WR Did it finish?

FG1 · 23 Jun 2002, 09:59 (Ref:319456)

I seem to have missed the reason why the WR was classified as having finished. It's last lap was well over the 6 minute rule, so why is it classfied?

Don't get me wrong, I'm quite pleased that it has. I'd just like to know the reason behind it.

FG

Fab · 23 Jun 2002, 10:08 (Ref:319462)

Maybe because the car was not able to go faster, and the pilot was not responsible of the slowness (?) of its car ?

Just a thought, I really don't know the official reason, I'll try to check on french sites...

Liz · 23 Jun 2002, 11:43 (Ref:319520)

It lost a wheel at the end so perhaps that was why?

FG1 · 23 Jun 2002, 13:51 (Ref:319550)

Unless the rules say "you must do you last lap in 6 minutes or less unless the car is broken" they should still have been unclassified. The Radio Le Mans guys were quite certain that it would be excluded, and whilst they are far from being correct on every occasion they do know the regs a bit better than I do.

FG

Speedworx · 23 Jun 2002, 15:01 (Ref:319638)

The WR had six minutes from when the winner crossed the line. It managed it, JUST.

**Adam43** · 23 Jun 2002, 16:00 (Ref:319704)

I understood that the rule was the time of the actual cars lap, not the amount of time after the winner had crossed the line. Afte rall it was brought in after the winning car took so long to do it's last lap last year.

I think that WR could claim force majeure.

Lots of cars did they last lap in under 6 minutes! Check out the results from the ACO website (it gives the last lap time. Both Cadillacs and both Corvettes did a 6:12 lap (not surprising as they were together) amongst others.

However the WR lap was clocked at 1:49.215. Quite impressive.

Incidentally the winners last lap time was 5:17.479

Graham Goodwin · 23 Jun 2002, 18:30 (Ref:319805)

The rear suspension failed on its penultimate lap. Those at the start/finish line will have seen it cross the line at a fair lick - with only 2 wheels in contact with the track!!! Gutted for the team, when push comes to shove they deserved the class win more than the Reynard.

Lawson Bant · 23 Jun 2002, 18:46 (Ref:319813)

While watching at Mulsanne, it got one of the biggest cheers of the day with everyone willing it to get round in the time.

FG1 · 23 Jun 2002, 18:51 (Ref:319820)

Quote:

Originally posted by AdamAshmore
However the WR lap was clocked at 1:49.215. Quite impressive.

I suspect that should be 11:49:215.

It appears that no-one really has any idea then, everyone's just guessing still. I feel an email to the ACO coming on!

FG

**Adam43** · 23 Jun 2002, 20:34 (Ref:319914)

I guessed that too, FG1.

The rule was introduced to stop cars doing ridiculously slow last laps. No one really did (at least not on purpose), so I don't think it is a problem. It also makes no difference to the result.

Piglet · 23 Jun 2002, 20:39 (Ref:319918)

The final lap time will be odd anyway because the timing line is at the pit entry so the final lap will include the time that the car spent in the pit lane - which I think was probably only 5-10 minutes?

I think they should be allowed the classification - as far as I can tell the rule was never intended to penalise cars in this position and it seems fair that an exception should be made in this case.

We saw it go past the Dunlop Bridge and it really didn't look like it was going to make the lap - good on them for getting it round!

Griff · 23 Jun 2002, 22:15 (Ref:320001)

Hi FG
They realy did deserve the class win . I'm not a particular WR lover but to break so close to the end GUTTING!!
B ut in answer to your question I only have one thing
to say FRENCH TEAM !!!!!!!
All the best
GRIFF

FG1 · 23 Jun 2002, 22:25 (Ref:320006)

Quote:

Originally posted by Griff
FRENCH TEAM !!!!!!!

You may well be right, but in the circumstances the French normally come out with some sort of justification. The French just love bureaucracy when it suites them, they probably have a reason for justifying their inclusion. I would just like to know what it is!

And just to say once again, I am pleased that they have been classified, I think they should have been and it was great to see them do everything they could to get the car to the finish. I just want to know how the ACO have squirmed out of their own rule! Or have I mis-understood the rule?

