Sportscar/GT (and Le Mans) Rumours and Repetition

[AGD]

Well, it sounds like the US team is Krohn after all, but they are angry:

Jeff Hazell, sporting director for Krohn Racing--the only American team so far to confirm its intention to compete in the WEC--also criticized the date clash with Petit.

"Formula One has spent years trying to get two races in the U.S., and we are giving up a great event to go and race in front of one camel in Bahrain," he said.

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20111114/ALMS/111119929

You tell them, Jeff.

[TF110]

I'll laugh when it's got some awesome racing and tons of fans. Toyota is big in the M.E. market, Audi is as well. They're too quick to judgement if you ask me. Sounds like an entitlist attitude to me. Sure PLM will be missed, but at least Sebring is still there.

[AGD]

Originally Posted by TF110

I'll laugh when it's got some awesome racing and tons of fans. Toyota is big in the M.E. market, Audi is as well. They're too quick to judgement if you ask me. Sounds like an entitlist attitude to me. Sure PLM will be missed, but at least Sebring is still there.

And Toyota isn't big in the US/North American market? Toyota has a significant manufacturing base in the American South. They have an engine plant in Huntsville, Alabama, a massive plant going up in Mississippi that will build the Corolla, and the massive Kentucky plant that builds the Camry, Avalon, and Venza isn't super far from Atlanta either. The bulk of the Toyota American lineup are made in those plants. Their 3rd party suppliers must be in the area as well. Obviously we know Petit is a big event for Michelin and their people in South Carolina. Neither Audi or Peugeot seemed thrilled about the Bahrain date either.

And tons of fans at Bahrain? Haaaa. Ok. We'll see.

[trahsub]

Originally Posted by TF110

I'll laugh when it's got some awesome racing and tons of fans. Toyota is big in the M.E. market, Audi is as well. They're too quick to judgement if you ask me. Sounds like an entitlist attitude to me. Sure PLM will be missed, but at least Sebring is still there.

Just like Zhuhai? The track is boring and unless fans are paid to go to the race, don't see it being a blockbuster event.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by AGD

It seems that Dagys is saying that the rumored OAK team is not United. I don't know who else it could be. Wayne Taylor maybe? To combine rumors, could it be possible that it is Ian Dawson? Is Genoa interested in a P2?

What if it was Muscle Milk? Oak has both P1 and P2 options, so maybe?

[FordCosworthPanoz]

Originally Posted by TF110

I'll laugh when it's got some awesome racing and tons of fans. Toyota is big in the M.E. market, Audi is as well. They're too quick to judgement if you ask me. Sounds like an entitlist attitude to me. Sure PLM will be missed, but at least Sebring is still there.

If by *tons* of fans you mean 4,000 people then I can see where you are coming from. F1 could not sell the place out despite having the smallest seating capacity on the GP calendar. Heck, in Zhuhai A1GP, and some and motorcycle races got bigger crowds than the last two ILMC races there. If the worlds biggest form of motorsport gets 28,000, how many will the WEC get?

[FordCosworthPanoz]

Originally Posted by AGD

And Toyota isn't big in the US/North American market? Toyota has a significant manufacturing base in the American South. They have an engine plant in Huntsville, Alabama, a massive plant going up in Mississippi that will build the Corolla, and the massive Kentucky plant that builds the Camry, Avalon, and Venza isn't super far from Atlanta either. The bulk of the Toyota American lineup are made in those plants. Their 3rd party suppliers must be in the area as well. Obviously we know Petit is a big event for Michelin and their people in South Carolina. Neither Audi or Peugeot seemed thrilled about the Bahrain date either.

And tons of fans at Bahrain? Haaaa. Ok. We'll see.

But, to be fair, the Toyota Hilux is massive in the Middle East.

[AGD]

Originally Posted by joeb

What if it was Muscle Milk? Oak has both P1 and P2 options, so maybe?

