Porsche in LMP1!?

[carsten66]

Originally Posted by GT6

And that has not happened before? you have a very short Le mans memory

History... not the last ten years referring to the huge success of Audi in Le Mans starting with the R8... or I'm wrong?

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by carsten66

History... not the last ten years referring to the huge success of Audi in Le Mans starting with the R8... or I'm wrong?

Bentley?

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Hmm, then explain the likes of this!? Here




L.P.

Actually, the Porsche +Audi "branding" was only used in the the US and was used in order to promote Audi as a brand in the States.

[arakis]

sorry to bump this thread, bu there are some news:
Hartmut Kristen of porsche gave an interview to endurance-info.com
link and there he stated that porsche in lmp1 in 2011 is not possible..... *maybe 2012 then

*my comment

[deggis]

And a hybrid-LMP? "In the direction, there is nothing new to report. The program with the RS Spyder was limited in time and in the degree provided by running three years. There are still a team that uses the car in America, but so is the use of the end of the year end. Plans are a new LMP - then hang up with hybrid technology - it is not in the current rules situation. We would wish the organizers reglemensseitig something bolder. The sports car Highnesses currently have a unique opportunity to sit at the top of the mobilitätrelevanten technology."

Direct Google translation... but understandable.

http://translate.google.com/translat...D1&sl=de&tl=en

[ubrben]

The 2011 Le Mans regs for P1 stipulate max 3.4L atmo engines and it's clear that hybrids are the future in this class.

When you look at the RS Spyder and the recent hybrid 911, this announcement isn't a surprise at all.

Ben

[Audi Racer]

Sll of teh speculation is great but i think everyone is overlooking one factor that will tell us pretty quickly just when the next Porsche LMP! will be created. For one we know it will uitilize Hybrid technology. Thats a given with the 918 spyder and the 911 gt3 hybrid.

Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas are two Porsche Facotry Drivers. If They remain porsche factory drivers 2011 and not Audi Factory drivers expect to see a porsche LMP1 in 2012. If Timo and Romain become Audi Factory Drivers next year the Porsche LMP1 may be a long ways into the future.
So Timo and Romain are the key to the Porsche cryptogram. They are the only ones that porsche has seen racing prototypes out the factory drivers.Yes the program will be staffed by one roger penske and his boys but not under the DHL penske porsche name.
DHL does not operate in the U.S any longer.
Ahh the days of the DHL penske porsches.

[911targa]

Originally Posted by Audi Racer

Sll of teh speculation is great but i think everyone is overlooking one factor that will tell us pretty quickly just when the next Porsche LMP! will be created. For one we know it will uitilize Hybrid technology. Thats a given with the 918 spyder and the 911 gt3 hybrid.

Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas are two Porsche Facotry Drivers. If They remain porsche factory drivers 2011 and not Audi Factory drivers expect to see a porsche LMP1 in 2012. If Timo and Romain become Audi Factory Drivers next year the Porsche LMP1 may be a long ways into the future.
So Timo and Romain are the key to the Porsche cryptogram. They are the only ones that porsche has seen racing prototypes out the factory drivers.Yes the program will be staffed by one roger penske and his boys but not under the DHL penske porsche name.
DHL does not operate in the U.S any longer.
Ahh the days of the DHL penske porsches.

they may pick Muscle Milk team as a half-factory team to test their new car,Maassen used to be a porsche work driver and did well with RS Spyder,his two teammates are not slow

and Dyson,Horag,Navi team Goh/Van Merksteijn ,even Essex can find their way back if the porsche prototype is fast enough

is there any possible that both audi and porsche race lemans prototype in different classes one day?like bentley/audi in 2003 and audi/porsche in 2008/2009 ?

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by 911targa

they may pick Muscle Milk team as a half-factory team to test their new car,Maassen used to be a porsche work driver and did well with RS Spyder,his two teammates are not slow?

This is not at all likely. All testing and development will be done by Porsche and which ever team they choose to be their primary partner. Penske (if he continues to be interested) is likely to be that team.

Originally Posted by 911targa

and Dyson,Horag,Navi team Goh/Van Merksteijn ,even Essex can find their way back if the porsche prototype is fast enough

Dyson is unlikely to go back to being a Porsche customer, and we don't even know if the other teams will be around if and when the LMP1 Porsche appears; or whether they will be able to afford a new Porsche LMP1

Originally Posted by 911targa

is there any possible that both audi and porsche race lemans prototype in different classes one day?like bentley/audi in 2003 and audi/porsche in 2008/2009 ?

Anything is possible, and according to Porsche , there is nothing stopping them from racing against each other in the same class. They just want to make sure that they are not duplicating concepts.

