The 2006 Petit Le Mans

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JohnBM01

JohnBM01

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GTPlanet, the race may not be underway until September 30th, but this thread will be the host thread to this year's classic. It is one of the best and youngest major endurances in America with the first event back in around 1998. It's been a spectacle ever since. Road Atlanta has a number of technical corners that make the course harder than it looks. I know I was knocked when I said the course was an easy one. The race duration is either 1,000 miles or 10 hours, whichever comes first. I don't expect we'll see too much NASCAR-style thugging all that much, so we probably won't see something like the Rolex Sports Car event at Homestead back in 2003 or 2004 when two DPs were whacking each other in trying to win. The most important thing to this race- get the Le Mans invite by doing well. Competition will be much more enhanced as there will be a great number of cars competiting about 40 miles north or south of Atlanta. It is one of my favorite courses in America for its technicality and even its beauty. Just remember not to have your tires kiss the Georgia clay.

I can't go much further until I get a general overview of the competition we will see at Petit Le Mans. Anyone looking to stage a Le Mans campaign better do good here. If not, you'll have to wait (especially in America anyways) until Sebring next March. So if you're going to stage a campaign to get the Le Mans crew to consider you for a Le Mans invite, you absolutely need an impressive showing in northern Georgia.

Let's discuss Petit Le Mans.
 
I'm excited about this race. We will see a larger grid than usual, with B-K Motorsports returning with their Mazda-powered Courage and possibly van der Steur's Radical if it's ready. I am also expecting Creation and Zytek to be on the entry list and ready to challenge Dyson and Audi.

I was looking forward to another Autocon vs. Highcroft endurance battle, but Highcroft is unlikely for this race. They are currently preparing their Acura-powered LMP2 for next year.

Unfortunately, ORECA will not be at this race. This could have been the the ultimate GT1 showdown with Corvette, Aston Martin, and Saleen fighting for the top podium spot. Maybe Laguna Seca...
 
I love the Road Atlanta/Petit le Mans combination. It's a true endurance race on a very cool track. I hope to attend one of these days... I can't wait to watch this race on TV. It will be good to see the B-K Mazda again. That car is awesome; one of my favorites (shame it wasn't at Portland :().
 
Petit Le Mans is one of the youngest endurances, yet winning it is almost as gratifying as winning at Sebring or even Le Mans. Those day-to-night deals are more of practices for Le Mans. Because at Le Mans, it's day-to-night-to-day. It takes two Sebring endurances to equal the amount of punishment to car and driver. If you can do one Sebring, you'll have to carry out two Sebrings when you go to Le Mans. My favorite race car of all-time, the Momo-sponsored Ferrari 333SP won the very first Petit Le Mans outright back in 1998(?). This race has enjoyed great success since its inception. You want to be among the many to race at a packed house at Le Mans? Succeed in the races that will give you the chance to be invited to Le Mans. As I always say, if you get invited to Le Mans, you're already a winner regardless of where you place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. And since I say that you're already a winner when you get there, it sort of becomes an all-star race of sorts. Only certain stars will shine in class and overall. I'll be looking forward to any additional information for this year's event, especially entrants at Le Mans. By then, I'll have my own "FACT OR FICTION?" on Petit Le Mans 2006. FACT OR FICTION is my little prediction segment on what can happen inspired by certain ESPN segments.

Someone mentioned Oreca. Almost every time I think of Oreca, I think of the wonderful Dodge Viper GTS-Rs raced by Team Oreca. They really knew how to work the Viper into victory. They even won the 24 Hours of Daytona with Vipers back in 2000. Oreca is a Hall of Fame team in sportscar racing. Whether or not they should be up there with the likes of Joest Racing or Konrad Motorsport is your call.
 
Where is Petit Le Mans? Is it at Road Atlanta?

And does anyone know if CBS is broadcasting the 2007 AMLM Series? I really hope so, I can't get Speed TV, and I don't know if any other networks broadcast it.
 
samj_13
Where is Petit Le Mans? Is it at Road Atlanta?

And does anyone know if CBS is broadcasting the 2007 AMLM Series? I really hope so, I can't get Speed TV, and I don't know if any other networks broadcast it.
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Petit Le Mans has always been at Road Atlanta so this year will be no different.

and Of course CBS will host some ALMS races.

hope that answers your questions.
 

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samj_13
Where is Petit Le Mans? Is it at Road Atlanta?
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Yes.

And does anyone know if CBS is broadcasting the 2007 AMLM Series? I really hope so, I can't get Speed TV, and I don't know if any other networks broadcast it.
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If the contracts for 2007 are anything like this year, then look for five races being aired (tape-delay and/or 2 hour coverage) on CBS and five races (live, full coverage) on Speed.

