Sportscar/GT (and Le Mans) Rumours and Repetition - Page 73

Rodger Davies · 11 Apr 2012, 16:38 (Ref:3057252)

shame yes, but not a setback for the sport as a whole!

deggis · 11 Apr 2012, 17:00 (Ref:3057255)

Lotus pis*ed (lol): http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...35849009792886

Deleted · 11 Apr 2012, 17:17 (Ref:3057270)

Crying out loud like that isn't gonna improve their already weakened imago...

Victor_RO · 12 Apr 2012, 05:29 (Ref:3057606)

Quote:

Originally Posted by @johndagys

Will there be 20 LMP2 entries for Le Mans? Sounds crazy, but looks like it may happen. Should find out tomorrow. #LM24

Interesting... that would have to mean two LMP1 pull-outs. #8 Toyota and one of the Dyson Lolas, I wonder?

TF110 · 12 Apr 2012, 05:32 (Ref:3057607)

Who knows. I hope Toyota still enters 2 cars.

pach233 · 12 Apr 2012, 05:33 (Ref:3057608)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Interesting... that would have to mean two LMP1 pull-outs. #8 Toyota and one of the Dyson Lolas, I wonder?

Mal · 12 Apr 2012, 06:56 (Ref:3057621)

The has tweeted speculation that Toyota may also withdraw from Le Mans due to the PR risk.... I doubt it myself however.

TF110 · 12 Apr 2012, 07:57 (Ref:3057646)

Yeah, the comments from Pascal Vasselon state differently. There's nothing to lose and plenty to gain if you consider they are stating that 2012 is a year more for learning than for actually expecting wins, even if it's possible.

Deleted · 12 Apr 2012, 08:29 (Ref:3057665)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF110

Yeah, the comments from Pascal Vasselon state differently. There's nothing to lose and plenty to gain if you consider they are stating that 2012 is a year more for learning than for actually expecting wins, even if it's possible.

But Audi will now become the first team to win Le Mans with a hybrid (we all know TDIs are in supporting role) which is already a horrible setback for Toyota

CTD · 12 Apr 2012, 09:10 (Ref:3057690)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiana

But Audi will now become the first team to win Le Mans with a hybrid (we all know TDIs are in supporting role) which is already a horrible setback for Toyota

Well, the fact that Audi sprung Peugeot a surprise by entering a diesel the year before them and taking the first diesel victory didn't stop Peugeot from keep on fighting.

TF110 · 12 Apr 2012, 20:19 (Ref:3058009)

What happens if the E-Tron fails? Or Toyota's cars are faster and stay reliable? So quick to jump on the Audi train, they have legitimate competition this year and not just from Toyota. We'll see.

Creep89 · 12 Apr 2012, 20:25 (Ref:3058012)

Dont forget, they have two normal Ultras for this case.

gwyllion · 12 Apr 2012, 20:29 (Ref:3058015)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Creep89

Dont forget, they have two normal Ultras for this case.

I think that TF110 responded the Chiana's statement that Audi will become the first manufacturer to win Le Mans with a hybrid car

Creep89 · 12 Apr 2012, 20:34 (Ref:3058020)

Yep, you're right. Should have read the post above.

Acid09 · 12 Apr 2012, 20:55 (Ref:3058031)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

The has tweeted speculation that Toyota may also withdraw from Le Mans due to the PR risk.... I doubt it myself however.

That would mean passing up the only chance to become competitive for 2013. Unlikely but honestly, looking at what a scramble this programme has been so far I wouldn't rule it out completely.

It's probably Dyson and another privateer though.

TF110 · 12 Apr 2012, 20:59 (Ref:3058035)

They have had this plan to go to LeMans for years now. Even before they left F1. The scramble is getting another two cars built and tested in two months.

alexkiller8 · 12 Apr 2012, 21:20 (Ref:3058048)

i suspect that toyota dropped spa because during tests they found out some heavy problem to the car (maybe the one that caused the crash). The lack of spare parts or the damaged monoque doesn't convince me at all because TMG during almost 10 years in f1 used to build an amount of more sophisticated carbon spare parts (and for sure some backup monoque/chassis) than the ones used in lmp1 in less than 14 days, race by race... is really hard to believe that they can't build a new car in almost a month! audi last year built 2 new cars in 21 days to run in 6h of imola after le mans...
and then i'm pretty sure that toyota built at least one other test monoque, so they could use that if was a monoque problem.

TF110 · 12 Apr 2012, 21:25 (Ref:3058052)

Another thing to think about is the TMG facilities serve customers so they may have priority for certain areas that could push back the timetable for them a little bit. Just speculating. Also Vasselon addressed the problem in an interview and said it's "nothing insurmountable".

**Adam43** · 12 Apr 2012, 21:28 (Ref:3058054)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF110

They have had this plan to go to LeMans for years now. Even before they left F1. The scramble is getting another two cars built and tested in two months.

Are you talking about Toyota? Really?

gwyllion · 12 Apr 2012, 21:43 (Ref:3058065)

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexkiller8

i suspect that toyota dropped spa because during tests they found out some heavy problem to the car (maybe the one that caused the crash).

So you believe that the official story that the crash was caused by water getting into an electronic unit, is a lie?

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexkiller8

and then i'm pretty sure that toyota built at least one other test monoque, so they could use that if was a monoque problem.

In this interview Vasselon explains that they destroyed their only monocoque. So there is no magical spare monocoque at the moment.

chernaudi · 12 Apr 2012, 21:58 (Ref:3058072)

Toyota have more monocoques--on the way. They only had one trackworthy one. Other than that, they have one that won't be ready until late this month, and one that probably won't be available until just before the LM test day.

It seems that they wrote off the only car that they had available that was usable, and they'll have to wait for the next one to be fully built up.

TF110 · 12 Apr 2012, 22:07 (Ref:3058079)

Adam, I'm not sure what you're getting at, but I'm not being forgiving of Toyota for this lack of preparation. I just hope the news of 2 less entries in P1 isn't at their expense.

**Adam43** · 13 Apr 2012, 02:28 (Ref:3058147)

I'm not 'getting at' anything to do with lack of preparation. I'm asking for clarification on this point:

Quote:

Originally Posted by TF110

They have had this plan to go to LeMans for years now. Even before they left F1.

Are you saying that Toyota have been planning to go to Le Mans for years, at least since 2009 when they were in F1?

TF110 · 13 Apr 2012, 05:05 (Ref:3058179)

Planning on a future entry since then, or around then according to reports and interviews. Not so much wanting to get in at that time period. But back in 2009 I remember the ACO saying they would welcome manufacturers dissatisfied with F1. Then Toyota pulls out a year after Honda.

**Adam43** · 13 Apr 2012, 06:49 (Ref:3058200)

OK, I'm sure most manufacturers want to go back to Le Mans. For instance Jaguar, they want to go back to Le Mans. It reflects little more than that.
However I feel you have attributed too much weight to it. They spent a lot of time assessing different motorsport series. Le Mans was an obvious one they looked at, but it could have also been rallying. To link the exit from F1 directly to Le Mans is going too far.

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