Sportscar/GT (and Le Mans) Rumours and Repetition

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

Well. And that.

But, it would seem as if the program is still in the works.

Yeah it's still going and good luck to them. Same with Perrin. We could see both, we could see neither.

Doesn't change my original point though that they aren't green-lit programmes.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Yeah it's still going and good luck to them. Same with Perrin. We could see both, we could see neither.

Doesn't change my original point though that they aren't green-lit programmes.

Right, wasn't trying to undermine that... the new P2 regs really screw up a ton of things.

[Bandicoot17]

http://www.lemans.alpine-cars.com/comingsoon/

What's this then?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Bandicoot17

http://www.lemans.alpine-cars.com/comingsoon/

What's this then?

Maybe a camera stream from the team? Surely it isn't a new car is it?

[Bandicoot17]

Seems it's a new Road car

[Koenigsegg]

Originally Posted by joeb

Maybe a camera stream from the team? Surely it isn't a new car is it?

Or the new P1 entrant with a Rebellion R-ONE renamed as Alpine?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Koenigsegg

Or the new P1 entrant with a Rebellion R-ONE renamed as Alpine?

I didn't think they had money for their own P1 project but maybe you are right!

[Acid09]

Originally Posted by Koenigsegg

Or the new P1 entrant with a Rebellion R-ONE renamed as Alpine?

Announced on race day? Makes zero sense, it's basically guaranteed to not get any attention then.

[deggis]

Good point, two hours before it too...

? http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/ne...appear-le-mans

[deggis]

***There is growing talk about the new round of LMP1 regulations, which are due for a refresh in 2017, and the possibility of allowing additional technology beyond what’s currently featured in the class. It’s understood at least one prospective new manufacturer is pushing for the allowance of Fuel Cells.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/l...ay-notebook-2/

[Bandicoot17]

Gotta be BMW

[Acid09]

Really? Is BMW doing anything with fuel cells ever since the not very successful hydrogen 7-series prototype?

Fuel cells play no role in their new i-Brand so far..so I'm not sure this is something BMW is interested in.

[Bandicoot17]

Originally Posted by Acid09

Really? Is BMW doing anything with fuel cells ever since the not very successful hydrogen 7-series prototype?

Fuel cells play no role in their new i-Brand so far..so I'm not sure this is something BMW is interested in.

http://ecomento.com/2014/12/24/bmw-i...ll-technology/

[Acid09]

Hm, interesting. Would be interesting if these were allowed and we had yet another new technology on the grid

[Skemer]

A lot of manufacturers are getting into fuel cell technology and some will even be introducing a production car this year.
So i'm still pretty much in the grey on who's been talking to the A.C.O on technology allowance from 2017 onwards.

[WMUCarGuy]

Honda and Toyota are the major automakers who has put a significant effort into fuel cell technology for road cars.

If HPD doesn't get a P2 bid, perhaps Honda is looking at way to get involved in P1?
http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/

Similarly, Toyota has a fuel cell vehicle called the Mirai coming out next year. http://www.toyota.com/mirai/

[deggis]

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

If HPD doesn't get a P2 bid, perhaps Honda is looking at way to get involved in P1?
http://automobiles.honda.com/fcx-clarity/

I don't think what HDP might be doing in P2 is any way comparable to the parent company doing P1 especially not as a "Plan B". Entirely different level of investment is needed.

And Honda just got into F1 and instead of setting the world on fire they're mostly setting their engines on fire (whether their or regulations' fault). Any manufacturer doing P1 and F1 at the same time, I'll believe it when I see it.

[TF110]

Yeah, Toyota is pushing the hydrogen fuel cell pretty hard. So this development may interest them. Who else would like hydrogen?

[Bandicoot17]

Hyundai seem to be using fuel cells a bit

[YZFrider]

Although old, Ford did collaborate and support a speed record run with a fuel cell car. http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/10/f...nd-speed-reco/

[gustavobamba]

Originally Posted by Bandicoot17

Hyundai seem to be using fuel cells a bit

I´ve been talking about hyundai a few months back

Maybe they will leave WRC and going to P1… who knows?!?!?!?!

[deggis]

I remember that Huyndai's WRC program included building a motorsport center in Europe so maybe they would have the capability to do P1 in house straightaway.

[ss_collins]

Lots of news recycling going on (including one story stealing quotes from both RCE and Sport Auto). BMW is looking at a G56 fuel cell project but is not yet sure. I suspect some of the other speculation on this thread is bang on the money (in fact I've been told it is) not sure what I can and can't reveal yet, but will spill as much as I can on the RLM pit lane show on thursday.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by ss_collins

Lots of news recycling going on (including one story stealing quotes from both RCE and Sport Auto). BMW is looking at a G56 fuel cell project but is not yet sure. I suspect some of the other speculation on this thread is bang on the money (in fact I've been told it is) not sure what I can and can't reveal yet, but will spill as much as I can on the RLM pit lane show on thursday.

Thanks Sam, your annual pit walk at le mans is a highlight of the race week for me.

[Deleted]

The best thing about Sam is that he speaks freely and knowledgeably of pretty much anything. And most importantly no sugarcoated tales of unicorns and kneeling down to overlord marketing masters like many other people do around him. You hear dialogue like sth along the lines of "This Morgan, which is just old rebranded Pescarolo, is sitting next to these Courage-Orecas and Gibsons which are obviously 10 year old Zytek-Reynards, and then we have the first car of the GTE field which are going to neck and neck all thru to the race because they are so closely artificially performance balanced together. Now I don't really care that much about this next group of vehicles in that corner, but this chassis here carrying same engine used in Super GT which I quite love is something quite extraordinary and awesome" It's so fresh to hear pure honesty.

I remember him at Silverstone 6h in 2013? or 2014? when he said GT3s being useless grid fillers in ELMS and by ACO forgetting them they could just slap the entire regional series grid integrated to the WEC race instead of having needlessly separated races for same cars. Like in ILMC. Yeah, exactly!

Just don't ask him anything about drivers (Trulli on Caterham being near the top of the scorers in F1 five years ago?), only cars and technology.