Le Mans 24hr 2011

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Le Mans 24hr 2011

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toxo
Posting Freak

4,843

05-05-2018, 05:01 AM

Now we are back at work and it's all a bit Sad

so I thought I'd share my pictures with you Smile

Some of these are nicked from Dan. You can click any of them to open them up bigger.

We stayed at the Chateau de Chanteloup about 15km from the Circuit. When we got there it was quite quiet:

[Image: 253535_10150290009076224_505041223_94751...4688_n.jpg]

[Image: 253535_10150290009076224_505041223_94751...4688_n.jpg]

[Image: 253544_10150290009111224_505041223_94751...5344_n.jpg]

Over the next few days these fields would fill up with some of the most exotic metal I've ever seen...

The chateau is quite nice and picturesque, far preferable in my opinion than staying at the circuit which gets pretty horrible by the end of the 24hrs!

[Image: 260408_10150290009186224_505041223_94751...8710_n.jpg]

[Image: 260408_10150290009186224_505041223_94751...8710_n.jpg]

The bar:

[Image: 248199_10150290009046224_505041223_94751...9770_n.jpg]

The facilities (gates on the left go through to a heated outdoor swimming pool):

[Image: 260555_10150290009316224_505041223_94751...9156_n.jpg]

Soon the crew arrived:

[Image: 247278_10150290009361224_505041223_9475188_337640_n.jpg]

Edited 16-06-2011, 03:11 PM by toxo.

toxo

05-05-2018, 05:01 AM #1

Now we are back at work and it's all a bit Sad so I thought I'd share my pictures with you Smile Some of these are nicked from Dan. You can click any of them to open them up bigger.

We stayed at the Chateau de Chanteloup about 15km from the Circuit. When we got there it was quite quiet:

[Image: 253535_10150290009076224_505041223_94751...4688_n.jpg]

[Image: 253544_10150290009111224_505041223_94751...5344_n.jpg]

Over the next few days these fields would fill up with some of the most exotic metal I've ever seen...

The chateau is quite nice and picturesque, far preferable in my opinion than staying at the circuit which gets pretty horrible by the end of the 24hrs!

[Image: 260408_10150290009186224_505041223_94751...8710_n.jpg]

The bar:

[Image: 248199_10150290009046224_505041223_94751...9770_n.jpg]

The facilities (gates on the left go through to a heated outdoor swimming pool):

[Image: 260555_10150290009316224_505041223_94751...9156_n.jpg]

Soon the crew arrived:

[Image: 247278_10150290009361224_505041223_9475188_337640_n.jpg]

toxo
Posting Freak

4,843

05-05-2018, 05:05 AM

On Thursday we took a trip down to the circuit for dusk/night time qualifying. In the car park we found a few tasty treats:

[Image: 260030_10150208253361644_689086643_7574245_906219_n.jpg]

[Image: 260030_10150208253361644_689086643_7574245_906219_n.jpg]

[Image: 253845_10150208253481644_689086643_75742...4602_n.jpg]

[Image: 255700_10150208253556644_689086643_7574247_461755_n.jpg]

[Image: 246895_10150208254821644_689086643_75742...6284_n.jpg]

[Image: 248295_10150208254926644_689086643_75742...6606_n.jpg]

[Image: 260375_10150208255341644_689086643_75742...3067_n.jpg]

Then we went into the circuit to watch the start of qualifying from the pit straight:

[Image: 252490_10150208255441644_689086643_75742...5743_n.jpg]

[Image: 250500_10150208255541644_689086643_75742...2752_n.jpg]

[Image: 250420_10150208255796644_689086643_75742...4726_n.jpg]

Once it got a bit darker we headed down to Arnage corner. Here you can see the cars banking round from Indianapolis, hard braking into the corner (think glowing brake discs) and then booting it off up the road. My camera wasn't so hot at night time photos, they mostly came out like this:

[Image: 251170_10150208256136644_689086643_7574267_902842_n.jpg]

[Image: 251170_10150208256136644_689086643_7574267_902842_n.jpg]

[Image: 248690_10150208256376644_689086643_7574270_285461_n.jpg]

We did see someone get it quite wrong though!

