We have a shortened weekend, with no test day. The weather is always changing. Rain and thunderstorms are forecast. Normally we are here in the summertime, bathed in sunshine. The adakrness will be longer. It's cold. It's going to be an incredible time, seeing how this race is going to come together. The track is completely green right now. We've had rubber laid down, but now, it is totally washed away. No one knows when the rain is going to start. We have a 13.6 kilometer lap, an 8.5 mile loop. We have Michelin and Goodyear as the two main tire suppliers here at Le Mans in the FIA WEC. At Spa last month, it was pouring with rain, and ByKolles was one of the contenders. They could spring a surprise if there is rain.
Filipe Albuquerque says he has confidence in the #22 United Autosport Oreca, he shares with Phil Hanson and Paul Di Resta. Rebellion are confident they can fight Toyota. They want to win. Gustavo Menezes, Bruno Senna, and Norman Nato, in #1, and the #3 machine in the hands of Romain Dumas, Nathaniel Berthon, and Louis Deletraz. Rebellion will leave the FIA WEC at the end of the year, but the team will come back as Alpine in LMP1. It will be sad to see the Rebellion name leave the sport, though. The team will have to beat Toyota.
Keep in mind, tonight, we will have 4-5 more hours of darkness than usual. The nighttime hours will be a challenge, and there's no spectators. No campfires, no artificial light except the headlights to assist them. We have so many stories that we've taken in this week. We'll do our best to bring those stories to you throughout this race. Juan Pablo Montoya returns to drive at Le Mans after a couple years. It was a last minute deal and Juan is excited to be at Le Mans again. He is running for the "triple crown" to win the Indianapolis 500, the Monaco Grand Prix, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, like Graham Hill did.
It's a long race, and the weather doesn't look too promising. Memo Rojas and Timothy Buret are Montoya's co-drivers. Emmanuelle Pirro is the Grand Marshal for this year's race. Carlos Tavares, Chairmas of PSA, Peugeot Sport, who will be the honorary starter. Peugeot will return to Le Mans and to sports car racing, in a couple more years. The Porsche team has their new cars, with the 911 RSR-19. Yours truly, saw the American team (who are not here due to the Coronavirus pandemic), race the Porsche's at the Rolex 24 at Daytona back in January.
Mike Conway is looking for his first Le Mans victory. He says it will be tricky but he's looking forward to it and that the team has a good car. Managing conditions will be the big part of the plan. Will this be his year? He is sharing with Kamui Kobayashi and Jose Maria Lopez. ACO President Pierre Fillon, and Representative Dr. Wolfgang Ulrich, are both here. Ulrich is the former head of Audi Sport during all their successes here, during the early part and middle part of the 2000s. Antonio Felix Da Costa, has just won the title in Formula E.
He is in the #38 Jota Oreca 07, and the Portuguese driver is sharing with Englishman Anthony Davidson, and Roberto Gonzalez of Mexico. Physically, Da Costa says the LMP2 is harder to drive. It is much louder, too, than a Formula E car. Da Costa has a goal of winning some of these big races, like Le Mans, in the next decade. The way the drivers have to drive the cars, there's boatloads more downforce and the apex speeds are much faster.
Porsche's Gianmaria Bruni explains they had a penalty during night practice. But, they are now ready to race. They are hoping to do well with the new generation car, here at Le Mans. Again, the weather is going to play a major part in the outcome of this motor race. Fred Makowiecki was the driver who sped in the pit lane. They will lose a championship point, but they will hopefully be able to fight their way back. The cornering speed for the Toyota's is amazing. They are upshifting at the karting corner. This is the final year of LMP1 Hybrid before we see the new Hypercar regulations coming up next year.
Toyota could run 14 laps on fuel if they wished. The trophy is being delivered, and we shall see if they win it again. Toyota and Signatech Alpine are going for hat tricks this year. Signatech Alpine has the all French lineup of Andre Negrao, Thomas Laurent, and Pierre Ragues. Le Mans is a challenge from a professional or an amateur driver. It does not matter what level you are at, as we hear La Marseilles, the French National Anthem. As the buildup continues, there's the traditional delivery of the French national flag by the French Army from a helicopter. Dwight Merriman will not race as we've explained because of his injury. The Goodyear blimp is back in Europe for the first time in 35 years.
