Discussion
Went to the PreQual day on the weekend. 
First off the cars all sounded very good this year - much better than last year.
The Audis still look a lot faster than anything else.
The MGs looked good, but maybe still slightly out of their depth. The Oreca's looked good as well (borne out by the times), plus I thought the Caddies were good, but they didn't feature that well in the times...
Panoz's looked steady.. obvious new aero package on the front - hopefully will make a difference, plus of course the factory are using the old chassis. Bentley looked supreme - only one of them this year and it just sailed round.. New cars there - Spyker, seemed okay, but they're still learning. Cars returning, Fezzas, 2 360s and 1 550, Aero8 - something wrong there, seemed all over the place esp. at the Dunlop Curves, didn't seem to get the right gear and also the stability of the car looked all wrong.
The new bit of track is odd - there's a big gravel run-off where the straight bank used to be (on the way down after the Dunlop bridge).. The circuit now sweeps left and right - LMPs taking this in their stride, GTSs needed to brake.. A shame that the familiar straight after the bridge is gone, but the new
left and right should be a sight to behold at night and at the start of the race. There's a wicked bump just where the Bugatti circuit now joins the main circuit.. Didn't seem to upset most of the LMPs (notably the Audi's), but the GTS cars wobbled a bit.
It will be interesting to see the times of Qualifying as I think that some of the teams were holding back, plus I suppose some may carry out some developments between now and then... Audi do, however, still look the class of the field, plus they've got the drivers as well.
MG should certainly cause a few surprises and of course Pescarolo shouldn't be under-estimated, they looked quite smart.
It would be interesting to know what strategies the teams were using (fuel loads, boost and tyres) plus traffic encountered and where... Will just have to wait.
PS
First off the cars all sounded very good this year - much better than last year.
The Audis still look a lot faster than anything else.
The MGs looked good, but maybe still slightly out of their depth. The Oreca's looked good as well (borne out by the times), plus I thought the Caddies were good, but they didn't feature that well in the times...
Panoz's looked steady.. obvious new aero package on the front - hopefully will make a difference, plus of course the factory are using the old chassis. Bentley looked supreme - only one of them this year and it just sailed round.. New cars there - Spyker, seemed okay, but they're still learning. Cars returning, Fezzas, 2 360s and 1 550, Aero8 - something wrong there, seemed all over the place esp. at the Dunlop Curves, didn't seem to get the right gear and also the stability of the car looked all wrong.
The new bit of track is odd - there's a big gravel run-off where the straight bank used to be (on the way down after the Dunlop bridge).. The circuit now sweeps left and right - LMPs taking this in their stride, GTSs needed to brake.. A shame that the familiar straight after the bridge is gone, but the new
left and right should be a sight to behold at night and at the start of the race. There's a wicked bump just where the Bugatti circuit now joins the main circuit.. Didn't seem to upset most of the LMPs (notably the Audi's), but the GTS cars wobbled a bit.
It will be interesting to see the times of Qualifying as I think that some of the teams were holding back, plus I suppose some may carry out some developments between now and then... Audi do, however, still look the class of the field, plus they've got the drivers as well.
MG should certainly cause a few surprises and of course Pescarolo shouldn't be under-estimated, they looked quite smart.
It would be interesting to know what strategies the teams were using (fuel loads, boost and tyres) plus traffic encountered and where... Will just have to wait.
PSCouldn't help but notice the Spykers in the paddock area!!
Went past the outside looking in and immediately thought what the h£ll are those??!!? Saw them from the back end. Once we'd been along the front of the pitlane (on Saturday) then realised what they were.
Went back and had a proper look, plus should have some pics as well. They caused quite a stir - lots of people poring all over them. One chap had a fulltime job to sit there and make sure no one got too touchy feely with them.
First impression, wow! As at the Motor show. Second impression was that there were a couple of areas where they could be improved (windows for example).. but I'd definitely like to get in one and give it a go!!!
PS
Went past the outside looking in and immediately thought what the h£ll are those??!!? Saw them from the back end. Once we'd been along the front of the pitlane (on Saturday) then realised what they were.
Went back and had a proper look, plus should have some pics as well. They caused quite a stir - lots of people poring all over them. One chap had a fulltime job to sit there and make sure no one got too touchy feely with them.
First impression, wow! As at the Motor show. Second impression was that there were a couple of areas where they could be improved (windows for example).. but I'd definitely like to get in one and give it a go!!!
PSI will admit they were a bit over the top, lots of chrome bits, plus shiny chrome at that, which I'm not too keen on. The pop-rivet (effect?) extra bits were definitely over-the-top. Not my taste, but maybe someone elses. Some of the interior for the soft-top car did look good - liked the dash and dials, plus the linkages on the gear stick, but now you mention it I do seem to remember that there was a bit too much (chrome/ally or whatever it was) in the surrounding interior.
Lots of people took quite a bit of interest in them, although to be fair there wasn't much to contend with - quite a few MG ZT Estates!!
Bentley tyre truck, didn't see them..
Did notice MG's washing line at the back of it's hospitality tent though - swish!
>> Edited by ginettag27 on Tuesday 7th May 17:18
>> Edited by ginettag27 on Tuesday 7th May 17:22
Lots of people took quite a bit of interest in them, although to be fair there wasn't much to contend with - quite a few MG ZT Estates!!
Bentley tyre truck, didn't see them..
Did notice MG's washing line at the back of it's hospitality tent though - swish!
>> Edited by ginettag27 on Tuesday 7th May 17:18
>> Edited by ginettag27 on Tuesday 7th May 17:22
Hmmm.. Although to be fair their car does look the business, when is someone else going to enter another GTP?? It would have been interesting to have seen a Panoz there.. or maybe something else to at least give it something to race against. Class win for them again, although they did look quick and will probably be thinking more about an overall win as opposed to just a Class win.
What did you think of the Mog's paintwork?? Hope they solve the problems they were experiencing.
PS
>> Edited by ginettag27 on Tuesday 7th May 17:51
What did you think of the Mog's paintwork?? Hope they solve the problems they were experiencing.
PS >> Edited by ginettag27 on Tuesday 7th May 17:51
Just a couple of pics of the Spykers
www.fotango.com/p/eba00200880f00000004.jpg
www.fotango.com/p/eba00200880f00000005.jpg
www.fotango.com/p/eba00200880f00000004.jpg
www.fotango.com/p/eba00200880f00000005.jpg
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