Peugeot 908 discussion

[E46]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

I trust Marc's OK? If the car's bent, so what, they can make a new one.

I didn´t get more info coming from Spanish press, so I imagine he is OK, yes.

[EgoSprint]

http://es.autoblog.com/2010/11/18/ma...on-el-peugeot/

There is more info

He is OK, he should take it easy in his home for a couple of days, I just talked with one of his close friends.

[Tim the Grey]

Good to hear. As I say, I could care less about the car...

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

Good to hear. As I say, I could care less about the car...

Likewise, very relieved to hear he's ok.

[jp_olifer]

From sportmotores.es

"Sin embargo, Peugeot Sport se ha visto obligada a cancelar los tests debido a los enormes daños sufridos en el chasis del coche que pilotaba Gené"

Which means that Peugeot had to cancel the test because of the damage made to the car...

Bad news for them

[E46]

Originally Posted by EgoSprint

http://es.autoblog.com/2010/11/18/ma...on-el-peugeot/

There is more info

He is OK, he should take it easy in his home for a couple of days, I just talked with one of his close friends.

Autoblog quotes Sportmotores.es.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by Mal

If think he was referring to Pug not Audi

That is not what he wrote:

Originally Posted by chernaudi

each day that Peugeot loses is basically a day that Audi gains at this stage, since the R18 has been testing more than likely, and perhaps as early as September for all we know, and it can be conculded that Audi already may be ahead or at least on the same level, as the R18 is due to be publically launched within a month's time, though that may be irrlevenant--the Audi R10 was launced in mid-December 2005, and only had done a few tests dating from late Novemeber of that year.

He truly believes that Audi is ahead, while the R18 has not done any testing as far as we know

[Victor_RO]

And even if the R18 had been already testing in September, that would have given Peugeot a 2-month head start with the 90X first turning a wheel in July. And between July and the Monza test from where we had the first photos of the 90X in action... it could have been running around Peugeot's private test tracks as much as possible for all we know.

[vyselegend]

Lastest news from EI (google translation here) confirms Gene is OK and just went to hospital in accordance with usual crash procedures.

It tells also that testing schedule isn't put in question, although the wording doesn't makes it clear if they really continue as planned (i.e the crashed tub is all right, or their is a replacement available) or if they have to report the session...

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by vyselegend

It tells also that testing schedule isn't put in question, although the wording doesn't makes it clear if they really continue as planned (i.e the crashed tub is all right, or their is a replacement available) or if they have to report the session...

Glad it wasn't just my translation software. I couldn't make head nor tail of what they meant. A few drivers were at the test do we know if they were all scheduled to drive or whether it was some sort of team gathering?

[chernaudi]

Audi's Zhuhai PR and their peice on the race on Audi TV say that the R18 is to be publically launched in the first half of December. That being said by Audi Sport themselves, wouldn't they have to test the car at somepoint before hand--why show the public a car that doesn't work? Even most of Audi's concept road cars are driveable.

Even the R10 had some testing before it was shown in December of '05, albeit only a handfull of test before hand. Hence, Audi is at least on a similar testing schedule as with the R10 for certian.

As for the 90X, it seems that Marc is OK, but the 90X isn't and the test had to be abandoned. Either that's the only fully functioning 90X there is right now, or they didn't bring a spare tub or enough spares to rebuild the car. That should show us that even if the car was testing since July, that it's still early days in testing if there's a spares shortage.

And where was the car testing--had to be a pretty fast stretch of road for the car to be damaged beyond immediate repair, unless they've contracted with Audi Sport for front diffusers...

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

And where was the car testing--

MotorLand Aragon.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Even the R10 had some testing before it was shown in December of '05, albeit only a handfull of test before hand. Hence, Audi is at least on a similar testing schedule as with the R10 for certian.

As for the 90X, it seems that Marc is OK, but the 90X isn't and the test had to be abandoned. Either that's the only fully functioning 90X there is right now, or they didn't bring a spare tub or enough spares to rebuild the car. That should show us that even if the car was testing since July, that it's still early days in testing if there's a spares shortage.