The drivers are getting ready, strapping into their cars. We've got the equivalent of 16 Formula 1 races coming up. The LMP2 cars, along with all the others, are ready to go. Three minutes until the pace lap. The tension is so thick, you can cut it with a knife. The best race in the world, is next. The 88th edition of the race, is coming up, shortly as the drivers are strapped in, ready to roll. Rebellion has been very close to Toyota, and they were in qualifying. Kamui Kobayashi almost broke the lap record but it was not counted. Gentleman, start your engines! Carlos Tavares gives the command.
Let's hope we don't have to pull the marker of doom. This is it. The amateur drivers have never been hwere before, and so they are in for a baptism by fire. The damp patches on the road mean people in the faster cars have to be careful. Patrick Pilet is the new driver in the Era LMP2 car to replace Dwight Merriman. The rain is going to be a big deal. Let's see how this race is going to come out. It's going to be great. Fans are watching the race on their TV's at home and are set up to camp at home. Peugeot Sport is coming back in 2022, ten years after they abandoned the championship.
Emmanuelle Pirro is in the safety car, halfway 'round the track. Mike Conway and Bruno Senna lead the field along with Sebastien Buemi and Nathaniel Berthon. Filipe Albuquerque starts alongside Jean Eric Vergne and Giedo van der Garde in LMP2. Gianmaria Bruni is on pole in LM GTE Pro alongisde James Calado in the AF Corse Ferrari along with Nicki Thiim in the Aston Martin. Through the Ford Chicane, here comes the field.
It is time, now. Evweryone is lined up. Bruno Senna wants to go for it already. Toyota will get the tire temp quicker and the Rebellion has the donforce. It's going to be a drag race. Green flag and away we go! The Trois Couleurs waves and Bruno Senna is going for it but Mike Conway goes around into the lead through the Dunlop chicane. Senna is pushing, and I don't have to tell you, hard. Conway leads down the Mulsanne straight for the first time. Filipe Albuquerque is the fiorst LMP2 ahead of Giedo van der Garde. Through the chicanes for the first time. These chicanes have been in place since 1990 towards the end of the Group C era.
Penalties being served by both IDEC Sport LMP2 cars before they can start. James Calado is pressing on hard against the Porsche's, look. Gianmaria Bruni gets dusted by James Calado. Some argy bargy too between Buemi and Senna. The Toyota and the Rebellion are right together. Watch the #8 through Arnage. Bruno Senna is pushing hard. He keeps the spot over Sebastien Buemi. 4.5 liter normally aspirated V8 vs. 2.4 liter turbo V6 with four wheel drive. The Rebellion is bish bash boshing it right now on the downforce. The Toyota's fuel cut is really coming into effect. GTE Pro now, and Aston Martin are chasing Porsche. The GTE Pro class is very close. We will see these blokes pushing each other hard.
Signatech Alpine in the pit lane. They had issues in the morning warmup. The Negrao/Ragues/Laurent car is in the garage. Drama right from the off here, look. One lap into the race and it's not what the reigning champs wanted. The car was OK, but it was completely rebuilt after Thomas Laurent's flip at Spa last month. Giedo van der Garde is pressing on behind Filipe Albuquerque right now. Jean Eric Vergne in the G-Drive Aurus is next up in LMP2. That's #26, and he shares with Roman Rusinov and Mikkel Jensen. 37 pit stops are planned, and tires might just have to be quadruple stinted. This is something they'll have to look out for.
Don't thrash your tires early on. If the tires are scrappy, you're going to get stymied. That's how it works here at Le Mans. The #63 WeatherTech Racing Ferrari is up to third in GTE Pro. They're fourth. Gianmaria Bruni is going backwards now. Now, we have Toni Vilander starting the race, sharing with Jeff Segal and with Cooper MacNeil. The car was worked on during Hyper Pole, and so they wiull have to take a penalty soon. No Corvette's for the first time since 1999. They were originally entered, but with the COVID issues and with the economic concerns, they couldn't come. There's a water leak issue on the Alpine.
