|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
21 May 2020, 17:56 (Ref:3977572) | #6726 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,567
|
Quote:
|
||
|
6 Jul 2020, 18:00 (Ref:3986301) | #6727 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,054
|
Nick de Vries replaces Thomas Laurent as development/reserve driver:
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...eserve-driver/ |
||
|
6 Jul 2020, 18:06 (Ref:3986303) | #6728 | |||
Team Crouton
20KPINAL
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 39,934
|
Quote:
|
|||
__________________
280 days...... |
6 Jul 2020, 18:15 (Ref:3986309) | #6729 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,891
|
Also who will Nick actually drive for this year, he appears to be signed for 3 teams.
|
||
|
6 Jul 2020, 18:29 (Ref:3986312) | #6730 | ||
Racer
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 211
|
|||
|
6 Jul 2020, 19:16 (Ref:3986324) | #6731 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,920
|
it's insane how a driver that could fairly fight against leclerc and norris has been hired by toyota only as development driver... I know experience is essential in endurance racing, but de Vries simply outclasses by far all toyota work drivers.
|
|
|
7 Jul 2020, 01:59 (Ref:3986376) | #6732 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,232
|
Quote:
Also besides having 3 lmp seats he is also at Mercedes in Formula E. Last edited by deggis; 7 Jul 2020 at 02:07. |
||
|
7 Jul 2020, 05:06 (Ref:3986384) | #6733 | ||
Racer
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 169
|
I beg your pardon, but I have to argue a little here...Toyota has professional drivers and in the likes of Buemi, Nakajima, Kobayashi would offer him a fierce opposition in any class, despite these three having minor success in F1.
|
||
|
7 Jul 2020, 07:22 (Ref:3986402) | #6734 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,891
|
Not sure everyone would agree with you there, but he appears to be getting plenty of paid drives at the moment so some people in the sport seem to think he is a future star, so lets see what happens when we get back to normal.
|
||
|
7 Jul 2020, 07:35 (Ref:3986414) | #6735 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,920
|
Quote:
Never questioned professionalism of toyota work drivers, it's just new generation drivers like norris, verstappen, leclerc, de vries, russell are simply insanely talented and would likely outclass everyone in their way. He finished 4th on 2018 F2 champ, but russell aside who dominated the season, de vries, albon (3rd) and norris (2nd) were all in less than 20 points. If am not wrong, at austin qualifying, de vries set a time 0.7s faster than everyone else, that is jaw dropping for a basically spec class. |
||
|
7 Jul 2020, 07:39 (Ref:3986416) | #6736 | |||
Racer
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 169
|
Quote:
|
|||
|
7 Jul 2020, 07:55 (Ref:3986422) | #6737 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,920
|
Quote:
well, I could answer asking why a driver like grosjean it's about 10 years he's in f1 despite his shameful results (and the answer is cl€ar). Guess de vries, like ocon last season, pays the fact to be a mercedes backed guy and actually simply there is no place for him since williams has already russell (another mercedes guy) and latifi (paying driver) while force india RP has perez and stroll (team owner son). Last edited by canaglia; 7 Jul 2020 at 08:08. |
||
|
7 Jul 2020, 08:08 (Ref:3986426) | #6738 | |||
Racer
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 169
|
Quote:
|
|||
|
8 Jul 2020, 13:11 (Ref:3986732) | #6739 | ||
Racer
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 248
|
Saying De Vries is better than the whole squad is a bit of a leap!
|
||
|
8 Jul 2020, 14:05 (Ref:3986742) | #6740 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,891
|
|||
|
8 Jul 2020, 15:38 (Ref:3986773) | #6741 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,920
|
Well, life isn't black or white and are grey zones that actually matter.
Let's think about andre lotterer, between early and mid '10 he was clearly the best audi factory lmp1 driver despite he debuted on a lmp1 only in 2009. Then, think about fernando alonso, 2 times f1 world champion and by many considered one of best f1 driver ever existed, likely still one of the best if only could get in a competitive team. Despite this, alonso never outclassed his toyota mates for the simple reason he hadn't the same experience and know how about endurance racing of drivers like buemi or conway. Once said that, there is no doubt that alonso would have outclassed everyone else in toyota team if he had more time to get more experience and better adapt to a different racing discipline. I basically think the same about de vries, he is insanely more talented than other toyota drivers but these latters have years of experience on their side that is actually more important than talent alone in endurance. To me is just unusual for toyota to have one of most promising drivers around and use him just as test/reserve/development driver. But I can see if it's a de vries choice to get free as soon he'll get his chance to move to f1 in future. |
|
|
9 Jul 2020, 02:56 (Ref:3986883) | #6742 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,567
|
Toyota is currently testing the LM package at Paul Ricard. No pictures of the car I've seen yet, just a Twitter post from the team.
|
|
|
9 Jul 2020, 05:59 (Ref:3986894) | #6743 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,891
|
|||
|
9 Jul 2020, 20:53 (Ref:3987064) | #6744 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,045
|
S365 posted a piece about the session. Kolles and Rebellion were there as well.
All 6 drivers plus de Vries took part. Plus all 6 Rebellion drivers. Kolles had Spengler, Dillman, and an unnamed pro driver. Signatech Alpine and Cool also took part with AF Corse Am and Dempsey-Proton as well https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...t-paul-ricard/ |
|
|
9 Jul 2020, 21:00 (Ref:3987070) | #6745 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,891
|
Sounds like it was a busy day at the circuit
|
||
|
9 Jul 2020, 21:46 (Ref:3987079) | #6746 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 12,045
|
Apparently if Toyota rents it they have to offer it to everyone. Seems reasonable to me if one team is already there, any no one really challenges them anyway.
Kolles kept up the string of things breaking to mess with their schedule so they missed night running last night. |
|
|
10 Jul 2020, 09:22 (Ref:3987151) | #6747 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 6,137
|
|||
|
13 Jul 2020, 02:07 (Ref:3987806) | #6748 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 15,567
|
Last edited by TF110; 13 Jul 2020 at 02:16. |
|
|
13 Jul 2020, 02:20 (Ref:3987807) | #6749 | ||
14th
1% Club
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 44,025
|
That rear deck is really low!
And the Kolles looks less low downforce. |
||
__________________
Brum brum |
13 Jul 2020, 08:02 (Ref:3987834) | #6750 | |
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 11,087
|
Front fenders are approaching the Audi/Porsche level of ugly now too.
|
|
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Audi LMP1 Discussion | gwyllion | ACO Regulated Series | 11685 | 16 Feb 2017 10:42 |
Nissan LMP1 Discussion | Gingers4Justice | Sportscar & GT Racing | 5568 | 17 Feb 2016 23:22 |
Strakka LMP1 discussion | Pontlieue | Sportscar & GT Racing | 56 | 12 Jul 2015 19:12 |
The never ending Toyota return to Le Mans (LMP1) Saga | The Badger | ACO Regulated Series | 6844 | 8 Jan 2014 02:19 |
How about a LMP1 Pro & LMP1 Privateer class | Holt | Sportscar & GT Racing | 35 | 6 Jun 2012 13:44 |