A/C MANDATORY IN 2007

[311unity13B]

TAKEN FROM PLANETLEMANS.COM

Air conditioning: recommended in 2006, mandatory in 2007        
 
 
Wednesday, 18 January 2006
  Le Mans 24h  It was obvious to everybody that the 2005 Le Mans 24 Hours was run in weather
conditions that were very tough on the drivers – especially those in closed, front-engined cars – where temperatures in the cockpit got as high as 70° to 80°C.

Jacques Baroin, the ACO Medical Chief, stated: “from 40° upwards the thermal exchange with the immediate environment becomes very difficult and the driver asphyxiates little by little. It is very important to protect the body against a sudden rise in temperature. Once the 40° threshold has been exceeded brain capacity diminishes.�

In the light of this information Jean-Claude Plasssart, the President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, and the sports management have announced a change to article 14.6 of the regulations providing for the installation of a cooling system in every closed car: it is highly recommended for 2006 and becomes obligatory in 2007 for closed cars in the LM GT and LM Prototype categories.

The weight of all the cars has been increased by 25 kilos to maintain equal levels of performance in each category given the amount of extra equipment required. The air restrictors will also be adapted to compensate for power loss.

These measures that have been taken in agreement with the various partners will also be applied in the terms defined above to the Le Mans 24 Hours, the American Le Mans Series (controlled by I.M.S.A) and the Le Mans Series.

[racerboyadam]

Is this really needed?  I know it gets hot, but jeez, isn't putting up with that part of being a race car driver?

[SACK-U]

I am all for it epecially since they upped the car weight. I have seen drivers pass out after a stint.

I watched something on Paul Newman, at sebring and they measured his body loss and fatigue at his last race and damn he should have died in that car.

[natefromohio]

yeah i gotta agree with Sack. The heat is part of being a racer, but especially in the closed cars the heat can get to be way too much. Those kind of temperatures are way too high. and the air conditioners still aren't to make it a breeze to drive. it's not like they will be cranking the AC, going aorund the track with Led Zeppelin blaring and just cruising. The article mentioned it starts getting bad above 40 degrees Celcius. That equates to 104 degrees F and is still fairly hot to be participating an exremely physically demanding sport. AC will not take anything away from the sport but will make it much more safe

[racerboyadam]

A lot of grand am cars have an air tube sticking out the window that keeps the air circulating.  If they did this, it would not take away from the power.  If I recall, Corvette did this at Le Mans last year, and that was attributed for at least part of thier win.

[natefromohio]

that could work, but the temperature around the track is still very hot and you would just be bringing in more hot air that way. And just as it was previously stated, they are being allowed a bit more weight to compensate for it. the playing field will still be level. And with the AC in place, the sport we so dearly love and devote most of our free time towards will still be competitive and cut back on the unecessarily dangerous risks

[racerboyadam]

The only plus side that I can see is that maybe someone like audi or another factory team will discover a more efficent way of cooling that will make it to production models.  If that happens then I will totally be for it.

[srf506]

You can bring in all of the 80 degree air you want into the cabin, until they figure out some way to circulate it in the driver's suit and helmet you might as well be blowing through a straw on him. That's why currently the solution is the cool suit system that's self-contained, and unfortunately, prone to failure. Also, what happens if the cooling equipment goes on the fritz? Does the car have to come in for repairs or can they continue to run? What about the environmental impacts of this stuff getting released in a wreck? Finally, how much is it going to interfere with a driver requiring to escape in an emergancy? This issue has been tossed around for at least 20 - 25 years. It will be interesting to see how they solve it.

[Chris24]

Please can they make it mandatory to have Air con out on the spectators mounds as well ! (Particularlly at Sebring) Now that would be watching in style.

[KTJeffries]

The only plus side that I can see is that maybe someone like audi or another factory team will discover a more efficent way of cooling that will make it to production models.  If that happens then I will totally be for it.

The R10 is an open cockpit and therefore exempt from the rule. This is why the weight was increased.

[Turn1Mogie]

The article mentioned it starts getting bad above 40 degrees Celcius. That equates to 104 degrees F and is still fairly hot to be participating an exremely physically demanding sport. AC will not take anything away from the sport but will make it much more safe

Yes, the BOTTOM range of the cockpit temperature was around 104 degrees F...and have been measured at upwards of 185 degrees.  I dont know how many of you have spent time just SITTING in a sauna before...I cant imagine driving in those conditions.  

http://www.vetteweb.com/events/vemp_0512_lemans/

[natefromohio]

Yes, the BOTTOM range of the cockpit temperature was around 104 degrees.....I dont know how many of you have spent time just SITTING in a sauna before...I cant imagine driving in those conditions.

My point exactly. And might i add, when you sit in a sauna, you are nake or nearly naked. You're not wearing several layers and a thick racing suit. Sure they are designed to breathe, and yadda yadda, but that is still way too dangerous and just an unecessary risk. It's like going skydiving and taking out the main parachute and hoping the reserve chute works fine. it probably will work, but why take the risk? as i said before even with air-con, it will still be rather hot in the cars, just a little more bearable and not quite as dangerous