And where was the car testing--had to be a pretty fast stretch of road for the car to be damaged beyond immediate repair, unless they've contracted with Audi Sport for front diffusers...

Just seems like a lot of jumping to conclusions at this stage, which is fine because it's good to speculate. I'm not an expert but you don't fabricate huge amounts of things if you are testing to see if they work. And IF the tub is cracked they can have all the parts they want, the car still isn't going anywhere unless they have a second tub on site.

[vyselegend]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Glad it wasn't just my translation software. I couldn't make head nor tail of what they meant. A few drivers were at the test do we know if they were all scheduled to drive or whether it was some sort of team gathering?

This is another obscure part. Who are the other drivers for this portugal test? From earlier posts in this thread we know Ant was one of them. Logic tells Pedro should be here too. But no more information. By that time of the year they're all free AFAIK so it could be everyone.

Knowing how much drivers they brung there could be interesting, because, if they are eight ore more that would mean there's two cars testing at least. If they're just three or four it's certainly a single car test.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Audi's Zhuhai PR and their peice on the race on Audi TV say that the R18 is to be publically launched in the first half of December. That being said by Audi Sport themselves, wouldn't they have to test the car at somepoint before hand--why show the public a car that doesn't work?

Look at the schedule of the Peugeot 908:

• 31 dec 2006: shakedown
• 4 jan 2007: first test session @ Castellet
• 10 jan 2007: presentation to international press

When the R18 is presented to the press, it has to be able to roll, but that is it. No a lot of track testing is required for that...

Moreover, remember that Ullrich has told repeatedly that testing will begin in December.

The R18 project?
"We should be testing before the end of the year, before Christmas. We follow our schedule. We are on schedule."

source: http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...ance-5418.html

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich told us at Le Mans that testing would begin in December and that by March there would be no turning back should the ACO change its rules beyond that point. By that point, details of the R18 would have been committed to and Audi would not have a chance to redesign.

source: http://forums.vwvortex.com/entry.php...ns-Rounds-Only

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by vyselegend

This is another obscure part. Who are the other drivers for this portugal test? From earlier posts in this thread we know Ant was one of them. Logic tells Pedro should be here too. But no more information. By that time of the year they're all free AFAIK so it could be everyone.

Knowing how much drivers they brung there could be interesting, because, if they are eight ore more that would mean there's two cars testing at least. If they're just three or four it's certainly a single car test.

Or another theory is it could have doubled up as some kind of team meeting, media-based stuff. Photos and the like. In his tweet Ant said "off to Spain for Peugeot duties". Whether that means testing or something else who knows?

[chernaudi]

But that doesn't fit in with the timeline as I've read it. Audi intends on showing the R18 in the first half of December. If Audi is following the R10's test regimen, the R18 at the very latest will have to be rolled out after the US Thanksgiving holliday.

Unless Audi is putting up a smokescreen and has done testing on guarded private property and/or they've done a ton of engine and chassis dyno testing for the engine and 7-post testing on the R18's chassis, testing should begin very soon at the latest! After all, Peugeot have been rumored to have had 90X test cars ready back as early as July, who's not to say that Audi hasn't either, and it seems that Audi has been a lot more secretive over the R18 than Peugeot has been with the 90X.

Just refer back to Dindo's comments about the R18--it seems to be very close to being ready to test, if not already testing. Audi can't afford for Peugeot to get a huge edge in testing, but that's maybe why the R15 will run Sebring.

I know that the R18 has little to do with the 90X aside from being it's direct competitor. However, if Peugeot has been testing the 90X since July, or even just September, then unless Audi has been testing the R18 in ultra-secrecy, they may have a huge advantage, unless Audi has designed the R18 before the 90X, and have done inhouse dyno and rig testing.

