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13 May 2011, 14:53 (Ref:2879911) | #676 | |
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14 May 2011, 04:35 (Ref:2880118) | #677 | |||
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Just the fact that they are doing something is a pretty big indication! |
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Hvil i Fred Allan. (Rest in Peace Allan) |
14 May 2011, 08:12 (Ref:2880145) | #678 |
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A pretty idyllic scenario would involve three big manufacturers at the top going for it. Here's hoping that the Toyota LMP project comes through, and that Peugeot and Audi are still around for it.
I have read on these forums and elsewhere that Audi may be canning it's LMP project after the R18; how committed to LMP is Peugeot? |
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14 May 2011, 12:54 (Ref:2880234) | #679 | ||
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What's scary is that we know the ACO is talking to Porsche, Ferrari and McLaren about their GT cars. And that we know they'd all like to see them going fighting for overall wins against the many other manufacturers that would probably be interested. (let's not get into how they would make them fast enough without becoming prototypes, all we know is that staying over the 3.30 limit would be somewhat easier)
On the proto side, we have Audi and Peugeot that have been there for much longer than the normal duration of a manufacturer program and that have the diesel inequality complaints to tarnish their victories. We know that both new cars were designed with KERS in mind for next year and maybe the one after that. Prototype entry levels in the LMS and in the ALMS are so low that some say the P1 category could disappear next year in those championships. We know that Aston Martin has a three-year program in mind... if the car can start working at some point. We know that Toyota, Nissan and reportedly many others are taking a look. But the only real case of a manufacturer building a program with a Le Mans win in mind is Acura. Financial crisis or not, it is very hard to argue that the car's results on track against the best cars (diesels) had nothing to do with the program being canned. The rules have to look as "fair" and promising to manufacturers as they were for Audi an Peugeot when they decided to build diesel LMPs. If no serious manufacturer effort is attracted within the next 2 years, it looks to me like the class will not survive if/when one of the manufacturers currently involved leaves. |
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14 May 2011, 13:45 (Ref:2880251) | #680 | |||
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14 May 2011, 13:47 (Ref:2880252) | #681 | ||
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Rumours about Audi have been ongoing since the R8 competed, if Audi go to F1 Porsche will be in P1, and vice versa. On Peugeot's side diesel and hybrid technology is their focus, F1 was a disaster, the WRC is the domain of Citroen. I do favour protoypes but I'm not going to back something I think has no future, far from it I think the class has never been stronger. In the mid '90's protoypes were sad cut and shut 962's and such, GT's the home of manufactuers with full factory teams, follow the development of these GT's, and you end with current P1's like the 908 and R18. The current GT field is the domain of customers, with the exception of Corvette and soon to be departed BMW. Audi and Peugeot will field three cars apiece, with the best drivers, backed up by huge marketing. The latest Ferrari or Porsche GTE will only be on the grid if a customer purchases the car, at best they'll recieve a factory contracted driver. I did hear Mclaren talk about not thinking LMP's were relevant, or appealing to the public, but you have to take this with a pinch of salt. The Mclaren organisation has been built upon F1 single seaters, using technology with little road relevance, against rivals like Red Bull and Virgin, oh, and Ferrari. Le Mans and the ILMC is about attracting mainstream manufactuers to promote their brand and the event. The likes of Porsche have two objectives, a customer program to sell 911's, a halo program to develop technology and promote the brand, i.e LMP or F1. Much of the 918 technology is descended from the RS Spyder, Porsche are demonstrating what they learned in competition, it isn't a car designed to spearhead Porsches competition future. The Group C World Championship ended in 1992, it's taken untill 2011 for the sport to have clear, stable regs, with clear distinctions between LMP and GT, factory and privateer, and a worldwide platform in the form of the ILMC, which crucially includes Le Mans, that means the ACO are serious. Last edited by JAG; 14 May 2011 at 13:56. |
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14 May 2011, 13:50 (Ref:2880255) | #682 | |||
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14 May 2011, 14:14 (Ref:2880261) | #683 | |
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14 May 2011, 20:18 (Ref:2880382) | #684 | ||
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14 May 2011, 20:23 (Ref:2880385) | #685 | |
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A Japanese manufacturer who will not jump in to anything unless it had been okayed from the very top and they know for sure that it makes commercial and economic sense.
If one single thing doesn't add up they won't go racing. |
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16 Jun 2011, 10:13 (Ref:2900094) | #686 | ||
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Interesting news from Mariantic...
"Toyota testing Dome built open LMP1 - Autosport print ed." http://www.mariantic.co.uk/lmp/ |
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16 Jun 2011, 12:15 (Ref:2900194) | #687 | ||
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