FG

Griff · 23 Jun 2002, 22:32 (Ref:320013)

yOUR RIGHT IT WILL be interesting to see how they get arround ther own rule book, after all that effort they
deserve the result { WR that is }
Griff

Fab · 24 Jun 2002, 13:27 (Ref:320385)

Quote:

Originally posted by FG1
in the circumstances the French normally come out with some sort of justification. The French just love bureaucracy when it suites them, they probably have a reason for justifying their inclusion

Oh, FG, you think so ?

Some pictures and the story of the WR at LM 2002 by Stephane Daoudi here :
http://www.spiritof.com.fr/spirit%20...ane_LM2002.htm
but in french... sorry !

I send a message to Stephane to ask why they are classified at the end...

Fab · 26 Jun 2002, 05:45 (Ref:321781)

Against all odds, I had the confirmation by Stephane Daoudi himself that he made it in less than 6' (not from far) in the last lap... it was hard and dangerous with only two wheels on the track.

He said that there's no exception in the ACO rules for the last lap : above 6' means "no classified" at all...

Then, officialy classified...

He confirmed that next year they will have a brand new V6 atmospheric Peugeot (they have a 4 turbocharge for the moment), and that this new engine will do an ALMS race before the end of the year...

Roll on 2003 !

FG1 · 26 Jun 2002, 07:21 (Ref:321827)

Quote:

Originally posted by Fab
Against all odds, I had the confirmation by Stephane Daoudi himself that he made it in less than 6' (not from far) in the last lap... it was hard and dangerous with only two wheels on the track.

There must be another timing beam at the end of the pit lane then? From the time it crossed the beam at the start/finish area going into the pits to the time it crossed it again after 16:00 over 10 minutes had elapsed. Either that or time in the pits is excluded by another method.

I'm still curious as to exactly how that worked! But pleased they made it of course.

FG

**Adam43** · 26 Jun 2002, 07:50 (Ref:321840)

Quote:

Originally posted by Fab
He said that there's no exception in the ACO rules for the last lap : above 6' means "no classified" at all...

In which case the following cars should be NC.

9th: 6 CADILLAC 6:12.624
11th: 63 CORVETTE 6:12.232 (GTS winner)
12th: 7 CADILLAC 6:12.001
13th: 64 CORVETTE 6:12.020
18th: 50 VIPER 6:15.143
24th: 911 6:23.164
25th: VIPER 6:15.000
26th: SALEEN 6:13.263
27th: VAILLANTE 7:34.575

This is from the ACO site. Surely not everyone of these had a pitstop on the penultimate lap!

Odd! I don't think any of these should be NC, but I am curious to why they were classified.

FG1 · 26 Jun 2002, 08:12 (Ref:321848)

Quite, I'd forgotten those times. The plot thickens!

FG

FG1 · 26 Jun 2002, 08:52 (Ref:321874)

From the ACO Reg:

Quote:

Art. 25 - Classifications
Ref. to "A.C.O. 2002 Specifications"
25.2.5 - In order to be classified, a car shall have achieved :
A/ When 75 % of the time of the race elapsed : at least 50 % of the distance achieved
by the car leading the race under pain of Exclusion ;
B/ At the Finish : at least 70 % of the distance achieved by the car winning the race.
C/ The last lap in a time inferior to 6 minutes. It is forbidden to stop on the track waiting for the presentation of the chequered flag.

Not much room for manoeuvre there!

Fab · 26 Jun 2002, 10:04 (Ref:321922)

Quote:

Originally posted by AdamAshmore

In which case the following cars should be NC.

9th: 6 CADILLAC 6:12.624
11th: 63 CORVETTE 6:12.232 (GTS winner)
12th: 7 CADILLAC 6:12.001
13th: 64 CORVETTE 6:12.020
18th: 50 VIPER 6:15.143
24th: 911 6:23.164
25th: VIPER 6:15.000
26th: SALEEN 6:13.263
27th: VAILLANTE 7:34.575

This is from the ACO site. Surely not everyone of these had a pitstop on the penultimate lap!

Odd! I don't think any of these should be NC, but I am curious to why they were classified.

Can't explain... only the ACO could ! But Stephane Daoudi seems to be affirmative...

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