xpb Nürburgring 24h Race 2012
07/19/2012
D owing to the reclassifications in the context of the Balance of Performance changed the balance of power between the top brands is clear - less in terms of performance on the racetrack than in terms of stopping times in the pit lane: Mercedes and Audi got more tank volumes and larger tank restrictors, allegedly because of the increased consumption.
Mercedes benefits from the rule change
That was a myth: The Mercedes filled the 24h race at the Nürburgring never more than 117 liters, often they had nine liters of residual fuel in the tank. With a flow rate of 1.15 seconds per liter, they saved a full ten seconds with every stop. Audi benefited less from the same regulation because the consumption efficiency of the R8 LMS is significantly worse.
If you calculate the ten fastest pit stops from the 24h race at the Nürburgring for the two fastest cars of each brand, you get the following result:
1. Mercedes: 2.25.89 min
2. Audi : 2.30.81 min
3. BMW: 2.34.28 min
4. Porsche: 2.36.78 min
Porsche loses at the pit stops
The big loser in the tank deal at the Nürburgring was the Porsche with the longest downtime - despite the smallest engine and the lowest consumption. Intentional or coincidental?
