Le Mans 2010: LMP1 Will Be Closed-Prototypes Only (Updated)

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The Mercedes flip, and the 911GT1 flip, and the BMW LMR12 flip, were all caused by a combination of undulations in the track surface that exposed those godawful ACO mandated flat-bottoms to the air currents.

Back during the Group C/IMSA GTP era, the cars had wonderful ground effects packages that created incredible downforce that prevented such undulations from tossing the car about. When the Mercedes CLR went over the Mulsanne Crest, air caught beneath the splitter and - instead of being channelled in such a way as to stick the car back down - tossed the car up into the air where its curved upper surface and flat under surface acted as a perfect wing.

Thus, the Mercedes, the 911GT1, and the BMW all flew under regular racing circumstances, while GTP and Group C cars didn't get airborne without substantial accident assistance.
 
TheCracker
Sure they help matters, but have you seen how dirty the top of a driver's racesuit and helmet are after a stint? - they arn't going to get that grimey without direct contact with airflow.
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is that the result of the air being directed over the head of the driver?
 
If you look at what happend to the Bentley (EXP Speed 8 and the successful Speed 8) and the Toyota GT-ONE they had to run a smaller tire, will that be the same on these cars? Or will they be the class"? If they run the closed top under the LM P1 label and the open top LM P1 cars similar to current regs as LM P2 cars I wouldn't mind ONLY IF the closed tops were given a proper sized tire in order for it to be faster. However if they run the classes as LM P and LMGT P than I'd like to see the closed tops running the small tire to keep the cars equal.

m.piedgros
 
I believe that with the new regulations, both closed and open prototypes will have the same tires. (could be wrong... now where did I put that ACO rule book)
 
Another render of a closed-top prototype has emerged.



This one is from KWM, an engineering partner of Creation. KWM also plans to sell an open-top version to customers for the LMP2 class.

The good news: They don't plan on waiting until 2010 to race the car, and we could see it as early as next year!
 
I can't wait to see the closed cockpit LMP's. I loved the Bentley Speed 8 and the EXP Speed 8, and GT-ONE so it should be nice to see the current LMP's with closed tops.
 
I like the new rule. Open top just seem too... dunno. F1'ish? Closed ones look sleeker, and the aerodynamics would improve too... I support it.
 
I like the new rule. Open top just seem too... dunno. F1'ish? Closed ones look sleeker, and the aerodynamics would improve too... I support it.
 
Epsilon Euskadi Updates

The Epsilon Euskadi, initially a closed-top-only car, will debut at Sebring in open-top form. The closed-prototype will be offered later.


 
in either form, its a sweet looking car:tup:
 
dougiemeats
Epsilon Euskadi Updates

The Epsilon Euskadi, initially a closed-top-only car, will debut at Sebring in open-top form. The closed-prototype will be offered later.


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that thing looks like a toyota gt-one, r10 and pescarolo put together to me.


anyways, i'm 100% behind this thing. i love how closed top cars look 👍 especially racing ones
 
This is old, it was announced a few days before the 2006 running of Le Mans. Shadow is going to race a closed proto in 2007 to get a head start. The car reminds me of the Toyota GT-One, just more of an LMP style to it.
 
since 2000,Audi had won many times at lemans because they haven't a strong rival like Porsche and toyota.i hope toyota and porsche back to beat Audi.👍
 
YIN
since 2000,Audi had won many times at lemans because they haven't a strong rival like Porsche and toyota.i hope toyota and porsche back to beat Audi.👍
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I'm unsure about Toyota, but once Porsche has a strong presence in Europe and America with their customer LMP2s, I think they just might look to challenge Audi for Le Mans wins.

I just looked through some old posts and it seems that a few members disagree with this, but I don't see it as impossible. Why wouldn't Porsche want to win Le Mans overall again?
 
dougiemeats
I'm unsure about Toyota, but once Porsche has a strong presence in Europe and America with their customer LMP2s, I think they just might look to challenge Audi for Le Mans wins.

