2009 24 Hours of Le Mans: The best (pit) seat in the house
Above the Audi pits - Click above for a high-res image gallery
We've been bouncing all over the track since late yesterday morning, but a little after 2 AM we found our new favorite spectator spot – directly above the Audi pits. The speed, skill and – in typical German fashion – efficiency of the Audi crew is unmatched at Le Mans, but lighting quick fuel stops and deft tire swaps are only part of the equation. And Audi is having a difficult time filling in the numbers.
After an achingly long spell in the garage, the No. 3 Audi R15 is 42 laps behind the race leader, placing 44th overall and dashing any hopes of a triumphant comeback. So with the No. 2 Audi out altogether, the No. 1 R15 is the sole Audi fighting it out with the three seemingly (and just recently) unflappable Peugeots for a top spot. McNish might make it to sunrise on his current stint, but the No. 8 Peugeot was breathing down his neck before coming in for a driver change, so there's a distinct possibility that Sarrazin could overtake the Scot for the second spot. If you're getting the impression that Audi may have overestimated its abilities, you're not alone. But we're only at the cusp of the halfway point, and as history shows, Audi shines when the heat is on.
As for the rest of the field, the No. 31 LMP2 Team Essex Porsche Spyder is maintaining a commanding three-lap lead over the No. 5 Navi Team Goh Spyder, while the three C6.R Corvettes maintain a steady pace taking the top three spots in GT1. For the rest of the rankings, check out Le Mans' official time page and if you're following along at home, turn down the volume on SpeedTV and tune into Radio Le Mans for some of the best commentary around. We're off to find a Grand Marnier crepe and see what kind of debauchery is taking place outside the paddocks.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Franz 9:07PM (6/13/2009)
Peugeot have definitely stepped their game up so far this year... especially with their pit stops. If they manage to pull it off, it'll be a well deserved victory. Audi may have been a little (too?) ambitious with the relatively young, unproven R15, but I'm still rooting for them to bring the No 1 home in first place. Lots of racing left yet. :)
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Stingers 9:11PM (6/13/2009)
It seems to me the R15... isn't as fast as the R10s.
WTF happened?
why not the LS2LS7? 9:23PM (6/13/2009)
It's strange to see the R15s overheating now. I thought that was Peugeot's gig?
zamafir 10:01PM (6/13/2009)
it was last year, very sophomoric for audi. they shouldn't have cut their alms appearances as it's killing them now. It's not so much Peugeot stepping up their game as it is Audi dropping the ball with a car too young and unproven and Peugeot just slamming them.
Tom Winch 10:59PM (6/13/2009)
First, let me say that I'm a die-hard Audi fan and Alan McNish is my favorite driver in all motorsports. That said, Peugeot has stepped up their game, but the problems that the R15's are experiencing should have been worked out over the course of the last few ALMS or LMS races. Oh wait, Audi decided not to race in the ALMS or LMS this season (except for Sebring). Audi's decision to cut costs and not race a full season of ALMS or LMS is now costing them on the race track at Le Mans. All these little annoyances cropping up on the #1 car are types of things they would have worked out by now if they had been racing all season. There's still about 10 hours left as I write this and anything can happen, but it's not looking good for Audi to win. They may have to settle for the bottom step on the podium.
amangupta 1:24AM (6/14/2009)
I don't think Audi R15 is behind due to reliability issues of the new car. One of the R15s which has retired, is due to a crash. Its just that Peugeot seems to be matching the Audis in reliability, and are a bit faster.
@Stingers The Audi R15 is at least 4-5 second a lap faster than the Audi R10. But the Peugeots are faster still.
BTW, did anyone notice that Lola Aston Martin is currently in 4th position? Not bad for their first year in LMP1.
Javanese 3:39AM (6/14/2009)
I agree with tom, audi is shooting themselves in the foot by skipping le mans series. The r15 is quick around the corners but as kristensen said overheating is costing them 3-5sec in the straights which is why they are so far behind. And not to mention the stupid nose design is like a huge vacuum cleaner for the track.
Oh btw I'm a peugeot fan and i can finally said after 10 years somebody other than audi will win lemans (bentley dont count as that is essentially R8 coupe ran by joest). I'm watching this year lemans for 12 out of 18 hours straight now on the excellent eurosport coverage(at the time of posting).
Oh btw, i'm suprised patrick dempsey is still running on track. Big respect for the guy, unlike huge racer wannabe frankie muniz..
intthis 9:19PM (6/13/2009)
i wonder how much i would have to pay audi to be strapped to the ceiling where that picture was taken... i think i enjoy the pits more than the race...