Nyck de Vries looking on before his stint. Giedo van der Garde got the jump at the start of this motor race. Jean Eric Vergne is really slipping backwards, but he is a tough cookie. He might just get his elbows out pretty soon. Now, the Alpine is back on track, but they may be playing catch up for a while. The LMP2 battle is getting tasty. Watch the crown in the road. Giedo van der Garde scrapping with Filipe Albuquerque and ASlex Brundle is keeping a watching brief. Brundle is also a commentator in FIA Formula 2. His dad, Martin won here for Jaguar in 1988.
Gianmaria Bruni is dropping like a stone behind the Ferrari's with his Porsche team mate Kevin Estre pushing hard. Mike Conway leads the motor race as Bruno Senna knocks down fastest lap but we can't give you the lap time now. Can't see any graphics. We've not spoken of LM GTE Am. Ross Gunn leads in the #98 factory Am Aston Martin of Paul Dalla Lana, Ross Gunn, and Augusto Farfus. The meat in the sandwich is the Mentos sponsored Project 1 Porsche. Egidio Perfetti, Larry ten Voorde, and Matteo Cairoli. Ferrari and Aston Martin drag race down the Mulsanne straight.
Almost 20 minutes into the race. Were Ferrari doing some sandbagging? We wonder. James Calado is being monstgered by Alex Lynn. Philippe Sinault from Signatech says they are working on recovering. The Risi Competizione car is running very well with Sebastien Bourdais, Jules Gounon, and Olivier Pla, an all French driving team. Rear tire degradation could be an issue for the Ferrari boys. They might lose their advantage to Aston Martin. Porsche have been dropping like a stone. Are they double stinting their tires early in the game? We only have 20 minutes on the board. We have an Am Porsche off the road at Dunlop curve. The #61 Ferrari spun and a Porsche spun in sympathy. Oswaldo Negri Jr. and Thomas Preining spin.
Preining caught the tires square, so maybe that minimizes the damage. Oswaldo Negri Jr. went way too depp, being put off by the Toyota, oversteering into the curb. Poor old Thomas Preining just got caught out. We have a local yellow. No slow zone added yet. LMP2 is starting to heat up. The two United Autosports cars lead the way in class. Kudos to the WeatherTech Ferrari team for setting a car up to compete in GTE Pro against the factory teams. Giedo van der Garde is dropping like a stone. Is there trouble for the Racing Team Nederland Dallara? He is in the lane and has just returned to the track. The car sounds like it's coughing and spluttering.
The Iron Lynx Ferrari #60 of Claudio Schiavoni goes off the road in the Ford Chicane. He may have damage. Schiavoni is sharing with fellow Italians Paolo Ruberti and Sergio Piannezola. If you make an early stop, you might be gambling. The Racing Team Nederland machine is in dire straits at the moment. Giedo van der Garde is still in strife. Meantime, Nathaniel Berthon pits the #3 Rebellion and he's in the lane now. #3 might have a spot of bother, somewhere. Giedo van der Garde is also in the lane now, look. The rear diffuser is being checked and they roll it straight into the garage. This is a sprint race now, compared to how it used to be a full on endurance race years and years ago.
Charlie Eastwood goes around the #56 Mentos Porsche. The #29 car sounds sick. It's missing and it could have a box of spanners in the gearbox as well. Giedo van der Garde, Nyck de Vries, and Frits van Eerd are really going to have to dig to come back. Water pressure woes for Alpine. Meantime, Toyota #8 in the lane for service. So is the #1 Rebellion. Mike Conway and Bruno Senna have both made pit stops. Fuel for Bruno Senna and he'll double stint the tires. 11 laps for LMP1, 12 laps for LMP2 for fuel stints. LMP2 cars will have to fuel save. The opening stint is never a representation of what the cars do. This is traditional at Le Mans.
Jackie Chan DC Racing #37 is in the pit lane as we find out of a loss of water pressure for the #29 car. That's the van der Garde/van Eerd/de Vries car. Two weeks ago, the 24 Hours Moto, the motorcycle race, was run two weeks ago. Hoping to write about that one on my other blog, 2 Wheelin' all about motorcycle racing. Stay tuned. Mike Conway, Jose Maria Lopez, and Kamui Kobayashi have been the bridesmaids for a long time here at Le Mans. Maybe this will be their year. We still have 23 and a half hours to go as Conway pits with a lead gap of 13.8 seconds. Rebellion has lost time due to the fact that car does not generate tire temp as quick as the Toyota does.
