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Generally, three drivers per team. The number of
drivers per team has evolved over time. Initially, teams of two were the norm. One driver rested while the other driver drove. There was also the 'Like Lindie, I'll go it alone" attitude for a solo attempt. Arguably the most famous person in this category was Pierre Levegh who almost won the race in 1952 driving alone. In the final hour, with a four lap lead, his car suffered engine failure.
Coming into the pits is not only for driver fatigue, but also car maintenance. Levegh (who was driving with a co-driver in the Mercedes team) was the driver involved in the crash in 1954 that killed spectators in the finishing stand (opposite the pits). It remains the most horrific crash in motor racing history: 83 spectators died.
These days, three is not only the norm for a team, it is a requirement.
Andrew H
Racing, the RM036-01, and Richard Mille at Le Mans 24 Heures!
[The Richard Mille sponsored Ligier-Nissan driven by Alex Brundle flies down the finishing straight] It is THE endurance race for cars. It really is! Part of you thinks that its just cars going round and around the same track for a day and a night! Driver...
wow great report as usual...
...thank you very much for sharing this. all the best, chris
Thanks for this detailed coverage report!
How many drivers do each team have over this course of 24 hours? It would be nice to wear one of these RM036-01 while riding on the Formula Rossa roller coaster in Abu Dhabi. 1.7G's is barely reach the maximum 6G's indicator of the RM036-01 though :) Chee...
Generally, three drivers per team. The number of
drivers per team has evolved over time. Initially, teams of two were the norm. One driver rested while the other driver drove. There was also the 'Like Lindie, I'll go it alone" attitude for a solo attempt. Arguably the most famous person in this category...
Wow! Sebastian Loeb’s RM036-01 prototype is amazing
to take G-forces up to 6G! I am amazed he actually wears it in his tests and races and that it still keeps good time. I am sure it gets knocked alot in the car too. I must admit design wise, I am mostly a fan of classical watches but RM's innovation and t...
Thanks Robin. The watch is fascinating close up: a
great deal of depth to the movement. As to the cars and capturing them at speed. It depends on the light conditions, the speed of the cars, and the distance/vantage point of the photographer. For cars in the Le Mans Classic (vintage), you can set shutter ...
Funny about the "don't blink" bit - I've been as close . . .
. . . as a few feet from Indy cars at speed. It was during the '73 California 500 at Ontario Motor Speedway; I managed to pass thru the security gate and get up right next to the track wall for a few minutes before being ordered back to my seat. In those ...
Nice job Andrew
Getting to talk to the folks directly is a major bonus. Well done. It's one major race I've never attended, and I should go. Cazalea
Thanks. It is something to see and still holds a
fascination, certainly in the French psyche, but also for any motor racing enthusiast. I know of motor racing enthusiasts who camp in the middle area and stay for two days to see the racing. The same people have also started to arrive for the Le Mans Clas...
Great report....question on RM036-01
You say that the RM036-01 was being put through its paces "live" in thecae.....what sort of g-force might be expected in a LeMans car? I am guessing its similar to F1? Really enjoyed the post......
I actually looked this up when I was researching the
article. It seems that most racing cars will distribute, depending on speed, cornering, and track somewhere between 3G and 6G. Below 3G both driver and watch would not really feel the effect to any great extent. But having been in a car myself, that was p...
Thats fascinating.
I remember doing some research on this when I was looking to buy a watch I could go skiing with. I remember at the time that the Bremont MB2 was tested at 20g....a similar test where a pilot is ejected from a plane! Given i tend to crash more than most wh...
I think the RM036-01 SL looks terrific!
Interesting that Sebastian left all of the design to the watchmakers, just as he would not want them helping with his car! Quite an epic post Andrew. Thanks for the detailed information. I learned a lot about this race.
Thanks for the report
Nice to see the RM036-01 being tested on the track. Regards, ED-209
Its a requirement for any Richard Mille ambassador: testing in the
field of combat! Whether race track, tennis court, or polo field! Thanks Andrew H
Great report, fantastic pics! Always refreshing to see real pics taken
With REAL lenses in this cameraphone and filters age of ours. Bravo. And bravo to RM for sponsoring a real up and comer and fir that Seb Loeb model - I'm still drooloing!
Thanks Thomas and thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you in person
soon. Yeah - at times feel like a dinosaur until I manage to nail a shot BECAUSE I could control shutter speed, ASA, and aperture. Soon, we won't remember what all that is! Just trust the software: its for your convenience.... Andrew H
That is a very well done report, but especially I like ...
"the wear and tear on the bezel" . It has to be like this. Bravo! Thanks a lot for sharing, Andrew! Oliver
Pleasure and my thanks. Yes, Sebastian wears the watch in the very
furnace of competition and as requested by Richard, to test it where it matters most. I have seen some watches from some brand ambassadors and this RM036-01 looks tame by comparison. In the next article you will see what Pablo Macdonough (plus horse) can ...
Thanks for bringing us along!
An impressive show of race cars and race watches. Sebastian's RM 036 watch looks really cool on him. I can't wait to see the watch in person. It's a really cool and grueling sport. 24 hours long... What a work-day.
A pleasure - and yes - a long work day! Do take a look at the RM036-01
watch. More to it than meets the eye! Andrew H
Thanks a lot Andrew for this comprehensive report!
I could feel the speed of the cars on your pics! Fx