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why not the LS2LS7? 9:20PM (6/13/2009)
You must be thrilled with the Speed coverage then. Sadly, their big block of time is at night (France time) and thus we mostly just get to see pit stops.
intthis 9:40PM (6/13/2009)
oh man... i've only caught the speed's streaming coverage... and it was 99% on the track... they'd only flash over to the pit if audi or peugeot had something huge going on... but there's more coverage in 20-ish minutes... so who knows.
why not the LS2LS7? 9:43PM (6/13/2009)
The video on the streaming coverage is coming from a different feed. When you see those blue titles at the bottom, that's not Speed. I don't know who produces those, it seems to be a sort of "generic feed" that is made available.
why not the LS2LS7? 9:19PM (6/13/2009)
The one wheel gun stops are weird.
I also find it interesting the R15 is having such trouble. And we don't even have to experience the apparently awful handling.
It seems that Peugeot has been more successful than Audi at making a Diesel that is good for both Le Mans and regular tracks too. I'm very glad to see the gassers back in the hunt too. It's good to see Judds and Zyteks being more than back markers in P1.
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ropeburn 9:25PM (6/13/2009)
When they debuted the new Audi at Sebring they discussed the changes and the fact that the Peugeots are FASTER.
I think the R15 is just as fast as the car it replaces, it uses a smaller motor with only 10 cyl, the car is shorter and more nimble, but it's not really an advantage on the longer and faster Lemans course. If the weather turns it might slow the Peugeot beasts and things will be close. But as things stand the Peugeot is a few seconds faster than the Audi each lap.
looks like the 1 Audi is having a long pit stop :(
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why not the LS2LS7? 9:35PM (6/13/2009)
Car 1 (R10) in 2008 in hour 13 best lap time was 3:25.166
Car 2 (R10) in 2008 in hour 13 best lap time was 3:24.152
Car 1 (R15) in 2009 in hour 13 (now) best lap time is 3:26.864
Car 2 (R15) in 2009 in hour 13 is out (no best lap time on site)
Car 3 (R15) in 2009 in hour 13 (now) best lap time is 3:27.896
The track didn't get any longer, the R15 is slower.
Also the motor changed number of cylinders, but the displacement is the same. It is physically smaller (lighter), which helps on other tracks, but isn't a huge deal at Le Mans as you point out.
why not the LS2LS7? 9:40PM (6/13/2009)
You know what, I'm not so sure now.
The Corvettes are 4 seconds a lap slower this year.
The Peugeots are 8 seconds a lap slower this year.
Maybe there is some different (weather?) that I'm not accounting for and the R15 really is as fast as the R10.
Hike15 10:25PM (6/13/2009)
i've been hearing that there are some slight aerodynamic regulation changes. i think that there is more drag on the cars now or something like that. you should look into it
Tom Winch 11:07PM (6/13/2009)
All the cars are slower this year due to rules changes. For instance, the diesel powered P1 cars have a smaller intake restrictor plate than last year. Also, track conditions are much worse. Last year there was considerably more testing and the track was more rubbered in. This year it rained extensively through the test days, keeping the track green. On top of that, during Speed's coverage they interviewed Alan McNish and it was mentioned that the ACO, worried about the weather and it's effect on the low-lying tree branches around the course, had all the branches trimmed before the race, leaving lots of wood chips and debris on the track. All these things are contributing to lower lap times across the board.
Tom Winch 11:09PM (6/13/2009)
"All these things are contributing to lower lap times across the board."
I meant to say "slower lap times."
Aki 9:36PM (6/13/2009)
I think the autoblog photog should go to the Peugeot booth and drop some tar on that windshield =)
Audi was claiming at Sebring that the R15 was as fast as the Peugeot, though that was more due to the cornering. The cornering with the R15 is better than the R10, but at Le Mans that's not as helpful since it's a track that favors speed. That tips the favor to Peugeot.
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Nateb123 2:32AM (6/14/2009)
I think the problem is also that the Audis may "handle better" when aero bits are working to full effect and so the issue was somewhat hidden at Sebring. However when it comes to the chicanes, I think the Audis have a lot of mechanical understeer which Dindo mentioned (though he just said "understeer"). So the R15s are probably way faster with a proper setup but right now it seems like the driver's are needing to run the car harder (not helping overheating) because they're using the throttle excessively to steer the car. It's all just wasting energy, fuel, tires and time ultimately.