Circuit de la Sarthe, Le Mans 60s
converted and enhanced by philrob
last update / release : 07.01.2012
Track Infos from Wiki :
The Circuit des 24 Heures du Mans, also known as Circuit de la Sarthe (after the 1906 French Grand Prix triangle circuit) located in Le Mans, Sarthe, France, is a semi-permanent motorsport race course chiefly known as the venue for the 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race. Comprising private, race-specific sections of track in addition to public roads which remain accessible most of the year, its present configuration is 13.626 kilometres (8.467 mi) long, making it one of the longest circuits in the world. Capacity of the race stadium, where the short Bugatti Circuit is situated, is 100,000. The Musée des 24 Heures du Mans is a motorsport museum located at the main entrance of the venue.
Up to 85% of the lap time is spent on full throttle, putting immense stress on engine and drivetrain components. However, the times spent reaching maximum speed also mean tremendous wear on the brakes and suspension as cars must slow from over 320 km/h (200 mph) to around 100 km/h (60 mph) for the sharp corner at the village of Mulsanne.
Car speeds increased dramatically in the 1960s, pushing the limits of the “classic circuit” and sparking criticism of the track as being unsafe, after several trials related fatalities occurred. Since 1965, a smaller but permanent Bugatti Circuit was added which shares the pit lane facilities and the first corner (including the famous Dunlop bridge) with the full “Le Mans” circuit. For the 1968 race, the Ford chicane was added before the pits to slow down the cars. The circuit was fitted with Armco for the 1969 race. The “Maison Blanche” kink was particularly harrowing, claiming many cars over the years (including three Ferrari 512 variants) and several lives, including the legendary John Woolfe in 1969 behind the wheel of a 917 Porsche.
Sim Version :
Before i started work on the 2 LeMans variants 60/70s i studied many photos, books and videos, these where my findings :
My version of the track represents the 60s variant. Between 1932 Until the end of 1967 the track was basically unchanged. The circuit was then lengthened slightly in 1968 to 8.369miles by the addition of the Ford chicane upon approaching the pits. Any major remodelling was left until 71-72, bypassing White house curves and adding new bends up to the pits area, much armco started to appear.
After some discussion on the Sim sites and looking at more footage i feel that the sand mound at the end of Arnarge was a smaller sand trap running along the track edge and the large mound was, if it existed further up the run off road.
This is a conversion and upgrade from the GPL original, all permissions from Roland Ehnström were requested and obtained. The 60’s track has had a much needed makeover.It was the source for Lemans70 for the CSGT mod that i did, but this one has NO Ford chicane and NO Armco and other changes. A very fast blast from start to finish no chicanes to slow you down, the track at its best.
I promised this a long time ago so i tidied it up and here it is for GTR2, with the addition of the rain and AIW rain path, a couple of model and object changes. And a few other lighting and material tweeks optimal for GTR2. I have altered a number of logos to be more in keeping with the period thanks to new photo material. Also due to failings in the GTL version of the AIW this is another version to remedy this, thanks Ken.
Most of the trackside objects and surfaces have been retextured or removed/remade, to be in keeping with the period of 60’s motorsport.I have researched and redrawn most of the logos and adverts. I have not covered new signs with filters to make them look old, (i have never understood why modders do this) as the signs were new when racing in the 60s.
I would like to thank Motorfx for his help and technical assistance in particular the Mulsanne corner. Some track shadow flashing is evident, but this has been the case in all variants of this track and can be limited with camera changes.To cure it completely would take me too much time, that i dont have.
regards,
philrob
