WhackyWill Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 (edited) 24 000 spectators attended the 2014 Le Mans 24-Hours test day at the Le Mans circuit. The two Toyotas that have already won the first two races this season showed they are still as quick as ever. In LM P2, Morgan set the quickest time and in GTE Pro and GTE Am this honour went to Porsche and Ferrari respectively. 2014 Le Mans 24 Hours - Test Day Toyota tops the time sheets: Entry List for 2014. http://www.24h-lemans.com/en/race/entry-list_2_2_1980.html Results of Yesterdays Test Day. http://www.24h-leman...ce-combined.pdf Edited June 2, 2014 by WhackyWill 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Great news. Massive fan of the Japs removing Audi's crown! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Excellent stuff, please oh please can we have a real race on this year, not A, A & possibly another A. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brillomaster Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Come on Aston Martin! Hopefully we'll have a more successful Le Mans than last year 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Audi to win, mark my words. Toyota 2nd, another Audi 3rd. Can't wait! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lexx Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Roll on 2015. Just got back from France today. Wished I could stay for Le Mans! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted June 2, 2014 Author Share Posted June 2, 2014 There are a few of my mates driving again this year , so hopefully I might get a bit of inside info and photos to pass on here again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Any chance of pit access Will? Even if only for an hour or so in the middle of the night. PM if you like. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted June 2, 2014 Author Share Posted June 2, 2014 Any chance of pit access Will? Even if only for an hour or so in the middle of the night. PM if you like. Unfortunately I'm not going this year, we were looking at flying down on Fri and back on Sun evening but my mate with the plane has now decided not to go as his wife is due to give birth around that time and knowing his bad luck it will happen on the Sat evening during the race. I'll have a word about and see who else is going who is associated with a Team.. You could apply to the ACO for a Press pass on behalf of the Forum, worth a try. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Probably a bit late this year, but that's not a bad shout for another time actually. If you can sort anything mate, it'd be much appreciated. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted June 2, 2014 Author Share Posted June 2, 2014 Not really, we got some press passes from the ACO a week or so before the event. We did give them a good story though..! I will keep my ear to the ground for you and see whose about, . PM me with your details and when your going, plus a mobile number you can be contacted on if something comes up at short notice while your there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 So who's put a mountain of camping essentials together & now scratching head wondering how to fit it all in a silly little car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
370Ad Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 (edited) We are going down in my Z, CRZ Hybrid thingy and a workhorse legacy! That's how Edited June 7, 2014 by 370Ad Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted June 7, 2014 Share Posted June 7, 2014 Not me. Going with 1st a Tickets and have taken their tent package, so they erect the 4 man tent for me and include a chair, airbed, lantern etc so I don't have anything like that to pack More room for beer! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 Nice to see the Toyotas are petrol too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetpilot Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 http://jalopnik.com/watch-audi-welcome-porsche-back-to-le-mans-in-the-cocki-1587054082?utm_campaign=socialflow_jalopnik_facebook&utm_source=jalopnik_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bounty Bar Kid Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 I'll be in the houx annex. Unfortunately no zed this year as too many people going. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ekona Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 http://jalopnik.com/watch-audi-welcome-porsche-back-to-le-mans-in-the-cocki-1587054082?utm_campaign=socialflow_jalopnik_facebook&utm_source=jalopnik_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow Notice the manufacturer of the tractor Started packing today, just a few bits. Need to get the beers in first! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rothers2901 Posted June 8, 2014 Share Posted June 8, 2014 I'll be in the houx annex. Unfortunately no zed this year as too many people going. Can you get into the Houx Annex without a pass/ticket to vist all on my way down to the Vendee? