LM24 Poll: Audi vs. Porsche vs. Toyota

[mustafur]

My theory is that it's a marketing stunt. On the one hand you have Audi, trying to take the most wins record from Porsche. While on the other hand you have the king returning after over a decade away to defend it's crown. Granted Audi still needs 4 wins to tie Porsche, but that's still close enough where you can make quite the storyline out of it for the next 5 years or so.

Even still Audis wins still don't stack up to Porsche quite simply because most of those wins where when they only had to beat privteer teams who on the most part where using older versions of Audis cars.

 

[Northstar]

Even still Audis wins still don't stack up to Porsche quite simply because most of those wins where when they only had to beat privteer teams who on the most part where using older versions of Audis cars.

As true as that may be, all that really matters in the world of marketing is that Audi has gotten within reaching distance to Porsche's record.

 

[SagarisGTB]

Porsches pedigree is much higher then that of its Rivals when it comes to top Class Endurance racing(when you consider most of their wins were against multiple factory teams)

That's not true at all.

 

[Tired Tyres]

70-71 They beat works Ferrari's.

Late 70's they beat works Renault's.

Group C. They beat every manufacturer who took them on.

They have had their fair share of gimme's, but they've earned their reputation against the best.

 

[mustafur]

That's not true at all.

How so?

 

[SagarisGTB]

How so?

In 1970 and 71 the only realistic competition was Ferrari. In 1976 and 77 the competition was Alpine-Renault and though fast, they failed to finish and Porsche walked both years. In 1978, the Alpine-Renaults lasted the distance and won, and then they left. In 79 and 81 the biggest competition for Porsche were privateers like Jean Rondeau (who won in 1980).

The Group C era started in 1982 and Porsche had no competition in year 1. Lancia showed up in 1983 and endured until 1985, but that was the only "big" car manufacturer that took them on in that period. Nissan and Jaguar only joined the fight in 1986.

So, none of Porsche's first 10 Le Mans victories were against "multiple factory teams".

 

[karl53]

What about 1998? Toyota, Mercedes, Nissan, Panoz, and BMW, all beaten by Porsche.

 

[SagarisGTB]

Indeed, 86, 87 and 98, Porsche clearly won against multiple "big car manufacturer" teams, but that's only 3/16, and other years they've also lost against multiple "big car manufacturer". Saying Audi's wins don't stack up against Porsche's is silly, as it's comparing apples to oranges of different eras. Porsche have had some impressive wins, some less impressive wins and some embarrassing losses. Audi have competed at Le Mans during far fewer years in a different era with different competition. The comparison makes no sense to me.

 

[sumbrownkid]

Everytime I decide against Audi, Wolfgang Ulrich punishes me by winning.

 

[Roger the Horse]

I'll almost certainly be supporting Porsche, but I honestly can't judge who's got the best chance of winning until after Spa.

 

[Michael88]

Audi, Porsche is using 2014 as a learning year, you can't just drop into LMP1 like that, with a new team, new drivers (one coming directly from F1) end expect a blazing victory against a team who has competed in and won the 24 hours of LeMans for almost a decade non-stop.
2015 is going to be tough for Audi though, all the little errors Porsche makes in the coming race will be eradicated in 2015, and Porsche is very good at making durable racecars.