[Spyderman]

Interesting interview with Hartmut Kristen:
http://translate.google.com/translat...language_tools

[gwyllion]

The interview seems to confirm that Porsche did some lobbying to changes the hybrid rules (front axle and mechanical storage). However, it does not contain any new information regarding a potential LMP1 car.

[Spyderman]

..but reading into it , one can say that it will be at least two to three years before we see a LMP1 ...if it ever appears.

[CTD]

A Porsche LMP1 will NEVER EVER happen as long as Audi is there!.
A R18 is underway, and im pretty sure a R22 will come too (R22 because of other sportscars in between).
The hybrid lobbying might be to get hybrid system into the GT series later, or a LMP2 customer project (to rival Honda).

[Spyderman]

..not according to Porsche, but we will have to wait and see.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

..not according to Porsche, but we will have to wait and see.

Sometimes i think Porsche forgets that they aren't as free as they where before the crisis.

[porman]

I don't see Audi and Porsche going at it in LMP1 with factory involvement. I translate what Hartmut said as Porsche waiting a few years until the technology evolves. He said as much!

Audi is committed to the R18 so I see Porsche coming in at the end of the R18. Porsche is looking at the long term. Let's not forget that while the RS Spyder was successful on the track, it wasn't exactly a money maker for them. Porsche likes to develop something and then have customers take it from there. I don't think they want to make the same mistake twice. If a market exists for their LMP1 car they will be much more likely to give it a green light. I don't think we will ever see the same level of customers as we did in the 956/962, but Porsche has a long history of making racing cars to sell at a profit.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by CTD

The hybrid lobbying might be to get hybrid system into the GT series later, or a LMP2 customer project (to rival Honda).

With all the cost saving in LMP2 and GT, I don't see how these classes will adopt hybrid systems in the near future.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by porman

Audi is committed to the R18 so I see Porsche coming in at the end of the R18. Porsche is looking at the long term.

I guess Audi will race with the R18 in 2011-2013 and then move to F1.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

With all the cost saving in LMP2 and GT, I don't see how these classes will adopt hybrid systems in the near future.

If ACO request that a Hybrid system will be used for a "lift" in the cost cap? (sound unlikely, but it's a fact that ACO wants Le Mans to be a green race)

Originally Posted by gwyllion

I guess Audi will race with the R18 in 2011-2013 and then move to F1.

A VW Group move to F1 will only happen if the World Engine regulations are adopted. This has been stated as a fact, which does not seem to change, so a Audi move (if this is the marque chosen to go) will not happen before that.

[porman]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

I guess Audi will race with the R18 in 2011-2013 and then move to F1.

Not so sure about Audi in F1 but crazier things have happened. With Mercedes there you never know.

[jp_olifer]

How hard would it be to fit the GT3 hybrid techonlogy to a RS Spyder? Then you'd have an instant 2011 LMP1...

[CTD]

Originally Posted by porman

Not so sure about Audi in F1 but crazier things have happened. With Mercedes there you never know.

You need some motorsport history.
Mercedes and Audi was BIG competitors in the pre-WW2 F1 Era, and Mercedes was also afterwards until the 1955 accident at Le Mans, which resulted in a complete redraw of all Mercedes motorsport.
So Audi and Mercedes, in a historic perspective, isn't that "crazy".
But the Audi name today in F1 I'm not sure is a good idea.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by CTD

But the Audi name today in F1 I'm not sure is a good idea.

The VAG brand name (Audi or VW) will depend at which other manufacturers are in F1 in 2012/13. Last year you had BMW and Mercedes, so Audi would have made sense. Now it is less clear, because you have 3 very diverse manufacturers (Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault).

[CTD]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

The VAG brand name (Audi or VW) will depend at which other manufacturers are in F1 in 2012/13. Last year you had BMW and Mercedes, so Audi would have made sense. Now it is less clear, because you have 3 very diverse manufacturers (Ferrari, Mercedes and Renault).

Correct. But Audi has been using a lot of PR on being energy efficient and running sports cars. This is what people connects Audi to, and not F1 cars which is a wierd class, as the prestige is only prestige. (No PR value as running Audi A4's or a Diesel engine at Le Mans).
But let's not forget that Lada is also involved in F1 (Renault)

[porman]

Originally Posted by CTD

You need some motorsport history.
Mercedes and Audi was BIG competitors in the pre-WW2 F1 Era, and Mercedes was also afterwards until the 1955 accident at Le Mans, which resulted in a complete redraw of all Mercedes motorsport.
So Audi and Mercedes, in a historic perspective, isn't that "crazy".
But the Audi name today in F1 I'm not sure is a good idea.

That's exactly what I meant. Audi and Merc were, and still are competitors. I could see Audi wanting to take on Mercedes to prove that they are on par or better but their history, (Audi) is mainly in sports cars. They have spent how much and how long establishing themselves as a force in sports cars?