[LM24] Le Mans 2018 Entry List Speculation

[claude2cv]

Felipe Nasr to replace Andre Bellichi https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/1...24-hours-debut

[claude2cv]

https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/1...24-hours-debut

Felipe Nasr to replace Andrew Belicchi

[Graham Goodwin]

Button confirmed at SMP

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2018/0...mp-racing.html

[Deleted]

Hmmmmmmm yessssss it's bit of a celebrity showdown this year, ain't bad

There probably will be more general public eyes watching the race than in the last couple of years then, which is interesting considering the lowest amount of factory cars (which I don't think has never particularly corresponded to viewership figures) at the head of the field since 2006

Anyway as for Button himself, surely that'll mean no clash between SGT and Sebring/Spa/LM 2019 then as he's committed to every round starting from LM.

Alonso mentality:
http://www.racer.com/f1/item/148934-...es-in-11-weeks

[Lutzvic]

Two F1 world champions, great news! I do hope ACO is not biasing to much the EoT toward TMG and we'll see a fair race.
My bet is still on Rebellion with Lotterer and Jani.....

[BSchneiderFan]

Originally Posted by Graham Goodwin

Button confirmed at SMP

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2018/0...mp-racing.html

Brilliant news! I know who I’m cheering for now. Come on JB, do the double. Those Toyotas are bound to fall apart...

[Deleted]

The biggest problem for SMP and therefore him ought to be not Toyota, or outright performance, or even the other nonhybrids, but AER. It will be a small miracle itself if the engine manages 24 hours without catching fire or at the very least forcing them to waste time in the garage in the middle of the race. Sure they didn't seem to explode at the 30 hour Prologue, but that wasn't continuous running (for anyone except Toyota)... nor we do know all the details of what happened there.

Anyway, I know Button's said he won't ever do Indy, but then again he said the same thing about LM few years ago... so if the AER lasts and everything else comes to place and he actually does manage to win the 24, the lust for triple crown might be too much for him. Especially if he could do it before the Spaniard... or Montoya. The Colombian on the other hand won't be able to do it unless his LMP2 somehow miraculously beats all the P1s

[Deleted]

According to this the DBR9 GT1 should return to the AMR Festival... (hopefully with competent drivers this time around so they wouldn't get beaten by GT2, GT3 or even GT4 lol)
http://www.the-advantage.org/2018/04...r-legends.html

However the grid might be depleted somewhat
http://www.the-advantage.org/2018/04...in-racing.html

[Deleted]

https://www.autosport.com/wec/news/1...ed-spa-problem

Reports suggest that the KCMG team, which is first on the reserve list for next month's Le Mans 24 Hours, has been told by race organiser the Automobile Club de l'Ouest to be on standby to move up to a full entry.

...

[EffectiveSprinkles]

And other, more credible reports, refute that.

[S griffin]

I just hope the Manors make it onto the grid at Le Mans

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by EffectiveSprinkles

And other, more credible reports, refute that.

Well, maybe so but I'd be surprised if KCMG haven't been told to be prepped. We have a situation where two cars have no money. Even if they promise to have it by Le Mans, there's a chance that won't happen. Of course the ACO will tell reserves to get ready. It doesn't mean that Ginetta are out, just that there are concerns over the entry.

I don't think it's unreasonable for the ACO to be prepping for a situation of no Manor Ginettas at Le Mans given what happened at Spa.

[canaglia]

BTW dragon speed BR1 monocoque got damaged during spa Q crash. Guess dragonspeed lmp1 presence at le mans is in jeopardy too, considering that SoD cadillac dpi (that uses same monooque) couldn't be able to put togheter a new car in less than almost 2 months.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

Well, maybe so but I'd be surprised if KCMG haven't been told to be prepped. We have a situation where two cars have no money. Even if they promise to have it by Le Mans, there's a chance that won't happen. Of course the ACO will tell reserves to get ready. It doesn't mean that Ginetta are out, just that there are concerns over the entry.

I don't think it's unreasonable for the ACO to be prepping for a situation of no Manor Ginettas at Le Mans given what happened at Spa.

In fact, it would make sense to me for the ACO to publicly tell KCMG to get ready, to put pressure on Manor. They need to indicate pretty quickly to the ACO whether or not they'll be able to step up to the plate.... (and I'm sure they've been told that pretty robustly already).

[Akrapovic]

Agreed. Also, this is why we have reserves. Teams fall out every year - we're just not used to seeing it for P1 cars.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-c...-idUSKBN1I42UM

I can also understand why many remain sceptical about funds being in place for Le Mans. CEFC is in a bit of a mess. I have absolutely nothing to base it on, but I don't expect to see Manor at Le Mans. And if it is, I don't expect CEFC will be involved.

[S griffin]

How often do we use the reserves though? It seems the entry is almost always full

[Aysedasi]

It looks as though Manor will need someone with a lot of spare funds ready to throw them at Le Mans to stand any chance. And they need to find them very quickly. Sounds like a no-hoper to me already.....

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by S griffin

How often do we use the reserves though? It seems the entry is almost always full

Once upon a time, fairly routinely. We've just been used to very limited take up from the reserves in the last few years

[S griffin]

Very rarely then, obviously the reserves are pretty much resigned to not going

[Aysedasi]

Pretty much so these days. Presumably Spirit of Race are ready with their second car too.....

[S griffin]

Some must wonder why they bother

[Deleted]

Do I need to go back to this again
http://tentenths.com/forum/showpost....&postcount=204

[S griffin]

Well, it’s interesting what you find looking back

[Deleted]

It only takes Manor to withdraw to free up 2 reserve slots, and someone at ELMS Monza to wreck the chassis tub beyond repair (or burn it up like the Phoenix/Pekaracing GT1 Corvette in 2010) to make room for additional ones

Anyway the public entry list PDF hasn't been updated for ages but effectively the reserve list has already shrunken to just 5 cars after the confirmed withdrawals of ARC Bratislava + IDEC Sport, and semiconfirmed of Krohn Ferrari (he's bought a seat from Eurasia) and sort-of-confirmed BAR01 Riley (the chassis is up for sale)

[S griffin]

I wonder who’s gonna stick with just the ELMS this season. Manor is touch and go if they will do LM