Unfortunately for you, the two big races, Sebring and Petit Le Mans, will only be shown on Speed, since CBS is probably not willing to open up a 10-12 hour time slot to air these races.
 
I've got my hotel booked and the 1gb memory card for my camera. I will be posting a full report after I return. My friend and I are heading down with our wives Friday afternoon and then will be coming home Sunday morning.

While at teh race teh women are going to Chateau Elan and Mall of Georgia to waste the day away. Women are so funny. I tried to talk my wife in to coming along because there is nothing better than 10 hours of non-stop engine rumbling accompanied by the smells of exhaust and brake dust. She even has a friend telling her it is something that everyone should experience just once as it is not like any NASCAR race.

I love going because it is almost like a car show and race combined. All the car clubs have their own parking areas in the infield and you can just wander around and check out all the different types of sports cars that you rarely see on the road any other time. Plus, you feel a kindred when standing around other car guys who have no problem discussing their car with you, and some even let you sit in the driver's seat to check it out.

I last went in 2001 and loved it then. I expect to enjoy it even more as it appears that Road Atlanta has built a sports bar (I have to keep up with the UK score). :cheers:

Expect plenty of pictures from multiple areas of the track as I don't stay in one spot. It seems that Jordan added the user gallery just in time. My camera can also do video so I might try to get some video up on YouTube.


I remember when I went before and it was my first LeMans race. I had been to stock car racing before and didn't quite know what to expect from the fans. I saw how NASCAR and amateur stock car fans were and I was afraid that is what I would see. I knew for sure it was a completely different crowd when I saw a man in his mid fifties that looked like a college professor sitting in a director's chair and smoking a pipe.

Well, if anyone else is going, look for me. I'll be the guy tossing back Guinness in the bar.
 
I have no comments on this year's Petit Le Mans for this post. Howevcer, Speed Channel will re-air highlights of the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans this Saturday at 10 PM EDT. So once you're done watching NASCAR Trucks have more cautions than actual RACING, you can enjoy (or relive) real racing on this Saturday night. Maybe you college football fans will enjoy some action and switch over to Speed to see Le Mans 2006.

Come get your Le Mans love this Saturday at 10PM EDT on Speed! And remember that Petit Le Mans will be the first qualifer to go to France next June and show the world what you and your team are made of. I think you get about two chances in America to get those Le Mans invites. The other chance is that you succeed at the 2007 12 Hours of Sebring during Spring Break 2007.

While we're sort of passing the time, let's talk about Road Atlanta, past Petit Le Mans events, or whatever you want to talk about related to Road Atlanta and sportscar racing.
 
JohnBM01
I have no comments on this year's Petit Le Mans for this post. Howevcer, Speed Channel will re-air highlights of the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans this Saturday at 10 PM EDT. So once you're done watching NASCAR Trucks have more cautions than actual RACING, you can enjoy (or relive) real racing on this Saturday night. Maybe you college football fans will enjoy some action and switch over to Speed to see Le Mans 2006.

Come get your Le Mans love this Saturday at 10PM EDT on Speed! And remember that Petit Le Mans will be the first qualifer to go to France next June and show the world what you and your team are made of. I think you get about two chances in America to get those Le Mans invites. The other chance is that you succeed at the 2007 12 Hours of Sebring during Spring Break 2007.
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I don't get Speed. :( I can't justify paying the extra monthly fee to extend my cable package just to watch real racing on one channel. Well, two, I would watch G4 also.

While we're sort of passing the time, let's talk about Road Atlanta, past Petit Le Mans events, or whatever you want to talk about related to Road Atlanta and sportscar racing.
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It's a sweet course. It was the only reason I gave Forza a try, but then the physics engine in Forza didn't feel right and kind of ruined it for me.

Road Atlanta is the only Road Course I have been to and I loved every minute of it. To show how naive I was at the time and how much I expected it to be like NASCAR; on my first trip I actually called to see if they expected to sell out of tickets. The box office lady laughed at me on the phone and said, "Sir, we have a 700 acre infield. I doubt we will run out of tickets." That was my first hint that road courses were different on more levels than just the number of turns.

I have two favorite spots to watch the race from: The first is on the inside of the "hairpin." I know it is actually two turns (6&7) but it is tight enough to feel like a hairpin when you are watching. That is just a great spot to get really close to the track and get great pictures as the cars are going "slow" in that section. I may change this year because I now have a 10X optical zoom camera and it would be nice not to give myself whiplash trying to track the cars for the shot.

The second is uphill from the turn 10 complex. It is two 90 degree turns at the bottom of a hill. Weight shifting is a large factor and this is the most likely spot to catch a car going off the track. There is a huge gravel pit there and the spot has become so popular that they even have a seating section available on the outside of the track. I stick to the infield, although I might try the seating to see if I can get a better shot.

