Audi LMP1 Discussion

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Holt

Is McNish and Kristensen starting to show their age?

They can still keep up at a track that isn't as physically demanding like LeMans, but they've been lagging behind everywhere else

I think they are ..... but still one of the best crews . I'd still have'em in my team , if I had a team !!!

[gwyllion]

The French magazine AUTOhebdo was able to test drive the R18 on the Misano track.

A full report will apear in the next edition (October 12), but a video of the test is available on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovq8K1Bqa1Q

BTW they also test drove the R15+ in May: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bojHb8eYvBU

[MitchZ06]

Is it just me or do the drivers have a better view out the side of the cockpit than we've been harping on about? Sidepods don't seem so freaking huge from where the driver would be either and considering the height GT cars should be simple to see....

[adrs2k]

I agree. There does seem to be a lot more outward visibility than we though.

[henk4]

Originally Posted by adrs2k

I agree. There does seem to be a lot more outward visibility than we though.

which makes the way some Audi drivers move through traffic these days even more questionable

[gwyllion]

Note that the on-board camera is positioned further back than the drivers head.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

The French magazine AUTOhebdo was able to test drive the R18 on the Misano track.

A full report will apear in the next edition (October 12), but a video of the test is available on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ovq8K1Bqa1Q

BTW they also test drove the R15+ in May: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bojHb8eYvBU

So Audi let journalists test drive the car?

[adrs2k]

I would think sitting more forward compared to the camera's location that you have a better view out the front. Probably a little less peripheral vision though.

The problem, and we are seeing it in F1 as a hot topic is lack of visibility to the left right and rear of the car. I believe Mclaren stated that their mirrors are really only good enough to see color, meaning there is a car behind. Rules need to require larger mirrors etc.

[gucom]

there seems to be a mirror to be able to see the blind corner (if that's the right word, the literal translation from Dutch is dead angle / dead corner) on the right hand side A-pillar, is that just for these journalists or is it always there?

[MihokS5]

I saw this earlier today and also thought that the visibility was good. I also didn't know that Audi had a small mirror on the right side to help get around that seat molded side window

[chernaudi]

I did watch that onboard, and it seemed that occasionally that images would distort out the windshild, especially at the top of it. I don't know what effect that has on visibility.

Also, it shows a potentially bigger problem with how thick the A-pillars are, especially near the base of the windshield.

And there may also be something to increasing the visibility with the mirrors, though that doesn't really apply to the LMP1s with how small they are.

But I think that the onboards that we've seen can be deceptive--the one linked here has the camera mounted behind the driver's line of sight, and the ALMS/ILMC onboards seem to have the camera mounted a lot further forward, almost it seems on the dashboard.

Only the Audi drivers know about the visibility issues, and it seems that they're being paid quite well to not make as big a deal of it in the public as maybe they should be.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Only the Audi drivers know about the visibility issues, and it seems that they're being paid quite well to not make as big a deal of it in the public as maybe they should be.

What about the AUTOhebdo journalist who was allowed to drive the R18?

[chernaudi]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

What about the AUTOhebdo journalist who was allowed to drive the R18?

We'll have to see what he says--or is allowed to say--when the mag comes out, which should be today as it's the 12th.

Whatever the R18's issues are, it's clear that something is up, because it doesn't effect them on a clear track, but in traffic or in close racing, there's been issues.

[gwyllion]

FYI interview with Leena Gade: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z5m4djTKDM

[gwyllion]

According to http://www.lemanslive.com/en/2011/10...ting-in-spain/ Michelin did a tyre test last week in Aragon Motorland and this week in Estoril.

This week, MICHELIN and a number of its partners were at Aragon-Motorland, Spain, to evaluate new solutions for 2012. Audi, Porsche and Ferrari all attended this session which was given over to slick tyres.

A second test will be held at Estoril, Portugal, later this month when work will focus on the intermediate and rain tyres that will be used in next year’s different endurance racing championships, including the World Endurance Championship which will kick off at Sebring, Florida, in March.

