Night and Day - A tribute to Group C at Le Mans

Tribute To Group C At Le Mans in the 80's

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• le mans
• group C
• race
• cars
• jag
• jaguar
• u2

[Christoffski]

The car that is smoldering is a Porsche 961 (959 racing version) isn't it?

[R0LLM0P]

@Christoffski

Yes I think you are right

[Crisgo3d]

This was the best era of sports car racing.

[Christoffski]

These guys were utterly amazing drivers.

[Christoffski]

@484berkshire It's how those horses are used that counts. The Sauber would only catch the LMP way down the first stretch after lagging behind in the first section, have to break WAY earlier and will take a longer time to negotiate the chicanes, be far less flat and stable and struggle for traction as it accelerates down the second and even then the LMP is going to be there. It's not like the LMP would be a dot in the mirror. Next section & Porsche curves? No chance. But I do prefer Group C. :)

[484berkshire]

Man I wasn't even born until a year before this class was disolved...didn't get into racing until about 10 years ago...this would've been so fun to watch live and keep up with...but I guess I'm at least spared the heartbreak of seeing the FIA ruin this...

[484berkshire]

@Christoffski Modern LMPs make less than 600 hp. A group C car from the '80s made anywhere between 800 and 1000 hp. A Sauber would own one of them on the straights at LeMans, but yeah the modern ones corner and accelerate MUCH better.

[484berkshire]

The golden era of sports car racing was also the dark ages of the automotive industry with the slow econoboxes that all looked the same no matter who built them. The group C machines were probably the only safe haven for car enthusiasts in the '80s. It's amazing how different they were to the consumer cars that were built by the same companies.

[Christoffski]

Modern LMPs accelerate and corner faster. Aero means slower top speeds, but the straights are shorter so that is why. If the straights were longer the cars would be faster as they'd be set up for it. A TS020 would murk a C9. The Sauber wouldn't stand a chance and that's not even a modern LMP. I still prefer Group C, though. :D The soooouuuuuund. The shapes!!

[DaSchraadz]

@LOLWUT612

Uhm...Group C reached 380-400 kph. OK LMP can't because of nowadays race circuits.

The Sauber C9 had about 720 hp and that is probably the minimum. I have not read yet that either Audi or Peugeot have considerably more horsepower in their LMPs. Torque no doubt.

[LOLWUT612]

@DaSchraadz LMP1 cars are faster and more powerfull than the 80's GRC cars

[red03mitsu]

god i miss these days. so many great drivers.

silk cut & group 44 jags, the rothmanns porsches, later the mazda 787s. too many great cars to list.

[Christoffski]

watching the Peugeots dance round to this now ala the Jags.