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I don't understand why this issue has come about - maybe years of little manufacturer involvement in the 2000s has meant we've forgotten what it's like?
The fact of the matter is, motor racing is expensive these days, especially at the top levels like in LMP racing. When manufacturers come along they'll be competing for victories - they've put the money in, and money talks. They'll only come along if their money can talk, and unless you have manufacturers, there isn't any money in the sport full stop.
It's been like this for decades now but I don't see an extinction of privateer teams. Privateers will always come to Le Mans whether they have a chance of winning or not, and for many teams finishing will always be the victory. And if LMP1 is really that bad...there's always LMP2.
In the 1980s, we had manufacturers who had the money to build race-winning cars and the privateers and customers who had a shot of podium. There could only be two class winners. Yet ask anyone who was alive then, and they will tell you that along with the 1950s that was truely a golden era of sportscar racing.
Manufacturers come and go but pretty much no matter what the ACO does, privateers, garagists, customers and anoraks will always be here.
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