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Post by René on May 6, 2018 10:10:50 GMT
I enjoyed a nice day at the races yesterday; the first race of the new WEC super season at Spa. Also Alonso's debut in a WEC race and in the end his first (high profile) podium since 2013! I will post some more photos of the event tomorrow.  |
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Post by charleselan on May 6, 2018 11:57:47 GMT
I enjoyed a nice day at the races yesterday; the first race of the new WEC super season at Spa. Also Alonso's debut in a WEC race and in the end his first (high profile) podium since 2013! I will post some more photos of the event tomorrow. Well done René, I had a feeling you might attend this race  . I think Teflonso was rather overwhelmed by his first win , let alone podium for many a year. I think he actually said that hew as going to sleep on the podium overnight. Watched the closing stages and it looked very good, with delightful weather, look forward to seeing some of your photos, now settling down for the MotoGP at Jerez. |
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Post by Deleted on May 6, 2018 21:49:45 GMT
I know the practice has been going on for a long while, but do they really need three drivers for a six hours race? I have never understood that and one of things that put me off from what once was called "endurance" racing.
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Post by Carl on May 6, 2018 23:03:01 GMT
I know the practice has been going on for a long while, but do they really need three drivers for a six hours race? I have never understood that and one of things that put me off from what once was called "endurance" racing. Lucio, Well said. They should call them desistance events since they are not real tests of endurance. Two hours at the wheel is normal for an ordinary race. Phil Hill and Olivier Gendebien, Dan Gurney and A.J. Foyt, Jacky Ickx and Derek Bell drove roughly twelve hours each year at Le Mans and Louis Rosier drove all but two laps there in 1950. That same year, Edward Hall drove the entire distance in the 4 1/2 litre Bentley he had first entered in 1936, a race eventually cancelled. When Denis Jenkinson asked about lavatory arrangements, Hall answered "green overalls". There is no evidence of green overalls in the 1955 Mille Miglia winning Mercedes and both Moss and Jenks were relaxed and had time for champagne at the end, an aspect of endurance not in the record book. Cheers, Carl |
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Post by Jamie on May 7, 2018 6:32:47 GMT
Lucky man René, can’t think of a better circuit to watch sportscar racing and what glorious weather......I hope conditions are similar for the Silverstone race later this year.
Pity the LMP1 field was depleted slightly with the Manor Ginettas not starting and the dreadful accident for Pietro Fittipaldi.
Were the Porsche 911 GTE Pro cars still the best sounding out there??
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Post by René on May 7, 2018 7:54:30 GMT
I know the practice has been going on for a long while, but do they really need three drivers for a six hours race? I have never understood that and one of things that put me off from what once was called "endurance" racing. True but we have to realize that endurance racing from the past does no longer exist. It hasn't for many years. Running a car at high speed for hours and hours used to be a very difficult thing to accomplish but it simply isn't anymore. The cars are so reliable and the drivers are trained like Olympic athletes which makes a modern endurance race a sprint race over several hours. Going back to 'real' endurance racing could only be done artificially. It is more a choice I guess if you want to enjoy the modern style racing yes or no. I had a great day at Spa. |
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Post by René on May 7, 2018 7:59:06 GMT
. Were the Porsche 911 GTE Pro cars still the best sounding out there?? Yes they do Jamie! By far. But I do like the variety of the sounds. The Ford is arguably the best looking sports car out there but the sound is not the most impressive. The Ferrari's sounded rather numb..  |
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Post by charleselan on May 7, 2018 8:07:53 GMT
. Were the Porsche 911 GTE Pro cars still the best sounding out there?? Yes they do Jamie! By far. But I do like the variety of the sounds. The Ford is arguably the best looking sports car out there but the sound is not the most impressive. The Ferrari's sounded rather numb.. Not having attended a race for many years I ask what do the Aston Martin's sound like for they have V12 engines? On the TV coverage there was a very crisp sounding racing engine, which I took to be the Ferrari"s, obviously not from what has been discussed here. |
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Post by mikael on May 7, 2018 13:05:56 GMT
A very nice photo, René; it expresses the atmosphere well. The crane-solution for obtain birds-eye view television pictures is brilliant - much better than using a noisy helicopter.
