Ohhhh Yes!...Uuuuhhhh Ooooooh Jos!
#1
Posted 20 February 2008 - 18:26
Jos en Jeroen Bleekemolen were on comparable laptimes and tomorrow the party continues here. But what the heck, F1-fans like to watch pictures rather than read so here are a few of what will soon be referred to as PPP(Porsche Purple Predator) :
Great place here, great track, nice people and good weather but best of all is ofcourse that the best thing we ever had in F1 is now going to conquer the sacret tarmac at La Sarthe, boy will this be a nice summer!
Bartus(who will post some news updates about the test lateron for real autosportfans)
#3
Posted 21 February 2008 - 01:27
do you have more pics of the track?
#4
Posted 21 February 2008 - 01:47
#5
Posted 21 February 2008 - 07:11
It is a VERY beautiful scenery, competing for example with Paul Ricard from which you can see the Mediterrenean, croppedin between nice mountain slopes, but this is a more rough enverinment, not far from the Sierra Nevada, quite impressive and a very nice layout. http://www.guadixcircuit.com/
Sorry for the obvious spamming... It is in fact the same car that made such a huge impact in the ALMS beating f.e. the Audis, but it won't be as competive compared to the LMP1 on Le Mans since the restrictions by the ACO are different and the layout of the track suits the Audi/Peugeot diesel-plague much better. Best of all however....Jos is back, and Le Mans will be conquered by a Dutch invasion scaring away the English, French and even the Danes...
Last question? More pics? Sorry...the spamming is over....(but you can't be that naieve, right?)
Bartus(who looks forward to the LMS on Spa as well)
#6
Posted 21 February 2008 - 07:54
Originally posted by Bartus Garoulaitis
I remember this most enjoyable thread(t) a few years ago here, about our local hero and guess what? He is back! Jos and his teammates were testing the Porsche RS Spyder at Guadix(new venue for F1-testing within soon, mark these words) today and immediately started breaking the laprecord.
Jos en Jeroen Bleekemolen were on comparable laptimes and tomorrow the party continues here. But what the heck, F1-fans like to watch pictures rather than read so here are a few of what will soon be referred to as PPP(Porsche Purple Predator) :
Great place here, great track, nice people and good weather but best of all is ofcourse that the best thing we ever had in F1 is now going to conquer the sacret tarmac at La Sarthe, boy will this be a nice summer!
Bartus(who will post some news updates about the test lateron for real autosportfans)
Looking at the pictures, I just thought why there's no violet F-1 car instead of so many white ones?...
#7
Posted 21 February 2008 - 10:05
#8
Posted 21 February 2008 - 10:09
Originally posted by Bartus Garoulaitis
... and even the Danes...
...
Bartus(who looks forward to the LMS on Spa as well)
You can't be THAT naive?
#9
Posted 21 February 2008 - 10:15
btw, this track looks good
#10
Posted 21 February 2008 - 10:16
Team Essex also will be present at Le Mans this year with a Porsche Spyder:
Shake-down at Estoril:
'Super'-John Nielsen
Casper Elgaard
#11
Posted 21 February 2008 - 10:38
Let's hope the Porsches can stay reliable (being Porsches, why not?) so we won't have another last-man-standing competition in the LMP2, won by the RML Lola.
#12
Posted 21 February 2008 - 10:51
Originally posted by jcbc3
Spamming re-started.
Team Essex also will be present at Le Mans this year with a Porsche Spyder:
And a very nice test it was too :-)
Ben
#13
Posted 21 February 2008 - 10:58
#14
Posted 21 February 2008 - 10:59
#15
Posted 21 February 2008 - 10:59
Bartus(who remmbers a nice appearance by Tom Coronel on Paul Ricard before Team Essex decided to put in some second range Danes)
#16
Posted 21 February 2008 - 11:18
AFAIK both teams are using Michelin tires.Originally posted by jk
The dutch car has a better livery, but Essex is a more experienced Le Mans team. A big difference could be the tires, Merksteijn on Michelin and Essex on Dunlop.
Let's hope the Porsches can stay reliable (being Porsches, why not?) so we won't have another last-man-standing competition in the LMP2, won by the RML Lola.
But indeed Team Essex is much more experienced and so are other teams in LMP2 such as RML with Andy Wallace.
Problem with Team van Merksteijn are the drivers, only Bleekemolen has some serious endurance experience.
Jos has no experience in endurance at all and one should be happy if he keeps the car out of the gravel and in one piece.
