Dome LMP Discussion

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Sports-carracing.net says that Dome contracted with Nicolas Minassian and Sebastien Bourdais.

http://www.sports-carracing.net/2012...120202special1

That article talks about a full season WEC participation. Will the car be ready for Sebring?

[Victor_RO]

If it's a full WEC campaign, then the thread name should be "Dome S102 development started, then ended, then started again".

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

That article talks about a full season WEC participation. Will the car be ready for Sebring?

The article on the Dome website only talks about Spa and Le Mans.

[jc_nl]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Really did not see that coming. Hopefully it's confirmed by the ACO as well later on today. And TWO S102s? Wow.

I'm already imagining that car in the blue-white-pea green of Pescarolo. Stop me, I'm getting over-excited.

Reading the new item on the dome website:http://www.dome.co.jp/e/news/news120202e.html

It seems there will be 1 Dome, only at LM. With a unconventional testing program, they are focusing on lap times, not durability.

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

If it's a full WEC campaign, then the thread name should be "Dome S102 development started, then ended, then started again".

Done, regardless of a full WEC campaign!

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by kurski

The good news, if true.

DRIVER
Nicolas Minassian (フランス)
Sebastien Bourdais (フランス)

http://www.dome.co.jp/news/news/dt_111.html

[Bentley03]

This really is one of those 'fairytale' pieces of news we regularly wish for during silly season on this forum......just extraordinary, and I'd (personally) heard not a whisper about it, I'm in complete shock (in a good way, of course)!

[TF110]

Participation in Spa and LeMans according to their site. I guess one car, with Seb and Minassian. I hope they stick around and do Fuji at least. That has to be on their minds, with the Japanese fans obviously siding with them and Toyota. Also love that they're using RAYS wheels!

[Japanese Samurai]

Sports-carracing.net's report

*Judd DB engine has short full length 10cm compared with GV engine. It became possible to set F/R weight distribution of Dome S102.5 to 50:50 by this. It is also possible to increase the load of a front further calculatively. Weight distribution of S102.5 is a top secret.
*Japanese driver is the excellent SGT driver which everyone knows.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by TF110

Participation in Spa and LeMans according to their site. I guess one car, with Seb and Minassian.

And one Japanese driver.

I am a bit disappointed that Dome is more interesting in showing good qualifying pace than in finishing the race. I can understand their reasoning that they are using Le Mans as a show case of their engineering ability, but still...

[Japanese Samurai]

English version is here.
http://www.dome.co.jp/e/news/news120202e.html

[Simmi]

So happy to see this deal come off. Always wanted to see this car in the flesh.

[CTD]

This will attract some French fans!
Really really good news, and nice to see Henri back where he belongs, as an actual competitive Dark Horse!

[TF110]

If Pescarolo get a hold of it before LeMans, they may still be reliable enough to finish the 24 hours. But showing the capabilities over one lap pace still intrigues me. The drivers are a good choice to show off that pace as well. Confirmed that it'll be one car as well. In the Pescarolo thread with the rumors of running an Aston Martin as well as this Dome, I guess one car finishing won't be such a bad result. Maybe they'll challenge the top of the non-works cars.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by TF110

If Pescarolo get a hold of it before LeMans, they may still be reliable enough to finish the 24 hours.

Henri asked for a 24 hour test with the car, but Dome refused:

Following the policy of ours, we have asked Pescarolo to cancel the 24 hour test Pescarolo had originally planned but have asked to have as many short tests as possible during which we will develop and set-up the car. I am pretty certain the guys in the French squad are shocked to know how we prepare for the 24-hour race, though...

[I love 04s]

Sounds a bit like an egotistical p*ssing contest with Toyota to me.......

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by I love 04s

Sounds a bit like an egotistical p*ssing contest with Toyota to me.......

Sounds like they're trying to attract a manufacturer to me.

[DS"]

Not bad Henry, not bad. Hopefully this won't end in a disaster like his run with the 908. Although I'm pretty certain that Pescarolo knows what he's doing.