[Image: 251075_10150208256011644_689086643_75742...6697_n.jpg]

toxo

05-05-2018, 05:05 AM #2

On Thursday we took a trip down to the circuit for dusk/night time qualifying. In the car park we found a few tasty treats:

[Image: 260030_10150208253361644_689086643_7574245_906219_n.jpg]

[Image: 253845_10150208253481644_689086643_75742...4602_n.jpg]

[Image: 255700_10150208253556644_689086643_7574247_461755_n.jpg]

[Image: 246895_10150208254821644_689086643_75742...6284_n.jpg]

[Image: 248295_10150208254926644_689086643_75742...6606_n.jpg]

[Image: 260375_10150208255341644_689086643_75742...3067_n.jpg]

Then we went into the circuit to watch the start of qualifying from the pit straight:

[Image: 252490_10150208255441644_689086643_75742...5743_n.jpg]

[Image: 250500_10150208255541644_689086643_75742...2752_n.jpg]

[Image: 250420_10150208255796644_689086643_75742...4726_n.jpg]

Once it got a bit darker we headed down to Arnage corner. Here you can see the cars banking round from Indianapolis, hard braking into the corner (think glowing brake discs) and then booting it off up the road. My camera wasn't so hot at night time photos, they mostly came out like this:

[Image: 251170_10150208256136644_689086643_7574267_902842_n.jpg]

[Image: 248690_10150208256376644_689086643_7574270_285461_n.jpg]

We did see someone get it quite wrong though!

[Image: 251075_10150208256011644_689086643_75742...6697_n.jpg]

toxo
Posting Freak

4,843

05-05-2018, 05:07 AM

I got a few videos of the cars going around Arnage, they seemed to come out better than the photos:

Here's the soliatary Ford GT which made a great noise:

[youtube]LeOLDLC581E[/youtube]

Here's a few cars popping and banging and spitting some flames:

[youtube]UzBzu6Fb5-E[/youtube]

toxo

05-05-2018, 05:07 AM #3

toxo
Posting Freak

4,843

05-05-2018, 05:14 AM

[Image: 260583_10150208105646644_689086643_75733...7537_n.jpg]

Renault Alpine:

[Image: 248654_10150208105856644_689086643_75733...3090_n.jpg]

[Image: 247932_10150208105746644_689086643_7573392_119405_n.jpg]

I best include these ones as it's a Japanese car club :lol:

[Image: 248986_10150208105926644_689086643_75733...2640_n.jpg]

[Image: 254544_10150208111016644_689086643_75734...1106_n.jpg]

More 'stang:

[Image: 260498_10150208107091644_689086643_75734...1402_n.jpg]

Lancia:

[Image: 250495_10150208108596644_689086643_75734...7707_n.jpg]

Cobra:

[Image: 253882_10150208113581644_689086643_75734...8187_n.jpg]

Some yellow americans:

[Image: 247077_10150208113756644_689086643_75734...0229_n.jpg]

Some Trevors:

[Image: 249443_10150208114316644_689086643_75734...2128_n.jpg]

Some Marcos's - I want!!:

[Image: 254282_10150208115331644_689086643_75734...7402_n.jpg]

The odd Bentley:

[Image: 254128_10150208115701644_689086643_75734...6570_n.jpg]

There were quite a few Morgans:

[Image: 248940_10150208116961644_689086643_75735...1381_n.jpg]

And then some real tasty stuff... Noble M600:

[Image: 246864_10150208118216644_689086643_75735...9893_n.jpg]

[Image: 249870_10150208118141644_689086643_75735...3338_n.jpg]

Maserati with a cheeky 458 in the background:

[Image: 253688_10150208118926644_689086643_75735...8579_n.jpg]

Matt black Aston:

[Image: 254032_10150208119281644_689086643_75735...3787_n.jpg]

Lambo:

[Image: 260356_10150208119421644_689086643_75735...2028_n.jpg]

And a gorgeous Alfa 8C:

[Image: 260508_10150208119526644_689086643_75735...6369_n.jpg]

There are many more photographs from this car show here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a...339150c427

toxo

05-05-2018, 05:14 AM #4

On Friday there was a UK car show organised in the village of Saint Saturnin which is a little way north of Le Mans. The theme was meant to be the E Type Jag but that wasn't really very evident. I'll show a few photos here but I have many more!