That's a good point actually. The team that is supposedly interested in running the OAK will also have business and technical/repair responsibilities with OAK in the US. Muscle Milk is probably one of the teams and businesses that could handle such a thing. Granted, I doubt the ALMS will be a big market for OAK. However, I'm not sure if OAK plans on having a P1 here. It's the same car so I guess it isn't a big deal though. Maybe Muscle Milk will run just a P2 OAK if they are the rumored team? And a P1 with something else maybe?

I'd still like to see Muscle Milk go for an HPD, but we'll see.

Originally Posted by FordCosworthPanoz

But, to be fair, the Toyota Hilux is massive in the Middle East.

The Hilux is popular where ever there is political unrest. And lots of other places too.

[Asa]

Originally Posted by trahsub

Just like Zhuhai? The track is boring and unless fans are paid to go to the race, don't see it being a blockbuster event.

If they do nothing about the ticket prices then of course there will never be enough fans at Zhuhai. If they want to charge a high price then they have to offer a lot more.

But if all you care is crowd numbers, then the entire WEC season should be held at Le Mans itself. I don't have a problem with that.

[FstrthnU]

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...lms-wec-races/
The ACO is apparently still working out how ALMS/WEC events will work past next year. They're weighing whether to keep Sebring or not, or do anything else in the USA

[JAG]

Originally Posted by AGD

And Toyota isn't big in the US/North American market?

All the more reason to ask why they've never concerned themselves with the ALMS.

[Flyin Ryan]

Originally Posted by JAG

All the more reason to ask why they've never concerned themselves with the ALMS.

because if you're a mainstream as opposed to boutique or exotic manufacturer wanting to expose your brand via American-based motorsport, you wouldn't do sportscars

[Flyin Ryan]

Originally Posted by TF110

I'll laugh when [Bahrain gets] some awesome racing and tons of fans.

On the tons of fans I'm willing to bet at least my life savings to the contrary.

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by JAG

All the more reason to ask why they've never concerned themselves with the ALMS.

NASCAR, bigger footprint in the U.S. and Toyota has no reason to associate themselves with a specialist brand like the ALMS. That said, they did run Lexus in Grand-Am, and there was that Lexus GT2S car that never happened.

Chris

[The Badger]

I thought United Autosports were looking into running a P1 or a P2 in the ALMS next year , along with Stephan Johansson ? And I thought that the toe in the water effort at PLM also mentioned a possible 2 car effort ?

I think you will find United Autosports in the ALMS next year ..... maybe with 2 cars , hopefully .

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...lms-wec-races/
The ACO is apparently still working out how ALMS/WEC events will work past next year. They're weighing whether to keep Sebring or not, or do anything else in the USA

Sebring should be kept just because of its heritage . Bahrain is a crock of crap !!!

Hopefully this isnt the greedy hands of the Fia doing this , and tryin to ruin our party again !!!

America deserves a round , cuz of big markets and cuz of running an ACO sanctioned series .

Where else could you possibily host a round with a decent track and with the heritage pull of Sebring ?

Lol ..... this should be good !!!

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by TF110

I'll laugh when it's got some awesome racing and tons of fans. Toyota is big in the M.E. market, Audi is as well. They're too quick to judgement if you ask me. Sounds like an entitlist attitude to me. Sure PLM will be missed, but at least Sebring is still there.

Better get my tickets now.

Originally Posted by joeb

What if it was Muscle Milk? Oak has both P1 and P2 options, so maybe?

I'm pretty sure it's not MM. I'm thinking it's an existing challege team.

[JAG]

Originally Posted by Flyin Ryan

because if you're a mainstream as opposed to boutique or exotic manufacturer wanting to expose your brand via American-based motorsport, you wouldn't do sportscars

So why are people up in arms about PLM if sportscar fans themselves say only a handful of folk in that part of the world are taking interest?

Audi, Peugeot and Toyota are in the WEC as an alternative to F1, the WRC or WTCC, on-track attendance is only a small part of the equation.

