Le Mans 2003 - Predict the Pole Time (now closed)

[Aysedasi]

I think Fab and I should now put a time limit on this (bearing in mind that I haven't had my 5-penneth yet..... ). Predictions therefore to close ladies and gents at midnight on Sunday, 8th June (before people start to leave..... )

[Try Hard]

#7 bentley Kristensen 3:32.2

[Bentley Beermon]

Bentley #8 3'29.996

[Fab]

Originally posted by Bentley Beermon


Bentley #8 3'29.996

So you changed your mind (as I did myself coming back from the PQ) ? Ok, I take this one...

[JAG]

Originally posted by PascaLM
More torque, less power (550 hp), Michelin tyres + Herbert =

Bentley n°8 - 3'32''500

According to Mulsanne Mikes site the 2003 Bentley has 658BHP, the R8 593BHP or so.

The Bentley has more power in 2003 than in previous years.

[PascaLM]

Originally posted by JAG
According to Mulsanne Mikes site the 2003 Bentley has 658BHP, the R8 593BHP or so.

Mulsanne's Corner gives 658 bhp for the 2003 Bentley.

Well, it's impossible.

Of course, we can imagine that if the engine is now a 4000 cc to 3600 cc last year, the power has grown in the same proportion.

Indeed, this year, the Bentley will have 2 restrictors with a diameter of 30,7 mm and a max boost pressure of 1500 millibar for the two turbos.
The diameter was 33,1 mm last year.

The ACO decided to decrease the average power of the engines from 600 down to 550 bhp ; (in 1994 the power was 650 bhp).

Physically, the air passing through the restrictors can not exceed the speed of sound, so whatever are the engine size and architecture, the power is limited.
On the other hand, the maximum torque reached at lower speed can be "caterpillaresque" !
I think that's why the size has been increased to 4000 cc this year.


So I always think : 3'32''500 with brilliant and likeable J.HERBERT.


PS 1 : see http://www.lemans.org/sport/pdf/2003...XE_A_GF_GB.pdf for all engines restrictors datas.

PS 2 : I really like Mulsanne's Corner pages.

[JAG]

I'm not sure how everything works technically but this is what I've read about the situation.

The 2002 R8s had around 660-70BHP with smaller LMP900 restrictors than the LMGTP Bentley, which was producing around 640BHP.

The 2002 Bentley was 4000cc but was clearly (and some say purposefully) not as high a spec as the Audis engine.

Ulrich who runs Audi says the 2002 R8s have had no development to the engine and is now producing around 600BHP. The Bentley however has a completly revised, 'ultimate' spec. engine that he says gained back much of what was lost by the 10% smaller restrictor plus some more.

Looking at restrictors in the WRC, the cars only have 2000cc and produce around 350BHP but have manged to gain around 30BHP in the last 4 years or so from a starting point of around 315BHP.

[PascaLM]

Originally posted by JAG
The Bentley however has a completly revised, 'ultimate' spec. engine that he says gained back much of what was lost by the 10% smaller restrictor plus some more.

Yes, it's true. The engine can gain by reduction of friction and improvement of mobile parts, etc.

A answer will be given with the maximum speeds in the Mulsanne straight ("ligne droite des Hunaudières" ).

[Aysedasi]

What's all this got to do with this thread........

[Bentley Beermon]

:confused: Interesting though it is I was wondering the same myself.

Not long to go now

[Aysedasi]

OK. Finally it's my turn.

Bentley No. 7

3m32.146

[bernard b]

adjusting mine:

Bentley #7, Tom K., 3.33.550

[kdr]

deja vu..ish

bentley number 7, kristensen. 3.33.333

[Asp]

Bentley #7 - 3'32"576

[lemans_henrik]

Bentley #7 - 3.32.789 and Tom K. is the man to do it :-)

[Fab]

Ayse is going to close it, so here are the stats about the predictions :
Average pole : 03:30,654
Bentley 07 : mentionned 18 times as pole
Dome Judd 15 : mentionned 9 times as pole
Bentley 08 : mentionned 9 times as pole
Audi UK 06 : mentionned 4 times as pole
Courage Evo 18 : mentionned 1 times as pole

I'm the most pessimistic !

[Aysedasi]

Yes, as in the other one, you haven't got long to post your prediction, before the thread times out.

[Aysedasi]

Thread now closed.

[Aysedasi]

And here is the full list of pole predictions, from the most optimistic (Cobra) to the most pessimistic (Fab). And thanks to Fab for putting the list together (unfortunately you lose the Excel formatting.....!).

Entrant Car Time
Cobra Bentley 08 03:26.500
Nordic Dome Judd 15 03:28.100
FastJoel Dome Judd 15 03:28.704
Racingmaniac Bentley 07 03:28.750
Project LeMans Bentley 08 03:28.900
egor Dome Judd 15 03:28.950
viperada Bentley 08 03:28.974
bigh Audi UK 06 03:29.000
Garrett Bentley, Dome, Audi 03:29.000
tink Dome Judd 15 03:29.286
Fogelhund Bentley 08 03:29.312
pirenzo Audi UK 06 03:29.500
dretceterini Bentley 07 03:29.662
Rcutler Dome Judd 15 03:29.666
jet Audi UK 06 03:29.695
Wout Dome Judd 15 03:29.734
Karl Kling Courage Evo 18 03:29.876
Sfonseca Bentley 07 03:29.900
Bentley Beermon Bentley 08 03:29.996
Javi Bentley 07 03:30.100
Mal Bentley 08 03:30.100
JAG Bentley 07 03:30.200
E46 Audi UK 06 03:30.532
danhx Bentley 07 03:30.800
carbsmith Bentley 08 03:30.850
paulzinho Dome Judd 15 03:30.876
Chevyguy Dome Judd 15 03:31.000
Sean Crockett Bentley 08 03:31.005
Gilles Bentley 07 03:31.200
rdjones Dome Judd 15 03:31.244
Courage Bentley 07 03:31.864
Aysedasi Bentley 07 03:32.146
Try Hard Bentley 07 03:32.200
sirhc Bentley 07 03:32.500
Pascal LM Bentley 08 03:32.500
Asp Bentley 07 03:32.576
lemans_henrik Bentley 07 03:32.789
Tim Northcutt Bentley 07 03:32.876
Kdr Bentley 07 03:33.333
bernard b Bentley 07 03:33.550
parson78 Bentley 07 03:33.750
SL Bentley 07 03:34.000
Fab Bentley 07 03:35.300
Average pole : 03:30.654

Bentley 07 mentionned 18 times as pole
Dome Judd 15 mentionned 9 times as pole
Bentley 08 mentionned 9 times as pole
Audi UK 06 mentionned 4 times as pole
Courage Evo 18 mentionned 1 times as pole

[Fab]

I just edited Ayse post to insert Kdr prediction, that I forgot to precise in my excel sheet...