Laguna Seca ALMS Weekend Thread

jhansen · 13 Oct 2005, 22:13 (Ref:1433130)

This weekend marks the 10th and final round of the 2005 ALMS Championship at the famed Laguna Seca Raceway!

Here's the entry list:

http://www.americanlemans.com/Events...una%20Seca.pdf

Practice is underway as we speak. LTS is up and going here:

http://www.imsaracing.net/2003/lt/ltc.html

Qualifying takes place Friday at 3:30pm PST.

The race starts at 3:15pm PST on Saturday and will last four hours.

jhansen · 13 Oct 2005, 22:18 (Ref:1433134)

Here are last year's qualifying times:

LMP1 - 1:15.893 #27 Creation DBA-Zytek (Minassian)
LMP2 - 1:19.315 - #10 Miracle Courage C65-AER (James)
GT1 - 1:21.679 - #4 Corvette C5-R (Beretta)
GT2 - 1:25.586 - #23 AJR Porsche 911 GT3 RSR (Bernhard)

P2, GT1 and GT2 were track records for their respective classes. The LMP1/LMP900 record is 1:15.028, which was set in 2000 by Rinaldo Capello in an Audi R8.

billnchristy · 13 Oct 2005, 22:24 (Ref:1433140)

Lookin forward to it...we also get Grand am cup and SWC in the same weekend...awesome!!

jhansen · 13 Oct 2005, 22:36 (Ref:1433147)

What to watch for:

LMP1: The Zytek will be out to show everyone up after the Petit fiasco. Shimoda also has a real shot at Capello's track record IMO. The #1 Champion crew of Lehto and Werner will want to go out with a win in 2005. The Dyson team would just like to improve on their 2004 performance at Laguna, which wasn't particularly inspiring.

LMP2: The new kid on the block is already making waves. The Penske RS Spyder has already gone 9 tenths quicker than last year's P2 pole time so far in practice. More to come from them in terms of pace I think. But how will the car go in the race? Intersport will surely want to show that they have pace as well. I'm looking for good performances from Miracle and BK Motorsports.

GT1: Corvette vs. Aston Martin, Round 4. I gotta give the Vette's the edge here seeing how good they are in the turns and under breaking. This is not a high speed track. Although the best overtaking spot is Turn 2 after the long drag down the front stretch. ACEMCO and Maserati may have a chance to be spoilers.

GT2: This class will be hotly contested as usual. PWL vs. Alex Job with Flying Lizzards, BAM and Panoz thrown into the mix.

Should be a great weekend!

bryan · 13 Oct 2005, 22:40 (Ref:1433150)

Is the BK Mazda there?

It shows up on the entry list, but no where on LT&S.

jhansen · 13 Oct 2005, 22:42 (Ref:1433151)

LTS had some glitches earlier, so I'm not sure. I have not seen anything saying they would not be there.

rdjones · 14 Oct 2005, 07:18 (Ref:1433340)

We have had some track action at LS.

First Practice Times:- http://www.americanlemans.com/Result...20practice.PDF

and

Night Practice:- http://www.americanlemans.com/Result...20practice.PDF

So the Porsche has finally hit the track and as expected it quick.....

**Bentley03** · 14 Oct 2005, 07:45 (Ref:1433352)

Certainly looks, even at this stage, as if Porsche will leave Laguna very satisfied with the performance of their new baby! I'll predict a podium on it's debut........

Are we expecting any announcements at Laguna? Specifically, new cars, new teams, new/returning manufacturer/factory involvement etc.? With so much new/rumoured machinery anticipated for 2006, I'd expect a few morsels at least.....

gwyllion · 14 Oct 2005, 07:58 (Ref:1433366)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentley03

Certainly looks, even at this stage, as if Porsche will leave Laguna very satisfied with the performance of their new baby! I'll predict a podium on it's debut........

Overall or LMP2?

**Bentley03** · 14 Oct 2005, 08:43 (Ref:1433400)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Overall or LMP2?

Overall.....

I thought I'd stick my neck out on this one!! I do think it'll be the quickest P2, but if it proves to be fuel efficient and easy on the tyres I don't see an overall podium being out of the question. A lot will depend on whether Luhr/Maasen/Collard are allowed to go for it, or if the aim is just to bring the car home with a respectable placing on it's debut.

