[LM24] Is Le Mans Going to Be Neutered For 2012?

[gregtummer]

I recall a few posters on here discussing the Radio Le Mans guys saying how the ACO has a 3:30 lap time obsession and if the times are below that in 2011, that the track may be changed.

Also they said the circuit is up for accrediation this year and that they may need to make changes to keep hosting the race.

Has anyone heard any updates about this?

[Carsandmotorracing]

None here, i'll go on a rampage if it's true though.

[Aysedasi]

Nothing at all.

[Ferrari333SP]

This whole 3:30 lap time obsession is just the stupidest thing.

[AstonGeoff]

Le Mans was neutered many years ago with the two chicanes on Mulsanne and the changes before and after the Dunlop bridge.

I doubt they would change the circuit again for next year, it's not as simple as just deciding, planning and all sorts of red tape need to be negotiated! But they could always change the regs slightly to slow down the faster prototypes, a bit of weight maybe.

[gregtummer]

Originally Posted by AstonGeoff

Le Mans was neutered many years ago with the two chicanes on Mulsanne and the changes before and after the Dunlop bridge.

I doubt they would change the circuit again for next year, it's not as simple as just deciding, planning and all sorts of red tape need to be negotiated! But they could always change the regs slightly to slow down the faster prototypes, a bit of weight maybe.

I actually like the Dunlop Curves. It provides a great shot of the cars as you look up from below as the cars start down the crest.

It is actually one of the few changes to any motor circuit in the past 30 years that I have enjoyed.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by gregtummer

Also they said the circuit is up for accrediation this year and that they may need to make changes to keep hosting the race

The race has been nutered enough , since Ive been going .

The sound decible thing is bull , as witnessed by the F1 tracks complaining that the Fia new F1 regs would be quieter . People want sound , not mufflers !!!

If there was threat of the race not being held , imagine what that would do to the economy of a small sleeply French town .

I agree with AstonGoeff , the new section after the Dunlop bridge was unnessessary and it turns out quite dangerous too .

[Ferrari333SP]

Originally Posted by gregtummer

I actually like the Dunlop Curves. It provides a great shot of the cars as you look up from below as the cars start down the crest.

It is actually one of the few changes to any motor circuit in the past 30 years that I have enjoyed.

For me, I'd much rather enjoy seeing all the cars fly down the Mulsanne at tops speed, to really see what the cars can do. It's like watching the Nurburgring 24 Hours; the most exciting part of the track there for me to watch is the long straight, as you really get to see what those fast cars are made of. You don't get to see top speeds much of anywhere these days, including LeMans, which is a shame I think.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by gregtummer

I actually like the Dunlop Curves. It provides a great shot of the cars as you look up from below as the cars start down the crest.

It is actually one of the few changes to any motor circuit in the past 30 years that I have enjoyed.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. Nothing was quite so evocative for me as the sight of the cars in the old Group C days bursting under the Dunlop Bridge and charging down to the Esses. The curves keep the cars in view for a little longer for the camera lens but for me, changing one of the classic Le Mans views for bikes was (and always will be) sacrilege of the highest order.......

[Adam43]

If they had to do it then they made a good job, but I too prefer the previous version.

However, let's face it, it was ruined in the '70s. I don't know why we bother.

[Ferrari333SP]

Originally Posted by gregtummer

I actually like the Dunlop Curves. It provides a great shot of the cars as you look up from below as the cars start down the crest.

It is actually one of the few changes to any motor circuit in the past 30 years that I have enjoyed.

Whoops, somehow thought you were talking about the chicanes on the Mulsanne, not the Dunlop curves. In any case, I'm kind of indifferent towards the changes there. It was an iconic image to see the cars go down the hill after the bridge, but the new curves present a decent passing opportunity, and the swoopy nature of it looks like it's fun to drive.

[Mal]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. Nothing was quite so evocative for me as the sight of the cars in the old Group C days bursting under the Dunlop Bridge and charging down to the Esses. The curves keep the cars in view for a little longer for the camera lens but for me, changing one of the classic Le Mans views for bikes was (and always will be) sacrilege of the highest order.......

I agree..... but I am learning to live with it as the new section is pretty good too...... its just not as good as the original

[GT6]

well as the portion of track just after dunlop is where we camp and spend a fair length of time watching the race I would like to say that it is better now than before. A place to watch the cars coming out from under the bridge and then look down on the cars going through the fast curves. You get to see and hear the cars for a reasonable amount of time and a few incidents always seem to happen along that stretch of track.

[Purist]

They can only make the race MORE dangerous now, by adding more corners, or slowing the LMPs any more. The low-percentage maneuvers we saw this year should be a damn clear wake-up call that the LMP1s and LMP2s NEED more top-end speed compared to the GTs.

There was a great little interview on the SPEED Channel coverage during the McNish caution. Justin Bell caught up with his dad (Derek) out behind the paddock. Derek thought that the advances in car and track safety were a good thing. However, he firmly believes there are too many corners at Le Mans, which means there now are too many spots where LMPs MUST take absurd risks to get by the GTs, and also that 240mph, in a straight line, shouldn't be a problem in this day and age.

They've actually been dealing with this issue some on downhill skiing. That is, they've been taking out some corners that had been added previously to try and improve safety. However, the corners make the courses more taxing, which significantly increases the chances of a mistake and a crash. And when you're in those corners, you're pointed more directly at the fencing, but in skiing, you don't have a safety cell around you, so that fence is going to be none too kind to your body when you hit it.

If it were my call on Le mans, I'd reinstate the full Mulsanne, the old Dunlop Curve, and the straight run from the Dunlop Curve to the Esses. The other thing I would do there, by the Dunlop Bridge, is set up a dedicated spotter's post for the teams. This last item should be put in place ASAP anyway, to minimize the chances of a repeat of the MicNish, or similar, incident.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Ferrari333SP

It's like watching the Nurburgring 24 Hours; the most exciting part of the track there for me to watch is the long straight, as you really get to see what those fast cars are made of.

Actually, I'd rather have one chicane at some of the Nordschleife ridiculously long straights. I mean fast, wide chicanes like in La Sarth, not Monza / Zolder chicanes.