give anyone else a shot at making the Podium.... But like last year, the "real" race I'm looking forward -- just like Last Year -- is "Best Non-VAG".... RollCentre was strong at Sebring... Pesca & RfH will be very fast as well... Don't forget the Zytek.... I also like the RML and Intersport entries.... and the Courage C65 has been very quick in practices, tests, and was as well last November in the LM 1000 K.... Lister should be greatly improved and competitive as well.... Yep...I think I'll enjoy this as much, if not more, that the actuall race up front among the Audis..... Just look back at the final hour last year with the Factory Courage C60, the Panoz and RfH going at it on every lap.... and the finish would've been even better if the Courage wouldn't have had the mishap on the final lap... The "races within the race" will make this an excellent year at LM... |
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Finally... One American Open Wheel Series!
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20 Apr 2004, 21:17 (Ref:946021)
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#13 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 6,699
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I can't wait for the Audi battle Tim. But, the race between RfH, Pescarolo, Intersport and Rollcentre will be just as good as the Audi fight. But I disagree with a few of your other mentionables.
RML: not sure about the reliability of the MG, plus they don't seem to be as quick as Dyson are with that package. Lister: way too many strange things going on with them right now for me to be very impressed. Zytek: must confess to not knowing much about this package in terms of reliability, althought the DBA Zytek has shown some speed in FIA SCC. One you didn't mention that I think could surprise is Taurus. |
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__________________
"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits." Albert Einstein
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20 Apr 2004, 21:19 (Ref:946024)
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#14 | ||
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14th
1% Club
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 42,770
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I too think it'll be a great race. Mainly as said above in the 'best of the rest' stakes. I fear for the reliability of the others too. There may well be some heart break.
Also, don't forget the non prototype classes. There is less variety, but there should be some strong reliable runs there. |
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Seriously not taking motorsport too seriously.
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20 Apr 2004, 21:27 (Ref:946032)
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#15 | |
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Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,761
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how could you not be excited? not much variety in the gt category doesnt really matter when you have corvettes vs. ferraris and a host of very good porsche teams battling it out with a 360 or two thrown into the mix... the battle up front among the audis is going to be awesome, and strength of the pescarolo, rfh, and dallaras is going to be right up there too, as well as the lister
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20 Apr 2004, 21:42 (Ref:946048)
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#16 | ||
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14th
1% Club
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 42,770
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I am excited. :confused: The Ferrari-Corvette battle will be great. There are some talented drivers in those cars too.
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Seriously not taking motorsport too seriously.
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20 Apr 2004, 21:55 (Ref:946066)
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#17 | |||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,215
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Quote:
I thought the "Non-VAG" LMP900 battle was outstanding throughout the entire 24 hrs.... and Taurus should have been on my list!!!!!! But I didn't want to run down the entire LMP grid of names..... Bottom line.... I think there could be as many as 10, or more cars fighting it out on the track among the "Non-VAG" LMPs.... There were about that many last year during many stages of teh race...and to watch the ebb and flow of those temas as they progressed through the race was really great action to follow...eithr on Tv or on-line.... It didn't matter which method.... and I expect the same this year, too.... |
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Finally... One American Open Wheel Series!
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21 Apr 2004, 01:52 (Ref:946230)
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#18 | |
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Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,761
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sorry adam, i thought that you were saying there was nothing to be excited about... my bad! i definitely agree that the ferrari-corvette battle should be great, esp. with corvette on michelins after they had their butts kicked last year by the ferraris
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21 Apr 2004, 05:08 (Ref:946304)
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#19 | ||
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Rookie
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 18
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I can't wait to see the closest competition!
I think Kondo Racing Dome will strong enough this year... They use 04spec brandnew chassis, also M-tec improve their Mugen engine's horsepower and torque. Michigami is leading driver of Dome/Honda team in JGTC, Kato showed his speed in last several year, and Shimoda was also impressive last year(but he made some mistakes...). also I'm interested in GT class battle, between Freisinger and White Lightening. But all Porsche user teams will go strong... Non-works team, such as PK, Seikel, ChoroQ can beat Porsche works! |
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21 Apr 2004, 07:13 (Ref:946355)
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#20 | ||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 13,763
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4 Audi's against 2 RfH Dome's and a brace of Pescarolo Courages with a Dallara sounds good to me . Its a bloody crime that someone didnt run a Panoz LMP-1 , especially after the battle to the flag last year !!
RfH is my darkhorse ..... and then show the ***bird*** to the ACO !!! ha HA The battle between Prodrive , Larbre and Corvette should be real hooligan stuff !!!! Not sure who I would like to see win outta this monster ding dong . Im a little bit of a 550 fan though . The scrap in GT is going to be a big fight between Petersen , Orbit and the Freisinger-Ortelli car and maybe the JMB 360GTC , it is a GTC ?! And all the things that go along with my annual Le Mans pilgrimage ..... I just cant wait !!! |
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21 Apr 2004, 08:57 (Ref:946422)
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#21 | |||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 13,763
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Quote:
Lets hope for more of the same 
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21 Apr 2004, 09:08 (Ref:946428)
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#22 | |||
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Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,227
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Quote:
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__________________
You're either at Le Mans, or waiting for Le Mans. ('86, '87, '88, '89, '90, '91, '93, '94, '95, '97, '98, '00, '01, '02, '03, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '11, '12, '13, '14, '15, '16, '17)
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21 Apr 2004, 11:29 (Ref:946552)
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Ten-Tenths Hall of Fame
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21 Apr 2004, 13:34 (Ref:946707)
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#24 | |||
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14th
1% Club
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 42,770
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Quote:
I too am looking forward to this. Although I am firmly in the Ortelli camp when it comes to GT.
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__________________
Seriously not taking motorsport too seriously.
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21 Apr 2004, 18:49 (Ref:946981)
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#25 | ||
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Team Crouton
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Posts: 39,587
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I'm firmly in the TVR camp - I suppose we can all dream......
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