Petit Le Mans - who's crossing the pond?

Canada ALMS fan · 14 Aug 2009, 23:59 (Ref:2521634)

I would like to officially start the discussion on who may "visit" the ALMS for the last 2 races. So far we have:
Peugeot - 2 cars
Oreca - at least 1 car
Drayson - previously announced Vantage GT2 but has since bought an LMP1 Lola coupe
Audi - worst kept secret (or hope) in racing
ECO - doubtful
Lola Aston LMP1 -1,2,3? 0?

Please feel free to add any facts or rumours you hear.

The comments in another thread about Neel Jani could add Speedy Sebah speculation.

cbbrit · 15 Aug 2009, 00:48 (Ref:2521639)

Team ORECA announced that they have a 2 car entry for Petit Le Mans; don't know anything about Laguna Seca!
Aston Martin Racing announced that they are going to Japan instead with a single entry. This was in last week's AUTOSPORT. So neither race!
I heard about Drayson's coupe from a friend who may have read it here. Does it have an Aston Matin engine? If so, is it brand new or an ex-works car?

nasdriv87 · 15 Aug 2009, 00:52 (Ref:2521640)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

I would like to officially start the discussion on who may "visit" the ALMS for the last 2 races. So far we have:
Peugeot - 2 cars
Oreca - at least 1 car
Drayson - previously announced Vantage GT2 but has since bought an LMP1 Lola coupe
Audi - worst kept secret (or hope) in racing
ECO - doubtful
Lola Aston LMP1 -1,2,3? 0?

Please feel free to add any facts or rumours you hear.

The comments in another thread about Neel Jani could add Speedy Sebah speculation.

sorry, but none of Astons LMP1 are going to PLM, cuz they will stay on LMS...

fieldodreams79 · 15 Aug 2009, 01:04 (Ref:2521647)

Quote:

Originally Posted by nasdriv87

sorry, but none of Astons LMP1 are going to PLM, cuz they will stay on LMS...

yeah....and that's too bad.

Marcel ten Caat · 15 Aug 2009, 01:06 (Ref:2521648)

Oreca has not said whether it will be at Petit with 1 or 2 cars.
Drayson Racing has confirmed it will be there, one of their two Vantages is (afaik) already in the US again.

Marcel ten Caat · 15 Aug 2009, 01:07 (Ref:2521649)

Quote:

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

yeah....and that's too bad.

It's not :-)

You guys can start complaining the moment the ALMS teams come over for some LMS rounds.

cbbrit · 15 Aug 2009, 01:09 (Ref:2521650)

The last LMS race is 2 weeks before Petit Le Mans, so for Aston Martin Racing there are no more races until Japan at the end of October. They could quite easily come over if they have the budget; I would think that they would learn a lot more from a 10 hour race against Peugeot, Acura et al instead of 2 3-hour races in Japan. They must have a good reason to boycott this one.

MJ_N_09 · 15 Aug 2009, 01:11 (Ref:2521651)

I think the Blue JMB Ferrari will be back for the last 2 races again. Same with the Pecom-Advanced Engineering Ferrari too.

HORNDAWG · 15 Aug 2009, 01:13 (Ref:2521652)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbbrit

The last LMS race is 2 weeks before Petit Le Mans, so for Aston Martin Racing there are no more races until Japan at the end of October. They could quite easily come over if they have the budget; I would think that they would learn a lot more from a 10 hour race against Peugeot, Acura et al instead of 2 3-hour races in Japan. They must have a good reason to boycott this one.

They have reason. Good? I doubt it. They probably can not get the ALMS to agree to change the rules for them!!

L.P.

Dead-Eye · 15 Aug 2009, 01:16 (Ref:2521655)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

Drayson - previously announced Vantage GT2 but has since bought an LMP1 Lola coupe

That's news to me. Got a link?

HORNDAWG · 15 Aug 2009, 01:24 (Ref:2521657)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dead-Eye

That's news to me. Got a link?

It has been mentioned around here and it was also mentioned by Hindy on RLM today during the testing session. I believe he said there would be a follow up on DSC soon.

L.P.

HORNDAWG · 15 Aug 2009, 01:27 (Ref:2521658)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbbrit

I heard about Drayson's coupe from a friend who may have read it here. Does it have an Aston Matin engine? If so, is it brand new or an ex-works car?

The engine mentioned (around here) was not an AM.

If you look to Ursus, I believe you will find what you are seeking. But I do not believe it will be crossing the pond, yet.

L.P.

The Badger · 15 Aug 2009, 01:49 (Ref:2521667)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cbbrit

I heard about Drayson's coupe from a friend who may have read it here. Does it have an Aston Matin engine? If so, is it brand new or an ex-works car?

