Henri considering a Peugeot 908, or a move to the ALMS.

[Svierge]

Originally Posted by Hugewally

As a sprint car, it hasn't had to race against the R10 either.

Obviously. But the Peugeots simply aren't trying in LMS. It's a canter. At the Ring they stopped racing early on and concentrated on making sure they finished the 195th (and last scheduled lap) as close to the six hour mark as possible. We could see it a mile off because we partly base our strategy on the distance we think the Peugeots will travel - and I chuckled when I realised what they were up to.

I'm sure that in LMS they are focussed on not embarrassing the opposition too much. And the car is getting faster all the time.

I'm a huge fan of Audi's motorsport activities and have been for over 25 years (since I saw my first Quattro rally car). I've driven them exclusively for the last ten years and have massive brand loyalty, but even I can see that the Peugeot is an absolute monster of a car.

[brielga]

Originally Posted by Svierge

Obviously. But the Peugeots simply aren't trying in LMS. It's a canter. the Peugeot is an absolute monster of a car.

Could not agree more... the Monza race was a strong proof of that, including the amazing recovery of the #8 car. Valencia and the Ring have been already stated here, nuff said on that. It was clear to everyone at La Sarthe that Peugeot was aiming at finishing, not at outright speed for 6 hours and go with a bang. In a race under 3 hours they would certainly be extremely hard to beat, even with traffic (watch again the Valencia race and compare it to Lime Rock or Utah), a "customer" like Henri could have a sweet revenge against the R10s.... They still have reliability homework to do but their deadline for that is June 2008.

[chewymonster]

Will see what the European P1s can do against the American factory P2s at Petit/Laguna. I am thinking the factory teams will have the advantage.

[Hammerdown]

Veering slightly off topic, but is anyone in a position to ask Andy Wallace how the RML Lola compares to the Dyson Porsche?

[I love 04s]

Interesting to read this thread.

Have to agree that Peugeot would demolish anything in the ALMS too......their speed on short twisty tracks is simply untouchable - to be pulling 2 secs on Shimoda/Johansson in a Zytek (imho the fastest petrol car/driver pairing out there at any track other than Le Mans) is proof of this. I expect Shimoda (if he goes) to be on the first row in qualy at Leguna/R. Atlanta, however he will be the first to tell you that would be row 2/3 at best if Pug were there.

Just had a silly idea - Dyson should run the Lowes 07S/2 from Le Mans alongside the RS Spider - I think it would be a bl**dy close run thing!!

[dj choc ice]

Originally Posted by I love 04s

Interesting to read this thread.

Have to agree that Peugeot would demolish anything in the ALMS too......their speed on short twisty tracks is simply untouchable - to be pulling 2 secs on Shimoda/Johansson in a Zytek (imho the fastest petrol car/driver pairing out there at any track other than Le Mans) is proof of this. I expect Shimoda (if he goes) to be on the first row in qualy at Leguna/R. Atlanta, however he will be the first to tell you that would be row 2/3 at best if Pug were there.

Just had a silly idea - Dyson should run the Lowes 07S/2 from Le Mans alongside the RS Spider - I think it would be a bl**dy close run thing!!

thats a good idea, i like it a lot another zytek is damn good news imo, especially since i think zytek secretly put machine guns in the exhausts for the backfire

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Hammerdown

Veering slightly off topic, but is anyone in a position to ask Andy Wallace how the RML Lola compares to the Dyson Porsche?

I really think that is THE BEST idea anyone has had in this or the LMP2 in ALMS threads. I would be very interested to know the differences in feeling in the car even though he prob hasn't had similar driving experiences in the 2 chassis. I have suggested in the Mid-Ohio round thread that the ALMS/IMSA or maybe even the ACO needs to help foot the bill for at least one and maybe 2 LMP2 cars to run a few races here and possibly, veering back to the topic, helping Peugeot bring at least one car to PLM to see again the differences between the 2 series supporting Le Mans and check if similar rules really are needed at each series.

[Hugewally]

Originally Posted by I love 04s

Interesting to read this thread.

Have to agree that Peugeot would demolish anything in the ALMS too......their speed on short twisty tracks is simply untouchable - to be pulling 2 secs on Shimoda/Johansson in a Zytek (imho the fastest petrol car/driver pairing out there at any track other than Le Mans) is proof of this. I expect Shimoda (if he goes) to be on the first row in qualy at Leguna/R. Atlanta, however he will be the first to tell you that would be row 2/3 at best if Pug were there.

Untouchable by whom, other LMS teams? I've heard more than a couple of times now by those that race on both sides of the pond that the LMS teams aren't quite in the same league as the ALMS teams. (actually it wasn't worded that way, but I'm trying to be nice with the wording).

[Adam43]

I actually think that the Peugeot wouldn't quite match the Audi in America. However for the reasons stated above they would be blummin' close, especially on pace. Audi has the race craft, whether that is a 24 hour race or a sprint race. Either way I'd be wary of being adamant about it.

However, I also suspect we won't get to find out either

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Hugewally

Untouchable by whom, other LMS teams? I've heard more than a couple of times now by those that race on both sides of the pond that the LMS teams aren't quite in the same league as the ALMS teams. (actually it wasn't worded that way, but I'm trying to be nice with the wording).

No need to be nice!

Rephrase the middle section of your post to something akin to 'LMS teams aren't quite as well funded as ALMS teams' and you'll be considerably closer to reality.

