Stormin' Norma - Page 2

Fab · 13 Jun 2003, 07:18 (Ref:630254)

Quote:

Originally posted by pirenzo
I hate to say it, but it's only there because it's French...

As the team is based in Florida, they're not considered by ACO as a real french team... BTW, ACO refused to enter a second factory Courage LMP 900 ; ACO choosed the Norma to give a last chance to a team who came at LM when the grid was poor... but it changes nothing on the fact that this entry is wasted, as you precised before ; really too bad for the Taurus Lola, or even another car in the pace of its own category.

We have to consider that, if ACO doesn't enter that kind of small team, their life should be short : even Pescarolo team is threatened for next year (lack o f real results at LM)... who could be on the grid behind ? We cannot have only VAG and RFH... we need small teams too ; and remember that, if we talked only about MG last year, there was only two LMP 675 at the chekered flag, WR and Noel del Bello, who were quite anonymous during the test days...

That doesn't mean that I have any expectations for the Norma, but 'with a little bit of luck'...

Tim Northcutt · 13 Jun 2003, 15:40 (Ref:630619)

I agree, Fab...Sezionale is a North American distributor of the Norma chassis, but this whole "it's French, so it gets special treatment" thing is for the birds....

IMO, the ACO has far too much integrity to let nationalistic politics get in the way of things when it comes to Le Mans...

But I will add that the Norma will need more than "A little Luck"...

Like 2/3 of the field dropping out...to get anywhere near the top of the grid....

paul-collins · 13 Jun 2003, 18:06 (Ref:630714)

I hear that all cars and drivers have made qualifying, despite Nasamax, Norma and WR's '02 car not making the cutoff (110% of the top lap in class) with any of their drivers.

How should this be read? Last year there was a driver or two who did not qualify, right?

Fab · 13 Jun 2003, 18:10 (Ref:630723)

Paul, they could be alowed to race by ACO, but starting from the back of the grid... but it's not sure !

Tim, ACO are not angel, but not beeing a firm but an association, they usualy are more straight and honest... well, so far !

paul-collins · 13 Jun 2003, 18:49 (Ref:630787)

Really? dailysportscar said

Quote:

The list of cars and drivers entitled to take part in the morning warm-up tomorrow reveals that all 49 remaining cars will start with their nominated three driver line-ups, irrespective of each driver’s ability to meet the minimum time.

So the decision isn't final yet?

JAG · 13 Jun 2003, 19:45 (Ref:630867)

Next year 24 cars will qualify for LM through there performances at LM, ALMS, LMT AND FIA GT.

Tim Northcutt · 13 Jun 2003, 21:00 (Ref:630912)

Has the sporting committee posted the "Official Starting Grid" yet???

If not, I wouldn't assume anything....the results from the past two days are "provisional" until the starting grid is announced by the Committee...

IMPORTANT NOTE:

I'm not sure if it was on this thread or another, but there is a provision beyond the 110% rule that allows:

"For the committee to accept an entrant who is within 125% of the top three different chassis makes in the same class as the entrant"

That might make Norma OK...don't know about the new Welter racing..

Nasamax improved enough to get in under the 110%, didn't they???

But Norma is still a waste of an invite...

paul-collins · 14 Jun 2003, 00:47 (Ref:631020)

Nasamax missed the 110% by 0.2s, if you can believe it.

Tim, is that a quote or paraphrase? The quote I found did not say "same class" in the same phrase as 125%...

Tim Northcutt · 14 Jun 2003, 02:36 (Ref:631050)

Actually a paraphrase....sorry about that...

My paraphrase puts a whole new meaning to it that probably is not there...

The LM site doesn't list a starting grid as of now, but they did last year before the day of the race....

Bizarre, isn't it????

paul-collins · 14 Jun 2003, 12:36 (Ref:631213)

I wonder when it will show up. dailysportscar said the list of cars eligible for warmup was the full 49, and that all 49 participated.

Here's a quote from the regs:

Quote:

Drivers shall achieve a lap time at least equal to 125 % of the average of the 3 best laps set by 3 cars of different makes, and at least equal to 110 % of the best time achieved by the fastest car in each category :
"LM" P 900 / "LM" GTP, "LM" P 675, "LM" GTS and "LM" GT.

Is that the one you were thinking of?

**skycafe** · 14 Jun 2003, 22:57 (Ref:631632)

Per Radio Le Mans, the Norma is Storma no more.

rdjones · 16 Jun 2003, 18:43 (Ref:633290)

Well it did 83 laps and it was so ssssssssssslllllllllllloooooooowwwwwwwwwww...........

Tim Northcutt · 16 Jun 2003, 18:49 (Ref:633301)

It was, Paul-Collins..and boy was my paraphrase off the mark...sorry, guys...

That regualtion needs revision....the Norma was a moving road block on Saturday....had no business being there...

Fab · 17 Jun 2003, 04:58 (Ref:633748)

I don't think they'll be allowed by ACO to come back, due to lack of performances, except if they do better next year in ALMS...

rdjones · 19 Jun 2003, 11:48 (Ref:636507)

I see from this weeks Autosport that they are building a new LMP2 car for next year.................

cybersdorf · 19 Jun 2003, 12:49 (Ref:636566)

Did they actually use their "langheck" in the race?

...as opposed to the conventional configuration:

(images from www.sportproto.com)

KA · 19 Jun 2003, 13:12 (Ref:636595)

If they did, it didn't help much.....

cybersdorf · 19 Jun 2003, 13:21 (Ref:636603)

But, did they?

kdr · 19 Jun 2003, 14:34 (Ref:636682)

i have one frame of the car from behind and yes they used their "langheck".

Fab · 19 Jun 2003, 15:53 (Ref:636733)

Quote:

Originally posted by kdr
i have one frame of the car from behind and yes they used their "langheck".

Short at PQ ! :confused:

Sorry, long during the race, checked on my own pics...

cybersdorf · 19 Jun 2003, 16:09 (Ref:636751)

The long and the short of it is, they weren't fast enough

**FIRE** · 19 Jun 2003, 19:31 (Ref:636919)

Quote:

Originally posted by Fab
We cannot have only VAG and RFH... we need small teams too

I think Jan is happy to see that he belongs to the big players.

But to be honoust RfH is maybe a so called big team because they have 2 cars but their budget is small.

**FIRE** · 19 Jun 2003, 19:33 (Ref:636920)

Quote:

Originally posted by rdjones
I see from this weeks Autosport that they are building a new LMP2 car for next year.................

They have already Norma M20 CM/CN car:

http://perso.wanadoo.fr/sportracer/Norma%20M%2020.htm

**FIRE** · 19 Jun 2003, 19:37 (Ref:636923)

And this:
I think they can better concentrate in building a LMP2/LM750 car because this class is weak. It their car is reliable than maybe they get a podium finish at Le Mans in this class.

Fab · 20 Jun 2003, 05:18 (Ref:637248)

Quote:

Originally posted by FIRE
I think Jan is happy to see that he belongs to the big players. But to be honoust RFH is maybe a so called big team because they have 2 cars but their budget is small.

That makes their performance even bigger !

And for me, they're now essential to thr grid : I'd like to see them to win Le Mans once...

And a pair of Dome is better than a singlet...

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