A 'stang:

[Image: 260583_10150208105646644_689086643_75733...7537_n.jpg]

Renault Alpine:

[Image: 248654_10150208105856644_689086643_75733...3090_n.jpg]

[Image: 247932_10150208105746644_689086643_7573392_119405_n.jpg]

I best include these ones as it's a Japanese car club :lol:

[Image: 248986_10150208105926644_689086643_75733...2640_n.jpg]

[Image: 254544_10150208111016644_689086643_75734...1106_n.jpg]

More 'stang:

[Image: 260498_10150208107091644_689086643_75734...1402_n.jpg]

Lancia:

[Image: 250495_10150208108596644_689086643_75734...7707_n.jpg]

Cobra:

[Image: 253882_10150208113581644_689086643_75734...8187_n.jpg]

Some yellow americans:

[Image: 247077_10150208113756644_689086643_75734...0229_n.jpg]

Some Trevors:

[Image: 249443_10150208114316644_689086643_75734...2128_n.jpg]

Some Marcos's - I want!!:

[Image: 254282_10150208115331644_689086643_75734...7402_n.jpg]

The odd Bentley:

[Image: 254128_10150208115701644_689086643_75734...6570_n.jpg]

There were quite a few Morgans:

[Image: 248940_10150208116961644_689086643_75735...1381_n.jpg]

And then some real tasty stuff... Noble M600:

[Image: 246864_10150208118216644_689086643_75735...9893_n.jpg]

[Image: 249870_10150208118141644_689086643_75735...3338_n.jpg]

Maserati with a cheeky 458 in the background:

[Image: 253688_10150208118926644_689086643_75735...8579_n.jpg]

Matt black Aston:

[Image: 254032_10150208119281644_689086643_75735...3787_n.jpg]

Lambo:

[Image: 260356_10150208119421644_689086643_75735...2028_n.jpg]

And a gorgeous Alfa 8C:

[Image: 260508_10150208119526644_689086643_75735...6369_n.jpg]

There are many more photographs from this car show here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a...339150c427

toxo
Posting Freak

4,843

05-05-2018, 05:19 AM

But I had some stiff competition...

[Image: 251779_10150290009436224_505041223_94751...4455_n.jpg]

[Image: 249941_10150290009446224_505041223_94751...7000_n.jpg]

[Image: 247444_10150290009551224_505041223_94751...1117_n.jpg]

[Image: 251179_10150290009651224_505041223_9475195_521549_n.jpg]

[Image: 248860_10150290009686224_505041223_94751...0358_n.jpg]

[Image: 253685_10150290009766224_505041223_94751...3316_n.jpg]

[Image: 249446_10150290009816224_505041223_94751...4898_n.jpg]

[Image: 254967_10150290009861224_505041223_9475199_953101_n.jpg]

[Image: 248728_10150290009926224_505041223_94752...9657_n.jpg]

[Image: 252968_10150290009996224_505041223_94752...7698_n.jpg]

[Image: 254860_10150208252241644_689086643_75742...0472_n.jpg]

[Image: 248735_10150208250996644_689086643_75742...7465_n.jpg]

toxo

05-05-2018, 05:19 AM #5

After the car show we went to the Mulsanne straight for what used to be 'Mad Friday'. Unfortunately there were just far too many police for it to be any fun, we saw about 30 interesting cars most of which were at the car show anyway, and come 3PM we were asked to move on. So, we went back to the chateau, which hosts its own car show in the evening. I was quite happy when my car got picked for the show, for the 2nd year in a row Smile But I had some stiff competition...

[Image: 251779_10150290009436224_505041223_94751...4455_n.jpg]

[Image: 249941_10150290009446224_505041223_94751...7000_n.jpg]

[Image: 247444_10150290009551224_505041223_94751...1117_n.jpg]

[Image: 251179_10150290009651224_505041223_9475195_521549_n.jpg]

[Image: 248860_10150290009686224_505041223_94751...0358_n.jpg]

[Image: 253685_10150290009766224_505041223_94751...3316_n.jpg]

[Image: 249446_10150290009816224_505041223_94751...4898_n.jpg]

[Image: 254967_10150290009861224_505041223_9475199_953101_n.jpg]

[Image: 248728_10150290009926224_505041223_94752...9657_n.jpg]

[Image: 252968_10150290009996224_505041223_94752...7698_n.jpg]

[Image: 254860_10150208252241644_689086643_75742...0472_n.jpg]

[Image: 248735_10150208250996644_689086643_75742...7465_n.jpg]

FirebirdPhil
Posting Freak

7,101

05-05-2018, 05:21 AM

Those 'Stangs are great.
Marcos are incredible looking.