Pescarolo are as good as their funding permits.........and the same can be said of the majority of European teams.

[jhansen]

Dear Henri

Please come to the ALMS for a race or two. We would welcome you with open arms. If Petit doesn't look too appealing you could always come to Laguna Seca...

[jhansen]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

No need to be nice!

Rephrase the middle section of your post to something akin to 'LMS teams aren't quite as well funded as ALMS teams' and you'll be considerably closer to reality.

Pescarolo are as good as their funding permits.........and the same can be said of the majority of European teams.

In all seriousness, I think Pescarolo would do well here. They would certainly offer more competition than Cytosport, Intersport and Autocon. Which in my opinion, don't exactly measure up to many of the European P1 teams.

[dj4monie]

jhansen -

Then we would hear Henri complain about the pace of the Porsche and Acura P2 teams???

Yes there would be serious 6 way battle for 2nd, but if P2's won overall, something that Henri hasn't seen in person (I don't believe) would he complain that even his P1 gas cars are not as quick as the factory P2 cars?

In any case it would be nice for him to run here.

[JAG]

Originally Posted by Hugewally

Untouchable by whom, other LMS teams? I've heard more than a couple of times now by those that race on both sides of the pond that the LMS teams aren't quite in the same league as the ALMS teams. (actually it wasn't worded that way, but I'm trying to be nice with the wording).

Factory teams on eiither side's of the Atlanticmatch up pretty well, it just so happens the ALMS has more of them.

Then you have to ask yourselve's which series has the better privateer's, RML, Pescarolo, Creation, ORECA etc. vs RISI, PWL, Intersport etc.

Not much betwwen them I'd say, the LMS just needs a few more factory backed teams, the ALMS more privateer's.

[pederb]

Originally Posted by JAG

Factory teams on eiither side's of the Atlanticmatch up pretty well, it just so happens the ALMS has more of them.

Then you have to ask yourselve's which series has the better privateer's, RML, Pescarolo, Creation, ORECA etc. vs RISI, PWL, Intersport etc.

Not much betwwen them I'd say, the LMS just needs a few more factory backed teams, the ALMS more privateer's.

Well said.

[dj4monie]

Originally Posted by JAG

Factory teams on eiither side's of the Atlanticmatch up pretty well, it just so happens the ALMS has more of them.

Then you have to ask yourselve's which series has the better privateer's, RML, Pescarolo, Creation, ORECA etc. vs RISI, PWL, Intersport etc.

Not much betwwen them I'd say, the LMS just needs a few more factory backed teams, the ALMS more privateer's.

Well as they said in the Men and Motor's broadcast of the FIA Monza round, "there isn't a factory team" (pointing at Jet Alliance), "see there isn't another one" (pointing at Vitaphone) and "of course they aren't a factory team..." (with the winning AF Corse car on screen)

Raymond Naric is supported by the Porsche factory - case closed, just because he drives the car himself doesn't mean much, we all know who does the "lion's" share of the work.

So the lines between private teams and PRIVATE teams is often BLURRED and the really small private teams are well, several laps down by the half way point of most events, no matter how long or short they are...

[chewymonster]

Originally Posted by dj4monie

jhansen -

Then we would hear Henri complain about the pace of the Porsche and Acura P2 teams???

Yes there would be serious 6 way battle for 2nd, but if P2's won overall, something that Henri hasn't seen in person (I don't believe) would he complain that even his P1 gas cars are not as quick as the factory P2 cars?

In any case it would be nice for him to run here.

I would love to see him be demolished by some factory P2 equipment. But of course, that would make his argument for the last couple of years a complete joke.

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by chewymonster

I would love to see him be demolished by some factory P2 equipment.

Why?

Originally Posted by chewymonster

But of course, that would make his argument for the last couple of years a complete joke.

Why?

[Hugewally]

Because chewy doesn't want to see anything 'bad' happen to his favorite cars (the Audis)...

[chewymonster]

Because like dj4monie said "Henri complain about the pace of the Porsche and Acura P2 teams" which would mean that his previous arguments of ACO bias would be prooved worthless. And he would have to eat his words.

[Bentley03]

Give me strength...................

[Hugewally]

Originally Posted by chewymonster

Because like dj4monie said "Henri complain about the pace of the Porsche and Acura P2 teams" which would mean that his previous arguments of ACO bias would be prooved worthless. And he would have to eat his words.

But then i have yet to notice Henri say anything about the P2 class...

[Svierge]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

Give me strength...................

Yep, I know what you mean.

[chewymonster]

Originally Posted by Hugewally

But then i have yet to notice Henri say anything about the P2 class...

Because he has never raced a Porsche/Acura P2. If he came and got whooped by those teams, I am sure he would. But then again, he would have to stop his "diesel teams get advantage" argument.

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by chewymonster

Because he has never raced a Porsche/Acura P2. If he came and got whooped by those teams, I am sure he would. But then again, he would have to stop his "diesel teams get advantage" argument.

If Henri got 'whooped' by Porsche or Acura at Le Mans, yes, I'm sure he'd have a great deal to say about it. But he knows as well as you do that the regulations are based on a car's performance at Le Mans. What happens on tighter circuits is irrelevant. And nor would a good 'whooping' from factory P2's in the ALMS affect in any way his stance towards the petrol diesel equivalency in LMP1.