Peter van Merksteijn is the guy with the money and he was nearly 6 seconds of the pace yesterday on a 1 minute lap at Guadix.
In Le Mans he could easily be 20-30 seconds off the pace which would rule them out for class victory surely.
Btw I think Jos' helmet shrunk or did his head grow ;)
#17
Posted 21 February 2008 - 11:36
Originally posted by Bartus Garoulaitis
I guess Team Essex did not break the lap-record there, but Jos did...1.03.38...amazing(do I see a trembling upperlip at Peugeot?)
Who else tests at that track? It's often used by F3 cars and stuff like that, so 'breaking track records' needs some perspective.
#18
Posted 21 February 2008 - 11:48
It's mostly bikes and GT cars that test there, also the track has multiple configurations, but well I guess perspective and facts don't matter when hyping up JV2.Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
Who else tests at that track? It's often used by F3 cars and stuff like that, so 'breaking track records' needs some perspective.
#19
Posted 21 February 2008 - 11:56
Look again at the stickers on the nose (just in front of the aforementioned black wobbly bits) or at the rear (just behind the bwb's) of the Essex Porsche...Originally posted by SĂ©bastien
AFAIK both teams are using Michelin tires.
...
Neil
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#20
Posted 21 February 2008 - 12:04
Originally posted by jcbc3
So what was your role there?
Dunlop engineer
SĂ©bastien - The Essex car definitely ain't on Mich. It was shaken down at Weissach on Mich and delivered on Mich, but will race on Dunlop.
Ben
#21
Posted 21 February 2008 - 12:25
OK thanks Ben, from the pictures of the shake-down/presentation and the official ACO list, I took it that they were on Michelin.Originally posted by Ben
Dunlop engineer
SĂ©bastien - The Essex car definitely ain't on Mich. It was shaken down at Weissach on Mich and delivered on Mich, but will race on Dunlop.
Ben
Are there other teams racing the Spyder on Dunlops already?
IIrc Penske, Horag and Dyson were/are all on Michelins in ALMS.
#22
Posted 21 February 2008 - 13:20
Originally posted by SĂ©bastien
OK thanks Ben, from the pictures of the shake-down/presentation and the official ACO list, I took it that they were on Michelin.
Are there other teams racing the Spyder on Dunlops already?
IIrc Penske, Horag and Dyson were/are all on Michelins in ALMS.
We are the one and only.
Our teams in LMP1 are Creation (x2), Rollcentre Pescarolo, Chamberlain Synergy (AFAIK).
In LMP2 we've got ASM, Radical, Kruse (Lola Mazda), WR, and Essex
Ben
#23
Posted 21 February 2008 - 17:57
I don't know of a large number of Jos fans around here, but the few are certainly very passionate.
#24
Posted 21 February 2008 - 21:00
Oooo....it got a lot better today, Peter closed a huge part of the gap, and Jos continued doing what he is good at...setting even better laptimes but I was told it is not about laptimes today.
Bartus(who had some nice days here)
#25
Posted 21 February 2008 - 21:14
Originally posted by Bartus Garoulaitis
Le Mans on Dunlop sounds to me like swimming in the desert, but hey, that can be fun...
Bit harsh. We won GT2 and had class wins in LMP2 last year. We were leading LMP2 at Le Mans before some mechanicals intervened.
You're a Michelin fan I'm guessing?
Ben
#26
Posted 21 February 2008 - 21:26
Bartus(who just asked his new girlfriend if she leaves this big plastic arounds her new TV when she tries it for the first time)
#27
Posted 21 February 2008 - 21:29
Nope better let him be Ben, the guy is a serious Jos -the toss- Verstappen fan who will leave no stone unturned to discredit any team, driver or tire manufacturer if it suits his JV2 agenda.Originally posted by Ben
Bit harsh. We won GT2 and had class wins in LMP2 last year. We were leading LMP2 at Le Mans before some mechanicals intervened.
You're a Michelin fan I'm guessing?
Ben
A bit of a Frans with slightly better english ;)
Anyway many know that Dunlop has a very respectable history and present at Le Mans.
Still being the first and only Porsche RS Spyder on Dunlops is quite an undertaking, I will be looking closely at the next few testresults and of course the first LMS race.
#28
Posted 21 February 2008 - 22:00
Originally posted by SĂ©bastien
Nope better let him be Ben, the guy is a serious Jos -the toss- Verstappen fan who will leave no stone unturned to discredit any team, driver or tire manufacturer if it suits his JV2 agenda.