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bounty Bar Kid Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 I'll be in the houx annex. Unfortunately no zed this year as too many people going. Can you get into the Houx Annex without a pass/ticket to vist all on my way down to the Vendee? Nope. It's kept secure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docwra Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 Needs more stickers. Fortunately there will be some waiting at Dover, happy days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted June 9, 2014 Author Share Posted June 9, 2014 (edited) In endurance racing, insurance is a hard pill to swallow Never has an edition of the 24 Hours of Le Mans had so many ups and downs with another withdrawal only a week away from the start of the race. For many teams, budgets are getting tighter and tighter, and we could still see more teams calling it quits by the end of the year in various championships. Sponsorship is difficult to find without including possible mechanical breakdowns or incidents. It’s obvious that racing cars cost a lot of money, but just how much? We won’t even go into the costs associated with an LM P1-H (Audi, Porsche, Toyota), but as a general idea, an LM P2 costs around 370,000 Euros, a little more than a GT3. In GTE, a Ferrari F458 Italia sells for 500,000 Euros and nearly 1 million Euros for a Porsche 911 RSR. To this you still have to add various ancillary costs. As a comparison, the winner of the Roland Garros mens tennis tournament final will take home 1.65 million Euros. First round losers are awarded 24,000 Euros each. And those are tennis sums, which are far and away much higher than the prize money given in endurance racing. After writing about the costs associated with running an LM P2 over a season-long campaign, we turned our attention to insurance, more specifically what it takes to insure cars and teams. It’s a cruel dilemma for many drivers and teams. “In case the car is damaged, there is an exemption to pay,†explains a full-time driver entered in LM P2 for this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans. “We always race with that on our minds because one off track excursion can lead to big problems. We can’t deny that we are led to drive a little under the maximum because of the consequences. It’s up to us to find solutions. The exemption we must pay is 25,000 Euros up to 140,000 Euros in damage. But when you take into account that the smallest carbon fibre piece costs 25,000 Euros… If the damage costs more than 140,000 Euros, you add another 25,000 Euros, and so on and so forth. Before, we could buy back the exemptions, which is no longer possible. In short, we are forced to find backing to pay for damage. To compare, the exemption in GT3 is 20,000 Euros. “It’s becoming so expensive that it’s complicated to find an insurer,†the LM P2 driver continues. “There are even teams that don’t insure the cars. Motor sport is like a drug. Once the adrenalin gets pumping it’s hard to ignore.†In racing, insurance prices are high. The cost of a season in European Le Mans Series and at Le Mans is around 850,000 Euros, while the Blancpain Endurance Series and 24 Hours of Spa cost 550,000 Euros. “Insurance companies that cover competition vehicles are getting more and more rare,†explains a team principle. “There are only two or three that are reliable. You have to give the price of the car when new, as well as the amount to be covered. The total depends on the amount to be reimbursed. You can also get an insurance that will cover the car in its entirety. The exemption remains the driver’s responsibility. Depending on what type of damage, the cost raises.†To make a claim with the insurance company, you must first have a document from the race director that certifies the accident. Same thing for the driver, who must also confirm that he/she was driving at the time. Then you have to show photos of the damaged car, as well as the work being done to make repairs. Then the team must make an inventory of all the parts used with an option to include labour costs. An expert analyses everything before an money is paid out. “In three years, dues have gone from 60,000 to 100,000 Euros for an LM P2,†explains the team owner. “And the exemption is higher for the 24 Hours of Le Mans because it jumps to 35,000 Euros.†Edited June 9, 2014 by WhackyWill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
docwra Posted June 9, 2014 Share Posted June 9, 2014 I'll be in the houx annex. Unfortunately no zed this year as too many people going. Can you get into the Houx Annex without a pass/ticket to vist all on my way down to the Vendee? Nope. It's kept secure. Errr, you wont be able to get a car in there but theres nothing stopping you parking up and walking in ........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted June 9, 2014 Author Share Posted June 9, 2014 (edited) Keiko is a very good friend of mine, wish them luck. Pierre RAGUES (FRA) Ricky TAYLOR (USA) Keiko IHARA (JPN) LARBRE COMPETITION MORGAN - JUDD LM P2 Edited June 9, 2014 by WhackyWill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhackyWill Posted June 10, 2014 Author Share Posted June 10, 2014 A few mates getting ready for the off to Le Mans. Not sure they would let me join in with the Zed.. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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