Question about LeMans

***WARNING*** Extreme noob!

I turned on the TV today and caught a bit of either todays or yesterdays LeMans Grand Prix. I've heard a lot about these races, and their 24 hour endurance races seems like something to watch, but I never know when its on. Is it only once a year, or more common? I know they use an F430 GT (I'm not sure if its based off of the Scuderia or just the normal F430, if anyone could fill me in...)

I'm just looking for some starter info

TIA,

Andy

 

Try Wikipedia.

 

Andy - what you saw on tv was the American LeMans Series race from Long Beach yesterday afternoon. It was one of the shortest of the races in the series. Most races are 2 hr 45 min in length except for Sebring (12 hours), Petit LeMans (Road Atlanta - 10 hours), Road America (Elkhart Lake, WI). Their website is www.americanlemans.com - the series was started 10 years ago. They run under the ACO rules but with some modification. You can find live timing and Radio Lemans for all the races at www.imsaracing.net The other "LeMans series" is run under ACO rules and the normal grid is 50 cars - LMP1, LMP2, GT1 and GT2. The LMS events are 6 hours of 1000 Km. www.lemans-series.com This is a European series that the Peugeot 908 diesel, Audi R10 and after Barcelona a couple weekends ago the Lola/Aston Martin are showing a great three-way battle. Gimmi Bruni and Rob Bell are one of several 430 teams in GT2 - Gimmi and Rob took first in GT2 at Barcelona for Virgo Motorsports. The FIA-GT also runs 430's in GT2 - today at Silverstone, Gimmi and Toni Vilander took first in GT2 for AF Corse. www.fiagt.com The FIA-GT also run a 24 hour race - it will be on 3 August at Spa. It's fantastic! There is also live timing for these races (sorry but I don't have the site right off hand).

The major endurance race of the year is run under ACO rules and is by invitation - the season's class winners, prior LeMans 24 Hour winners, class winners at Petit LeMans are a couple ways teams get to participate in the race. The race is June of every year held in LeMans France. It's definitely worth attending! www.lemans.org The race will begin at 15:00 (3 pm) on Saturday, 14 June and end at 15:00 on Sunday, 15 June. Speed TV will be televising at least some of the race but you will have to do a search on www.speedtv.com to find the exact broadcast time.

Here's a little bit about the 430's and Michelotti (it's 2 year old info but it's a start) - http://www.*************/cars/3438.html

If you live in the Toronto area - the ALMS race is 24 August to Mosport. We went two years ago - great racing (despite the rain) and you can get right at Parc Ferme for the awards. Entry cost to most ALMS races is very nominal and includes access to the paddock and gridwalk just prior to the start of the race.

Hope this helps you a learn a bit more about endurance racing.

Carol

 

The paddock access for ALMS was amazing last year in Houston and I was very disappointed when they canceled the race this year. However the extra money we spent on pit passes was a complete waste.

 

www.tvracer.com

 

Thank you for the help! Much appriciated!

It seems like a whole new world of racing that I've never seen... sure, reading all the Ferrari books out there, you come past LeMans quite often, but nothing really explained it.

Looks like I'll be attempting to convince my dad to drive us down to Toronto!

Thanks,
Andy

 

You're quite welcome Andy - hope you get to go to Mosport. Yes, it is a whole new world of racing, one that is by far our favorite.

Carol

 

I was quite amazed at the arrangment in Long Beach too. Not only was it $42 to get in on Saturday, but most parking was $25, and then pit access was another $20 too! All that for a short race with no good viewing areas.
Laguna Seca is the best place to see these cars, aside from the European LM series.

 

Rent and watch Steeve McQueen's movie Le Mans for a taste of what Le Mans is like.

 

C'mon Carol...get the poor kid a pit pass, will you?

 

The tickets for Houston were 25$ for general admission and 20$ for the pit pass. We couldn't even get up next to the control boxes of hte pits so you couldn't even see the pit stops so that was certainly not worth the money. I had an e-mail for this year before they canceled it that I could have gotten a GA ticket for 14$.

 

The 24 Heures du Mans is a race and a half many of my chums have been going continuously for the best part of 20-30 years, I'm a relative newbie, this year will be my 6th.

It's more than a race as there is at least a weeks activity leading up to race weekend and an additional weekend of fun prior to the main race week for Pre-Qualifying.

If you haven't been or thinking of attending, I can highly recommend it.

Here are a few websites which will give you a feel for what is happening right now. We also produce a free yearly guide about the 24 hour race, last years is still available, should you wish to download, we produce it to support a number of charities which are nominated by our website members.

http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php

http://www.clubarnage.com/caguide/caguide2007.pdf

the 2008 guide is being brought together and will be available shortly after PQ weekend, come back for a visit.

http://www.clubarnage.com/forum/index.php?topic=7487.0

the website for our USA chums

http://www.sebringfans.com/

http://drinkingforholland.com/

 

I don't think you actually needed a pit pass for the ALMS pit. I never had my ticket checked when entering, I think it was only for champ car paddock. I also got burned by not knowing this and buying a 3-day paddock pass.

 

The ALMS paddock is free of admission, I went in and out all day long. While Long Beach is short, it is one of the most exciting races of the year. Best time I have ever had, cannot wait till next year. BTW, general admission tickets to Long Beach are about $40, but parking is pretty expensive. I got REALLY lucky, and got to go into the Aston Martin garage, and the Risi garage in the paddock The most fun I have EVER had, American LeMans is the best racing out there!


Go Tafel and Risi!!!



Austin Martin

 

Sounds like fun... its a shame that I haven't tuned into more races of this kind. I didn't even get to see the whole race!

If I can find them somewhere locally I will, if not, the internet is my friend .

Thanks for the recommendation.

Thanks for the great info. And 20-30 years? Sounds like heaven.

WOW, the Aston garage must have been amazing.

Thanks everyone!

Andy

 

if you like 'before and after views' this site is worth a look, all about the Steve McQueen film, Le mans...

http://www.rjsmith.com/Le-Mans-Then-and-Now.html

 

i just re started my Le Mans race on GT4. about to hit 5 hours, and 21 laps behind any chance of me winning?

 

Bookmarked. Thanks!

I actually have Gran Turismo 4, maybe I should try that out?

 

you should man. i completed the race once with the help of Bspec, right now, i'm trying to do all 24 hours by myself. few weeks, i was running into the 19 hour in the lead, and then there was a power failure...

 

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!!! I'd kill something if that happened to me..

Believe it or not, I'm training a client for LeMans Classic this year with the help of GT4.

 

Nothing comes close to Sebring for watching ALMS in action

 

What are the best tickets at Sebring, I want somewhere with a good view, want to take photos.

 

I got a three day pass but i was only there for two days. It's general admission and you sit where you wish. You can walk around freely including the paddock. Many photo and autograph ops, and if you have a camera that takes good night shots, i would suggest bringing it along. There are certain areas of the track that you can stand pretty close and there are gaps in the wall where you can get good shots, esp at night. Also if you go, at the end of the race, be sure to be at the front straight, it is watched by cops but a couple of kids jumped over the fence and the cop shrugged his shoulders, so i did too. I think I paid about 85 bucks for the pass. If you want you can also get a tower seat which costs more (dont know how much) but it's elevated so you can get a better view

 

Join the SCCA CFR in Florida and have the best seats in the house

 

My annual Florida trip coincides with the twelve hour, so I usually drop by on the Tuesday. This year, I had lunch at the hotel and watched Will Power and his teammates test their new IndyCars.