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

This really is one of those 'fairytale' pieces of news we regularly wish for during silly season on this forum......just extraordinary, and I'd (personally) heard not a whisper about it, I'm in complete shock (in a good way, of course)!

Yes, it surely is one of those announcements that make me smile. Such a wonderful thing to come about, not just to see the Dome return to Le Mans but with Pescarolo, a team that I have a place in my heart and some very talented drivers. I cant wait to see the car hit the track.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Henri asked for a 24 hour test with the car, but Dome refused:

Originally Posted by DS"

Not bad Henry, not bad. Hopefully this won't end in a disaster like his run with the 908. Although I'm pretty certain that Pescarolo knows what he's doing.

Well, Pescarolo knows what he's doing, but if he isn't allowed to do what he feel is important, then it isn't in his hands.

If Pescarolo fields a design of their own together with the Dome, there is no doubt in my mind, what car Henri will put most effort in!
Especially with the attitude from Dome.
Alle the respect to Dome, i really support them, but they are underestimating Le Mans, and disrespect the idea if the plan only to do a fast qualifying and then finish the race.

[AGD]

Originally Posted by I love 04s

Sounds a bit like an egotistical p*ssing contest with Toyota to me.......

Well, if nothing else, Dome certainly has the better looking coupe. The BHF definitely takes a lot of the beauty away from the 2008 version, but it does not look as bad as the Toyota BHF. On top of that, the Dome does not have a butter face. Quite the opposite in fact.

Originally Posted by CTD

and disrespect the idea if the plan only to do a fast qualifying and then finish the race.

My guess is that Dome is looking to sell the idea of speed to other potential factory and privateer customers. That is priority one. It's probably more of a business decision than a racing decision.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by AGD

My guess is that Dome is looking to sell the idea of speed to other potential factory and privateer customers. That is priority one. It's probably more of a business decision than a racing decision.

True, but it really shouldn't be that way.
Le Mans isn't a marketplace in that way, and they should know that.
Dome should also be wise enough to know that manufactures look more than ever at reliability and general performance, instead of speed.

[Javi]

Originally Posted by CTD

True, but it really shouldn't be that way.
Le Mans isn't a marketplace in that way, and they should know that.
Dome should also be wise enough to know that manufactures look more than ever at reliability and general performance, instead of speed.

I partially disagree with that... If you remember Le Mans 2001 (my first as spectactor!), most people will remember Jan Lammers´ Dome challenging the bentley and the audis in the rain for the first laps. It faded from those first laps, but its speed from qualifying and those first laps will be best remembered (in my opinion, of course)that, for example, Dallara-Chrysler´s reliable run to 4th in the race...
A good show in qualifying and in the first laps is a better marketing ad than a respectable, altough discreet, reliable run to midfield. And i prefere Dome doing that than no-Dome...!

[gwyllion]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97269 has a short reaction from Minassian, just saying that it is exciting.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Javi

I partially disagree with that... If you remember Le Mans 2001 (my first as spectactor!), most people will remember Jan Lammers´ Dome challenging the bentley and the audis in the rain for the first laps. It faded from those first laps, but its speed from qualifying and those first laps will be best remembered (in my opinion, of course)that, for example, Dallara-Chrysler´s reliable run to 4th in the race...
A good show in qualifying and in the first laps is a better marketing ad than a respectable, altough discreet, reliable run to midfield. And i prefere Dome doing that than no-Dome...!

A Dome is always better than a no Dome!

But, we are not talking about a 12lap Sprint race, we are talking about a 24hours flat out race.
Your own example can be used on the 1995 race where the WR cars qualified 1st and started the race in 1st place. But it was the McLarens who will be remembered from that race. The same with the 1991 race, The Peugeot 905's ran a quick qualifying, led the race from the start. But it's the battle between the Mazda and Mercedes which is remembered the most from the race.

I'm really glad to see Dome back, but i hoped they would do it right this time and let Pescarolo do what he thought was best instead of using it as a marketing show.