Mil Milhas 2007

[GT-Eins]

Maybe I didn´t catch it - but when is this traditional Event about to happen 2007?
As for the race itself: to what distance was it run? 1000km or 1000Miles as the title supposed to be? Because I have in mind some discussions last year to change the Title to 1000km which would be a significiant change in the event.

[brielga]

The official site indicates 27 days to go, however the last news report is from August, I guess someone forgot to update the countdown and it is still reflecting last year's date. The race distance was 1000 miles indeed, the winner Cirtek Aston completed 374 laps of Interlagos in 10h 36m 38s 659, averaging 151.8 km/h

[Flat12-Aircool]

The date will be 10th November 2007, looks like the deals almost done...

http://www.endurance-info.com/articl...rder=0&thold=0

[brielga]

I wonder what will happen to the swarm of non-LMS, non-ACO compliant local entrants....

[The Real DMN]

Hopefully they'll still be allowed to run in the same way non-FIA cars run at the 24 hours of Spa.

[brielga]

indeed, however Spa 24 hours has no prototypes...

[GT-Eins]

Good news - provided that it can be realised.
According to the article on Endurance info the locals will be allowed in.
Wheather a field of more than 35 LMS-entries will come together? I am sceptic about this.

[ger80]

Think 35 LMS entries are possible if they have PLM, Laguna and Mil Milhas within 4 weeks

[Flat12-Aircool]

Well if Audi do chicken away from a LMS campaign against Peugeot, then this might provide an attractive end of season showdown possibility.

[class4v]

I think the presence of the LMS teams will depend on how much of the travel cost will be paid for by the LMS.

[JAG]

It's a brave step to run in Brazil, with huge potential.

Let's face it, it can't be any worse than Istanbul!

[JAG]

Originally Posted by Flat12-Aircool

Well if Audi do chicken away from a LMS campaign against Peugeot, then this might provide an attractive end of season showdown possibility.

....and other ALMS teams.

There could be the potential for Brazilian teams/drivers hiring European/US cars, as happened when the likes of Lister and Konrad have run in years past.

[canam]

Originally Posted by class4v

I think the presence of the LMS teams will depend on how much of the travel cost will be paid for by the LMS.

It isn't just travel. If it is to be linked to the LMS (as a round) which is what runours are circulating. it will require a bit more than travel pocket money. Engines, Tyres, Hotels, Wear and tear etc etc. would need to be catered for. Insurance alone will be a weighty sum. You are talking an incremental 200,000 bucks that would need to be found.

This is just an attempt to bail out the financial problems created by FIAGT's 'thunbs down' on going there. While it is appealingly 'romantic' only a couple of teams went to the US this year for Petit and Laguna. IMO, the money just ain't there. If there is coercion, there must be an incentive, particularly given that the safety standards are appalling (not anywhere near FIA/ACO requirements), the driving standards are not too far away from the safety standards and nobody really wants to spend the money when budgets are tight.

[mariantic]

Originally Posted by canam

given that the safety standards are appalling (not anywhere near FIA/ACO requirements),

Please explain.

Surely Interlagos is the Brazialian F1 venue and safety standards are world class.


Mariantic

[canam]

Originally Posted by mariantic

Please explain.

Surely Interlagos is the Brazialian F1 venue and safety standards are world class.


Mariantic

You are talking F1, the Milhaus is like a national level race with some big names. On the safety side??

How about 'refuelling with funnels' for a start.

[old man]

I just can't see the teams going if the offer of cash is not very good indeed. You have to consider the support people like the tyre companies and other technicians. As well as everything else the insurance costs will be very high and travel is not all that easy unless Varig are running a full service. They could get a big sponsor for the event as the Brazilian economy is booming just now but by the same token hotels are full and the security situation in Sao Paulo is not the best you have seen. It will come down to the financial deal and whether or not LMS make it a commitment as part of a series entry.

Can our Brazilian friends indicate what local spectator interest will be like?

[Tim Northcutt]

I'm not Brazilian, but it is my understanding from people who are familiar wiht the event that the Mil Milhas is a very big event that is well-attended....It is a famous endurance race.

The LMS could actually book transports from centralized locations such as Paris and London and load multiple teams onto them to ship gear for less cost.

On the other end, the promoters could set up transporters for the teams to Interlagos.