[Simmi]

I think it's fair to say the news about the 90X/July may well have prompted Audi to speed things up a bit. I'd say that's a fair assumption unless they are extremely confident. I'd also guess that Audi will be running slightly ahead of any declaration of time given by Ullrich. I don't trust a word either of these teams say.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by vyselegend

Knowing how much drivers they brung there could be interesting, because, if they are eight ore more that would mean there's two cars testing at least. If they're just three or four it's certainly a single car test.

The first officially official test of the 908, in March '07 at Ricard (at least according to RSC's listings) had 5 drivers sharing the same single car. http://www.racingsportscars.com/chas...to/908-01.html And another detail, Peugeot never raced the first 908 chassis they built, it must have remained a test car for its lifetime (perhaps becoming a show car later), so if they lose chassis 90X-01 it might not be that big of an issue. If Oreca will be running a 90X, Peugeot will still have to build at least 4 tubs by March.

[Tim the Grey]

There seems to be lots of Audi chat all of a sudden? That should be in the Audi thread, no?

It seems Pug have lost the 90X test/developement hack. So we shall see how accurate we all were about it is/isn't the real deal, when the mk2 appears...

[vyselegend]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

The first officially official test of the 908, in March '07 at Ricard (at least according to RSC's listings) had 5 drivers sharing the same single car. http://www.racingsportscars.com/chas...to/908-01.html And another detail, Peugeot never raced the first 908 chassis they built, it must have remained a test car for its lifetime (perhaps becoming a show car later), so if they lose chassis 90X-01 it might not be that big of an issue. If Oreca will be running a 90X, Peugeot will still have to build at least 4 tubs by March.

Yes, my logic was weak I agree. Also, as Simmi said, some could be there for driving duties, while other for PR, sponsor events, photos etc...

Some more news from Auto-Hebdo, reporting Peugeot comunication with "L'Equipe":

"Yes, there was an off. Yes Marc is all right. He just went for the few usual checks at the hospital. He didn't even crack a single nail. This doesn't change our testing program. We're now going to wait for the car's return."

OK so that is clarified. They indeed had only one car which has been crashed. Now I can't tell if they just wait the same (repaired) tub or a new one. Maybe the tub was OK but there were lots of mechanical damages and they were shorts of spare, which sounds very plausible for such experimental pre-season tests.

By the sound of it, rather than cancelling the test, they just extended their rental of the track, so they'll not drop late on their schedule.

[Simmi]

Quite interesting just reading Autosport today. It finally has something about the Gene crash. Peugeot won't reveal about whether the car was written off or not. But at the end of the piece it says there were rumours that the shark fin had been the reason behind the accident and that it was caused because of a cross wind!

Pug would not comment on this. But it was dismissed by Nick Carpenter, leader of the FIA fin aero study, who said the fin would have a correcting effect.

[trahsub]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Quite interesting just reading Autosport today. It finally has something about the Gene crash. Peugeot won't reveal about whether the car was written off or not. But at the end of the piece it says there were rumours that the shark fin had been the reason behind the accident and that it was caused because of a cross wind!

Pug would not comment on this. But it was dismissed by Nick Carpenter, leader of the FIA fin aero study, who said the fin would have a correcting effect.

Wow, that is hard to conceive. It's one thing when an 18-wheeler gets blown over on a bridge, but a cross wind hitting such a small area of surface on the sharkwing and being able to overcome the cf of friction on tires-to-track. . .hard to imagine.

[yamato]

A gust of wind does not have to flip the car over to cause an accident. All it has to do is upset the car when it is on the edge of adhesion,.... or even just at the wrong time for the driver,.....

I'd say that it is very possible for a heavy gust of wind lead to a car going off course.

[Simmi]

Yeah the problem is it is difficult to work out whether a fin was to blame without knowing the nature of the accident and where it took place. I'm not sure if I can remember F1 cars getting blown off course with their fins, but it must surely effect them in some way.

But if it did turn out to be the case. Some fairly epic reconsiderations and meetings would need to be taking place right now.