24 Heures du Mans 2018 - LMP1

The winning Toyota leads a Ferrari and a Ford through the Esses just before dusk.

The 2018 was never going to be a classic race with just one team entered in the LMP1 Hybrid class.  Perhaps, the only question mark was Toyota’s reliability, remembering that in the past they have even broken down with one lap to go.  In the end the Toyotas were very reliable and they took a one two victory.  It was a popular victory as it meant the Nakajima and Buemi’s loyalty to the team was rewarded and Alonso achieved the second stage of his Triple Crown ambition.  Alonso contributed to the victory with a fine drive during the night, allowing Nakajima to make the overtake on their team-mates early on Sunday morning.   It was particularly nice to see Toyota let Nakajima drive the final stint to allow him to forget the memory of that 2016 last lap he didn’t finish.   It was fairly close between the Toyotas for much of the race but it was decided 

The jets signify that the race is about to start.  Cloudy weather welcoming the cars.

The non-hybrid “class” was at least fairly numerous with Ginettas at last joining the fray.   However, they proved less reliable with only three of the eight cars making it to the finish.  The Rebellions were fairly impressive and they kept trying to apply some pressure and finished comfortably ahead of the LMP2 cars, but were no worry for Toyota due to the regulations.  The Bykolles started from the back after joining the pace lap late whilst a Rebellion and the DragonSpeed  tripped over each other at the start and thus they had to come back up the field.   We just have to hope that the new regulations attract more competitive takers for the top class.   Button’s car was sidelined with an electrical issue early on. 

The pace lap with eight LMP1 cars leading the fastest LMP2 car.

Pictures of every LMP1 car that competed the 2018 24 hours of Le Mans are featured below in the order that they were classified.

1st overall - 8 - Toyota Gazoo Racing - Toyota TS050 Hybrid - S.Buemi/K.Nakajima/F.Alonso.

Sébastien Buemi in the Toyota at Tertre Rouge on Saturday afternoon

The two Toyotas were often very close and here on Saturday evening are just split by an Aston Martin they are lapping.

The winning Toyota entering the start finish straight on Sunday morning.

Sunday morning and the leading Toyota heads through the Esses with the iconic Dunlop bridge in the background.

2nd overall - Toyota Gazoo Racing - Toyota TS050 Hybrid - M.Conway/K.Kobayashi/J.Lopez.

The second Toyota speeding out of the Esses during the Saturday morning warm-up.

The No.7 Toyota in second place at Tertre Rouge on Saturday afternoon.

The Toyota in the Dunlop chicane late on Saturday afternoon.

The number seven Toyota was in the lead for much of Saturday evening.

The leading Toyota heading down to Tertre Rouge just after dusk.

Having lost the lead, the number 7 Toyota on Sunday morning.

3rd overall - 3 - Rebellion Racing - Rebellion R13 Gibson - T.Laurent/M.Beche/G.Menezes.

Classic Le Mans shot with a Rebellion leading an LMP2 car out of the Esses during the warm-up.

Rebellion overtaking a Corvette on the way down to Tertre Rouge.

The podium finishing Rebellion in Tertre Rouge on Satuday afternoon.

The Rebelion entering the start finish straight in third place on Sunday morning.

4th overall - 1 - Rebellion Racing - Rebellion R13 Gibson - A.Lotterer/N.Jani/B.Senna.

Rebellion in Tertre Rouge, playing catch-up after a collision at the start where it lost its nose.

Rebellion in the Dunlop chcane.

The No.1 Rebellion at night in Tertre Rouge.

The Rebellion exiting the Esses on Sunday morning.

41st overall/5th in class - 5 - CEFC/TRSM Racing - Ginetta G60 LT P1 Mecachrome - G.Robertson/M.Simpson/L.Roussel.

After Spa, it was good to see the Ginettas actually out on track.

The No.5 Ginatta in Tertre Rouge early in the race.

The lead Ginetta at the dunlop chicane early Saturday evening.

Great to see one of he Ginettas actually get to the end and finish.

DNF - 11 - SMP Racing - BR Engineering BR1 AER - V.Petrov/M.Aleshin/J.Button.

The No.11 car speeding down to Tertre Rouge behind a GT Ferrari.

Jensen Button was another ex-World Champion at Le Mans for the first time and like Alonso did a lot of night driving.

Having survived the night, but with a number of problems, here is the BR1 on Sunday morning in the Esses.  It finally retitred after 23 hours.

DNF - 10 - DragonSpeed - BR Engineering BR1 Gibson - H.Hedman/B.Hanley/R.Van Der Zande.

The DragonSpeed LMP1 in Tertre Rouge on Saturday afternoon.  It had been involved in a collision at the start but kept going.

Iconic shot of the No.10 car in the Saturday morning warm-up when it was sunny.

BR1 in the Dunlop chicane.

Saturday evening in the Esses.  The car didn't get to the seventeen hour mark.

DNF - 6 - CEFC/TRSM Racing - Ginetta G60 LT P1 Mecachrome - O.Rowland/A.Brundle/O.Turvey.

The Ginetta is a good looking car.

Ginetta in the Esses.  It retired in the tenth hour.

Ginetta after dusk at Terrte Rouge overtaking an LMP2 car.  Love this shot!

DNF - 17 - SMP Racing - BR Engineering BR1 AER - S.Sarrazin/E.Orudzhev/M.Isaakyan.

Blasting past a Corvette out of the Esses.

In Tertre Rouge early in the race.