Nope ..... Its a Judd in the back of it .

fieldodreams79 · 15 Aug 2009, 02:10 (Ref:2521671)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stranger

It's not :-)

You guys can start complaining the moment the ALMS teams come over for some LMS rounds.

there needs to be a reason to go to europe for any other reason than Le Mans, first...
and PLM is not your "normal" round.

Marcel ten Caat · 15 Aug 2009, 03:56 (Ref:2521679)

I fear the anger of the full-time ALMS teams when European teams come over and take 1st or 2nd in class at Petit and as a result get an automatic Le Mans entry. ;-)

HORNDAWG · 15 Aug 2009, 04:41 (Ref:2521681)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stranger

I fear the anger of the full-time ALMS teams when European teams come over and take 1st or 2nd in class at Petit and as a result get an automatic Le Mans entry. ;-)

Quit trolling!!

L.P.

AndrewF31 · 15 Aug 2009, 10:25 (Ref:2521777)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stranger

I fear the anger of the full-time ALMS teams when European teams come over and take 1st or 2nd in class at Petit and as a result get an automatic Le Mans entry. ;-)

Are the Acura prototypes in accordance with ACO? I never know with these ALMS LMP cars.

Subaru_WRX_STi · 15 Aug 2009, 11:03 (Ref:2521793)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

I think the Blue JMB Ferrari will be back for the last 2 races again. Same with the Pecom-Advanced Engineering Ferrari too.

I really hope that Advanced Engineering could came, no clash with FIA GT, so its up to Luis Companc to pay the trip for the AF Corse guys, as at Sebring

Jonerz · 15 Aug 2009, 13:26 (Ref:2521853)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Quit trolling!!

L.P.

Second.

Chris

SALEEN S7R · 15 Aug 2009, 13:30 (Ref:2521856)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonerz

Second.

Chris

He may well be trolling, but the fact is he may well be right too...

fieldodreams79 · 15 Aug 2009, 13:39 (Ref:2521860)

what are the chances Pescarolo will ever come?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stranger

I fear the anger of the full-time ALMS teams when European teams come over and take 1st or 2nd in class at Petit and as a result get an automatic Le Mans entry. ;-)

i can recall one Euro team that came a few years ago and didn't make it thru turn 1. others who've come haven't faired much better.

Lola T70 · 15 Aug 2009, 13:43 (Ref:2521861)

Which teams would want to go to Le Mans from ALMS next year that are in LMP1 & 2 and be effected by this.

Jonerz · 15 Aug 2009, 14:14 (Ref:2521869)

Potentially Highcroft Racing. They will remain in ALMS next year, the ultimate goal being a win in the 24h. Will a Peugeot or Audi ruin their chances at Le Mans? Maybe this year, as I don't think the Acura could podium if facing four of those cars. However if two Peugeots came over along with Oreca, Aston etc. I don't think Oreca and Aston have enough to beat the Acura, simply because the Acura is the better car for U.S. circuits. In that case, Highcroft would get their auto-invite and it would be a matter of finding a car to take to Le Mans next year, regardless of Acura's plans. But of course, the championship victory (and second place unless my mind fails me) also earns them an auto-invite. Yeah, Oreca and Aston will probably put the kibosh on Autocon and Intersport's chances at an auto-invite, and that is unforunate because they have been loyal. But the number of U.S. teams that have been to Le Mans in the past decade warrants European teams coming to Petit - if you use the twisted logic of an equal balance of event attending between U.S. teams in Europe and LMS teams in the ALMS. I however, do not subscribe to that theory. Of all the LMS events, only Monza (when it is on the calendar) Spa and (maybe) Silverstone have the potential to draw entries from the U.S. IMO. Tilke's Nurburgring, as well as Algarve, Barcelona or whatever combination of the other LMS rounds are about as attractive to American teams as St. Petersburg is to European teams. Unfortunately scheduling conflicts and a lack of incentive to compete in those historic events keeps teams away.

Chris

Panoz Max · 15 Aug 2009, 14:39 (Ref:2521878)

Quote:

Originally Posted by nasdriv87

sorry, but none of Astons LMP1 are going to PLM, cuz they will stay on LMS...

No Factory team but has there been any more talk of Sebah/Speedy Racing possibly coming over?

JHamilton · 15 Aug 2009, 17:58 (Ref:2521955)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stranger

I fear the anger of the full-time ALMS teams when European teams come over and take 1st or 2nd in class at Petit and as a result get an automatic Le Mans entry. ;-)

In the past nine years that's been done twice... by Prodrive. Who do you really want to see from the ALMS anyway? Autocon?

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