We know that Peugeot was testing (2012 spec, tyres and hybrid) in Estoril, but Audi was not mentioned. So Audi probably only went to Aragon and Peugeot to Estoril.

[chernaudi]

The difference could be that the Pug test was a private test done entirely on their own initiative, while it seems that the Audi Aragon and likely the Estoril tests are tests that Audi and Michelin have scheduled. If Audi already had a test set up at Estoril, why test there earlier unless they were desperate to test things.

Or Audi could be testing things on their car (other than tires) for 2012 like it is rumored that Peugeot is, and maybe stuff for Zhuhai, too. I wouldn't put it against Audi or Peugeot to show up in China about a month from now with new aero pieces or even mechanical modifications to test in-race before the end of the season, because Audi and Peugeot have nothing to lose now at Zhuhai aside from the race win.

[gwyllion]

Okay, according to http://www.lemansportugal.com/destaq...stes-oficiais/ the Peugeot Estoril test was indeed a private test and later this month there will be an official Michelin tyre test with Audi, Peugeot and other manufacturers.

[LeMans.pt]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Okay, according to http://www.lemansportugal.com/destaq...stes-oficiais/ the Peugeot Estoril test was indeed a private test and later this month there will be an official Michelin tyre test with Audi, Peugeot and other manufacturers.

The source if an oficial from Estoril circuit.

[chernaudi]

As I said, Peugeot probably scheduled their own test who knows how far in advance, probably knowing--or at least hoping--that Audi wouldn't be there. Same with the Audi tire tests at Aragon and Estoril--those were probably set up quite a while ago, since these tests were co-sanctioned by Michelin, and, as result, Audi knew that Peugeot won't attend at least the Aragon test.

It's clear that there's an element to secrecy to the tests on both sides, but the Audi tire test also had Ferrari and Porsche GT teams attending. Sort of hard to not let visible developments go unnoticed. So either the GT teams didn't pay attention/care, or Audi is testing something of a mechanical nature for 2012 at Aragon, considering that they were testing tires proposed for the 2012 version of the R18.

[deggis]

http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newssept11.html

And in other news, we understand Audi is working on a "new" car for next year. Whether new-new or an update of the R18 we're unsure.

[Canada ALMS fan]

^Murphy the Bear reported that almost a month ago but no one seemed to notice.

[deggis]

Blog or twitter? Direct link?

[Canada ALMS fan]

I don't recall but it was a comment to the effect that if you wanted to see the R18 on American soil that Petit this year would be its' only appearance. Sounds hard to believe but obviously if Mike is hearing the same thing??? Could just be an R18+?
Audi is advertising that R18 commercial like crazy in Canada this week promoting the ultra light weight technology in the new A6 on several national stations. Pretty cool seeing a Le Mans car on mainstream media a couple of times per hour. (I've been home sick from work so I know )

[chernaudi]

We have to go back several months ago in this thread to see that this isn't new news--it was alleged shortly after LM this year that Audi may have a "new" car for 2012.

In an Autosport interview, Dr. Ullrich reportedly said that the car's R18 parentage would be obvious, in that it would look much the same and would share the design of the tub and the powertrain mechanicals (engine and gearbox), but, due to the hybrid system, they were considering a name change.

Of course, it also may hint at additional evolutionary changes, like maybe trying to fix the alleged visibility issues--maybe the disaster that PLM was may've finally made Audi pull the trigger on that front.

[henk4]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

We have to go back several months ago in this thread to see that this isn't new news--it was alleged shortly after LM this year that Audi may have a "new" car for 2012.

In an Autosport interview, Dr. Ullrich reportedly said that the car's R18 parentage would be obvious, in that it would look much the same and would share the design of the tub and the powertrain mechanicals (engine and gearbox), but, due to the hybrid system, they were considering a name change.

Of course, it also may hint at additional evolutionary changes, like maybe trying to fix the alleged visibility issues--maybe the disaster that PLM was may've finally made Audi pull the trigger on that front.

would that also explain that journos were already allowed to drive the current model?