Does anyone remember the days...

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McLaren

McLaren

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Does anyone remember the old Le Mans racing days were there weren't Prototypes? Just GT cars (GT3, GT2, GT1) when Mercedes put up it's CLK GTR.
When Panoz had the GTR-1
When Toyota raced the famous GT-ONE
or Nissan and their R390.
Or porsche's 911 GT1, McLaren's F1 GTR
Or when Ferrari raced the legendary F40.
Or how about when Ferrari designed the F50 for Le Mans.
Or even when Lamborghini thought of their GTR.
Do you remember the 1993-1997 Le Mans races?
TO me these years were the....


GT Supercars Of Le Mans
 
I got the chance to see these amazing cars for the first time in 1997 during a Laguna Seca Race. They were loud, fast, and best of all, legends.
 
And that happened exactly...NEVER.

1993 - Groups C1, C2, and C3 were prototypes, C4 was road going GT cars
1994 - LMP1/C90, LMP2, and IMSA WSC class prototypes , GT1, GT2, and IMSA GTS road going GT cars
1995 - WSC and LMP2 class prototypes, GT1 and GT2 class road going GT cars
1996 - P1, P2, and IMSA WSC class prototypes, GT1 and GT2 class road going GT cars
1997 - P class prototypes, GT1 and GT2 class road going cars

Those are the years you listed, but I'll keep going...

1998 - P1 and P2 class prototypes, GT1 and GT2 class road going GT cars
1999 - LMP and LMGTP class prototypes, GT1 and GT2 class road going GT cars

Since the introduction of pure prototype vehicles, there has not been a LeMans without them.

Since you mention Laguna Seca, you must be confused with the former FIA GT Championship.
 
I meant open tops. The Laguna Race I saw featured alot of these cars. But I guess your right about Laguna. But it was still great to see the same cars.
Listers, Mosler, Porsche, Panoz, Mercedes, McLaren, ETC.

But still, there were those GT cars in '94 to '97 am I right? I didn't say there weren't other cars. I was just saying does anyone remember those cars from those racing days.
 
McLaren F1GTR
Does anyone remember the old Le Mans racing days were there weren't Prototypes? Just GT cars (GT3, GT2, GT1) when Mercedes put up it's CLK GTR.
When Panoz had the GTR-1
When Toyota raced the famous GT-ONE
or Nissan and their R390.
Or porsche's 911 GT1, McLaren's F1 GTR
Or when Ferrari raced the legendary F40.
Or how about when Ferrari designed the F50 for Le Mans.
Or even when Lamborghini thought of their GTR.
Do you remember the 1993-1997 Le Mans races?
TO me these years were the....


GT Supercars Of Le Mans
Click to expand...

1997 - 1998 @ Sebring International Raceway.

Great stuff.
 
I think he means, he liked it better when there wernt these super fast open roofed proto types. I've never seen a Le mans race in my life, so, I don't realy have anything else to say.:)
 
I like the open roofed cars, but I also like the GT-one type cars. It's a tough choice...
 
Blake
I like the open roofed cars, but I also like the GT-one type cars. It's a tough choice...
Click to expand...


You do not need to choose. The GT-ONE WAS a prototype. It was just homolgated into the GT1 class in 1998 by building one road car. In 1999 the ACO scrapped GT1 and renamed it LMGTP. Same regs but no need for the road car.

The Bentley was built to the LMPGTP regs.

The new Le Mans LMP1/LMP2 regulations allow manufactuers build an open OR closed prototype. The next Audi R9 could well be a closed top coupe. Same goes for the new Porsche prototype that has tested in secret.
 
Personally I like open cockpit cars, so much easier to see acknowledgements from drivers and hand/head movement. I couldn't count the amount of times i have had open cockpit drivers acknowledge my flags either with arm movement or head movement. During a practice sessions last year for Petit I was working black flag and had a couple to throw out for certain cars, open cockpit I could see the acknowledgement... closed, had no clue.
 
Cars that race at LeMans that arn't based on production cars have always been classed as 'prototypes' - and theres always been open-top racers there too!
 
I'd say I like the closed top better. Makes it easier to imagine myself in one whem I'm driving my car. Closed top cars can look mean, it's harder for an open top proto to do that.
 
xcsti
I'd say I like the closed top better. Makes it easier to imagine myself in one whem I'm driving my car. Closed top cars can look mean, it's harder for an open top proto to do that.
Click to expand...

Except for Audi's. :sly:
 
the years of the monster that was the peugoet 908. (the one that won le mans in 93?) I like the closed ones more, they just seem alot cooler.
 

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