Sportscar/GT (and Le Mans) Rumours and Repetition - Page 210

GT6 · 14 Jul 2014, 08:41 (Ref:3433765)

I agree Audi has spent a lot of money,time and effort to have the brand linked to endurance racing and i can not see them giving all that up just because another part of VAG wants to compete, intercompany rivalry can be very strong in any case

MyNameIsNigel · 14 Jul 2014, 10:23 (Ref:3433781)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Graham Goodwin

I keep seeing speculation on whether Audi will pack it in - usually predicated on whether VAG will decide to 'let Porsche win'.

The fact is that Audi's continued participation in top level sportscars is commercially successful, and has been for most of the programme - look at Audi's sales figures over a decade and more and there's little reason to believe that there's a case to stop. The current TV ad campaign again underlines their basic message - We are proving our road car technology through our (super successful) race programme. Few other carmakers can credibly claim the same.

Add to that that Audi have just moved into a bespoke, and much larger, motorsports HQ, and I'd be VERY surprised to see them leave LMP any time soon.

I don't see Audi leaving any time soon either, especially considering that Endurance racing and the FIA-WEC are currently the best (if only) place where Audi can excel. Endurance racing is very much part of Audi's DNA now.

FstrthnU · 14 Jul 2014, 18:13 (Ref:3433870)

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/leman...otype-options/
Seems like Ford is leaning towards a 2016 factory GTE program with a new 3rd-generation Ford GT. In addition, engine supply to LMP2 also considered (since factory LMP2 teams are banned from ACO racing). Ford Mustang GTE was considered but tabled.

Articus · 14 Jul 2014, 18:18 (Ref:3433872)

Interesting. I was suspecting but couldn't put to words earlier but this win was particularly important for Audi because it could mean that Porsche won't be building the underpinnings of more Audi vehicles in the near future. So they have bought themselves a certain amount of independence with the win.

Articus · 14 Jul 2014, 18:24 (Ref:3433875)

GT vs Viper vs Vette and Aston vs Ferrari vs Porsche

Who said we couldn't have nice things?

lms · 14 Jul 2014, 19:13 (Ref:3433898)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

Mustang GTE

Accident · 14 Jul 2014, 23:39 (Ref:3433970)

Quote:

Originally Posted by lms

Would it be any worse than the Z4 or M3?

TF110 · 14 Jul 2014, 23:55 (Ref:3433975)

Id rather a new sportscar, not a 'ponycar' as they call them here.

Articus · 15 Jul 2014, 00:03 (Ref:3433977)

Dodge and GM already set precedent by running the Viper and the Vette as opposed to the Challenger and the Camaro. So it was sensible for Ford for shut down the GTE Mustang. Anyway to go with the Mustang would seem like a wasted opportunity because they have been thinking about a Ford GT successor for a long time. They could make a who lot more of a big deal about a Ford GT at Le Mans anyway.

And it wouldn't make sense to run anything before 2016 anyway.

Dyson Mazda · 15 Jul 2014, 00:04 (Ref:3433978)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accident

Would it be any worse than the Z4 or M3?

Not to mention the Bentley GT3

Rcz · 15 Jul 2014, 01:20 (Ref:3433983)

Or the Lexus RC GT3

MagVanisher · 15 Jul 2014, 02:37 (Ref:3433992)

That's good news for Ford! I'm glad that they'll be making a 3rd generation Ford GT in addition to supplying P2 teams with their Ecoboost engine.

Still, isn't a bit too late for Ford fielding a GTE car in 2016. In the future, the former GT2 class plus GT3 might merge into a single GT class, split between All-Pro and Pro/Am.

Even though both ACO, FIA, and some of the manufacturers failed regarding the convergence talks, it's still open for discussion in my opinion.

MitchZ06 · 15 Jul 2014, 03:31 (Ref:3433995)

So Ford GT GTE Ecoboost?

MagVanisher · 15 Jul 2014, 04:24 (Ref:3434004)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

So Ford GT GTE Ecoboost?

Doubt that it'll happen. From an engine standpoint, a forced-induced V8 (supercharged, turbocharged, both) would be a better option.

GT3.14 · 15 Jul 2014, 04:24 (Ref:3434005)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/leman...otype-options/
factory LMP2 teams are banned from ACO racing).

Is there really a point to this rule anymore with all pro lineups allowed in P2 now as long as the car can be bought by a privateer at the cost cap?

HORNDAWG · 15 Jul 2014, 05:11 (Ref:3434014)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/leman...otype-options/
Seems like Ford is leaning towards a 2016 factory GTE program with a new 3rd-generation Ford GT. In addition, engine supply to LMP2 also considered (since factory LMP2 teams are banned from ACO racing). Ford Mustang GTE was considered but tabled.

