How dare you fail to mention the 917!!! "In April 1968, facing few entrants in races, the CSI announced that the minimum production figure to compete in the sport category of the International Championship of Makes (later the World Sportscar Championship) was reduced from 50 to 25, starting in 1969 through the planned end of the rules in 1971. Starting in July 1968, Porsche made a surprising and expensive effort to take advantage of this rule. As they were rebuilding race cars with new chassis every race or two anyway, selling the used cars to customers, they decided to conceive, design and build 25 versions of a whole new car with 4.5-litre for the sport category with one underlying goal: to win its first overall victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans on May 14, 1970. In only ten months the Porsche 917 was developed, based on the Porsche 908. When Porsche was first visited by the CSI inspectors only three cars were completed, while 18 were being assembled and seven additional sets of parts were present. Porsche argued that if they assembled the cars they would then have to take them apart again to prepare the cars for racing. The inspectors refused the homologation and asked to see 25 assembled and working cars. On March 12, 1969, a 917 was displayed at the Geneva Motor Show, painted white with a green nose and a black No. 917. Brief literature on the car detailed a cash price of DM 140,000, approximately £16,000 at period exchange rates, or the price of about ten Porsche 911s. This price did not cover the costs of development. On April 20 Porsche's head of motorsports Ferdinand Piëch displayed 25 917s parked in front of the Porsche factory to the CSI inspectors. Piëch even offered the opportunity to drive any of the cars, which was declined." The infamous display: Image Unavailable, Please Login
Because if my memory doesn't fail me, the rules changed after 1968 concerning minimum height, cockpit width, and luggage space. Also cars didn't have to carry a spare wheel anymore by then. Therefore in this aspect, the 917 cannot be compared to a GT40, a P4 or a T70 which had to comply to stricter dimensions rules.
So my memory failed me, Bravo. But I must be right about minimum height and cockpit width then ... Now, I think the rule change must have been earlier, 1966 perhaps. Look at the windscreen on a Ferrari P2, and on a P3 the following year, or the difference between a Ford GT40 and a Mirage M1 (based on the same chassis). The FIA lowered the minimum height and cockpit dimensions. Before the minimum height was measured from the bottom of the seat to the roof, and determined the "protected height". Later, the height was measured from the ground. Obviously this reduced the frontal area and gave a significant advantage to the new generation of cars. The spare wheel must have been ditched after 1971 then, when the sport category (917 and 512) was abandoned. The 60s were definitely the best endurance era, in my book, and I am glad I witnessed it. I attended Le Mans several times in that decade, and Spa, Rheims and Monthlery. I saw the Chaparral, Ford, Ferrari P3, P4, LM, the Ford GT40 and MKIV, the Lola, the Porsche 904,906, 907. 908, 910, and 917, the 512, etc... There was a diversity that doesn't exist now, with the Iso, the Bizzarrini, the Maserati 151, the Matra, the Alpine, the Cobra Coupe, even the small Healey and Triumph Spitfire. Drivers and teams weren't all obsessed with winning; finishing for many was already a success. I remember one year there were only 6 finishers at Le Mans, I believe. The rate of attrition was big, and reliability doubtful. No driver's aid, so no rev limiters; a missed gear-change and good bye the engine!! Also not much run-off areas: the Mulsanne Straight where some cars got to 200mph, was lined with trees, and no guardrail !!
The "Bravo" wasn't necessary but methinks you're thinking of the Group 6, 3 litre max prototypes as opposed to the grandfathered in Group 4 rules (aforementioned T70s, Gt40s, 917s, 512s and such) which were still allowed up to 5 litres. I'm not sure about the dimensions, spare and luggage compartment for them either tho'.....('too long ago )
Looks like Peugeot will be coming back: 24 H du Mans : duel Porsche-Toyota en attendant Peugeot?? - 24H du Mans - Endurance - Auto/Moto Carlos Tavares the newish CEO is a die hard racing enthusiast, he races a Lola T70 in historic racing and Peugeot is now making money while the future rules will mean that mega budgets like Porsche and Audi won't be necessary to win. Here's to a good safe exciting race this weekend and banzai to those who deserved to win last year and hopefully will at long last do it tomorrow. MS
I remember that the luggage dimensions were 60 X 40 X 20 (in centimetres) during the 60s. Cars up to a certain capacity (1300cc, I think) had to have 1 luggage space. Cars above that 2 luggage spaces. I remember watching the officials checking then with suitcases at Le Mans. The Ford GT40 had 2 boxes each sides of the gearbox. The Chaparral had its 2 boxes right in the nose at the front, accessible by 2 small apertures. The French stewards didn't like that interpretation! I think that with the 3 litres (Matra, Ferrari 312 and Alfa 33), there were no more spare wheels and luggage space.
Wishful thinking here, I think! The new Le Mans rules stipulate that the cars will have to restart and run for 1 km on electric power only after each pit stop. Also, the cars will have to end the race and cross the finishing line on electric power alone. Hybrid technology doesn't come cheap, and to achieve what the new rules dictate, the present systems need to be significantly upgraded.
Not playing dirty but playing smart and to the ACO rules Don't like the way Ford (or Porsche) or anyone works to those rules then get ACO to change them What is lost in the discussion about LM GTE is that both the ACO and the mfg's committee must sign off on any car that will run
Grand Marshall Webber and Monger at the 85th 24 hours of LeMans. Monger look to race again....soon. Image Unavailable, Please Login
Has anyone bought the WEC live feed and timing? I bought it on my ipad and i'm supposed to be able to log in on the laptop also but that's not working. Anyone else having the issue?
Are there any dedicated in car cames or anything for the Ferrari's and Aston's? Corvette and Porsche have them on their motorsports pages but I don't see them on the others.
Toyota #9 sustains front wing damage(right) by the bollar at Tetre Rouge Image Unavailable, Please Login
No Problem, I hope it works for a while! Sometimes those get shut down. If you're in the USA you can stream live from the FOX Sports GO app in a pinch also. Just a FYI for a backup.
