Porsche in LMP1!?

[JAG]

Originally Posted by gttouring

ghmm this smacks of the GT2 becoming Gt1 and Gt1 going away..arguments.
the ACO certainly want to lower speeds and cost...

Only to a point, it's more to do with giving hybrid technology room to grow. The Zytek system produces 80bhp, by 2011 that could be upto 120bhp, giving a total of 670bhp.

[Dario911]

On the Audi R10 Audi could have done some aerodynamic changes, not so deep to make the car as fast as Peugeot, but good enough to recover a part of the gap. Working on engine, they could have had some other improvements.
But Audi has given to DTM the priority over all the other sport programs.
For some reasons, I think Audi has underestimated Peugeot, before the season started.

[Subaru_WRX_STi]

waw it will be fantastic to see Porsche back to the main class and challange for the overall victory at Le Mans

[chewymonster]

I don't see Audi and Porsche racing in P1 as the best way of using resources. Coming from a company that supposedly is about being smart with money.

And DFI is what Audi had a long time ago with FSI.

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by Dario911

I think it will be very expensive for Audi to race a new car only for 2009/10...

The R10 was only good for 2 years too. In it's third year, it was thoroughly outclassed and any wins it managed happened because of factors other than the car. Audi won't rely on Peugeot throwing it all away again.
Anyone building a car right now can't expect to use it for more than two years without significant modifications regardless of new regulations, especially with more competition coming in.

[Gil Abobeleira]

Originally Posted by Dead-Eye

The R10 was only good for 2 years too. In it's third year, it was thoroughly outclassed and any wins it managed happened because of factors other than the car.

Well, in St. Petersbourg, Long Beach, Mid-Ohio or Mosport they won fair and square, which is not too bad for an outclassed car

[Hugewally]

Originally Posted by Dario911

Yes, Acura is having a great moment, but in the past season has suffered very much, while in the first part of this season the Porsche was clearly in the first place, in both classifications.

3 wins and 2 2nd's compared to 3 wins, a 2nd and a 3rd. Clearly...

[Subaru_WRX_STi]

Originally Posted by Dario911

But Audi has given to DTM the priority over all the other sport programs

and thats a shame, as DTM is getting very very boring, I am sure for 2009 Audi will concentrate much more on the sports car effort

[Dario911]

RS Spyder has dominated ALMS, in 2007. In this season has won the first races (Sebring 12 hours, too), before the Acura could find itself a winning care same . They've achieved quite the same results, this season. The fight is open, and I think the Porsche's got real chances to win. RS Spyder is better for long distance races. And it's not just a supposition.

[Nordic]

I only see Porsche in P1 if Audi are racing somewhere else.

Among the many options Audi has they could take the GT1/2 route, it would be seen as a step down, but if the car used something new then it would fit.

More likey I think Audi will stay in P1, Porsche will stay in GT2/1.

It is also possible that the current down turn in the world will see the purse strings drawn tight and nothing happens until the new regs come into force, by which time the world markets hopefully will be back on the up.

In the meantime Audi could then farm out the R10's in the same way that the R8 was for a couple of years.

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by Gil Abobeleira

Well, in St. Petersbourg, Long Beach, Mid-Ohio or Mosport they won fair and square, which is not too bad for an outclassed car

There weren't any Peugeots there though

[Gil Abobeleira]

Originally Posted by Dead-Eye

There weren't any Peugeots there though

But they were at Le Mans (ok, it's becoming rather pointless )

[Dario911]

Originally Posted by Dead-Eye

There weren't any Peugeots there though

Am I wrong... or Peugeots were in Silverstone, too?

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by Dario911

Am I wrong... or Peugeots were in Silverstone, too?

...where they threw it all away, which is the point I'm trying to make.

[isynge]

Originally Posted by Dead-Eye

...where they threw it all away, which is the point I'm trying to make.

Like they did at Le Mans (and Monza to an effect) when under pressure...

so continuing the circle.

Lots like Lancia many years ago...

More pertinently, Audi can still point at an unblemished track record of success which they could legitimately hand over to Porsche should they bow out, so keeping it all in the family.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by ThePenguin

They could go to F1 to compete with BMW and Mercedes.

Even if they wanted, engine freeze keeps the door closed until 2013. Of course development could start much earlier but no results on track before 2013 season.

[Malfunction Junction]

They could always get a head start by buying the Cos,,,, er I mean partnering with Cosworth.

[Dario911]

Audi will never join to Formula 1 for a reason: since they are in motorsport, they've tried to innovate. They've been the first to propose 4wd, DFI, TDI, ecc. Do you think in F1 there would be the same technical opportunities?

[gwyllion]

Next year KERS and in the future heat recovery and turbocharging...

[PorscheFanNo1]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Next year KERS and in the future heat recovery and turbocharging...

Cause turbocharging is such a new invention you mean?

[Subaru_WRX_STi]

Originally Posted by Nordic

I only see Porsche in P1 if Audi are racing somewhere else.

Audi will stay in sports cars and they are already in DTM, so hard to see them elsewhere

[Dario911]

Peugeot is having the same Lancia behavior when they tried to challenge the Porsche in 80s. They tried to build the fastest car on the track, forgetting all about reliability and management of the car. And so the Porsche, with its unbeatable 956 and 962, destroyed the Lancias LC2.

[Dario911]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Next year KERS and in the future heat recovery and turbocharging...

The KERS system will be used in f1 will be prehistoric in confront of the same system will be used in endurance races. So, turbo is a reality from several years in endurance, where technology is higher than in formula 1, from every point of view: aerodynamic, engine, electronic... in Sport and Prototype, all this points are light years ahead in confront of the formula 1.
Have you ever heard something about FSI, DFI, Turbo, Hybrid, TDI or HDI in formula 1? No, obviously!
Today formula 1 is like a trophy challenge: same engines, same aerodynamic, same electronic... same cars!
In protos you can find a real variety of solutions, from diesel to petrol, from closed to open cars, from V12 to V6 engines. All another story.
Formula 1 is just business. Anything else.

[zac510]

I don't know why everybody is so insistent that Audi and Porsche should not appear in sportscars together. VW is the master of multiple brands - Audi, VW, Seat, Skoda are all almost identical with very similar ranges, yet VAG can make them survive, all in the same geographical region (Europe).

Porsche is a completely separate brand altogether - performance cars - and there is still plenty of consumer attention to be had even if you lose (just ask Peugeot).

[zac510]

I used to think that too Dario, but from what I have read about the struggles the F1 teams are having implementing the KERS systems, gives reason to believe that they are pushing the boundaries probably in the weight and size area. The rules may be restrictive but you can be sure they'll maximise them.