I will attempt to analyse the data from the #12 Rebellion and pitch it against the current World Endurance champions Audi #1 E-tron Quattro.
I'm going to start by breaking down the sector times and compare them, I have selected the first 10 laps of the race to keep the varibles to a minimum and also to get the cars at ultimate pace. I will start with the obvious, Sector 1.
You will notice starightaway that Audi was the faster car but we expected that, it's not that I expect the Rebellion Toyota to be faster but it's the amount of distance between the cars that we are intrested in.
Reviewing the data as you will see above my first impressions are not quite so good. I calulated the average distance between the cars to be 1.3 seconds in Sector 1 alone. Once the cars hit traffic on lap 4 for the Audi, and lap 5 for the rebellion, the splits between them flutuate somewhat.
Once again the Audi was the faster of the 2 cars, until once again traffic appears on the scene. The average time distance between them in sector 2 is an eye-watering 1.4 seconds. So currently the Rebellion is 2.7s slower on average and we havent even got to sector 3 yet. An early conclusion would be that Rebellion's drivers need to push through traffic to gain any advantage possible and minmise the gap.
Again first impressions prove the #1 Audi faster through the laps until lap 9 where the Audi must have caught traffic at a bad time. The average distance through sector 3 reads better than the previous sectors at 0.7s slower, however it's only a 31s sector mainly consisting of the Hanger straight, Stowe, Vale, Club and across the line. I proved a previous blog that the rebellion has near enough the same straight line speed as the Audi but it appears they have sacrificed downforce as proven by the slower times in the previous sectors.
I also checked the overall time both cars spent in the pits during the race. Both pitted 8 times, The Audi being Diesel and Hybrid is aloud only 61 litres but the Rebellion Toyota has a 75 litres allowance. On the face of it used think Rebellion could gain sometime back by pitting less than the Audi? However as I just mentioned they both pit 8 times. So looking into it further did rebellion gain anytime back by not changing the tyres as much? Well I can say the #1 Audi spent a combined time of 9 min 44 seconds in the pits and the #12 Rebellion 9 mins 48 seconds. Not much to be gained back in the pits then, with similar times spent servicing the cars.
Still struggling to find anywhere were Rebellion have had a chance to gain anything back from the Audi during the race, I have looked through plenty of data and I can find no evidence where the Rebellion is suprior or the FIA/ACO have manufactored the sporting/technical regulations to give the LMP1 privateers a chance to snatch a podium should any of the top cars suffer with problems. My calulations have shown that over a lap on average they trail by 3.4 seconds and have proven that Rebellion's pit crew are just as savvy at servicing as Joest.
I fear the evidence suggests that FIA/ACO want to put off (intentionally or not) privateer teams from enetering LMP1 unless they give them more of a break. I don't think giving them bigger fuel tanks is the answer surely it just adds weight, incresses tyre wear and possable component fatigue. Also bear in mind both cars have the same base weight of 900kg. I'm not claiming to have the answers but just pointing out something needs to be addressed.
Hopefully the the big news that is due from Bart Hayden (Team Manager of Rebellion) at Spa will be a step towards securing the privateer in the top class of sportcar racing, long term.
All comments and thoughts are welcome.