Whatever the outcome, I'm just thrilled to see Porsche back in prototypes!

PS I should also point out that I have previously said there was no way it would challenge the P1's!

panoz.lmp1 · 14 Oct 2005, 09:50 (Ref:1433435)

Interesting to see the Prsche Spyder performance. Currently the car is a second away from the LMP900 Zytek. In the LMES the Zytek is as fast as the hybrids of Pescarolo. Does this mean that the Porsche Spyder could be an overall winner in 2006?

Or did we only have these close gap because Porsche is the first manufacturer in the "new" LMP categorie and an AUDI LMP1 would be seconds faster?

Dauer 962 · 14 Oct 2005, 10:02 (Ref:1433444)

I think it´s hard to say as we did not see a LMP1. Let´s wait until a real LMP1 appears, should not be slower than a hybrid LMP1 and that should regulate the difference between both classes.

But anyway : Amazing performance of the RS Spyder :-)

I love 04s · 14 Oct 2005, 10:39 (Ref:1433466)

I should think that in qualifying the Porsche will be about 1.7-2.0 seconds off Zytek. Last I heard was that Zytek were struggling to find a setup but that it is getting a little better now - they should really be in the 1.14s by qualifying.

I love 04s · 15 Oct 2005, 10:44 (Ref:1434277)

Quote:

Originally Posted by I love 04s

I should think that in qualifying the Porsche will be about 1.7-2.0 seconds off Zytek. Last I heard was that Zytek were struggling to find a setup but that it is getting a little better now - they should really be in the 1.14s by qualifying.

Am I psychic or what!

Zytek get 1.14.2 and Porsche is 1.5 off (I was anticipating Shimoda qualifying so 1.7 - 2.0 would have probably been about right.........

)

I still cannot understand one thing though. The Porsche and the Zytek are the same weight roughly, have the same powerplants (3.4l V8) yet the Zytek is 2.0 seconds quicker. Now some might say that the new regulation aero of the Porsche is slowing it down but then again wasn't this meant to be compensated by the old cars having restrictors and weight penalties (or are these not run in the states???????????????)

Either way for a first time effort this is very encouraging for Porsche.

**Bentley03** · 15 Oct 2005, 11:29 (Ref:1434312)

Quote:

Originally Posted by I love 04s

I still cannot understand one thing though. The Porsche and the Zytek are the same weight roughly, have the same powerplants (3.4l V8) yet the Zytek is 2.0 seconds quicker. Now some might say that the new regulation aero of the Porsche is slowing it down but then again wasn't this meant to be compensated by the old cars having restrictors and weight penalties (or are these not run in the states???????????????)

Either way for a first time effort this is very encouraging for Porsche.

As ever, I'm happy to be corrected when I try to answer a technical question, but my understanding of the regs would imply that the Spyder in LMP2 spec would have smaller restrictor (= less power) and narrower tyres (= less grip). Probably enough to explain the difference in lap times. As you said though, this is the Spyder's first competitive outing, there's surely more to come.....

gwyllion · 15 Oct 2005, 13:15 (Ref:1434362)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentley03

As ever, I'm happy to be corrected when I try to answer a technical question, but my understanding of the regs would imply that the Spyder in LMP2 spec would have smaller restrictor (= less power) and narrower tyres (= less grip). Probably enough to explain the difference in lap times. As you said though, this is the Spyder's first competitive outing, there's surely more to come.....

Do not forget the big weight difference: LMP675 have a minimum weigth of 675 kg and LMP2 of 750 kg.

I just check LMP675 and LMP2 regulation and tyres are the same.

gwyllion · 15 Oct 2005, 13:18 (Ref:1434367)

Quote:

Originally Posted by I love 04s

Now some might say that the new regulation aero of the Porsche is slowing it down but then again wasn't this meant to be compensated by the old cars having restrictors and weight penalties (or are these not run in the states???????????????)

ALMS is still running the ACO regulations of 2004. So smaller rear wing (1.8 m) and smaller fuel tank (80 liter), but not the smaller restrictor and weigth penalty (675 kg and not 720 kg like in LMES).