"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"

FirebirdPhil

05-05-2018, 05:21 AM #6

Those 'Stangs are great.
Marcos are incredible looking.

"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"

toxo
Posting Freak

4,843

05-05-2018, 05:23 AM

Friday night disappeared into a haze... but we got up about 9am to head down to the track for the start of the race and a very special demo!

We were in this queue for 3 hours Sad

[Image: 249500_10150208259776644_689086643_75742...8438_n.jpg]

But we had some nice cars to keep us company:

[Image: 248390_10150208259876644_689086643_75742...8586_n.jpg]

[Image: 252410_10150208260026644_689086643_7574293_866917_n.jpg]

(And yes, that orange car 2 in front of the F40 is a Maclaren F1 GT)

We had to get to the track for 12:30 as Mazda were to demo their 787B race car. For those that don't know, this car won the Le Mans 24hr in 1991 - the only rotary engined car to ever win, and the first time (I believe) that a Japanese manufacturer won, as this was before Toyota won with their GT-One. This car has a reputation for being VERY loud... and it was! It generates around 700bhp (reduced from 900 for longevity) at 10,500 RPM from a 2.6ltr quad rotor engine. Think 2 RX7 engines bolted together and you're nearly there.

[Image: 249805_10150208260081644_689086643_75742...6841_n.jpg]

[Image: 249805_10150208260081644_689086643_75742...6841_n.jpg]

In 1991 it was driven by (amongst others) Johnny Herbert, who did the final stint to cross the line. However he'd done several stints in a row, with no water bottle, so he was very dehydrated when they pulled him out of the car and he got carted off to the medical centre. This meant he couldn't be on the podium for his win. So, 20 years later after he had finished driving it around the track...

[Image: 253885_10150208260131644_689086643_75742...5680_n.jpg]

[Image: 253885_10150208260131644_689086643_75742...5680_n.jpg]

I thought that was a nice touch Smile

We went and found the Mazda later on in a special area of the paddock:

[Image: 253555_10150208262356644_689086643_7574316_810841_n.jpg]

The race got underway at 3PM from the traditional rolling start, which we watched from the Ford chicane:

[Image: 249555_10150208260256644_689086643_75742...6441_n.jpg]

[Image: 249555_10150208260256644_689086643_75742...6441_n.jpg]

[Image: 252995_10150208260371644_689086643_75742...1406_n.jpg]

[Image: 260520_10150208260461644_689086643_75743...0967_n.jpg]

[Image: 250445_10150208260496644_689086643_75743...8703_n.jpg]

About an hour in there was a terrible accident for McNish in the Audi (the driving team of McNish and Kristensenn have won many times in the past for Audi).

[youtube]qwIihFxCRbQ[/youtube]

This made for a very long safety car period, so we went and explored a bit more, and found the Ferrari 458s from the Ferrari Challenge support race:

[Image: 246965_10150208261046644_689086643_7574308_187557_n.jpg]

[Image: 246965_10150208261046644_689086643_7574308_187557_n.jpg]

[Image: 252850_10150208261381644_689086643_75743...7892_n.jpg]

[Image: 251720_10150208261476644_689086643_75743...3129_n.jpg]

Then we went to the Dunlop section, just before where the Audi crash was.

[Image: 248825_10150208262781644_689086643_75743...7067_n.jpg]

[Image: 247590_10150208264151644_689086643_75743...9190_n.jpg]

After that it was about 9PM so we went back to the Chateau and went to sleep.

Edited 16-06-2011, 03:15 PM by toxo.

toxo

05-05-2018, 05:23 AM #7

Friday night disappeared into a haze... but we got up about 9am to head down to the track for the start of the race and a very special demo!

