ACO to slow GTS

[JAG]

Even in F1, were the manufactuers have been very powerful and resited change, the FIA is putting its foot down and slowing the F1 cars down significantly in the coming years.

[Bob Riebe]

Originally posted by pounetbf
don't forget the safety problem .
All along the history, the rules have been changed everytume the cars are felt to be too fast. (remember, for example, the 917).
the faster th cars, and especially in corners, the higher the risk for the public. that means bigger wire fences, and larger safety distance between the track and the public area. this is due to FIA rules and public laws.
Le Mans (nor anybody else) cannot afford a second 1955 drama.

apparently the ACO feel (and I do too) that the good value is, for the better time in practice session.:
- more than 3'30" for prototypes
- more than 3'50" for GTS
- more than 4'05" (or 4'10") for GT

So, as the cars are faster and faster, especialy in curves, due to improvements in tyres and aerodynamics, ACO (and FIA) will regularly adjust the rules to stay within those limits.
For exemple with a slightly smaller restrictor.
And the manufacturers will continue to try to make a better car within the existing limits. research and improvement is a premanent process.

IF this is true, turn out the lights the party is over. The Chicken-Littles of the world are in power. How disgusting!

I read in Euro mag. today an interview with Chris Ammon, where he said the tracks he enjoyed most were the old Spa, Nurburgring, and Clermont-Ferrand. These tracks it seems would have current FIA people and too many fans blowing chunks out of fear that anyone would dare drive them.

The socialists of the world have succeeded in turning men into cowaring weenies.
God have mercy on us.
Bob

[JAG]

Disgusting?

[Bob Riebe]

Originally posted by JAG
Disgusting?

Its called safety and has been ACO and every other formulas policy for the last 20 years!!!!

I thought it was called RACING and that is why people such as Amon and other well knowns loved to RACE at such CHALLENGING tracks.
Maybe they could run go-karts at Indy and Monte Carlo.
That would be called SAFETY.
Bob

[JAG]

A track can be challenging without being uneccessarly dangerous, i.e Spa, Le Mans etc.

Even the Nordschleife could be made safe if the cash was available.

[pounetbf]

Originally posted by Bob Riebe
IF this is true, turn out the lights the party is over. The Chicken-Littles of the world are in power. How disgusting!

I read in Euro mag. today an interview with Chris Ammon, where he said the tracks he enjoyed most were the old Spa, Nurburgring, and Clermont-Ferrand. These tracks it seems would have current FIA people and too many fans blowing chunks out of fear that anyone would dare drive them.

The socialists of the world have succeeded in turning men into cowaring weenies.
God have mercy on us.
Bob

sorry, my english is not good enough to completely understand this.

But I have a few questions :

How many killed driver per 10 years do you find an acceptable value?
and how many flag marshalls (who are unpaid volunteers) ?

I have been flag marshall 10 years and 2 times the death has been just a few inches from me. And a good frien has been killed...
I have already seen sevral ones killed in le mans, as drivers and volunteers and due to the safety improvements no one since a very long time now.
You are free to find it is not a progrees but this will not ne my opinion

Safety for everybody is a permanent improvement everywhere and for everybody. (If not, why football or hockey players are wearing protections ?)

Reducing of 3 seconds the top time of GTs in le Mans is less than 2%. It is just stabilizing the level of last year. (and quickly of this year) It seems to be a good balance between safety and performance. And nobody can tell that the GTS race was boring those last years.

Just have a look to any serie existing since a long time. everywhere (except perhaps dragsters the rules have regularly been change to stabilise the performances.
if not, what would be today the power of a 917/30 ? 3000 or 4000 HP ?
Do you think it could be driven in many of the ALMS track ?


I would also remind you than in 1955 almost 100 spectators have been killed in one single accident. If such a thing happenned now , millions of electors who are not motors sport fans (plus ecologists, and a lot of other lobbies) will immediately exige from the governement to stop such a dangerous activity.
in europe as in USA...

So it is just a question of survival for Le mans to permanently improve the safety.


I will not comment the word "socialism", as it is definitively not the scope of such a forum, but I wonder where is the relation with sportscar. Or we have a totally different meaning for this word...

[Nordic]

Its called progress, some we like, fewer drivers & marshals killed or maimed some we don't, the loss of some of the great tracks and corners.

If slowing the cars by a couple of sec's a lap makes it a bit safer then I will not complain.

[pounetbf]

Originally posted by Nordic
Its called progress, some we like, fewer drivers & marshals killed or maimed some we don't, the loss of some of the great tracks and corners.

If slowing the cars by a couple of sec's a lap makes it a bit safer then I will not complain.

definitively right !

Note : if we have lost some of the great tracks, is is also because they have not been able to adapt to the evolution of cars.

We have also winned some greats corner. The "nouvelle portion", from the porsche curve to the ford is definitively nicer than the old "maison blanche" (no real curve from Mulsane to the dunlop bridge). The recent one after the Dunlop bridge is also very nice.

[Bob Riebe]

Originally posted by pounetbf
definitively right !

Note : if we have lost some of the great tracks, is is also because they have not been able to adapt to the evolution of cars.

We have also winned some greats corner. The "nouvelle portion", from the porsche curve to the ford is definitively nicer than the old "maison blanche" (no real curve from Mulsane to the dunlop bridge). The recent one after the Dunlop bridge is also very nice.

Cars are built to handle roads, NOT ROADS TO FIT POORLY DESIGNED CARS!

[pounetbf]

Originally posted by Bob Riebe
Cars are built to handle roads, NOT ROADS TO FIT POORLY DESIGNED CARS!

Wher in the hell have you found I have told this ?
This is totally opposite of my mind !

But if I remind well, even Indianapolis road has been changed.
It was made of brick wasn't it ?
Do you think it should have stayed this way ?

[Nordic]

Cars are built to handle roads, NOT ROADS TO FIT POORLY DESIGNED CARS!

Racing cars (thats are we are talking about here) are designed to go as fast as each designer can make them within a set of rules. A designer should not need to worry about runoff areas, the proximity of concrete barriers, what would happen to a marshal should the car leave the track. His sole aim should be a car that is safe for the driver.

The Track owners have to make sure the track is safe for everyone else.

[paul-collins]

Actually, wasn't the original intent of the ACO to raise awareness of the importance of building better roads?

[Mal]

Originally posted by Bob Riebe
IF this is true, turn out the lights the party is over. The Chicken-Littles of the world are in power. How disgusting!

I read in Euro mag. today an interview with Chris Ammon, where he said the tracks he enjoyed most were the old Spa, Nurburgring, and Clermont-Ferrand. These tracks it seems would have current FIA people and too many fans blowing chunks out of fear that anyone would dare drive them.

The socialists of the world have succeeded in turning men into cowaring weenies.
God have mercy on us.
Bob

I am sorry but progress is progress like it or not, and if Motor Racing hadnt changed in the last 30 years and people were still being killed in the same numbers as back then, the whole world would have gone the same way a Switzerland and banned racing for good.

This to me is not being socialist it is just a greater value for human life.