I just looked through some old posts and it seems that a few members disagree with this, but I don't see it as impossible. Why wouldn't Porsche want to win Le Mans overall again?
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i am a big fan of porsche,i think the rs spyder can score the overall win at lemans.the rs spyder have lot of potential:tup:(espeacilly run by penske racing)
 
YIN
i am a big fan of porsche,i think the rs spyder can score the overall win at lemans.the rs spyder have lot of potential:tup:(espeacilly run by penske racing)
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I would agree that, out of the LMP2 teams, they would have the best shot at Audi. However, the Porsche RS Spyder has had numerous reliability issues this season and they have yet to beat the Audi R10 in a 2 hour 45 minute sprint race, so chances of an RS Spyder being ahead of an R10 after 24 hours of racing is very unlikely.

Also remember that, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the R10s are not subject to IMSA's "Balance of Performance" regulations. While they seem to be on pace with the R10 in America, the RS Spyders will have trouble keeping up with them in Europe.
 
YIN
since 2000,Audi had won many times at lemans because they haven't a strong rival like Porsche and toyota.i hope toyota and porsche back to beat Audi.👍
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i'm pretty sure audi is going to get some good copetition soon. since pescaolo is kind of a new team, they still need to fiddle with their cars. and even right now, if the pescarolo's have better reliability for their cars, they could be doing better
 
Well, Radical is getting in on the LMP1 coupe fun too. They released concept art of their proposed challenger for 2010, the SR10.

http://www.lmsr.net/sep62.html
radlmp12.jpg
 
dougiemeats
I would agree that, out of the LMP2 teams, they would have the best shot at Audi. However, the Porsche RS Spyder has had numerous reliability issues this season and they have yet to beat the Audi R10 in a 2 hour 45 minute sprint race, so chances of an RS Spyder being ahead of an R10 after 24 hours of racing is very unlikely.

Also remember that, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the R10s are not subject to IMSA's "Balance of Performance" regulations. While they seem to be on pace with the R10 in America, the RS Spyders will have trouble keeping up with them in Europe.
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i think aco should be add weight and decrease the gas tank capacity on the r10,the r10 have amazing fuel advantage!!!!the r8 legendary reliability i can't see at the r10.(too much toqure)remember 1998 at lemans???porsche have strong rival like nissan,toyota,benz and bmw,depsite being slow,porsche can stiil finish first and second i think porsche should work on reliability,that should be the key to beat r10.:)
 
law93: pescarolo is building a new courage base machine planing on run at christmas:tup:
 
YIN
i think aco should be add weight and decrease the gas tank capacity on the r10,the r10 have amazing fuel advantage!!!!
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I bite the bullet that the Diesels have too much power compared with gasoline LMP1 cars, but decrease the gas tank? Hmmmm, that's the all point of have a diesel, have an engine who can turn a better MPG...

(not to mention that it is better "energy efficient" than a gasoline powered car.... but then again, the internal combustion engine has more than 100 years, time to move along 💡 💡 💡 (and not into diesels))
 
Gil Abobeleira
I bite the bullet that the Diesels have too much power compared with gasoline LMP1 cars, but decrease the gas tank? Hmmmm, that's the all point of have a diesel, have an engine who can turn a better MPG...

(not to mention that it is better "energy efficient" than a gasoline powered car.... but then again, the internal combustion engine has more than 100 years, time to move along 💡 💡 💡 (and not into diesels))
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Heck, if they allowed diesels, why don't they allow rotaries? I mean, the 787B swept the whole field, and even finished in such a good condition that they said it could run another 24Hrs... But the R10, swept the whole field, too, but wasn't banned. Where's the logic? I see a great potential in Rotaries. Quiet, powerfull (compared to the volume of the engine), and, basically, a new area. The first piston-engines were clumsy and inefficient. So were the first rotaries. But with Mazda being the only one with them...
 
No, the FIA enacted rules that created a new class of Group C (Category 1) that lent advantages to naturally aspirated V12's derived from formula one powerplants.

This was done primarily for the benefit of the works Peugeot team, although Mazda did compete in the new Cat. 1 class with a Judd-derived V12, also Jaguar, Toyota, and factory Lola efforts took part until the class was disbanded in favor of LMP roadsters. The Mazda rotary then returned to competition in Kudzu chassis backed by the factory for the duration.
 
Gingiba
But didn't the FIA ban them after the '91 race?
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It banned them all (turbos, 7litre V12, etc) for the 1992 WSPC, the last year there has been a World Sportscar Championship.

And, btw, that remark about the Mazda, I'll say this again:

- Mazda: 860kg
- Mercedes, Jaguars, Porsche: 1000 kg

Hardly fair was it? :scared: :scared:
 

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