116 replies to this topic

[jimjimjeroo]

Apart from a short lived affair in 1967 F1 has never graced Le Mans with its presence, yes the lap length is an factor but F1 would manage a sub 3 minute lap with ease, why not the Moto GP circuit? Long straights and chicanes is very Hockenheim esque would be great to see

[handel]

Will they pay F1 20 Million?

 

Bernie is the reason.

 

No commercial gainnfor him means no race.

[jimjimjeroo]

Guess he'd rather have some grandiose race in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and of course he isn't going to pay for a race at Paul Ricard

[TomNokoe]

Too long for modern times, and running the short circuit is a disservice to the place

[Darren1]

They'd cry at the lack of 3 mile wide tarmac runoff

[Gyno]

Too long??????

 

Why should the tracks be short?

 

I rather have more tracks like SPA then hungaroring, aslong as it aint full of stupid "technical" corners.

[ElJefe]

Please keep F1 as far away from Le Mans as possible. It would only lead to a butchering of the La Sarthe Circuit in the name of safety. 

[johnmhinds]

Apart from a short lived affair in 1967 F1 has never graced Le Mans with its presence, yes the lap length is an factor but F1 would manage a sub 3 minute lap with ease, why not the Moto GP circuit? Long straights and chicanes is very Hockenheim esque would be great to see

 

I don't think an F1 car would be 20-25 seconds faster than an LMP1 car around Le Mans.

 

At Silverstone this year the LMP1 cars were only a few seconds off the F1 times from 2014.

[JHSingo]

Similar reason to why F1 teams don't compete in the Indy 500, or WEC race at Monaco.

Edited by JHSingo, 02 June 2015 - 16:52.

[KingTiger]

Please keep F1 as far away from Le Mans as possible. It would only lead to a butchering of the La Sarthe Circuit in the name of safety.

FIA already butchered the track enough.

[Pontlieue]

I think that is because F1 would just be a secondary event at Le Mans. The 24h would still be the greatest event of the year. F1 can go almost everywhere else and be number 1 event of the year. If you can get tickets for the 24h, for less money than an F1 ticket, why should people bother to go there.

 

Today, there's also the issue of Le Mans being a grade 2 track, and F1 can only run at grade 1 tracks. However, Monaco somehow got a grade 1 rating as well, so I guess this could be solved...

 

About the hypothetical lap time of an F1 car at Le Mans, I think the Mercedes would lap somewhere in the region of 3:05-3:10. The Manors about the speed of current LMP1, so around 3:15.

[JacnGille]

Please keep F1 as far away from Le Mans as possible. It would only lead to a butchering of the La Sarthe Circuit in the name of safety. 

[JoyDiv]

Because it was not designed by Tilke 

[Peat]

Too long??????

 

Why should the tracks be short?

 

So that the cars come past your expensive grandstand more times to give you an impression of 'value'.

Seriously. That's why they desecrated Hockenheim.

[superden]

Why would Le Mans want F1?

[Mat13]

If they want a short French Grand Prix, they should go to Reims. That place would be amazing. And with essentially only three corners, Maldonado could finish a race...

[HeadFirst]

LeMans .... the perfect track for LMPs, F1 notsomuch.

[chunder27]

It's got nothing to do with money adn everything to do with the fact that Le Mans is too long and sadly too boring for F1 cars.

it is a mind numbingly boring track to drive on with huge long straights and few corners that ofer a challenge in thoise miles, thos that do are almost flat in a sports car so would be in an F1 car.

 

The Bugattoi circuit is a go kart track at best.

 

It is the perfect track for LMP cars because every single one ever made is done so with one race in mind

 

I find that staggering

[August]

Why would they pay tens of millions for a race that would be the secondary event of the venue?

[SenorSjon]

• Running the straights will explode any F1 engine.
• The runoffs due to those long straights need to be connected to Paris on one side and the French Alps on the other.

