2023 Le Mans Discussion
- Thread starter C5Volzfan
- Start date
The car was on display at the Rolex 24 (sorry @M_Nesevitch and @Jebrown, they didn't open the Chevy display until the actual race weekend, so it wasn't on display when you guys were there).
I'd love to know what changes (and you know there are some) that they made in the car between the test at Sebring and the one at Daytona. I'm sure that it has to have some changes just because of the banking at Daytona. But....Le Mans has no banking. In fact, since it uses actual roads for most of the course, Sebring is probably the best test for it, due to the rough surface.
I'd love to know what changes (and you know there are some) that they made in the car between the test at Sebring and the one at Daytona. I'm sure that it has to have some changes just because of the banking at Daytona. But....Le Mans has no banking. In fact, since it uses actual roads for most of the course, Sebring is probably the best test for it, due to the rough surface.
Drivers for the Garage 56 Camaro:
Jimmy Johnson (I'm sure you all know who he is)
Mike Rockenfeller - Former Factory driver for both Porsche-Audi and Corvette Racing. Veteran of 10+ Le Mans races including wins in 2005 and 2010
Jensen Button - Former Formula 1 Championship winning driver, and veteran of Super GT racing the past few years.
Jimmy Johnson (I'm sure you all know who he is)
Mike Rockenfeller - Former Factory driver for both Porsche-Audi and Corvette Racing. Veteran of 10+ Le Mans races including wins in 2005 and 2010
Jensen Button - Former Formula 1 Championship winning driver, and veteran of Super GT racing the past few years.
I expect that Garage 56 will be about as good as a GTE Pro car and score about 350 laps - or about 2980 miles.
That'd place it about mid 20s.
That'd place it about mid 20s.
Possibly....but I think the lap times that they ran at Daytona (thus the comparison to the GTD cars times) is misleading. There is no banking at Le Mans. The Garage 56 car is heavier, and physically larger. I think that in reality, the Sports Cars are going to have an advantage. Of course at this point it's conjecture, but it's going to be interesting to see how it works out!
Does Garage 56 have to follow any specs for LeMans or is it just a "run what ya brung" class by iteself? I've really not done any research on it. Im not sure what they're actually trying to accomplish?
* I trust Button and Rockenfeller. I just hope Johnson doesn't tear it up when he spins out.
* I trust Button and Rockenfeller. I just hope Johnson doesn't tear it up when he spins out.
They should put on a pretty good show if nothing else. Hopefully, they do better than in 1976 when Hershel McGriff and W.C. (Junie) Donlavey brought a Dodge Charger and Ford Torino to the Circuit de la Sarthe. Either way I'll be rooting for 'em!
View: https://youtu.be/8RLY9aHpi8E
It's basically an "open" class, not even official and not actually part of the "competition". It's for experimental and concept entries, that must meet safety standards, etc. There is a limit on the performance, but it's very high, only to protect the LMP1 entries, etc. Can't have somebody come in and be faster than the "stars", now can we? lolDoes Garage 56 have to follow any specs for LeMans or is it just a "run what ya brung" class by iteself? I've really not done any research on it. Im not sure what they're actually trying to accomplish?
* I trust Button and Rockenfeller. I just hope Johnson doesn't tear it up when he spins out.
Garage 56 is the invitational innovation garage, in which cars have to comply with safety standards and crash-test regulations but they aren't under ant category-specific engine regs or powertrain regs.
Basically they don't want a Garage 56 entry to come in and battle for the win.
Basically they don't want a Garage 56 entry to come in and battle for the win.
I think they will know not to tune it for 95 octane, unless they are allowed to use racing fuel now.
Hello !
I am publishing again some info on the 24 hours of Le Mans. I first placed them in the "downloads" section about the Nascar Garage 56 car download by Islafe - big thanks to him for his work.
Thus, you can watch a gallery of photos of the Garage 56 taken this week during free practice and also the pit stop competition. A competition won by the mechanics of Garage 56 !
Here is the link: https://www.us-racing.com/2023/06/05/le-garage-56-au-mans-en-photos/
There is a way to follow the competition on the official website of the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest) which organizes the event and celebrates its centenary this year. This is the link to the official site in English language. On the ACO pages you can also watch presentation videos of this year's event.
The link: https://www.24h-lemans.com/en
Additional info. The famous English magazine Autosport devotes a race preview of about 20 minutes to the 24 hours of this year.
The link: https://www.autosport.com/le-mans/video/24-hours-of-le-mans-2023-everything-you-need-to-know/597708/
What else to say at this point? Just an anecdote. During the final free practice session, Garage 56 drivers Johnson, Button and Rockenfeller practiced driver changes. Their exercise consisted in getting out of the cockpit of the Chevrolet ZL1 through the window and entering it... through the same window! As is done in Nascar, of course. This did not fail to disconcert European observers and journalists.
Last thing: I hope you won't hold me too harsh for the poor quality of my English.
Enjoy !
I am publishing again some info on the 24 hours of Le Mans. I first placed them in the "downloads" section about the Nascar Garage 56 car download by Islafe - big thanks to him for his work.
Thus, you can watch a gallery of photos of the Garage 56 taken this week during free practice and also the pit stop competition. A competition won by the mechanics of Garage 56 !
Here is the link: https://www.us-racing.com/2023/06/05/le-garage-56-au-mans-en-photos/
There is a way to follow the competition on the official website of the ACO (Automobile Club de l'Ouest) which organizes the event and celebrates its centenary this year. This is the link to the official site in English language. On the ACO pages you can also watch presentation videos of this year's event.
The link: https://www.24h-lemans.com/en
Additional info. The famous English magazine Autosport devotes a race preview of about 20 minutes to the 24 hours of this year.
The link: https://www.autosport.com/le-mans/video/24-hours-of-le-mans-2023-everything-you-need-to-know/597708/
What else to say at this point? Just an anecdote. During the final free practice session, Garage 56 drivers Johnson, Button and Rockenfeller practiced driver changes. Their exercise consisted in getting out of the cockpit of the Chevrolet ZL1 through the window and entering it... through the same window! As is done in Nascar, of course. This did not fail to disconcert European observers and journalists.
Last thing: I hope you won't hold me too harsh for the poor quality of my English.
Enjoy !
Great info...now the big question...where on earth did they shave that much weight? That doesn't make sense to me.
NASCAR uses weight ballast... you don't need it in the frame rails here.
I'm aware of the weight ballast.....but 500+ lbs? That seems quite excessive....but maybe that's it. And it even has a larger fuel cell...which would weigh more, and you would think the mounting for a larger fuel cell would be heavier to handle the extra fuel wieght.
Mostly in the removal of side bars and rear tubing; which is unnecessary considering that a Cuppity-Cup-Car runs next to walls and expects to be banged into. Garage 56 does not have to bang the car in front, or get smashed into by 40 other equally chunky megachonks. OH LAWD HE COMING!
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