The two SMP cars in Tertre Rouge at dusk.

The No.17 car shortly before it retired around 11pm.

DNF - 4 - Bykolles Racing Team - Enso CLM P1/01 Nismo - O.Webb/D.Kraihamer/T.Dillmann.

Early in the race at Tertre Rouge.

The No.4 car in the Esses on Saturday afternoon.

The Bykolles car lasted longer than last year but was still the first retirement after a crash.

For the LMP2 cars at the 2018 Le Mans 24 hrs, click here.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.

An SMP car passes the large crowd by the Esses.

SMP Car overtaking cars under breaking for Tertre Rouge.

WEC 6 hours of Spa Franchorchamps 2018 - LMP1

One of the SMP LMP1 cars fighting to stay ahead of the LMP2 cars at the start on the way down to Eau Rouge,

It was my first time at Spa Francorchamps, the first race of the WEC Super Season, and Fernando Alonso's first WEC race and win, so rather special. With the withdrawal of Porsche at the end of 2017, only Toyota remain of the manufacturer's Hybrid cars but more privateers have entered the fray with  non-hybrid LMP1 cars. The new one and a half year Super Season started at Spa with considerable excitement caused by Fernando Alonso joining the favourite's Toyota. All of the LMP1 cars that were entered are shown below in the order that they finished.

The race was spoiled a little by one of the Toyotas having a technical infringement and starting a lap behind.  In the end, with some fine driving by Conway and the others and with the help of a couple of safety car periods, it caught the other one up but team orders were in play after the last stop.  Despite the Toyotas running Le Mans type aerodynamics, the non-hybrid cars were not really competitive against the Toyotas.

However, for us spectators and amateur photographers it is the Spa circuit that is the big attraction.   What a place to visit.  Thanks to Gareth for acting as my circuit guide.  Also, what great value, as I spent less than 30 Euro for parking, entry, grandstand seats and pit walk!

1^st.  8 - Toyota Gazoo Racing – Toyota TS050 Hybrid – Alonso / Buemi / Nakajima.

The two Toyota head up from Eau Rough to Raidillon.

The winning Toyota braking into Bruxelles.

At the same corner from the other side of the track.

Alonso heading for his first win since 2013.

2^nd. 7 – Toyota Gazoo Racing – Toyota TS050 Hybrid – Conway / Kobayashi / Lopez.

Last minute preperation on the Toyota.

The second place Toyota making its way through the field after starting a lap behing.  Here it bis exiting La Source.

The Toyota heading into Bruxelles.

Toyota leads the very popular Netherlands LMP2 car through the fast Eau Rouge / Raidillon complex of corners.

A little mistake from the No.7 car at La Combes.

Toyota exiting the Les Combes complex of corners.

Toyota cutting the apex at turn eleven,

Mike Conway and Kamui Kobayashi concentrate on signing autographs.

3^rd. 1 – Rebellion Racing – Rebellion R13 Gibson – Jani / Lotterer / Senna.

The third placed car shoots by on the first lap.

Rebellion exiting La Source.

The Rebellion heading up to Raidillon.

4^th. 3 – Rebellion Racing – Rebellion R13 Gibson – Beche / Laurent / Menezes.

The Rebellion exiting La Source and heading down to Eau Rouge early in the race with the spectators looking on.

The second Rebellion in Bruxelles.

Rebellion car in the pits during the pit walk.

5^th. 4 – ByKolles Racing Team – ENSO CLM P1/01 Nismo – Webb / Kraihamer / Dillmann.

The single ByKolles car heading by the spectators early in the race.

The fifth placed car in Bruxelles.

The No.4 car exiting the pit lane after its first stop.

The ByKolles squad are interviewed.

LMP1 battle out of La Source,

LMP1 battle into Bruxelles.

6^th. 11 – SMP Racing – BR Engineering BR1 AER – Aleshin / Petrov.

The SMP car in turn eleven.

The No.11 car arriving for srutineering.

The two Russian drivers during the autograph session.

Retired – 17 – SMP Racing – BR Engineering BR1 AER – Sarrazin / Orudzhev / Isaacyan.

The SMP car exiting Les Combes.

Near the top of the hill at Raidillion.

The BR1 on its entry into Bruxelles.

The SMP drivers find something amusing during the autograph session.

Did not run – 5 – CEFC TRSM Racing - Ginetta G60 LT P1 Mecachrome - Robertson / Stoneman / Roussel.

The Manor run Ginettas were withdrawn due to sponsorship issues.

Did not run – 6 - CEFC TRSM Racing - Ginetta G60 LT P1 Mecachrome - Rowland / Brundle / Turvey.

This car was at Spa but did just a single installation lap before withdrawing.

Also at Spa was the DragonSpeed BRE LMP1 entry.  Unfortunately, Pietro Fittipaldi crashed it badly in qualifying, suffering multiple fractures to his legs, and thus it couldn't race on Saturday.  I wish Pietro a full and speedy recovery.


For all of the LMP2 cars at Spa, click here.

The  GT cars coming soon.

John Etherton asserts his copyright to all of the photos on this blogpost.  However, you may post the photos elsewhere on the web as long as you credit the photographer, John Etherton, and this blog post, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com and provide a link to this page.

John Etherton affirme son droit d'auteur à l'ensemble des photos sur ce billet de blog. Cependant, vous pouvez poster des photos ailleurs sur le web aussi longtemps que vous créditez le photographe, John Etherton, et ce blog, Rouenlesafx@blogspot.com et fournissez un lien vers cette page.