Originally Posted by The Badger

I thought United Autosports were looking into running a P1 or a P2 in the ALMS next year , along with Stephan Johansson ? And I thought that the toe in the water effort at PLM also mentioned a possible 2 car effort ?

I think you will find United Autosports in the ALMS next year ..... maybe with 2 cars , hopefully .

They were looking for an automatic Le Mans entry, they have interest in future entries, but said they were looking at the WEC.

Originally Posted by The Badger

Where else could you possibily host a round with a decent track and with the heritage pull of Sebring ?

Lol ..... this should be good !!!

Watkins Glen, Daytona, Road America, Montreal or make a clean break and go to one of the new F1 tracks (if they happen).

[Rodger Davies]

Originally Posted by JAG

So why are people up in arms about PLM if sportscar fans themselves say only a handful of folk in that part of the world are taking interest?

Because they're an important handful, they're an otherwise untouched niche in an important market and, incredibly, I'm guessing it's the third highest attended sportscar event on the planet, despite being a young event, only a few hundred miles away from Daytona and all the history that comes with that and not far from NASCAR country.

Though I could be wrong on any of those, so don't take them as fact! I'm lucky enough to have been and it's an amazing event, that has managed in a few years what many don't over much longer periods and it should be valued by the ACO as an important triumph and celebration of their sport, rather than treated horribly by a market that has helped them stay relevant for the last decade.

You've got to ask if, from a PR point of view, the ACO should really have done something so stupid that when the calendar is launched for their big world championship, the only point of discussion is how ridiculous it is for them to be shooting themselves in the foot with one barrel and the ALMS with the other?

[Livininthinair]

poss. too many issues with the class structure for Sebring and Petit, this may be a threat to the ALMS that if things are not ran a certain way the WEC will go elsewhere.

[AGD]

Originally Posted by JAG

All the more reason to ask why they've never concerned themselves with the ALMS.

So are NASCAR and the NHRA allowing hybrids now? Because I must have missed that if they are.

And if Bahrain was so important, how come Toyota did not stay in F1 and race at dreamy Bahrain?

I can see some sports car driver crying on the podium, "It's a dream come true! I've won Le Mans, Sebring, Daytona, and BAHRAIN!"

[TF110]

In the end it's one of the WEC rounds while PLM isn't. Saying you won ANY round of an FIA ACO WORLD championship sounds good. As for F1, Toyota took pole in Bahrain 2009, only to lose the race on wrong tire choice in the 2nd stint.

[AGD]

Originally Posted by TF110

Saying you won ANY round of an FIA ACO WORLD championship sounds good.

I'm sure the drivers will thump their chest if they win Bahrain. It'll be a most crowning experience. Just like winning the WTCC round at Marrakech. The Daytona 500, Indy 500, Petit, Bathhurst, N24. Yeah, those races are nothing compared to a World Championship round.

[trahsub]

Originally Posted by AGD

I'm sure the drivers will thump their chest if they win Bahrain.

People are already putting those track outline stickers (most popular of the 'ring') of Bahrain on the back of their sports cars. Rolex is also making a special 'Bahrain Edition' watch for the big winners!

[AGD]

Originally Posted by trahsub

People are already putting those track outline stickers (most popular of the 'ring') of Bahrain on the back of their sports cars. Rolex is also making a special 'Bahrain Edition' watch for the big winners!

Yeah, really. There have been regular road cars named after Sebring (Chrysler Sebring), Le Mans (Pontiac LeMans), Daytona (Dodge Daytona), and we know the car companies respect the 'Ring. There have been car colors named after Sebring, Silverstone, Imola, and so forth. So is it only a matter of time before we see a car named after Bahrain? The Ferrari Bahrain? Porsche Bahrain? Chevrolet Bahrain? Toyota Bahrain? Daihatsu Bahrain? Lada Bahrain? Dacia Bahrain? E-Z-Go Bahrain?

100 years from now, the classic circuits of the world will be Le Mans, Monza, Indianapolis, Nordschleife, and Bahrain. Book it. "You don't know what Bahrain means!"