Factory cars are NOT banned from ACO racing.

"The cars that may be considered as "factory cars", whose technical characteristics and level of development are clearly not complying with the objectives of the LMP2 regulations may be refused by the Endurance Committee"

http://www.24h-lemans.com/wpphpFichi...ions-lm-p2.pdf

L.P.

Deleted · 15 Jul 2014, 08:20 (Ref:3434039)

Yet in the sporting regs it says "The LMP2 category is reserved exclusively for private teams that are independent of manufacturers and/or engine suppliers"

Furthermore in the technical regs: "Each model of car must be sold by the Manufacturer to a private team (at least one car) entered in the World Endurance Championship or any other International Series sanctioned by the FIA."
So no sole manufacturer entries...

And I read that "may be" just as wordplay anyway, just as it says "may be" in the first line... no way in hell would Ford (as Ford) receive entry without everyone complaining.

This is the most recent revision by the way, most notably outlawig Mazda's diesel http://www.fia.com/sites/default/fil...%202014-dc.pdf

TzeiTzei · 15 Jul 2014, 08:48 (Ref:3434045)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiana

Yet in the sporting regs it says "The LMP2 category is reserved exclusively for private teams that are independent of manufacturers and/or engine suppliers"

Furthermore in the technical regs: "Each model of car must be sold by the Manufacturer to a private team (at least one car) entered in the World Endurance Championship or any other International Series sanctioned by the FIA."
So no sole manufacturer entries...

What defines a manufacturer? Aren't Oak basically a manufacturer? How about Strakka then, are they a manufacturer now?

Deleted · 15 Jul 2014, 09:22 (Ref:3434050)

Well in case of Strakka no as Dome clearly builds the car and they're (really) still a customer, but otherwise it's an interesting question...

Thou I think the fact that the likes of Oak aren't actual street car manufacturers makes them different, they're still sorta independent

lms · 15 Jul 2014, 10:36 (Ref:3434068)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accident

Would it be any worse than the Z4

yes

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accident

or M3?

no

MyNameIsNigel · 15 Jul 2014, 11:06 (Ref:3434077)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TzeiTzei

What defines a manufacturer? Aren't Oak basically a manufacturer? How about Strakka then, are they a manufacturer now?

Very good question indeed and this is a valid question for the LMP1-L category as well BTW, as this category is likewise supposed to be reserved exclusively for "independent private teams".

As far as the LMP2 category is concerned, it would seem that the term "manufacturer" is used exclusively to refer to the actual chassis manufacturer, not to the engine supplier as such. This seems to be a subtle difference compared to the LMP1 category, where a "Manufacturer" means "the associaton constituted by the manufacturer of the chassis and the manufacturer of the engine, i.e. by the physical persons or legal entities holding, or entitled to use, the intellectual property rights pertaining to the chassis and to the engine, the names of which feature on the homologation form issued (...) by the FIA jointly with the ACO (...)" (in accordance with the definition given in the Sporting Regulations).

As far as the Morgan LM P2 and the new Ligier JS P2 are concerned, both of them are manufactured by Onroak Automotive, which I guess shall be understood as the "chassis manufacturer". In that respect, are OAK Racing truly "independent" of Onroak Automotive considering that these are affiliated entities ?

In the case of the Strakka-Dome "partnership", it would seem that the separation between the private team (i.e. Strakka Racing) and the actual chassis manufacturer (i.e. Dome) is clearer, Strakka-Racing appearing to be essentially a (true) Dome customer.

What about the Rebellion-Racing / Oreca relationship ?

Graham Goodwin · 15 Jul 2014, 18:30 (Ref:3434197)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chiana

Well in case of Strakka no as Dome clearly builds the car and they're (really) still a customer, but otherwise it's an interesting question...

Dome doesn't build the car - they designed it, work closely with Strakka on implementation and provide some key components (including the monocoque, but the majority of components are sourced by Strakka, the supply chain is theirs.

Bobby_status · 17 Jul 2014, 03:17 (Ref:3434743)

http://as-web.jp/photonews/info.php?c_id=9&no=59863
Any teams linked to this car?

TF110 · 17 Jul 2014, 06:45 (Ref:3434772)

Your pics arent showing...

Testing was at Sugo. Estimated lap time was 1:33 in the wet.

TF110 · 17 Jul 2014, 08:06 (Ref:3434797)

Sorry! Too late to edit post. Testing was done at Okayama, not Sugo!

If the track was wet, times of 1:33's would place it at the front of the GT300/GT3 pack in those conditions. Rd.1 @Okayama had a wet free practice, and the leading car in that class was the Gainer SLS GT3 with a 1:33.635 from a 1:34.031 of the B-Max GTR GT3.

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