One good reason why Bentley won't win LM

[NetWRX]

Anyone?

[Brant]

The scrutineers will rule it, too beautiful to not be French!

[NetWRX]

Aah yes, she is beautiful though ain't she? She looks like she's going flat out when she's stood still.

[Aysedasi]

No, I can't think of one.

Come on, someone is bound to start talking about those b****y R8, aren't they - lets get it out of the way now.....

[NetWRX]

I have to admit to feeling a little nervous when I consider the R8's chances... but it soon passes

[Brant]

I'll bet with recent revisions, the Bentley will match or better the R8 factory pace of last year. I think the worry lies with time spent in the pits. Those damn r9 rear end changes.

[MGF]

The MG rover guys will sneak into the Bently pits and replace the engine with one of their K units!!

No, seriously... only one thing really stands in their way (given reliability) and it can be summed up in two letters......

M and G

[Fab]

Originally posted by Brant
the Bentley will match or better the R8 factory pace of last year

Can't wait to see that on Sebring track

[kdr]

i'll do it ayse...the audi clockwork uk team.

kane, salo, and the stig....now theres an unusual top spot on the podium!

[gttouring]

only audi will challenge the 'bentley'-unless the gts corvettes have amiracle- no one else in protos can do anything...

[Fogelhund]

That's why they run the race. The last couple of years have been quite unusual. While they are incredibly well prepared, the Joest team has also had incredible luck. No contact of any consequence with other cars, no blown tires, or these other things that can just happen in a 24. It doesn't take much to eliminate two cars, and while chances are they will have some pace on the R8's, I will be suprised if it is significant, and one slip, and the R8's will be right there.

[NetWRX]

Yeah you've got a good point there Fogelhund, the R8 jockeys can drive like the devil and keep the car in good shape all the way through the full 24, that could be one of the ways that Bentley may slip up.

[The Boot]

Last year Joest a lot of tire blow outs, but when you are 5--10 laps a head it really doesn't matter.

I think Champion and Dyson are going to be the toughest...RFH and Audi UK should be right behind them...Lister is to new this year.

Sebring should make things a lot clearer.

[rdjones]

No, I can not think of one either........

[C_g]

Originally posted by MGF
The MG rover guys will sneak into the Bently pits and replace the engine with one of their K units!!

Unlikely! Have you seen the security that Bentley hires for their pits at Le Mans? Insane.

I think the Audis will be very competitive against the Bentley. The Bentley is definitely better-equipped to win this year, but it's still a GTP, with all those niggling GTP problems like tires, tires, and tires. Also the Audis were *much* faster than the Bentley last year. They'll be fast this year too.

And MG will challenge early...

[Sean Crockett]

Originally posted by C_g
The Bentley is definitely better-equipped to win this year, but it's still a GTP, with all those niggling GTP problems like tires, tires, and tires. Also the Audis were *much* faster than the Bentley last year. They'll be fast this year too.

And MG will challenge early...

Gotta agree, the Champion & UK Audi's will be quick, reliable & easier on the tyres; while the MG will be quick and be better on pitstops, I have serious doubts it can run flat out for 24hours. At the end of the day, however, I still think the Bentley will probably win it.

[pirenzo]

Narrow width tires, could be a disadvantage, perhaps the reduced power for all classes this year could mean that the bentley loses it's power advantage, and now maybe the roof could be a disadvantage aerodynamically, without the power that it had, it might be better off without a roof. Also, The radical restyling is certainly brave and not neccessarily a turn for the better.

[MGF]

Aawww c'mon guy's (+ gals... sorry) would'nt it be great to see the Great British underdog take an overall victory...

I mean MG Rover have come back from the brink of absolute extinction... I know the company have only provided the cash and power unit, but they still deserve a big hoorah for what they have done.

But, if a Bentley win's Le Man's... I'll still be cheering and laughing like an idiot...

[danhx]

I could have been misinformed or it may just be wishful thinking, but i thought i heard somewhere that there was a change in the tire regulations for the GTP class, making them wider.

[C_g]

For 2004, yes. But this year, the Bentley still has narrow little tires.

And MGF, that would *fantastic* if MG won. That would be the best outcome possible.

[ZXKawboy]

There *is* no reason. The Audi's are old (read that "fatigued") and the MG's are a wee bit short on power. Everyone else is just not good enough (unless Porsche suddenly enters at the very last minute)

Now, if you're asking for a runner-up, I'll go with MG, just because they've been so fast in the past, and have had time enough to work out the reliability issues....otherwise....who knows?

[bigh]

Was it ever decided why there were so many punctures last year? I heard all sorts of theoies at the time, from different shaped gravel to sharper rumble strips. A puncture at the wrong part of the track could swap things around if it's a close race...
H

[pirenzo]

The Audi's aren't "fatigued"

They're superb machines, which still have the neccessary speed to win, but i think the private operations don't have the race drilled crew and drivers that allow them to perform the gearbox changing, strategical miracles the the Joest squad could.

When i watched LM a few years ago on Channel 4 (In the UK) at about 1 in the morning the commentator was saying how in testing, they driver would be told by his race enginneer to go out a do some laps, then radio in with a problem that only he and his enginneer would know and the team would have to fix it, and they were timed as to how quickly they could do it, and so the team had virtually every possible problem covered.

The small teams like Champion couldn't fo this.

[IanGrohse]

Originally posted by ZXKawboy
There *is* no reason. The Audi's are old (read that "fatigued") and the MG's are a wee bit short on power. Everyone else is just not good enough (unless Porsche suddenly enters at the very last minute)

Now, if you're asking for a runner-up, I'll go with MG, just because they've been so fast in the past, and have had time enough to work out the reliability issues....otherwise....who knows?

Im not exactly sure what you mean by fatigued?..........As in the integrety of the chassis? Aluminum rivited chassis after 15 years of racing will sure be fatigued, but that isnt the case with a world class carbon tub. All the other parts, apart from the basic tub are all replaceable, and easy for the team to see flaws in prior to them being too weak to handle a race beating.

[Smokey 6 litre]

Bently WILL WIN,
they have to.