What is Aston Martin up to?

[SebringMG]

Agreed the Courage chassis was damn quick in its latest version - admittedly it was not the stiffest - but it was arguably quicker than the Pescarolo and any other chassis out there - problem was the lack of reliability which was most likely a third party component (engines with excess vibration etc) that was more the problem.

But i believe AMR may build their own chassis for the simple reason that they want the chassis to 'look' like a road car...because while the lola is impressive it is not arguably an Aston Martin. If AMR are in it partly for the marketing then making it look subtly like the road car will pay off in spades if they achieve a win.

Selling last years car(s) means even if they are sticking with the Lola that there is substantial reworking involved that means little is carried over - thereby making a financial case for selling the cars complete.

Also i would suggest that substantial reworking of all the current cars front aero as a result of the new aero regs may mean quite heavy modifications.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by SebringMG

Agreed the Courage chassis was damn quick in its latest version

The C60 was on a good , just as quick as a Panoz LMP1 or a Dome S101 . Its trouble was as usual , money , or lack of it and a differant engine every other year .

When Henri put in a bit of extra engineering on his C60's ..... it was a right animal !!!

I always begged to differ about what Acura said about the Courage , they said that it was undriveable . I saw Gounon do some pretty impressive stuff in an undrivable LC70/75 , and Acura are still using a modified LC75 tub in their LMP2 car .

Courage almost won Le Mans in 1995 , but for a mistake from Andretti .

I would think , that Courage are (were) a great tub designer , but maybe never had massive wedge to get the job done to the finest detail .

[SebringMG]

THey said it lacked stiffness - something that can be engineered in once you are aware you have a problem. The modified part says it all. Also ORECA reworked the chassis - don't know the details but probably along the same lines as Wirth Associates did to create the Acura.

[Mal]

It seems likely to me that AMR committed to a new chassis with Gulf (and Charouz?)backing over a year ago and therefore the cost of the design and much of the build cost were committed before the economic crisis.

Therefore the main thing to decide in the new circumstances was whether to commit to a running it. I suspect that the draw of the 50th Anniversary, coupled with money from Gulf and AM's middle eastern backers is too much of a temptation to walk away from.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by SebringMG

THey said it lacked stiffness - something that can be engineered in once you are aware you have a problem. The modified part says it all. Also ORECA reworked the chassis - don't know the details but probably along the same lines as Wirth Associates did to create the Acura.

L.P.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by SebringMG

But i believe AMR may build their own chassis for the simple reason that they want the chassis to 'look' like a road car...because while the lola is impressive it is not arguably an Aston Martin. If AMR are in it partly for the marketing then making it look subtly like the road car will pay off in spades if they achieve a win.

Thought this is worth quoting (probably been linked already couple of times in this thread):

http://www.topgear.com/content/featu...ries/17/1.html

And remember, this is from last July.

As we've said the Charouz ain't pretty, and an Aston Martin LMP1 car would need to take your breath away, which is why the still-secret prototype has been designed by Marek Reichman, the same suave Brit who designs Aston's road cars. His prototype is currently residing with the race team, which is now testing whether the car can be simultaneously pretty and aerodynamically efficient.

Umm...

[CTD]

Originally Posted by deggis

....by Marek Reichman, the same suave Brit who designs Aston's road cars.

Just taking a quick step off topic..
Funny it says that!, because the current Aston design is based on the Vantage and DB9, which was designed by Henrik Fisker!, once again british pride

[Aslak Vind]

I believe the first roadcar designed by Mr Marek Reichman are the DBS and the Rapide.

Up until then, the current range was designed by Fisker; Vantage, DB9 and the now gone Vanquish.

[deggis]

http://murphythebear.com/blog/index....ateral-damage/

[redacted referrence to Aston Martin] Again!

Is this just a joke or something was again removed?

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by deggis

http://murphythebear.com/blog/index....ateral-damage/

[redacted referrence to Aston Martin] Again!

Is this just a joke or something was again removed?

No joke, I suspect. From the little I've been told (by one who's been around our sport for a very long time) it's unwise to step out of line with Aston Martin Racing. Announcements are made as and when they are ready to make them, and any journalist/commentator who steps out of line is likely to be struck off the proverbial AMR Christmas card list (if you know what I mean).

The current speculation and the manner in which it has reached the public domain won't have gone down very well in certain quarters.

That said, I very much doubt Murphy's the only one who's found himself dancing on hot coals over the past few days..........

[knighty]

DSC are reporting that Speedy Sebah racing have purchased one of the Lola V12 LMP1 racers to run alongside their LMP2 lola coupe........thats good news me says.

