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5 things to know about Le Mans

By WTOP Staff

TRUNG LATIEULE
Associated Press

Porsche’s return to the 24 Hours of Le Mans after a 16-year absence in the top category has made the race less predictable.

Only Toyota could realistically challenge Audi’s dominance in the past two years. But Porsche’s performances this year suggest Le Mans will be even more competitive.

Toyota will start from first and third on the grid on Saturday after Kazuki Nakajima became the first Japanese driver to take pole position. Toyota will be under pressure from Porsche, whose cars will start from second and fourth. Audi showed a lack of pace in qualifying and its three cars will start from fifth, sixth and seventh.

However, speed is no guarantee of victory. Reliability matters just as much in a competition won by the team that completes the most laps in 24 hours, with up to three drivers alternating. The 82nd race starts on Saturday at 1300 GMT.

Here are five things to know about the 24 Hours of Le Mans this weekend:

NO DUVAL: A year after Danish driver Allan Simonsen crashed into a barrier 10 minutes into the race and died in hospital, 2013 champion Loic Duval of France was fortunate to escape with just grazes when he crashed in practice on Wednesday. Duval spent one night in hospital as a precaution, but a doctor’s report prompted Le Mans officials to disallow him from competing this weekend. He was replaced by Spanish driver Marc Gene, who won Le Mans with Peugeot in 2009.

PORSCHE’S EXPECTATIONS: Porsche is the most successful manufacturer at Le Mans with 16 titles, followed by Audi with 12. It showed its potential by finishing third at Silverstone, Britain, and fourth at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium, in the world endurance championship this year. Reliability will be the main concern for Porsche, which is relying on the experience of Australian driver Mark Webber. “For the return of Porsche at Le Mans, finishing the race would be OK,” Webber said. “For me, Audi remains the team to beat.” Webber participated in Le Mans in 1998 and 1999 before winning nine Formula One races.

TOYOTA’S STRONG CHALLENGE: Toyota has four runner-up finishes at Le Mans. The Japanese manufacturer has significantly improved this year, taking the top two spots at Silverstone in April and clinching the victory at Spa-Francorchamps last month. “It is promising for the race because we feel so confident in the car,” Stephane Sarrazin said. “We can push on every corner, every lap. The race will be very long, we know that we have to be very calm and not attack it like a short sprint.” Sarrazin shares Toyota No. 7 with Kazuki Nakajima and Alexander Wurz. The only Japanese manufacturer to win at Le Mans was Mazda in 1991.

AUDI’S DOUBTS: Audi has won nine of the last 10 races at Le Mans, including the last four. But much has changed in a year. Audi’s two cars did not finish at Silverstone, it was runner-up at Spa-Francorchamps, and Duval’s enforced absence adds to the doubts. Despite that, Tom Kristensen, the most successful driver at Le Mans with nine titles, said, “It wasn’t about the grid position but about preparing the car for the race. I’m looking towards the race with a positive feeling.”

TECHNOLOGICAL EDGE: The Audi R18, the Toyota TS040, and the Porsche 919 all use hybrid drive systems. But while the Audis and Toyotas convert only kinetic energy generated under braking into electricity, the Porsches also use a second hybrid system, which recovers thermal energy from exhaust gases. Hybrid technology aims to make racing more environment-friendly but it also makes a difference on the track. Toyota and Porsche have been able to generate more power from their hybrid systems than Audi as qualifying showed.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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