LMS round2 - 1000km de Spa 2010

[Pandamasque]

may 9th 2010, Spa Francorchamps, Belgium.

Times CET

may 8th
13:50-14:10 Quali GT1 & GT2
14:20-14:40 Quali P1 & P2

may 9th
11:30-17:30 Race (143 laps or 6 hours)

Radio (all sessions live):


TV:
may 9th
08:30 Le Mans Series in Le Castellet, France - Review (60min) Eurosport international
11:15 Le Mans Series in Spa-Francorchamps, LIVE (45min) Eurosport international
13:00 Le Mans Series in Spa-Francorchamps, LIVE (60min) Eurosport2
14:15 Le Mans Series in Spa-Francorchamps, LIVE (60min) Eurosport international
17:30 Le Mans Series in Spa-Francorchamps, LIVE (30min) Eurosport international

[dumrick]

Streaming live of the race will probably be found here as it's been usual.

[wesley123]

that is a nice starting field to watch, 3 audis agains 4 peugeots, love to see the battle

[dumrick]

The 1st and 2nd practice sessions have been ran.

Results of Free Practice 1

Results of Free Practice 2

To better analyse the LMP1 results, it is important to notice that Audi is running a low-downforce package (possibly the Le Mans aero kit):



Peugeot, on the other hand, is running in "Sprint" configuration, which is reportedly more adapted to the Spa circuit (Bruno Famin, Peugeot's technical director has stated that, so close to LM, they also prefer to risk to break a Sprint nose than a LM one):

[vyselegend]

There's a very interesting interview of Ant on autosport:

Q & A with Anthony Davidson

It's fascinating how open and communicative the top drivers can be as soon as they are relieved from all the PR obligations from F1. Reading that interview you can really feel he's sincere and open about his racing experience, whilst reading any F1 driver interview will make you feel you've already read it tons of times, and that it was written by a PR doctor...

I agree the comparison will be very hard to make between an R15 in LM config and a 908 in sprint trim... But I'd be surprised if Peugeot ran all three cars on the same spec. Sure some drivers will have to race in lower DF settings to guauge the Audi.

It's a bit sad that so much entrants had to withdraw their entry or didn't even postulate (AMR,Oreca AIM, Beechdean Mansell, WR...) The good thing is that they all will be at LM. The saddest thing is the lack of Pescarolos, but I have to refrain speaking about that or my mood will get down...

[Pandamasque]

I think this is the low DF nose:


Note the air being directed over the car rather than through it and around the nosecone.

PS: I wonder if Strakka are sandbagging. I expected them to be at least a second faster than other LMP2 teams. Also it looks like there's basically no difference between GT1 and GT2 in terms of speed while GT2 has better prepared (thus more consistent) teams.

[dumrick]

I think this is the low DF nose:


Note the air being directed over the car rather than through it and around the nosecone.

Sure it is. The picture is from Paul Ricard, Oreca ran the LM nose there.

[vyselegend]

I'm surprised at Pagenaud's 1.59.826 ! Isn't that the first time a LMP dig under the 2.OO barrier at Spa?
Actually, did a non-F1 car already managed that pace before?

EDIT: confirmation by Sarazin 1.59.428 this morning!

[dumrick]

Qualifying pace went down to 1.57.9 and the pole went to Bourdais!

Results

[vyselegend]

Impresive lap times! Even the R15 dug under the two minutes despite running a Le Mans aero package! What a frightening car...

Lastest news are Strakka crashed the Acura during the warm-up and faces a hard challenge to make it to the grid in time for it's pole position start.

Also, Nic Minassian will miss the race due to ribs injury (nothing severe-should be ok for LM). Sarazin & Montagny will do the job for the #2 Pug.

EDIT: Lotterer has crashed the #8 Audi during the formation lap!

EDIT2: Lots of drama in the first laps! #7 Oreca Pug is retired already because it has been hit by the Lola Rebellion of JC Boullion (very unusual from him...). #8 Audi is back on track with at least 5 laps down. #29 Racing box Lola retired too. Lamy spun the Pole sitting #3 Pug at the start and is now in 6th position...

[dumrick]

The race has begun with mixed-wet conditions, advantaging so far the Peugeots.

Audi is under attack of the Lola-Rebellions, one of which put the Oreca-Peugeot catastrophically out of the race at Eau Source.
Great fight for 3rd between McNish and Lamy. Great drivers!!!

And the GT race is looking CRAZY!

Streaming live of the race here

[dumrick]

Lastest news are Strakka crashed the Acura during the warm-up and faces a hard challenge to make it to the grid in time for it's pole position start.

The HPD is on track 3 laps down, but lapping at the pace of the fastest petrol LMP1's - if only we had any serious petrol LMP1, the diesels wouldn't have such an easy time...

[vyselegend]

WTF is happening on the track

If I understand well from RLM the race is being red flagged because there is no power anywhere, hence why we don't have live timing and streaming, even eurosport switched to footbal clips...

What a pityfull organisation!

Does anyone know something about the situation?

[dumrick]

The guys at Eurosport mentioned an electric storm putting the power down at the circuit.

[vyselegend]

What a fu**ing shame! How can such a major motorsport event be handled like that?! I've seen school kermesses with better organisation.

This has to be a joke!