The other spot I like, but it isn't a favorite because it is crowded, is by the esses. You can get some great brake glowing shots at night and you have a long stretch of high-speed track to watch the cars beautifully manueuver through turns 2,3,and 4 and into the esses. However, last time I was there it was a camping area and there were people with huge tents set up. It gets cluttered due to a wooded area right there that keeps camping almost right against the track. It is a great spot to watch from but you have to like crowds.

And of course, I love getting into the paddock area pre-race and watching the guys prepping the cars. Occasionally they are nice enough to even come out and talk to you and tell you what they are working on. Then once they head out to the pits you have to move out of the way fast. It is the best chance for a close-up shot of the cars.
 
Lads:
I love the enthusiasum shown for this racetrack and wonderful "Fall Classic" that is less than 30 miles from where I grew up and currently live. It's Northeast of ATL and is extremely challenging (ask the guy with Forza).
I found this webpage while searching for an officail 06 entry list and the best I can do is at Mariantic. O well!
No worries about the Red Clay! I've been every year since 2000 and am really excited about this years tenitive entrants to included the debut of the Radical, Mazda Courage back with the Rotary noise, Creation (with the beautiful sounding Judd V10) and seeing the R10s again after seeing the debut at Sebring. Finally, there will be more non 911s in the GT2 class (not that I dont like the 911s; well, I'm from North GA, I cheer for the homebuilt Panoz).
Turn 6 is a great place for pics (that's the best place to get the red/orange hot rotors at night) as well as turn 7.
Coming out of the Turn 10 complex, on the outside of the track is a great place to get a good, clear pics of the cars in action...no chain link fence to shoot thru and like turn 6, you are just about on top of the cars.
Top of the hill overlooking the front stretch/paddock and Turn 1, during night practice or night racing is a great place to see rotors and get a good "non flash" shot of brakes glowing...got a great one there w/ my mothers 1965 35mm of an R8 under braking.
Spectator Hill is a must visit for any photographer (ametuer or pro). Like someone mentioned before, the crowds are there ALL the time.
I've camped everywhere in that facility but we have "settled" in the "family camping" area around Turn 3 at the top of the esses. Come look for me...Name is Jeremy and will be under a blue canopy and flags (American on top, Panoz, yellow Penske and some others) with a black 05 GTO and a silver 04 STI. Maybe ya'll can stop by and have a cold one or twelve.
Let me know if ya'll have any questions about the track...be glad (if you can't tell already) to pass some info along.
seeya'll at the races!
field
 
Sorry...posting errors (duplicate), but will take the opprotunity to say this race was created for the FANS. You can come and go as you please and go just about anywhere you want (except for "press pass" dealies). You will not be dissappointed if you come to any race at Road ATL, but Petit is something special.
GO DAWGS!
 
Well, either Speed of CBS, I'm watching it this year. Thank you TimeWarner cable for making Speed free again!
 
fieldodreams79
It's Northeast of ATL and is extremely challenging (ask the guy with Forza).
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It should be noted that Road Atlanta is also in the 24 Hours of Le Mans video game for PS2 (I think it came out in 2000). I think you can even run Petit Le Mans in that game. It is indeed a fun track.
 
Sounds like fun Foolkiller, be sure to take plenty'o'pictures. These big race meetings are usually such good entertainment besides the actual racing. I'll be at the Spa Francorchamps Historic 6 hour event the same weekend and will also try and gather a good collection of pix to share and compare.


FoolKiller
Well, if anyone else is going, look for me. I'll be the guy tossing back Guinness in the bar.
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Is Sir Alec aware of your intentions?
 
The American Le Mans Series has released the official entry list. Highcroft is racing, and Zytek and Creation have made the trip! P1 should be exciting.

P1

2x Audi Sport North America R10 TDI Power
1x Highcroft Racing Lola EX257 AER
1x Autocon Motorpsorts Lola EX257 AER
1x Zytek Engineering Zytek 06S
2x Dyson Racing Team Lola B06/10 AER
1x Creation Autosportif CA06/H-01 Judd

P2

2x Penske Motorsports Porsche RS Spyder
1x B-K Motorsports Courage C65 Mazda
1x van der Steur Racing, Inc. Radical SR9 AER
1x Horag-Racing Lola R05/40 Judd
1x Intersport Racing Lola B05/40 AER

GT1

2x Corvette Racing C6-R
2x Aston Martin Racing DBR9

GT2

2x BMW Team PTG E46 M3
1x Alex Job Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
1x Petersen White Lightning Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
2x Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
2x Multimatic Motosports/Team Panoz Esperante GTLM Ford/Elan Power
2x Risi Competizione Ferrari 430 GT Berlinetta

P1: 8
P2: 6
GT1: 4
GT2: 10
Total: 28
 
Will the 997 RSR's debut at the Petit or at Sebring '07?

