jd_black_00

Hi,

Listening to qualifying here and I can't believe how far off of the leader's pace the Corvettes are. Any thoughts as to why?

AU N EGL

The race is 24 hours, not one lap.

Mechanical reliability, and pit stop times have just as much to do with racing as lap times

Zoxxo

I don't know if by "the leaders" you mean in the Corvettes' class or overall. If you mean overall then the P1 cars (the Audi, the Toyota, etc) are in a world of their own performancewise. They'll lap the course a full 30-35 seconds or more quicker than the Corvettes, Astons, Ferraris, etc.) If you mean the class leaders' pace than I don't know what to say as I haven't seen the times yet.

Here are the qualifying numbers from the 2012 race. You can see how far down the list the Corvettes (and Astons and Ferraris) were. That's to be expected.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_24...lifying_result

Z//

jd_black_00

I'm talking about the leaders in class. Ferrari and Aston are running approximately 3:55 laps and the Corvettes have barely broken 4min

Zoxxo

Ah. Ok. It's hard to tell these things with it being total strangers over the internet

Since there are three practice sessions (and this one was at night) it's quite likely that they are doing like F1 does with different "testing" strategies for day/night, full/empty tanks, breaking in tires without beating them up, different drivers, and any/all combos of those. It's hard to tell what they are doing at any given moment and whether it's indicative of overall pace of just down to "the plan".

It could also be that they just don't want to show their true pace. It's not like it matters a lot if you start "up front" in a 24 hour race (especially since "up front" in their class still means "buried in the pack.")

Z//

Z06Norway

Its qualifying, from 2200 to 2400..... and mandatory 5 lap pr driver night practice.
i am also worried, its not that 3.59 is slow compared to last year, but three Aston Martin, two Ferrari and two porsche in front of them and more than 4 sec down in pace

Hope they are sandbagging


rune

jd_black_00

Let's hope so! GO CORVETTE RACING!!!

vette6aut0x

24 hr race. Wait until qualifying. Practice means nothing.

Zoxxo

This was qualifying; the first of three sessions.

Take a look at the link I posted above in msg #3 to see the three sessions.

Z//

ZoomFreakinZoom

I heard through the grapevine that they were having trans issues, but my guess is they are just laying back trying to determine everyone else's pace. It's what Porsche is doing also. It's still only the 1st of 3 qual sessions anyways.

slowe1956

That race is this coming Saturday, yes?

95jersey

Last year Corvette qualified at 3:55.9

No way they are 3-4 seconds slower this year. They are either sandbagging or had mechanical issues. The SRT guys on the other hand are way behind at 4:03. Who knows what is going on there since we have no historical data on those cars at LeMans.

Zoxxo

Yes. Speed is showing quite a bit of it throughout the day. Their last great hurrah before they go away in August.

Z//

RX-Ben

Rain in the 2nd qualy session, so the mystery remains. Final session is late tonight (in France), so probably not going to see an improvement.

jd_black_00

Doug Fehan said in an interview that the cars are quick through the corners, but running 3 to 4 mph slower than last year on the straightaways... Don't know how they are going to pull that kind of power out before the race starts which again begs the question, how are they running so much slower than last year???

grandsport4me1963

Holding out...sandbagging.

Z06Norway

they struggle to find speed ?
complained about new Michelin tires, and that the other team have already tested those Michelin at SPA.
Trying different setups to find more speed

would think they knew what setup works on LeMans after 12 years ?

i know one flying lap does not win 24h LeMans, but hey, they cant be off best lap times by 3-4 seconds..........

hope they find more speed


rune

Z06Norway

Q finished
P6
4 sec behind Aston



Rune

vette6aut0x

That link was 2012 and was not 2013 qualifying. But I did find times for 2013. And yes, the corvettes are off pace from the contenders, but it still is an endurance race and I bet the team is not showing its hand yet,just saying.

RX-Ben

Both factory C6s are slower than a GTE Am Aston.
Not exactly a great sign. It would be hard to believe that the corvettes are the only ones working on their race setup.