[WEC] Toyota LMP1 Discussion

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by hondafan37

Pechito Lopez could be set to move to the No. 9 Toyota for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/leman...r-24h-le-mans/

Wow. You have to imagine that would be a switch for Lapierre if it happens.

[canaglia]

wise move!
you can't debut at le mans in a work lmp1-h with just litterally less than 15km race laps experience in that car.
Sarrazin should be promoted to #7, Lapierre seems still too failable under pressure

[J Jay]

While I realize it's incredibly easy for someone on the outside to say this, it did always seem odd that a factory team would take on two new-to-LMP1 drivers at the same time, even with three cars to put them in. The accident was unfortunate and has probably forced TMG's hand, but this situation was always a possibility.

Out of Sarrazin & Lapierre I'd pick the former, but there wouldn't be much in it if they are equally trusted to do the job. It might also be a good opportunity to give Hirakawa some driving time so he can jump straight in should anything like this happen again.

[S griffin]

Playing the percentages by putting him in the #9 car, can see Toyota doing it this time, after the last LM, they'll be determined to bounce back

[chernaudi]

SC365 is speculating that it could be a big driver shake up due to Lopez and Kunimoto being fresh and relatively inexperienced. Especially since Lopez hasn't gotten any serious laps on the TS050 since the wreck at Silverstone.

I wouldn't be surprised possibly if Hirakawa, who has tons of laps in testing with Toyota, might get promoted to the race seat. We have to remember that TMG/Toyota are loaning him out to a LMP2 team that runs in the LMS, and LM is a non-points race for them, unlike the WEC.

I also don't know what this could mean for Lopez post LM. I'm betting that TMG will decide what to do after the Spa test and LM test weekend, if not the LM24 itself. Granted, this isn't the first time that TMG passed over a driver due to an issue.

Also, is there anything in the rules that you have to run three drivers per car at LM? I know that last year at Audi that Lotterer and Fassler ran two races after Ben got injured in a biking accident and didn't enter Nurburgring and DNS'ed in Mexico. Also, one of the Kolles cars at LM in '09 ran with two drivers after on injured his shoulder race week.

[Akrapovic]

It would basically be Lopez first race started at Le Mans, so I wouldn't put him in the car tbh.

Also, is there anything in the rules that you have to run three drivers per car at LM? I know that last year at Audi that Lotterer and Fassler ran two races after Ben got injured in a biking accident and didn't enter Nurburgring and DNS'ed in Mexico. Also, one of the Kolles cars at LM in '09 ran with two drivers after on injured his shoulder race week.

You need at least 3 drivers to meet the drive time regulations. You could run 4, but you need at least 3 or you won't meet the drive time. Kolles got permission in 2009 because Karthikeyan fell over the pit wall and dislocated his shoulder on the morning of the race. The only other option they had was to pull out, so the ACO allowed them to race. Actually Lotterrers first ever Le Mans, and the performance (7th overall) that got him his factory seat.

[chernaudi]

Last I heard is that the max any driver can do at LM is 14 hours max, no more than four consecutive hours/no more than four out of a six hour period. In theory, you should be able to do LM with two drivers unless the ACO insist on/recommend three.

EDIT: as of 2016, the rules are that all cars need a minimum of two, a maximum of three drivers.

Also, in LMP1: Maximum drive time of an individual driver is 14 hours total (not counting time on pit road), 4 hours consecutive, no more than 4 hours of of a 6 hour period, failure to comply with those regs may result in penalties up to non-classification except in cases of force majure.

Also for this year, the ACO didn't want teams to nominate reserve drivers, though it seems that both Toyota and Porsche have done just that.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Last I heard is that the max any driver can do at LM is 14 hours max, no more than four consecutive hours/no more than four out of a six hour period. In theory, you should be able to do LM with two drivers unless the ACO insist on/recommend three.

EDIT: as of 2016, the rules are that all cars need a minimum of two, a maximum of three drivers.

Also, in LMP1: Maximum drive time of an individual driver is 14 hours total (not counting time on pit road), 4 hours consecutive, no more than 4 hours of of a 6 hour period, failure to comply with those regs may result in penalties up to non-classification except in cases of force majure.

Also for this year, the ACO didn't want teams to nominate reserve drivers, though it seems that both Toyota and Porsche have done just that.

The 14h, 4h in 6h drive time and 2 or 3 driver regulations apply to the whole field.

Last times I know of 2-driver crews finishing the race - 2009 in LMP1 (Lotterer/Zwolzman in the Kolles R10), 2014 in GT (Bleekemolen/Curtis in a Prospeed Porsche).

[Hawkwood]

So, can you only have 2 drivers if you choose to?
Or, do you have to have 3, but you can use only 2 in special circumstances (examples given above by Victor)?

[chernaudi]

Everything I've read says two drivers minimum for all classes, three maximum (unlike IMSA, where at Daytona you can run 2-5).

[TF110]

I expect Lopez to be paired with Lapierre and Hirakawa, unless Kunimoto is impressing in the Spa test. But by putting Hirakawa in, they have a guy who has more experience in the race and traffic, but Kunimoto has experience in the lmp1 in those conditions. Maybe they'll bot get time in the car at the test day, but I see Sarrazin in the #7 just like last year. His pace was better than Lapierre's at Spa. Impressive imo.

[Bubak]

I have a worry that Step Sarrazin cannot able to run in other car. He was registered driver in February for num. 9. So, because of the rules.

[Aysedasi]

I'm sure we've seen 'placeholder' drivers move cars within teams before..... After all, what sense would there be in preventing it.....?