A bit of a Frans with slightly better english ;)
Anyway many know that Dunlop has a very respectable history and present at Le Mans.
Still being the first and only Porsche RS Spyder on Dunlops is quite an undertaking, I will be looking closely at the next few testresults and of course the first LMS race.
Agreed. Yes it's always a challenge when you only have one car and no experience with it. The thing that interests me is that the ACO are apparently not too keen on OEMs entering LMP2 and therefore might start throwing weight and restrictors around if the Porsches start winning too easily, at least that's what I've heard.
On a personal note it is by far the most beautifully designed and screwed together racing machines I've ever seen, the attention to detail is wonderful.
My pics from the test: http://www.flickr.co...57603926959315/
BTW Bartus - why the really lame statements in brackets after your name, it's, well... lame. As for the Porsche beating the Audis in ALMS, you are I'm sure aware that they were offered a mass and restrictor break by IMSA because there was no competition in LMP1. They won't be beating the Audis in the LMS.
Ben
#29
Posted 21 February 2008 - 22:26
#30
Posted 21 February 2008 - 23:07
Regulations require all cars to have (room for) two seats, if I remember correctly. I'm sure a more knowledgeable person will quote the full regulations but that seems to be the bottom line.Originally posted by GregAU
Okay I'm ignorant here can someone tell me what's up with the second (seemingly non functional) cockpit?
#31
Posted 21 February 2008 - 23:29
Thanks for the pics and info Ben, keep us posted if you can or want to.Originally posted by Ben
Agreed. Yes it's always a challenge when you only have one car and no experience with it. The thing that interests me is that the ACO are apparently not too keen on OEMs entering LMP2 and therefore might start throwing weight and restrictors around if the Porsches start winning too easily, at least that's what I've heard.
On a personal note it is by far the most beautifully designed and screwed together racing machines I've ever seen, the attention to detail is wonderful.
As for the ACO hampering OEM's in LMP2, well they are setting up this class for some kind of "privateer prototype racing".
There was talk of maximising the amount of professional drivers in LMP2 to 1 per car too.
However a bunch of RS Spyders racing eachother in LMP2, on different tires and with varying levels of driver talent should make for a good race too.
#32
Posted 22 February 2008 - 07:47
Originally posted by SĂ©bastien
However a bunch of RS Spyders racing eachother in LMP2, on different tires and with varying levels of driver talent should make for a good race too.
Plus the new Embassy car designed by Bentley designer Peter Ellery and the new Lola LMP2 Coupe... It's looking good.
Ben
#33
Posted 03 March 2008 - 10:11
Bartus(who could work on a nice suntan in the last few days)
#34
Posted 04 March 2008 - 11:02
Originally posted by jcbc3
Because it's butt-ugly?
But all Sports Prototypes look the same zzz ????
#35
Posted 04 March 2008 - 22:05
Bartus(who thinks F1 designers are all boys from Brazil trying to pee in the same bow as they guy next to them)
#36
Posted 04 March 2008 - 22:30
They do?Originally posted by V8 Fireworks
But all Sports Prototypes look the same zzz ????
You don't follow LMS or ALMS at all do you? Of all the major forms of motorsport around at the moment, I'd suggest they're one of the most diverse.
Neil
#37
Posted 04 March 2008 - 23:05
Those blue and red stripes on the track at Paul Ricard sure make for fugly pictures and that blue and orange "blob" on the bottom of your pics doesn't help either.Originally posted by Bartus Garoulaitis
Here are a few shots of your car
#38
Posted 04 March 2008 - 23:41
Admirable attitude you are showing there SĂ©bastien...
#39
Posted 05 March 2008 - 00:01
Well the stripes is something bartus cannot do anything about, they just make pictures look bad whomever snaps them.Originally posted by MCH
Admirable attitude you are showing there SĂ©bastien...
Now the ugly big orange/blue blob is another thing, that's a matter of choice and a bad one imo.
Now get off your high horse and watch the step ;)
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#40
Posted 05 March 2008 - 00:28
Better watch out, because Jos will win the 24 hours of LeMans just in 20 hours!!!
And that Essex Korral car looks damn ugly, good thing the only thing they will see is the back of car Nr. 34!
#41
Posted 05 March 2008 - 09:45
Originally posted by SĂ©bastien
Well the stripes is something bartus cannot do anything about, they just make pictures look bad whomever snaps them.