I must admit that I was not really up-to-date with the fact that Alonso would drive for Toyota. Kind of interesting, in the light of the various Honda incidents ...
It would be wonderful if a variety of engine-solutions again became possible in F1 (say, V4 (and in-line four), and also an odd number of cylinders, like a V5, rather than V6 only), such that we could again have a variety of sounds to enjoy, as in WEC. "Variety is the spice of life."
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Post by René on May 7, 2018 15:55:26 GMT
They should call them desistance events since they are not real tests of endurance. Two hours at the wheel is normal for an ordinary race. You are absolutely right, they are long distance events. Not so much endurance any more. |
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Post by René on May 7, 2018 15:57:47 GMT
Yes they do Jamie! By far. But I do like the variety of the sounds. The Ford is arguably the best looking sports car out there but the sound is not the most impressive. The Ferrari's sounded rather numb.. Not having attended a race for many years I ask what do the Aston Martin's sound like for they have V12 engines? On the TV coverage there was a very crisp sounding racing engine, which I took to be the Ferrari"s, obviously not from what has been discussed here. The Aston Martins sounded very low and deep. The Ferraris sounded good but not as loud as the Porsches. |
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Post by Carl on May 7, 2018 16:00:26 GMT
I know the practice has been going on for a long while, but do they really need three drivers for a six hours race? I have never understood that and one of things that put me off from what once was called "endurance" racing. True but we have to realize that endurance racing from the past does no longer exist. It hasn't for many years. Running a car at high speed for hours and hours used to be a very difficult thing to accomplish but it simply isn't anymore. The cars are so reliable and the drivers are trained like Olympic athletes which makes a modern endurance race a sprint race over several hours. Going back to 'real' endurance racing could only be done artificially. It is more a choice I guess if you want to enjoy the modern style racing yes or no. I had a great day at Spa. Rene, To be clear, my earlier comment was only about the concept of endurance, which as you point out has changed with faster and more reliable cars, not the quality and excitement of the racing. To see a major series event at Spa is a dream and envy travels faster than a 962 on the old Mulsanne. Cheers, Carl |
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Post by René on May 7, 2018 16:01:10 GMT
A very nice photo, René; it expresses the atmosphere well. The crane-solution for obtain birds-eye view television pictures is brilliant - much better than using a noisy helicopter. I must admit that I was not really up-to-date with the fact that Alonso would drive for Toyota. Kind of interesting, in the light of the various Honda incidents ... It would be wonderful if a variety of engine-solutions again became possible in F1 (say, V4 (and in-line four), and also an odd number of cylinders, like a V5, rather than V6 only), such that we could again have a variety of sounds to enjoy, as in WEC. "Variety is the spice of life." Mikael, the crane was actually for fans. There was a helicopter in the air for the entire race. You are right, it is interesting that Alonso now drives for another big Japanese company. And he wins first time out! More engine variety in F1 would be wonderful indeed. That was better for sure in 'the old days'. |
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Post by René on May 7, 2018 16:10:12 GMT
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Post by Jamie on May 7, 2018 17:21:35 GMT
Yes they do Jamie! By far. But I do like the variety of the sounds. The Ford is arguably the best looking sports car out there but the sound is not the most impressive. The Ferrari's sounded rather numb.. Not having attended a race for many years I ask what do the Aston Martin's sound like for they have V12 engines? On the TV coverage there was a very crisp sounding racing engine, which I took to be the Ferrari"s, obviously not from what has been discussed here. The Aston’s have a turbo v8 (Mercedes AMG based) and haven’t used the v12 for a while unfortunately. The crisp engine you heard was almost certainly the atmospheric flat 6 in the 911.....lovely sound. |
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