VIDEO: Peugeot goes flying at Le Mans
Le Mans has seen its fair share of spectacular crashes, perhaps most notably the Mercedes CLR-GTR that caught air and did several flips before landing outside the guard rail back in 1999. While not as outrageous as the Mercedes, Peugeot caught some air as well this past weekend at the 24 Hours of Le Mans test when Marc Gene lost control of his 908 Hdi and hit the wall at over 120 mph. Luckily, Gene was able to walk away from the crash and will be able to drive in the race in less than two weeks. Footage from the crash can be seen after the jump.
Thanks for the tip, Mark!
[Source: YouTube via LeMans.org]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
EJ25RUN 5:28PM (6/05/2008)
it took this long to post this, im surprised.
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Dave Ellis 11:02AM (6/05/2008)
The 4th LMP1 to take to the air this year.
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Bert 11:09AM (6/05/2008)
Dare I say it? Maybe they should look in to something similar to the roof-flap system in NASCAR or the center-line Gurney flap on IRL cars.
I do understand that the NASCAR roof-flap is designed/positioned spcifically for round-round races, but I am sure that something could be designed.
Otherwise just slap the electronics from one of your standard stability control systems and connect it to (only) actuated flaps. As soon as it detects too much yaw and/or roll, POP! Up comes the flap and there you go. Though a good-old mechanical system like NASCAR is pretty much idiot proof.
Dave, which other LMP1s didn't keep the shinny-side-up?
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Dave Ellis 3:15PM (6/05/2008)
Stephane Ortelli is the most famous, as he went skyward i his Courage and ended up with a broken ankle.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuDIIcCnpzA
Earlier that weekend, Jamie Camble Walter in the Creation got some air at the second Monza chicane after clipping the grass on the braking zone. Luckily it came down pretty quickly, but it still buried itself deep in the barrier.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dnLBf6N3xPA
And just as worrying, even the R10 got some air time. Again, at Monza, Dindo got turned around on the back straight and when the car turned sideways it took to the air. It again came back down before impacting on the barrier. It wasn't caught by external cameras, but the onboard captured it.
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAP2FJns0M0
I will be a spectator at Le Mans and I have to say it does worry me a little.
why not the LS2LS7? 8:23PM (6/05/2008)
roof flap in NASCAR is to stop cars that have broken traction and are sliding, since brakes don't work in a 4-wheel slide. It doesn't help much in a flip.
Hell, until last year, Le Mans cars didn't even have roofs anyway.
Dave Ellis 1:22AM (6/06/2008)
Roof flaps ARE to stop blow overs.
And LMPs have had roof flaps for a long long time. We've only had a short stint without roofed cars.
Torrent 11:12AM (6/05/2008)
DAYYUUM!
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Maverick Saturn 12:47PM (6/05/2008)
Ouch, someone won't be coming in tomorrow.
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talljon 2:29PM (6/05/2008)
wasn't it a clr that flipped in le mans, not a clk gtr?
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Dave Ellis 3:17PM (6/05/2008)
Yes, it was the CLR that flipped.
the CLK GTR never ran at Le Mans anyway. The GTR was the 1997 FIA GT car, and Mercedes never ran Le Mans in 1997. It had the V12 in the back. They used it for the beginning of the 1998 FIA GT Season, but by the time Le Mans came they had changed to the CLK LM, which had a V8. All 3 CLK LMs failed during the 1998 race, but Mercedes won every race in the FIA GT Championship in 1998. 1999 the CLR flipped.
Marc-O 6:26PM (6/05/2008)
Wow, he's actually flying through that bend tail end first, from the beginning ! Phew.
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