[043Max]

Could you see the 24-hour of Monaco with the 24-hour of LeMans cars>?

[DampMongoose]

Best kept apart, Sportscars shouldn't **** where they eat.

[Dan333SP]

 

• Running the straights will explode any F1 engine.

 

I mean, I know you're being pedantic, but if the old V10s could run at Hockenheim for a race distance without detonating, I'm sure these turbos could go for a race distance at LM given the proper preparation. I do wonder about the energy recovery systems and how effective they would be given the long straights between braking points...

[hittheapex]

I too would love to see F1 run around there. I don't agree that it's too long. Worried about engines? Run them at lower revs. I understand the history of the place with the 24 hours, but F1 would be an entirely different sort of race. The circuit also runs Moto GP and has hosted F3000 and DTM in the past (thanks Wikipedia).

 

Maybe it would have been possible in the past but not now. As others have pointed out, the run offs aren't up to what the FIA like for F1 races these days. I'm also sure that it wouldn't fit into Bernie's business model either.

Edited by hittheapex, 02 June 2015 - 19:31.

[Victor_RO]

The circuit also runs Moto GP and has hosted F3000 and DTM in the past (thanks Wikipedia).

 

All on the Bugatti circuit. There are no events on the long 13.629 km circuit apart from the 24 Hours (every June) and the Le Mans Classic (every second year in mid-July).

[Kristian]

The engines of the world's supposedly greatest motorsport series should be able to cope with its greatest circuits. More to the point, F1 should be about the best drivers on the best circuits in theory. 

 

Sadly we know its not true. 

 

Le Mans breaks too many rules to be included on the calendar, as sad as that is. So its not going to happen. We can but dream though... 

[Atreiu]

F1's Le Mans equivalent was Hockenheim. They should have kept the 1991 layout and never touched it.

 

Le Mans itself wouldn't be the best place for F1.

Edited by Atreiu, 02 June 2015 - 20:00.

[Nemo1965]

Well, perhaps the FIA would allow to have a current F1 car do one fast lap of the track. Just for the heck of it.

[August]

The engines of the world's supposedly greatest motorsport series should be able to cope with its greatest circuits. More to the point, F1 should be about the best drivers on the best circuits in theory. 

 

Sadly we know its not true. 

 

Le Mans breaks too many rules to be included on the calendar, as sad as that is. So its not going to happen. We can but dream though... 

 

F1 should have a good variety of circuits. Unfortunately the bit-of-everything approach with modern circuits makes them all too similar.

 

Then again, I don't think F1 should be going to places like Le Mans or Indianapolis just because those are legendary tracks. Those tracks are legendary for other classes. But if they want to have F1 (like Indy in early 00s), then fine. But be prepared F1 will be the no. 2 event at those venues.

 

Instead of seeing F1 at Le Mans, I'd like to see more F1 drivers there in the 24h race. In general, I'd like to see drivers switching series more often, just imagine a career path like IndyCar -> F1 -> sports cars -> NASCAR.

[hittheapex]

All on the Bugatti circuit. There are no events on the long 13.629 km circuit apart from the 24 Hours (every June) and the Le Mans Classic (every second year in mid-July).

True, I was just pointing out that the circuit isn't a sacred one that has only hosted the 24h Le Mans, but a host of different events.

[63Corvette]

My opinion:

First, the ACO would have to agree...........................and they would NOT. They have told the FIA (several times) where (and when) to "stick it."

Next.........as someone mentioned, there is the Hunidare straight. F1 cars "could" be configured to run (say) 300 mph (not km) there. Is that what the organizers and drivers would want?

[PayasYouRace]

 

• Running the straights will explode any F1 engine.

 

 

No they wouldn't. It would be unusual for an F1 engine to run at those speed for such a prolonged period, but funnily enough the cars are designed for the tracks raced on. If F1 were to go to Le Mans, there would be enough warning to set the engines up correctly.

