GT3 @ Le Mans

[Epiphany]

They are struggling with the handling of the car.

Ben Barker kills it with a 3:55:263 in qualifying the #77 Mustang. Closest Ferrari runs a 3:56:443. More than a full second delta.

The guys in the Ferrari GT3's are running the same times chatting on the cell phone with a bowl of pasta in their lap.

Fastest time for the entire first hour? Barker, #77 Mustang.

Wasn't until the fifth hour for a Ferrari to run a time quicker than Barker, and just barely.

This is with the rather "high" center of gravity relative to the other cars that Multimatic and Proton were fully aware of.

Holt said he was quietly optimistic that the Mustang could shine at Le Mans because its high center of gravity relative to class rivals is less of a factor than at regular WEC tracks.
"I had high expectations that we were going to show better than anywhere we have," he confirmed. "It's just that one weakness of the car isn't as important here." Expanding on the car's CoG, Holt added: "Here there's only two or three places where it actually raises its ugly head.
There's only a few places where we actually suffer that weakness. Everywhere else, we're good."
https://us.motorsport.com/lemans/ne...-a-surprise-despite-strong-progress/10623015/

A higher polar moment of inertia typically means the car will respond slower in yaw, not exactly what you want when racing at Le Mans, especially when fighting rain for extended periods. Multimatic/Proton did a fantastic job managing weakness here.

Do I think they're going to fix the aero issue? No, they were not allowed the splitter which fixes the aero balance and the car is homologated. They just have to work with it as is for now. They can't just "make adjustments" regardless of what they know might be faster.

Aero issue? The Mustang is no different than any other car in the race. Like most other teams, and since they are only allowed "one adjustable aerodynamic element" they chose the rear wing - just like most other teams. So they had to "work with it" just like all the rest of the field and are not somehow unique in this regard.

Technical Regulation 3.1

Larry says it well here...

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[TeeLew]

Nevermind, as you were.

 

[Tomster]

Maybe "Sorry, I was wrong" would have been more appropriate?

Anyway, thanks to @Epiphany for the data. Imagine how it might have all gone down if 77 didn't suffer from the steering rack issue.

 

[Epiphany]

The rack issue sucked.

I'm trying to find out where the rack is sourced and reached out to a contact at Multimatic. I'm interested in seeing if any of it is production based or if it is sourced from the aftermarket. Raj Nair mentioned to someone I've talked about it with that "it is something they just buy as a part." Not exactly sure what that means.

 

[The Demon]

The rack issue sucked.

I'm trying to find out where the rack is sourced and reached out to a contact at Multimatic. I'm interested in seeing if any of it is production based or if it is sourced from the aftermarket. Raj Nair mentioned to someone I've talked about it with that "it is something they just buy as a part." Not exactly sure what that means.

I was surprised by that as well. As I was watching all the hypercars go around all the sudden that’s the first time I saw the GT3 and it was in the garage with a huge issue.

 

[JetGray_Mach1]

Nevermind, as you were.

 

[JetGray_Mach1]

Ben Barker kills it with a 3:55:263 in qualifying the #77 Mustang. Closest Ferrari runs a 3:56:443. More than a full second delta.

Fastest time for the entire first hour? Barker, #77 Mustang.

Wasn't until the fifth hour for a Ferrari to run a time quicker than Barker, and just barely.

This is with the rather "high" center of gravity relative to the other cars that Multimatic and Proton were fully aware of.

Holt said he was quietly optimistic that the Mustang could shine at Le Mans because its high center of gravity relative to class rivals is less of a factor than at regular WEC tracks.
"I had high expectations that we were going to show better than anywhere we have," he confirmed. "It's just that one weakness of the car isn't as important here." Expanding on the car's CoG, Holt added: "Here there's only two or three places where it actually raises its ugly head.
There's only a few places where we actually suffer that weakness. Everywhere else, we're good."
https://us.motorsport.com/lemans/ne...-a-surprise-despite-strong-progress/10623015/

A higher polar moment of inertia typically means the car will respond slower in yaw, not exactly what you want when racing at Le Mans, especially when fighting rain for extended periods. Multimatic/Proton did a fantastic job managing weakness here.


Aero issue? The Mustang is no different than any other car in the race. Like most other teams, and since they are only allowed "one adjustable aerodynamic element" they chose the rear wing - just like most other teams. So they had to "work with it" just like all the rest of the field and are not somehow unique in this regard.

Technical Regulation 3.1

Larry says it well here...

love it when trolls are shutdown with straight facts.

 

[Epiphany]

To be fair, he was making the point about the vehicle dynamic characteristics of the GT3 car and how the drivers ultimately had to work harder than say, those in the Ferrari cars. That may indeed be the case and if so, not something you want for 24 hrs. Driver fatigue takes a toll eventually. My point is that whatever the case, on that day and on that track, the GT3 Mustang was in a position to run at the front of the pack. We shall see if that is indeed the case in the GTD/GTD Pro classes at Watkins Glen this week. So far, this season has been a bit of a struggle for the Ford entries.
https://www.imsa.com/wp-content/upl...12/Watkins-Glen-IWSC-Pre-Event-Entry-List.pdf

 

[MCS]

Very good. You have successfully achieved recognition of the blatantly bloody obvious.

This finish was not expected for them. Previous finishes would not have suggested they were in contention for a podium finish.

Thank you, that is all.

LOL that's cute. You aren't looking for two sided discussions. You are looking to be right.

As anyone, with an ounce of brainpower, can point out "On any given sunday......"

I do agree with you here though "That is, indeed, all".

 

[TeeLew]

Maybe "Sorry, I was wrong" would have been more appropriate?

Anyway, thanks to @Epiphany for the data. Imagine how it might have all gone down if 77 didn't suffer from the steering rack issue.

I'm not wrong. I'm just done throwing pearls.

You know, there is the slightest chance that I have very good information, but I just can't share the particulars.

 

[TeeLew]

LOL that's cute. You aren't looking for two sided discussions. You are looking to be right.

As anyone, with an ounce of brainpower, can point out "On any given sunday......"

I do agree with you here though "That is, indeed, all".

No, I *am* right, and I've tried to share.

No one wants to hear it, which is fine.

 

[Tomster]

I'm not wrong. I'm just done throwing pearls.

You know, there is the slightest chance that I have very good information, but I just can't share the particulars.

That may be true, but your bedside manners are that to be desired. You come across very much like an arrogent troll that was thrown out of here a while ago. He was banned.

 

[TeeLew]

If saying that GT3 has a bunch of really tough competition and no car will show up in its first year and be consistently running at the front is a crime, then string me up.

 

[Tomster]

If saying that GT3 has a bunch of really tough competition and no car will show up in its first year and be consistently running at the front is a crime, then string me up.

That's not what you said. Have a nice day.

 

[MAGS1]

I think every race team bringing out a new car knows they will likely be inconsistent in the first few years. Test laps and actual competition are very different and you need reps in competition to find shortcomings and improve them (true of all sports and life in general).

But, they are competitors and I’m sure have their expectations set very high. I’d be more concerned if they didn’t, honestly. And, you never know what kind of competitive drive someone has. The will to do something can often overcome other shortcomings. FP, Multimatic and Proton definitely have learned a lot and I’m sure will address what they’re able to within the rules. If they have high expectations even in Year 1, so do I. If I end up being disappointed, so be it, I’m sure they’ll be disappointed too.

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