[chernaudi]

The ACO's own sporting rules saying that you can't switch drivers, especially the ones nominated in January, except for force majure after last Thursday. However, Porsche and Toyota nominated reserve drivers, which the ACO's rules tried to prohibit.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

The ACO's own sporting rules saying that you can't switch drivers, especially the ones nominated in January, except for force majure after last Thursday. However, Porsche and Toyota nominated reserve drivers, which the ACO's rules tried to prohibit.

The amount these rules get sidestepped I think it's clear they are there to be exploited. I think Victor already said it, if a factory P1 team want to make a change it will happen. Force majure can be anything can't it really if you present it right.

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Simmi

The amount these rules get sidestepped I think it's clear they are there to be exploited. I think Victor already said it, if a factory P1 team want to make a change it will happen. Force majure can be anything can't it really if you present it right.

There's plenty of wiggle room in the regs to allow Toyota to do whatever they want to do, in my opinion:

10.9.2 Composition of the crews
For each entry request, a Competitor can nominate a
provisional drivers line-up.
The nomination of at least one designated driver per entry
request is mandatory (with a copy of the passport).
Once this driver is nominated by the Competitor, he will only
be able to be replaced after the Monday 30 January, upon a
written request explaining this change and subject to
acceptance by the Sports Committee.
The nomination of the Team’s complete driver line up must
be sent by email sport@lemans.org by Thursday 11th May at
the latest (a copy of the passport of each driver is
mandatory).
After this date, it will not be possible to change the drivers
line-up except upon a written request explaining this change
and subject to acceptance by the Sports Committee, and to
the opening of the meeting.
This change will be subject to a retract fee of € 5,000 per
driver (excluding French taxes) to be pay to the Organiser in
contribution to incurred expenses.
A Competitor having several selected cars will be able to
swap the designated drivers to nominate its Drivers line-up
until Thursday 11Th May.
The designated driver by a Competitor who is not admitted
by the Selection Committee can be nominated on another
car.
The reserve drivers are not admitted.
Any modification to a crew is prohibited after the end of the
administrative checks, except in cases of force majeure
acknowledged as such by the Panel of Stewards.
The definitive list of competitors and drivers admitted to take
part in the Event will be published by the Panel of Stewards.

[roderick]

Its official, Lopez in the 3rd car (#9) swapping with Sarrazin

http://www.autosport.com/news/report...z-to-third-car

[bentley speed 8]

Honestly I think it is a good move, seeing as Sarrazin has suddenly found some pace (which he was surprisingly lacking the past couple of years compared to the other Toyota drivers). Lapierre seems to be too prone to comitting mistakes, so he's better off in the 3rd car.

[S griffin]

This is the right move, making sure they leave no stone unturned this season

[GasperG]

Sarazin is still the most consistent one, I think it's a vise decision.

[TF110]

Good call by Toyota. You're right GasperG, Sarrazin was the more consistent driver in the #9. Plus he has recent experience with the #7 guys. He also set the fastest lmp lap ever at Spa in qualifying so his speed looks like it's there too! Lopez will be back in the #7 after Le Mans so he should get the experience from LM and come back strong.

[XtC24]

It is good for the #7 and Toyota has 2 strong lineups.
But on the other hand #9 looks poor now and even Toyota states they are now rather to gain experience.

Maybe it would be better to swap Kunimoto with Hirakawa, but now it could be harder.

[Articus]

I think Sarrazin just never truly liked these hybrid cars or the Toyotas don't suit his driving style. Sarrazin was a hired gun back in the Aston Martin, Puegeot days. ITs hard to believe he lost skill in driving a conventional racecar but rather the cars are no longer conventional.

[TF110]

To me, he can deal with the loose rear type cars better like he does in Rallying and when he had the huge torque of the diesel in the Peugeot. I think the Toyota is obviously more powerful this year just looking at the lap times, seems like he's found a liking to the car this season. Maybe there's even more in it and his performance is aided by the more recent experience with these hybrid p1's than Lapierre and Kunimoto?

[Bubak]

Well, yeap, it is great that it can be possible (maybe with some fine to Toyota Racing, 5000 Euro +/-: D) to have Stéphane Sarrazin in num. 7. So, have two solid crews ... I think Toyota strategy will be clear and from oldstyle days: have two sprint cars to catch a win and one endurance trim behind two Porsches ... and who knows, perhaps num. 9 win a race as Porsche Num. 19 in 2015 (in terms of pace, but it will be f&cking miracle! ) ). I think that last endurance crew that already won Le Mans was Peugeot in 2009. Le Mans tyres strategy is a same as last year, no change on useing numbers of tyres, right?

Good or bad, Stéphane Sarrazin was so many times in driver lineup that battleing a win (in 2014 ... or last year in 6 num .... but there is clear indication that Porsche winning crew from last year in terms of whole performance were naturally better than No. 6 Toyota and more lucky one as No. 5. )

BTW, on June's issue of updated TS050 on Racecar Engineering Pascal Vasselon said that the weakest point was clearly the quality control last year. The part that broke physically [at Le Mans] was a quality issue which was impossible to catch (ehm, like wiring loom in 2014? :-/ ). Now, if they had the same failure, they would be able to do the last lap in four minutes at Le Mans (BTW they had similar problem with num. 6 later on Nürburgring WEC and car finised). It was because whole team
were running short of time of engine developing (well, right, run first dyno on the end of the year ((2015)) and 6 months later win LM? Not possible! ) and didn’t have right mode for the engine. So, late desitions about engine change to fit into a chassis (last year article about TS050 2016 spec. was saying that position of (inter)coolers was a nightmare).

The best picture of TS050 2016 engine so far what I have found is this one...



Well, line connector (pipes) from coolers and intercoolers are pretty weird... so maybe not suffering vibrations issues during a whole event... but, seems still a bit strange at whole.