A curious survey for Le Mans fans

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sier_Pinski
  • 42 comments
  • 7,479 views

If you were to drive an LMP race car, what style would you prefer?

  • Open-cockpit

    Votes: 15 21.7%

  • Closed-cockpit

    Votes: 54 78.3%
  • Total voters
    69
Sier_Pinski

Sier_Pinski

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XizangM1
Let's say that you have been promoted to a Le Mans Prototype racing team that will be competing in several Le Mans races, including the 24 hours of Le Mans. It turns out that not only are you one of the drivers for the team, but you are also one of the designers for the car you are about to drive. You are given a choice as to whether you want an open-cockpit car or a closed-cockpit car to drive in these races. Assume that both options will have equal racing performance (in other words, they will make the same number of laps in a 24-hour race).

If you were chosen to drive an LMP race car, would you prefer an open-cockpit car or a closed-cockpit car? Please state your reasons! :)
 
Closed always has better aerodynamics so go with that otherwise all cars would be open cockpit for visability.
 
Closed cockpit for the reasons stated above. Plus they are a lot better looking.
 
Closed cockpit for the safety, aero efficiency, and fuel economy.

Open cockpit gives you better visibility, and quicker driver changes.

But I'd go closed cockpit. Bring it closer to a normal road car in terms of overall looks.
 
Open cockpit. It's fair to say that a race driver who drives a WTCC car isn't as Impressive as a GT Driver. And GT drivers aren't as cool as LMP drivers. Open cockpit adds a sort of.. style or attitude that I just don't think the closed cockpits have.
 
I'd be happy to drive any LMP car to be honest! I'd probably choose open cockpit though, for the better visibility.
 
Closed cockpit for a variety of reasons (safety, aero efficiency, etc) but also because I hate driving open cockpit race cars....
 
I'd want an open cockpit. I prize the extra visibility it gives you over anything else.

I bet more than half the reason closed cockpit cars crash is because the driver can't see what's going on as well as he should be able too.
 
Closed cockpit - as long as it has enough visibility to see that Ferrari on your outside...
 
I'd go for open-cockpit for the visibility - not to mention everyone can then see who is driving. Most of my favourite LMPs have been closed-cockpit but I feel if I was driving, I'd prefer the increased visibility, even if the car isn't as fast or doesn't look as good.

But as said above, I'd be happy just to recieve the opportunity of an LMP drive!
 
I'd go with a closed cockpit for a variety of reason's others have already said, better aerodynamics, safety, etc.
 
Open. Always thought it would be cool at night going down the start/finish straight and the curves after at night with the sidelights along the track going by you.
 
Closed cockpit because it has more aerodynamic efficiency hence being faster in a straight line and it is safer. No wheels/Springs hitting my helmet.
 
Ignore the aerodynamics or any performance advantages, he said. I like the look of a open cockpit car, as it really lets the world see you at work in your office, but I don't want a wheel flying into my office and killing me, so closed cockpit it will be.
 
Neither! I want a GT class Ferrari 458, in prototypes I prefer closed cockpits but the real issue is having a good diesel engine in the back.
 
Cowboys965
Open. Always thought it would be cool at night going down the start/finish straight and the curves after at night with the sidelights along the track going by you.
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I agree. Although in the real world close cockpits would win because of everyone else said, but mainly for safety.
 
elitedriver123
I agree. Although in the real world close cockpits would win because of everyone else said, but mainly for safety.
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But Audi beat Peugeot with their Open-Cockpit R15
 
Sier_Pinski
False. You should realize that:

1. The only reason why Audi beat Peugeot in the 2010 Le Mans was that all 4 Peugeot cars suffered technical difficulties, forcing them all to retire from the race.
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Isn't durability a part of the whole endurance thing though?

There is also a bit of hypocrisy in this post.

2. Peugeot scored a 1-2-3-4 in qualifying for that same race.
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Which doesn't mean anything if you can't finish.

Besides, this isn't a sprint race where grid position makes a huge difference.

3. Audi scored neither a pole position nor 1st place with their R15's during the 2009 race.
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Here is the hypocrisy as the Audi's all suffered from, you guessed it, technical issues during the race. Granted it's doubtful they would have won, but you can't say Audi only won because Peugeot had technical issues while ignoring Audi's issues in '09.

As for the topic at hand, I picked open as I've always thought they looked better (although if this was Group C era I would go closed as they looked amazing).
 
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I meant my posts at whoever said Closed always beats open.

Peugeot has problems - Audi's win doesn't count

But, Audi has problems - Peugeot's win counts?
:odd:
 
Thanks for the clarification, Justin. I didn't know that Audi lost 2009 due to technical issues, as opposed to being just slower than Peugeot. 👍
 

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