We were in this queue for 3 hours Sad

[Image: 249500_10150208259776644_689086643_75742...8438_n.jpg]

But we had some nice cars to keep us company:

[Image: 248390_10150208259876644_689086643_75742...8586_n.jpg]

[Image: 252410_10150208260026644_689086643_7574293_866917_n.jpg]

(And yes, that orange car 2 in front of the F40 is a Maclaren F1 GT)

We had to get to the track for 12:30 as Mazda were to demo their 787B race car. For those that don't know, this car won the Le Mans 24hr in 1991 - the only rotary engined car to ever win, and the first time (I believe) that a Japanese manufacturer won, as this was before Toyota won with their GT-One. This car has a reputation for being VERY loud... and it was! It generates around 700bhp (reduced from 900 for longevity) at 10,500 RPM from a 2.6ltr quad rotor engine. Think 2 RX7 engines bolted together and you're nearly there.

[Image: 249805_10150208260081644_689086643_75742...6841_n.jpg]

In 1991 it was driven by (amongst others) Johnny Herbert, who did the final stint to cross the line. However he'd done several stints in a row, with no water bottle, so he was very dehydrated when they pulled him out of the car and he got carted off to the medical centre. This meant he couldn't be on the podium for his win. So, 20 years later after he had finished driving it around the track...

[Image: 253885_10150208260131644_689086643_75742...5680_n.jpg]

I thought that was a nice touch Smile

We went and found the Mazda later on in a special area of the paddock:

[Image: 253555_10150208262356644_689086643_7574316_810841_n.jpg]

The race got underway at 3PM from the traditional rolling start, which we watched from the Ford chicane:

[Image: 249555_10150208260256644_689086643_75742...6441_n.jpg]

[Image: 252995_10150208260371644_689086643_75742...1406_n.jpg]

[Image: 260520_10150208260461644_689086643_75743...0967_n.jpg]

[Image: 250445_10150208260496644_689086643_75743...8703_n.jpg]

About an hour in there was a terrible accident for McNish in the Audi (the driving team of McNish and Kristensenn have won many times in the past for Audi).

[youtube]qwIihFxCRbQ[/youtube]

This made for a very long safety car period, so we went and explored a bit more, and found the Ferrari 458s from the Ferrari Challenge support race:

[Image: 246965_10150208261046644_689086643_7574308_187557_n.jpg]

[Image: 252850_10150208261381644_689086643_75743...7892_n.jpg]

[Image: 251720_10150208261476644_689086643_75743...3129_n.jpg]

Then we went to the Dunlop section, just before where the Audi crash was.

[Image: 248825_10150208262781644_689086643_75743...7067_n.jpg]

[Image: 247590_10150208264151644_689086643_75743...9190_n.jpg]

After that it was about 9PM so we went back to the Chateau and went to sleep.

toxo
Posting Freak

4,843

05-05-2018, 05:34 AM

[Image: 253600_10150290010616224_505041223_94752...5764_n.jpg]

Back to the chateau for about 5:30AM, got up later that day and caught the rest of the race on the big screen at the campsite.

It was the tightest finish since the '50s, no formation finishes this year! I believe it was 16 seconds difference in the end after 24hrs of racing! Congratulations to Audi!

toxo

05-05-2018, 05:34 AM #8

Having gone to bed early meant we could get up early on Sunday - 2:30 to be precise! We headed back to the track to catch some night time racing with no crowds.

We got back to the track just after another long safety car period for another leading Audi, this time driven by Mark Rockenfeller.

[youtube]YAu3pMgmvpU[/youtube]

Unfortunately I didn't get any photos because while it looks amazing, my camera just can't capture it. Here's one from Dan:

[Image: 253600_10150290010616224_505041223_94752...5764_n.jpg]

Back to the chateau for about 5:30AM, got up later that day and caught the rest of the race on the big screen at the campsite.

It was the tightest finish since the '50s, no formation finishes this year! I believe it was 16 seconds difference in the end after 24hrs of racing! Congratulations to Audi!

FirebirdPhil
Posting Freak

7,101

05-05-2018, 05:40 AM

Did you catch any F1 whilst you were there? That was full of safety car non action also.

"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"

FirebirdPhil

05-05-2018, 05:40 AM #9

Did you catch any F1 whilst you were there? That was full of safety car non action also.

"Life's goal is not to arrive safely at the grave in a well preserved body. But, rather to skid in sideways........
totally worn out and broken, shouting 'Holy ****, WHAT A RIDE!'"

toxo
Posting Freak

4,843

05-05-2018, 05:43 AM

#10

We tried but Eurosport lied to us about what time it was on, and then the French tv got bored after the race got red flagged and just showed local news instead. I caught it up on iPlayer when I got home!