[TWK]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

No joke, I suspect. From the little I've been told (by one who's been around our sport for a very long time) it's unwise to step out of line with Aston Martin Racing. Announcements are made as and when they are ready to make them, and any journalist/commentator who steps out of line is likely to be struck off the proverbial AMR Christmas card list (if you know what I mean).

The current speculation and the manner in which it has reached the public domain won't have gone down very well in certain quarters.

That said, I very much doubt Murphy's the only one who's found himself dancing on hot coals over the past few days..........

Actually, Murphy is long since off the AMR Christmas card list (and just about everyone else's, too). It's kind of a requirement for what he does not to worry about such things. If he did, he'd just have to wait for the press release; not very entertaining (and that's the whole point).

He does, however, respect the requests of his sources. When they ask him to "sit on something," he does so - for a while.

Realistically, significant projects have too many participants to remain completely secret. Besides, it's racing - not national defense.

[old man]

Rather like the BMW back in the '90s, what was it '98? all an Aston has to have to be recognised is that grill shape, it goes back to the DB2/4 Mk3 of the 50's and has now become instantly recognisable

[JAG]

If this is a done deal, I'd expect it to be announced at the Autosport show.

If it has Prodrive/Lola routes, you'd also expect customer versions to be offered.

I do wonder what the engine plans are, surely Aston Martin wouldn't commit to a two year program, not with a new car at least, unless the V12 can be used beyond 2010, or an alternative is in the works.

[TWK]

Aston has only one interest, and that's the Anniversary of their last overall win.

[The359]

Last and only, so far...

If Aston could pull an anniversary upset.....my head would explode.

[deggis]

Did the DSC story say Gulf sponsorship deal should be announced this week?

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by deggis

Did the DSC story say Gulf sponsorship deal should be announced this week?

The headline of the DSC article is "News Coming of a Significant Le Mans Programme". The article makes it clear that this announcement relates to a programme for Gulf and Aston Martin.

The subsequent article posted several days later simply gives mention of what Auto Hebdo are reporting, which is a 2 car joint programme between Aston Martin and Charouz. The article claims that Aston Martin are building their own LMP1, but there's no mention of Gulf backing.

[deggis]

Bentley03: Ok.

By the way, Subaru is rumoured to announce today withdrawal from WRC. This will obviously affect Prodrive too. How should that affect their other racing activities?

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by deggis

Bentley03: Ok.

By the way, Subaru is rumoured to announce today withdrawal from WRC. This will obviously affect Prodrive too. How should that affect their other racing activities?

It's confirmed:

Subaru has made a shock announcement that it will pull out of the World Rally Championship with immediate effect. Just 24 hours after Suzuki quit the series, Subaru cited the worldwide financial economic crisis as to why it will also not continue.
David Richards, the boss of the Prodrive company that runs Subaru's efforts in the WRC, was saddened by the decision which brings to an end a 20-year association.


Richards said Prodrive would look to redeploy their WRC workforce elsewhere in the company - having also confirmed that their customer rally teams will continue.
...

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72492

[Pilgrimage]

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/au...king_news.html

[CTD]

Did Prodrive them self put money into the WRC team?.
Because if they did, then Prodrive will have more money to run a F1 or LM Team!
It's sad news for Racing. But maybe "good" news for Sportscar fans!
But this leave Ford and Citroen as the only manufacture in WRC!, could WRC and IRC do a fuse?.

[Pilgrimage]

Clearly some of the rally staff will be moved sideways to other motorsport projects - hopefully (IMO) to a LM assault...

[JAG]

Prodrive's major business is customer cars, the Subaru WRC's have another year, Group N will continue for the forseable future.

Elsewere they aren't involved in touring cars, the DBR9 customer program has a year left, but the GT3/GT4's are still going strong.

Really, they need to make the GT2 car a commercial success, and IF they build their own P1, that could be another revenue generater if sold to customer's.

[Mal]

Originally Posted by JAG

Prodrive's major business is customer cars, the Subaru WRC's have another year, Group N will continue for the forseable future.

Elsewere they aren't involved in touring cars, the DBR9 customer program has a year left, but the GT3/GT4's are still going strong.

Really, they need to make the GT2 car a commercial success, and IF they build their own P1, that could be another revenue generater if sold to customer's.

The Suburu WRC programme is over with immediate effect - so no 2009 WRC.

With regard to P1 the rumours refer to Gulf funding so if true it may be Prodrive running the car as a customer of Gulf and maybe Aston Martin itself.