Now the ugly big orange/blue blob is another thing, that's a matter of choice and a bad one imo.
Now get off your high horse and watch the step ;)
Bassy, you visted my site so I checked yours as well... I took a look of what you consider to be a racetrack and I understand that you have no feeling what so ever for technique, colours, composition and the time we have been spending on this planet after WW2.
http://www.amis-du-c...gardien_007.jpg
Paul Ricard and its'surrounding offers everything you could ever wish for and is a fine example of modern times in racing, and you...John Lennon wrote a song about you, and Roxy Music turned into something worth listening to...
Bartus(who thinks Paul Ricard is one of the few good spots in French racing history)
#42
Posted 05 March 2008 - 11:54
I hate to spoil the Jos love-in but JB was a second or so quicker :-p As for Essex pace relative to #34 I'm not too worried they're still learning the car whereas Van M have the Dyson engineer who's been working on the car for a whole season. Creation showed what our rubber can do - fastest petrol car behind the two Audi's and not using a Q.
BTW Bartus the random carp in brackets is getting weirder and weirder. Are you ill?
Ben
#43
Posted 05 March 2008 - 12:06
#44
Posted 05 March 2008 - 12:37
I like how many photographers work with the Paul Ricard striping to come up with pictures that are different from the norm. In essence, the stripes at PR seem to add to the opportunity for good pictures. Personally, I think Bartus (as weird as he is) does a good job on that front.Originally posted by SĂ©bastien
Well the stripes is something bartus cannot do anything about, they just make pictures look bad whomever snaps them.
Now the ugly big orange/blue blob is another thing, that's a matter of choice and a bad one imo.
As for his huge orange copyright sig on the pics, on that I agree.
Nice pics also Ben, geez though I hate trying to navigate in flickr.
Neil
#45
Posted 05 March 2008 - 13:24
We can better make a deal.
Every Jos-win in 2008 we will be served with photo's of all members here on they're KNEES!
Better start training with kneeling ya all!!!
BOW, ... BOW to your MASTER!
#46
Posted 05 March 2008 - 14:42
Originally posted by Ross Stonefeld
It's always been like that. The saving grace is he doesn't post much.
Yeah...so true, I only speak when I have something to say to create a differance with many here, which brings me to about 1 posting in every 10 days over what will soon be a decade. How nice that you have been reading them all....
Back to the subject, LMP2 at LM(S), the 15 secs difference that the ACO is targeting at LM between LMP1 and LMP2 is obviously not there and from one of the Porsches I am sure that the were running lower revs than optimal. There is an overall podiumposition in sight on Barcelona...
Bartus(who started this very nice bracket-tradition in the early nineties on RASF1)
#47
Posted 05 March 2008 - 14:44
Really like the Lola Aston Martin, how does it sound?
Keep us posted please
I know what you mean, I've seen some pro-photographers too that really know how to blend those Paul Ricard stripes nicely into their pictures.Originally posted by Option1
I like how many photographers work with the Paul Ricard striping to come up with pictures that are different from the norm.
Alas those are an exception to the rule.
#48
Posted 05 March 2008 - 14:45
It's hard for them to open they're eyes and see the Best of the Best, even if they would stand one inch from it they will not be able to see it.
Only results will speak out to the mindless mind. So, never mind ......
#49
Posted 05 March 2008 - 14:53
Originally posted by Option1
Nice pics also Ben, geez though I hate trying to navigate in flickr.
Neil
Thanks. I agree on Flickr. I'm thinking of switching to Photobucket or the like.
I'll think about kneeling if #34 win in LMP2 but only if Jos laps quicker during the race than Bleekmolen. I ain't holding my breath
Ben
#50
Posted 05 March 2008 - 15:28
Originally posted by Ben
Thanks. I agree on Flickr. I'm thinking of switching to Photobucket or the like.
I'll think about kneeling if #34 win in LMP2 but only if Jos laps quicker during the race than Bleekmolen. I ain't holding my breath
Ben
Gehehe, Jos had the last drive and was faster on Guadix, Jeroen was in that position on PR. Frankly, I really don't care which one of the two is faster, they are both different drivers with different styles and attititudes and both of them showed that they know how to drive this car. Next time that I see a bunch of yellow shirted rubber-lovers in the pitlane I'll call your name and see if you leave my jaw in the same position, and you can buy me a beer at the end of the day if the Dutchies beet the Danes....
Bartus(who hopes that there will be some local attention for the LMS in Barcelona, because Valencia and Madrid were disasters)