Yoong at Le Mans

viges

http://www.racexpress.nl/imgitems/article/2006/06/alexlmtestpress.jpg

Not long to go now - can't wait. I drove on the public part of the circuit last year and it is mega.

Racing for Holland have been doing some good times but Johansson this morning reports some problems with the downshift. Fingers crossed.

Minardi boys also racing: Nakano in a Courage, Sarrazin and Lamy together in an Aston (gorgeous), Fittipaldi in a Saleen.

At the front, Audi is trying to make history (again) with a diesel. Although they only rev to 5,000 the torque is monumental so the problem is driveshaft/box.

viges

If you are new to Le Mans there are four classes; Alex is with the big boys in Le Mans Prototype 1 (LMP1).

The Aston and Saleen are in GT1, supposedly 'road cars'. The manufacturer has to produce a nominal number for sale.

forzaminardi

does it start today at 4 or tomrrow at 4?

viges

Saturday 4pm UK time.

viges

http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2005/2005-Aston-Martin-DBR9-SA-1920x1440.jpg

Oh I say. Sounds as good as it looks.

The Audi, by contrast, you can hardly hear - McNish says at top speed the wind drowns out the engine.

[Edited on 17-6-0606 by viges]

gnowl

Racing for Holland Web site has report that Alex Yoong was awared Le Mans Best Rookie.

forzaminardi

yeah, just read that as wel, not bad I guess

german paytv premiere has a live web stream (free)

http://www.premiere.de/premweb/cms/de/programm_sport_formel1undco_lemans_streaming_win_1000.jsp

forzaminardi

oh, not looking good at all, that's a very long third pitstop (after less than one hour)

gnowl

Does anyone know why?

viges

Emailed the UK commentary team on Motors TV about Yoong, Lamy, Sarrazin, etc. and they read it out almost straight away!

They mentioned what a big Minardi contingent there has been over the years and asked if the 'team owner' might enter Le Mans. Which one?!

[Edited on 17-6-0606 by viges]

viges

This is fascinating; listen to realtime radio comms from one of the 911 teams (Flying Lizard, US).

http://powerlink.powerstream.net/002/00324/live1.asx

viges

Alex has just pitted for fuel and will join the UK commentary team after his stint.

forzaminardi

yoong up to 5th (from 9th after third pitstop) but in the pits again!

viges

OK, that link has a delay of about 20" but still excellent.

forzaminardi

do tell us what he said

MCSF

This is cool.

forzaminardi

they're in third... fingers crossed and off to bed :-)

Stan

Nearly 5 AM now and they still appear to be third. Four laps ahead of the second Audi car, and four laps behind on one of the Pescarolo car. Jan Lammers was selling all those little squares on his car again this year. Apparantly some went away for as little as 250 EUR. Perhaps we should have tried to raise some money to promote this site and show them some support. ;)

By the way, right now the premiere stream doesn't work for me. I'm using this one right now.
http://www.rtl.nl/sport/rtl_sport/autosport/lemans/livestream/lemans_livestream.html

[Edited on 18-6-0606 by Stan]

viges

They're out.

http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/live/actu/2006-06-18_JS_942_gb.html

viges

with Alex Yoong at the wheel, the throttle stuck wide open and he was unable to avoid an accident. The car could have made it back to the pits, but the impact had broken both steering arms; with no steering, the car was stranded at the Playstation chicane and the team were forced to retire.

That allowed the No.7 Audi Sport Team Joest R10 into third, nine laps away from the sister No.8 Audi, which continued to lead. The two diesel-powered cars were split by the No.17 Pescarolo Judd, which was unable to match the pace of the flying Audis.

viges

sometime after 5am

viges

On the plus side, Lamy and Sarrazin are leading GT1 in the Aston. Stephane Ortelli is the other driver.

(are you cheering the Corvettes, Quig?!)

forzaminardi

big, big shame:(

MinardiP1

well done Alex and Co.

viges

Audi wins with Biela, Pirro and Werner. Diesel racing is here to stay!

Brits win the three other classes; Oliver Gavin in the 'Vette beats the Minardi boys in the Aston (clutch problems). C Fittipaldi does very well in the Saleen, finishing just behind the Aston.

http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/live/pages/chronos_gb.html

Peugeot will enter diesels next year to defend French pride.

[Edited on 18-6-0606 by viges]

forzaminardi

and to think you could drive them on salad oil...

viges

V clever stuff - the days of 'oil burners' are well and truly over.

It is processed from natural gas and is not smokey at all.

TasM

Nice going Akex. He has really impressed me since departing Minardi, he has done well in A1gp as well as Le Mans.

viges

Yes, Lammers runs the Dutch A1 entry and that's how they hooked up.