Toyota has track position and so they are settling into a rhythm. Thomas Preining is still stranded and so it is game over for Thomas Preining and his co-drivers Dominique Bastien, and Adrien de Leener. James Allen is scrapping with Alex Brundle. Kenta Yamashita is up the road further. Yamashita is a Super Formula single seater driver and a Toyota contracted Super GT driver. Racing Team Nederland back in the garage. They too could be headed for the house. Another wreck, look. It's the #35 spinning and beached in the gravel. That's the #35 Eurasia Motorsport Ligier. Nick Foster, sharing with Roberto Merhi and Japanese born New Zealander Nobuya Yamanaka. Foster is British, Merhi is a Spaniard.
We have a slow zone for that wreck. Slow zones seem to be a more effective way to do things than a yellow flag. Yamashita is slowed by lap traffic and so, Kenta Yamashita has James Allen wanting to pass him. Look out, mate. One of the Am Ferrari's has the handbrake on. No disrespect to the amateur drivers. They are really having to push because of the compressed schedule. The slow zones introduced, again, for the sake of not having a safety car. Toni Vilander being hounded by Kevin Estre as Will Stevens pits the #37 Jackie Chan DC Racing Oreca as Mike Conway is cauight out by the all lady driven #50 Richard Mille Racing LMP2 Oreca. Tatiana Calderon of Colombia, sharing with Sophia Floresch of Germany, and Beitske Visser of Holland.
James Allen, the Australian from Perth, he is being monstered by Alex Brundle in the second United Autosport car as the sister car has checked out, hitting the afterburners to be seven seconds up the road. The majority of the LMP1 cars have stopped and two of the GTE Pro cars have stopped, Porsche #91 and Ferrari #51. Alex Brundle is dropping into the clutches of his competition, Kenta Yamashita and James Allen. Pit stop time at Aston Martin. #98 is in and so is one of the other cars, not sure it is #95 or #97. Sebastien Buemi is 17.7 seconds behind Mike Conway. Alex Brundle's car is porpoising on the Mulsanne compared to the sister car.
On the run to the Porsche Curves its very hard to deal with. Anthony Davidson said that the #38 is very pointy compared to their team mates in the #37. Antonio Felix Da Costa is really having to push. Sebastien Buemi is taking on one rear tire. He did report to the crew, a vibration on the car. Theyve got sensors that trigger alarms on the data screen. A very, very long way to go in this race. Juan Pablo Montoya and company will have a 20 second penalty for an infraction in the morning warmup. Montoya is in the #21 DragonSpeed car now that he shares with Timothe Buret and Memo Rojas. Aston Martin #95 in the lane and so is #90 for TF Sport. We also have scheduled pit work for the #51 AF Corse Ferrari. You can't change tires and do the fuel at the same time.
For the last two years, you could fuel and change tires at the same time, but now the old rules have been re-implemented. Lots of shuffling backwards and forwards in qualifying just for that reason. We have a battle in GTE Am. Back to that in a minute. We had the press conference yesterday about Hypercar. Peugeot are coming. Aston Martin might come in but we think that might not happen. We are not sure. They have four wheel drive and about 680 horsepower. We have six races planned for 2021 planning to start in March at Sebring International Raceway. We don't have Silverstone on the calendar. If Sebring does not happen, Silverstone could replace it, if the Coronavirus hasn't gotten under control.
Monza might be back. They never got crowds for the classic races such as Group C and BPR GT. We see some problems for the #17 IDEC Sport car. One of the Am class GT cars gets it wrong in the Playstation chicane on the Mulsanne. Kyle Tilley, Patrick Pilet, and Jonathan Kennard on the driver's strength. The car has pitted for new tires as we are closing in on the end of this hour. We have some Le Mans trivia. Jaguar of course is the winningest British manufacturer with seven wins here. We really need Eurosport's Le Mans historian, Chris Parsons, to help us out with this one.
Fred Makowiecki says they are having acceleration issues at Porsche.
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