Fogelhund · 15 Oct 2005, 19:50 (Ref:1434559)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwyllion

ALMS is still running the ACO regulations of 2004. So smaller rear wing (1.8 m) and smaller fuel tank (80 liter), but not the smaller restrictor and weigth penalty (675 kg and not 720 kg like in LMES).

ALMS is running 2003 regulations. So, larger rear wing.

jhansen · 17 Oct 2005, 15:17 (Ref:1436070)

Quote:

Originally Posted by I love 04s

I still cannot understand one thing though. The Porsche and the Zytek are the same weight roughly, have the same powerplants (3.4l V8) yet the Zytek is 2.0 seconds quicker. Now some might say that the new regulation aero of the Porsche is slowing it down but then again wasn't this meant to be compensated by the old cars having restrictors and weight penalties (or are these not run in the states???????????????)

Either way for a first time effort this is very encouraging for Porsche.

I think the simple answer is that this was Porsche's first race and the Zytek 04S has been around for two years testing, racing and being developed. If you count the DBA, then this design has been around since 2002. In two to three years I think you'll see the Porsche gain a lot of ground, just as the Zytek has.

I love 04s · 19 Oct 2005, 10:19 (Ref:1437785)

Jese, the Zytek really was exceptional out of the box - this is a report from its 2nd ever outing at Sebring:

"Pirro set a best lap of 1m49.819s, shading his former works Audi co-driver Frank Biela by just 0.005s. However, the surprise of the session came from the LMP 675 class DBA4-03S-Zytek driven by John Nielsen and Hayanari Shimoda, which set the third fastest time of the day."

This was at the 02s' second race EVER, without factory support and with an 18 year old Shimoda - To be P3 ahead of: 1 Joest Audi R8 in 2000 spec, 2 Bentley EXP Speed 8s (driven by incredibly drivers) and both works MG lolas and Panoz's was incredible..............................................this car could have been incredible if a Honda/Nissan/Toyota had picked it up, as it is I think it's too little too late unless someone grabs it for ALMS next year. I really hope they do.

awegrzyn · 14 Oct 2005, 14:31 (Ref:1433688)

The next thing we are going to see is ALMS digging a grave for themselves.
You have to be a complete idiot to allow this kind of performance in LMP2.
What will happen? Other LMP2 teams will quite, because they do not have the same financial backup in order to be competitive. I am not surprised ALMS is where it is now.

JAG · 14 Oct 2005, 16:27 (Ref:1433753)

Quote:

Originally Posted by awegrzyn

The next thing we are going to see is ALMS digging a grave for themselves.
You have to be a complete idiot to allow this kind of performance in LMP2.
What will happen? Other LMP2 teams will quite, because they do not have the same financial backup in order to be competitive. I am not surprised ALMS is where it is now.

The Intersport Lola P2 is only 2 tenths behind the Porsche, a privateer team!

You cannot compare the Courage C65 as they are hybrids, which it now seems clear do not have the outright performance of purpose built LMP2s.

Don't forget the P2s are up against relatively old and restricted LMP900s and LMP675s.

The new P1s will have 60-80 BHP more, better aero, and other improvements that come with an all new design.

With customer RS Spyders on the way, an improving Lola, and a 'budget' Radical designed by a Le Mans winning designer, theres not too much to worry about.

I love 04s · 14 Oct 2005, 15:01 (Ref:1433702)

May someone just clarify the difference between the Zytek and the Porsche.

Evidently the Porsche is built to the new aero regs but from what I can tell that's the only difference.....same engine limits, same weight limits..........if that is the case why are no LMP2 near to be as being as fast as the Zyteks???

jhansen · 14 Oct 2005, 15:10 (Ref:1433704)

This is similar to what I was thinking, but in a different way. Couldn't Zytek make a P2 hybrid out of the 04S? It would be a cracking good P2 car for privateers. The aero on this car is simply brilliant and they could easily meet the 750kg limit.

If they could retain the current aero in a hybrid design it would make a great privateer choice for P2 customers. Zytek's reliability record has also been improving, which would be attractive to P2 privateers. The P2 category would be a great place to sell cars. That would give them more capital to invest in the new P1 car.

**Bentley03** · 14 Oct 2005, 22:35 (Ref:1434028)

Tom Chilton will be qualifying for Zytek. Why?

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