[OO7]

I think that is because F1 would just be a secondary event at Le Mans. The 24h would still be the greatest event of the year. F1 can go almost everywhere else and be number 1 event of the year. If you can get tickets for the 24h, for less money than an F1 ticket, why should people bother to go there.

 

Today, there's also the issue of Le Mans being a grade 2 track, and F1 can only run at grade 1 tracks. However, Monaco somehow got a grade 1 rating as well, so I guess this could be solved...

 

About the hypothetical lap time of an F1 car at Le Mans, I think the Mercedes would lap somewhere in the region of 3:05-3:10. The Manors about the speed of current LMP1, so around 3:15.

Welcome to the forum Pontlieue

Yes Monaco receives special dispensation to host the F1 event for historical reasons and its prestige.  I'm not sure if such freedom would be extended to other circuits.

Edited by OO7, 02 June 2015 - 21:54.

[chhatra]

I don't think an F1 car would be 20-25 seconds faster than an LMP1 car around Le Mans.



At Silverstone this year the LMP1 cars were only a few seconds off the F1 times from 2014.

Only because last year was a rain hit qualy. 2013 pole time was 1m29. 10s quicker. I think it would be quite easy for F1 to be 20s quicker around La Sarthe. Especially this new turbo generation.

[johnmhinds]

Only because last year was a rain hit qualy. 2013 pole time was 1m29. 10s quicker. I think it would be quite easy for F1 to be 20s quicker around La Sarthe. Especially this new turbo generation.

 

I was talking a bout race lap times not qualifying times, and the 2014 F1 race laps were even slower than their damp qualifying times.

The current regulations on fuel usage are crapping all over the race pace for F1.

 

They probably wouldn't even be able to stay within the 100kg fuel limit and race at Le Mans.

Edited by johnmhinds, 03 June 2015 - 00:03.

[BlinkyMcSquinty]

Why should LeMans and the ACO soil their hands with Bernie and the tawdry politics of Formula One? Shell out many millions just to host a less prestigious event? Bernie should be paying them for the right to race there (never going to happen). Many, including myself believe that the 24 Hours of LeMans is the single greatest racing event of the year. And there are a few other events on my list before I get to any Formula One race. They do not need Formula One, for any reason.

 

To boost the prestige of the region? This is LeMans. To boost local tourism? NOT.  The track is epic, some of the most beautiful race cars have been there, more manufacturers are there, and it's history is longer and just as rich as Formula One.

 

And finally, those fans who find their way to LeMans are there solely because they are race fans, not half-informed people with just a casual interest in racing or some driver.

[RealRacing]

Instead of seeing F1 at Le Mans, I'd like to see more F1 drivers there in the 24h race. In general, I'd like to see drivers switching series more often, just imagine a career path like IndyCar -> F1 -> sports cars -> NASCAR.

I can imagine it: it's called the retirement path.

[RealRacing]

Have you ever driven LM in any simulator? It's kind of boring, endless straights, crazy chicanes, not very challenging turns. It would be nice however to see the speeds F1s could reach on the main straight.

 

The original Nurburgring would be the real deal...

[Atreiu]

IMO, Paul Ricard with the 1,5km straight would be a better suit for a circuit with an incredibly long straight to distinguish itself in the calendar.

[HeadFirst]

F1 should have a good variety of circuits. Unfortunately the bit-of-everything approach with modern circuits makes them all too similar.

 

Then again, I don't think F1 should be going to places like Le Mans or Indianapolis just because those are legendary tracks. Those tracks are legendary for other classes. But if they want to have F1 (like Indy in early 00s), then fine. But be prepared F1 will be the no. 2 event at those venues.

 

Instead of seeing F1 at Le Mans, I'd like to see more F1 drivers there in the 24h race. In general, I'd like to see drivers switching series more often, just imagine a career path like IndyCar -> F1 -> sports cars -> NASCAR.