m.piedgros

I ask because the 997 GT3RS road car comes out soon (or is out now?) So it would fit the ACO's homologation regulations (but not the FIA's I don't think.) IMSA are bending ACO regs left and right to get big competitive grids, so if the 997 is illegal why not just let it in? If we don't get the 997 at either Petit or Laguna, how long will it take the American Le Mans teams to switch over to the new car? Do you think AJR, Petersen, and FL can afford to just buy the new equipment? How much of the 996's spares is transferable to the 997? I ask only because cost cutting may keep some teams off of the 997 bandwagon for a little bit.
 
kylehnat
It should be noted that Road Atlanta is also in the 24 Hours of Le Mans video game for PS2 (I think it came out in 2000). I think you can even run Petit Le Mans in that game. It is indeed a fun track.
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yep it is, though The 24 hours of Le mans came out in 2001 a week after Gran Turismo 3 did. and indeed you can run the Petit Le mans in the game. in fact, a week before Petit Le Mans, I play the game in the Petit Le Mans mode. I always win in the Panoz LMP-1.
 
RACECAR
yep it is, though The 24 hours of Le mans came out in 2001 a week after Gran Turismo 3 did. and indeed you can run the Petit Le mans in the game. in fact, a week before Petit Le Mans, I play the game in the Petit Le Mans mode. I always win in the Panoz LMP-1.
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They should really put out a new version of the game. I would probably go out and buy a new version. I'll probaby try and rent this and see if I like it. If I do I can probably pick it up for $5 somewhere.

EDIT: I nearly forgot to mention it. I got my ticket in the mail yesterday, so I am all set to go.
 
FoolKiller
They should really put out a new version of the game. I would probably go out and buy a new version. I'll probaby try and rent this and see if I like it. If I do I can probably pick it up for $5 somewhere.
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yeah, its been a while since Infogrames put out anything really and No one has really put Petit Le Mans in their game. but, if we don't see a new version of that game, maybe GT5 could have Petit Le Mans...:sly:
 
Just finished watching the 24hrs of LeMans.(I have all 20 hrs on tape) and can't wait for the 30th.
 
RACECAR
yeah, its been a while since Infogrames put out anything really and No one has really put Petit Le Mans in their game. but, if we don't see a new version of that game, maybe GT5 could have Petit Le Mans...:sly:
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I'm surprised that GT hasn't had Road Atlanta yet. After finding out that they would have the endurance races I thought for sure that they would have Petit LeMans. It's almost as if while they missed a few great American cars they managed to miss a few great American tracks as well.

I guess that is what happens when we are better known for NASCAR.
 
FoolKiller
They should really put out a new version of the game. I would probably go out and buy a new version. I'll probaby try and rent this and see if I like it. If I do I can probably pick it up for $5 somewhere.

EDIT: I nearly forgot to mention it. I got my ticket in the mail yesterday, so I am all set to go.
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It's surprisingly hard to hunt down. There probably wasn't a huge production run to begin with, and most people who bought it must have been happy with it, as there aren't many copies just "floating around". I found the last copy Gamestop had in the Seattle area, and since, I haven't seen it anywhere I've looked. Seems like they should have charged me more than $4.99 for such a rareity ;). It can probably be found on eBay, though. I'd just go ahead and buy it. It's a lot of fun, even if the graphics and physics are subpar compared to what most racing games have now. There are a lot of neat tracks that aren't really in other games (Road Atlanta, Brno, Bugatti Circuit, Circuit de Catalunya, Donnington Park).

Have fun at the race, and remember, we love pictures :D.
 
kylehnat
It's surprisingly hard to hunt down. There probably wasn't a huge production run to begin with, and most people who bought it must have been happy with it, as there aren't many copies just "floating around". I found the last copy Gamestop had in the Seattle area, and since, I haven't seen it anywhere I've looked. Seems like they should have charged me more than $4.99 for such a rareity ;). It can probably be found on eBay, though. I'd just go ahead and buy it. It's a lot of fun, even if the graphics and physics are subpar compared to what most racing games have now. There are a lot of neat tracks that aren't really in other games (Road Atlanta, Brno, Bugatti Circuit, Circuit de Catalunya, Donnington Park).
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As it is hard to find for purchase I will probably rent it from Gamefly and then see if they give me the "keep it" option, which tends to be how I get most of my games nowadays.

Have fun at the race, and remember, we love pictures :D.
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I love pictures too but my wife won't....oh wait, you meant from the race. :sly: Yeah, I'll get plenty of those.
 
Ha ha ha! :rolleyes: Yeah. I still play my Le Mans 24 Hours. A lot. A lot a lot. Seriously. I've just started the Endurance GT Championship for like the 19th time. This time with the "GT2". Which I think is supposed to be a Ferrari 550 but I can't tell. That's what I like to believe... but I digress.

m.piedgros
 

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