The question would be...who will pay for the transporting of the LMS teams to Brazil? A sponsor would go a long way toward defraying that cost.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Tim Northcutt

I'm not Brazilian, but it is my understanding from people who are familiar wiht the event that the Mil Milhas is a very big event that is well-attended....It is a famous endurance race.

The LMS could actually book transports from centralized locations such as Paris and London and load multiple teams onto them to ship gear for less cost.

On the other end, the promoters could set up transporters for the teams to Interlagos.

The question would be...who will pay for the transporting of the LMS teams to Brazil? A sponsor would go a long way toward defraying that cost.

WTCC uses a ship to move the cars from Europe to Brazil and Mexico. Why not LMS do the same? Between Silverstone and Mil Milhas are almost 2 months. Plenty of time to move them by ship.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by canam

You are talking F1, the Milhaus is like a national level race with some big names. On the safety side??

How about 'refuelling with funnels' for a start.

Talking about the facility/venue not the type of race! LMS would still require the same level of pit safety regs. as usual, I would suspect! I am certain they do not fuel F-1 cars with funnels!!

The largest hurdle, it looks like, is the logistics.

L.P.

[The359]

Does the LMS taking over the Mil Milhas mean that FIA GT is out? Or could we possibly see FIA GT including the GT classes as a round in the championship?

Especially with how the ACO and SRO seem to have a new agreement between each other.

[canam]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Talking about the facility/venue not the type of race! LMS would still require the same level of pit safety regs. as usual, I would suspect! I am certain they do not fuel F-1 cars with funnels!!

The largest hurdle, it looks like, is the logistics.

L.P.

If they require the LMS level of safety regs etc, then a very large proportion of the national teams will not meet the grade and the grid size will not cut the mustard. Unless LMS/Mil Mihaus promoter/manufacturer funds the teams with both transport and costs, an extra race on the already announced LMS calender would be very difficult for most teams and, if not forced to participate, they would not make the trip.

...and we haven´t even started talking about driving standards. Yes, the Fittipaldi, Piquet and Wilson families fit very well but as for the rest of the possible grid......

[old man]

Originally Posted by FIRE

WTCC uses a ship to move the cars from Europe to Brazil and Mexico. Why not LMS do the same? Between Silverstone and Mil Milhas are almost 2 months. Plenty of time to move them by ship.

8 weeks from Silverstone to the actual proposed date and commercially we allow 3 weeks for goods to get there plus clearance at the docks, you would want 1 week set up time so it is possible to send by sea but for 40+ cars and the rest it is a major task requiring specialist help to organise. The actual voyage time may be less and good luck with shipping dates could cut that a little but air freight would take them straight to Sao Paulo, all do-able if someone pays the bill.

I am told by local personal contacts that the race is a big event but these are not actual "Fans" . I was there in September and saw a lot of promotion for the GP but just a little for the Mil Mihas and the date is just 3 weeks after the GP next year, a bigger gap would be better perhaps. They are car mad though in Sao Paulo, almost grid locked actually!

Incentives are the key to an extra date

[MikeHoyer]

I must admit being sceptical myself. I doubt the event has the same standing or money being thrown around as F1, and moving a good number of sportscars from Europe to Brazil is probably no easy task.

Would be good to see it happen though! Don't know how many media will go though...

[Asa]

Normally some of the selected media (e.g. Autosport) is invited by the organizer/promoter to attend the race, all expenses paid, as part of the deal between the organizer and the promoter... that means more money must be squeezed from the promoter.

Honestly I don't think Mil Milhas is desperate enough to become a LMS round to pay so much. It is good to become part of an international series but not good from the commercial point of view.

[JAG]

According to DSC it's pretty much confirmed as an LMS round once the circuit/events been given an FIA certificate.

The organisors expect 35 European cars plus local ACO reg entries, i.e. the Aston (is this owned by Pedro Diniz' father?) and 911's.

I'd expect some of the better fininced teams/drivers will either team up with European/US teams or hire a car.

A second race for local, non ACO reg cars will be run in January.

I realise this event is a big risk for all concerned but the Mil Milhas appears to be one of the few fly away events with real potential, I also doubt the LMS would have agreed to this event if some travel deal wasn't agreed.

With European teams travelling back and forth from the US is a trip to Brazil such a huge deal, with such a small calender?