 

This. ^

[Peat]

 

 

And finally, those fans who find their way to LeMans are there solely because they are race fans, not half-informed people with just a casual interest in racing or some driver.

 

I would have to disagree. I'd say at least 40% of the people at the 24hr are there for the boozing/debauchery. Same goes for the Indy500, to a smaller extent. 

[August]

I can imagine it: it's called the retirement path.

While leaving F1 for full-time WEC commitment would be downshifting, it would still seem more serious than some of the successful former F1 drivers having gone to DTM. And going to 36-race NASCAR Sprint Cup is anything but downshifting. It's alright to have career ambitions outside F1.

[bill p]

Guess he'd rather have some grandiose race in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, and of course he isn't going to pay for a race at Paul Ricard

Doesn't Bernie own Paul Ricard Circuit?

[Haribo]

I can imagine it: it's called the retirement path.

 

Montoya hasn't retired yet. He just won the Indy500 you know

[Dick Dastardly]

Doesn't Bernie own Paul Ricard Circuit?

Yep...

 

Also as said, Monaco is there for prestige & history...it doesn't fit into Bernie's business plans as its the only GP that doesn't pay him for the privilege of having a race

[jimjimjeroo]

Yeah Bernie owns PR

[043Max]

plus it's in France, ... who wants to go there anyway?

[sjakie]

I would have to disagree. I'd say at least 40% of the people at the 24hr are there for the boozing/debauchery. Same goes for the Indy500, to a smaller extent. 

 

I would lower the percentage of boozing/debauchery to 10% max. These are the people who ask sunday night who has actually won, and are usually found in Beausejour campground.

Then there are some 30% boozers AND big time race fans. Look for them in Maison Blanche, Houx, Houx Annex, Bleu Nord en South

The rest are big time race fans who drink a little, or a little more. You can find them in Tertre Rouge, Arnage, Mulsanne or scattered over the rest of the campsites...

 

But to answer the original question: Bernie should pay for the privilige which he won't. And berni would be angry because al promotion in Le Mans is about the 24 hrs. He thinks every venue should toss its history by the wayside for an event with no history and a doubtful future. It would be a repeat of the Indy GP

[Jovanotti]

I think the more interesting question is not so much why F1 isn't going to Le Mans nowadays (which is fairly clear imo) and cracking into rants about Bernie, tarmac run-offs and the FIA, but why it's happened only once in the almost 100 years of the circuit's history. Even the Grand Prix races back in the 20's/30's were held elsewhere.

Edited by Jovanotti, 03 June 2015 - 09:20.

[Henri Greuter]

I think that is because F1 would just be a secondary event at Le Mans. The 24h would still be the greatest event of the year. F1 can go almost everywhere else and be number 1 event of the year. If you can get tickets for the 24h, for less money than an F1 ticket, why should people bother to go there.

 

 

 

 

Pretty much the same reasons as of, (among other reasons)  why Indy was dropped from the F1 calendar. Initially it was fine to ride along on the pupularity of the venue thanks to the 500 and the brickyard. But once it became clear for Bernie that the event only remained #3 of 3 on the `list of grandeur` of the venue, he was gone.

 

F1 needs to be the top attraction for a track.

 

Other then that, i think Le Mans and ACO will think twice about getting too involved with FIA again. Remember how Gr C was a success in the mid and late 80s at Le Mans and then Ecclestone was made head of promotion of FIA and within three year, thanks to Bernie's agenda, there was a Le Mans race with 29 cars on the grid.

So the thought of ACO ever wanting to deal with Ecclestone???

 

If you ask me, should F1 under Ecclestone be on the brink of collapse and they could only be saved from collapse if ACO comes to Bernies's rescue, I think that ACO have every reasons to refuse doing so and do motor racing a favor with letting Ecclestone and his gang go down.

And likely they would happily do so too.....

 

Henri

Edited by Henri Greuter, 03 June 2015 - 09:35.