Acura/HPD's future plans

[Dani Filth]

what a line-up...

[WMUCarGuy]

Originally Posted by CTD

Not if Acura/Honda is planning racing the ARX-01c at Le Mans.

Although Highcroft has a P1, not P2 entry, so it may pose some problems.

[WMUCarGuy]

Have we heard anything on the bear's rumor of Marino joining them for the enduros?

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

Although Highcroft has a P1, not P2 entry, so it may pose some problems.

Why would this pose a problem? If they go this year, it could be to get the entire team acclimated to Le Mans for a go at the 2011 P-1

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

Have we heard anything on the bear's rumor of Marino joining them for the enduros?

Well the enduros should be run to full ACO rules (or so stated by the ALMS) so the third seat in the car should be filled by an amateur/gentleman driver so that would seem to exclude Marino unless a second chassis is run.






L.P.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

Although Highcroft has a P1, not P2 entry, so it may pose some problems.

Maybe, but if a Porsche RS Spyder enters, then it would be nice for ACO to get it some competition?

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

Although Highcroft has a P1, not P2 entry, so it may pose some problems.

I believe the implication intended here is that Highcroft have an autobid for LMP1, while they intend to run a LMP2.

I would expect that if Highcroft wanted to apply for a spot on the LMP2 grid, that they would be looked at very favourably in their application.

[The Badger]

Agreed , I somehow cant see the ACO turning away the ALMS P1 champ .

[Acid09]

Can LMP2 teams opt to use an all-pro lineup and receive a weight penalty or something like that?

Or do they really have to have an amateur driver in there no matter what? A pretty ridiculous and dangerous rule if you ask me.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

what a line-up...

Yes it is very good to see Simon at Patrón, but it is sad also. In that it brings to the front, the now almost indidsputable fact, that de Ferran it would seem is truly gone from the ALMS (as many among us had tought) even though it has yet to be officially uttered.



L.P.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Acid09

Can LMP2 teams opt to use an all-pro lineup and receive a weight penalty or something like that?

Or do they really have to have an amateur driver in there no matter what? A pretty ridiculous and dangerous rule if you ask me.

LMP2 is created for the privateers who doesn't have the money to race a LMP1 prototype!.
It's been like this for a long time

[Félix]

I think it's only the ACO technical rules that apply in the ALMS for those races. The sporting rules are probably for the LMS only and IMSA won't make its rare entrants unhappy with those. If a privateer has money to come to Sebring with a P2, he can either find a few grands to add a pro driver (they're all looking for seats these days) or stop kidding himself and accept Patron will destroy his team anyway.

The spirit of the rules and who they're for is alright but it stops working when Porsche and Acura make the series interesting by entering the "wrong class".

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Yes it is very good to see Simon at Patrón, but it is sad also. In that it brings to the front, the now almost indidsputable fact, that de Ferran it would seem is truly gone from the ALMS (as many among us had tought) even though it has yet to be officially uttered.



L.P.

Exactly. This is not good news.

[fieldodreams79]

if true, 2 years and out. bummer.
well...de Ferran went out with a bang in a Texas styled Acura, but it would be a shame.

[Acid09]

Originally Posted by CTD

LMP2 is created for the privateers who doesn't have the money to race a LMP1 prototype!.
It's been like this for a long time

I won't argue with that, I just think those new driver rules are potentially dangerous.

Privateer team or not, LMP2 cars are quick downforce race cars that need to be driven by drivers with substantial experience. Forcing teams to use drivers that are either too old or inexperienced is nuts if you ask me...

I don't think this will saves costs in the long run, a proper driver would probably come cheaper than an old gentlemen driver who wrecks the car and may take other cars with him.

I remember that last year there were already complaints from other drivers about some LMP2 cars being driven by potentially unfit drivers. And now the series even promots that... I can't get my head around that.

Gentlemen drivers are fine, in GT2 or GT3 cars were they can't do much harm. But in prototypes which have to pass lots of slower cars, it's just potentially dangerous.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Acid09

I won't argue with that, I just think those new driver rules are potentially dangerous.

Privateer team or not, LMP2 cars are quick downforce race cars that need to be driven by drivers with substantial experience. Forcing teams to use drivers that are either too old or inexperienced is nuts if you ask me...

I don't think this will saves costs in the long run, a proper driver would probably come cheaper than an old gentlemen driver who wrecks the car and may take other cars with him.

I remember that last year there were already complaints from other drivers about some LMP2 cars being driven by potentially unfit drivers. And now the series even promots that... I can't get my head around that.

Gentlemen drivers are fine, in GT2 or GT3 cars were they can't do much harm. But in prototypes which have to pass lots of slower cars, it's just potentially dangerous.

As to mandating pro/am, I am not truly for it! As to the rest, IMO, Horse manure.




L.P.

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Why would this pose a problem? If they go this year, it could be to get the entire team acclimated to Le Mans for a go at the 2011 P-1

Well the enduros should be run to full ACO rules (or so stated by the ALMS) so the third seat in the car should be filled by an amateur/gentleman driver so that would seem to exclude Marino unless a second chassis is run.

L.P.

Just thinking aloud here.............

Could Brabs and Pagenaud yet be driving a Peugeot at Le Mans, in spite of Highcroft's intended attendance? No mention of Le Mans in the last press release, and Highcroft could still make the trip with a different driver line-up. Afterall, they won't be going for the overall in an LMP2.

Also, were there to be a second Highcroft P2 in the ALMS, be nice to see Marino and Butch get the nod.

[Mal]

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=39681

Not sure if there is anything new in the statement on here about Acura saying that they are developing a new LMP1 for the future? Unless it is referring to nick Wirth - but it is a little ambiguous

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Mal

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=39681

Not sure if there is anything new in the statement on here about Acura saying that they are developing a new LMP1 for the future? Unless it is referring to nick Wirth - but it is a little ambiguous

Well it's not Acura who are developing, its Wirth Research!
WR, has started the development, in hope that Acura will buy and finance the project later.

[The Badger]

Acura is going to buy WR !!! ..... Where did you get that one from ?

[MulsanneMike]

Originally Posted by Mal

http://www.pitpass.com/fes_php/pitpa...s_art_id=39681

Not sure if there is anything new in the statement on here about Acura saying that they are developing a new LMP1 for the future? Unless it is referring to nick Wirth - but it is a little ambiguous

Go back to October 7, 2009 entry:

http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newssept09.html

Nothing new in the pitpass.com write up.

[merlot brougham]

Not to be short with anyone but isn't that old news?

I thought they were working on a new LMP1 with their own budget with the hopes Honda would buy it. With the scaled-back participation of Honda, and since it was self-financed, they can now pitch the design as a ready-to-go prototype design to any interested parties.

EDIT: Mulsanne Mike beat me to it...

[Mal]

Originally Posted by merlot brougham

Not to be short with anyone but isn't that old news?
.

That is why I put - 'not sure if there is anything new in this statement'.

[merlot brougham]

Originally Posted by Mal

That is why I put - 'not sure if there is anything new in this statement'.

Indeed...

[chernaudi]

Acura will either have a new LMP1 car for 2011, or maybe resurect the ARX-02 as the post-2010/11 rules are more favorable for it, as in most ways the idealogly behind the ARX-02 was an LMP2 car with LMP1 tires(which will be used on the new LMP1s) and a slightly larger engine...anyone think that the new HPD/Acura engine might be a sleeved down or de-stroked 4.0 V8?

Granted, both the 3.4 and 4.0 are based off of the still born Indy Car V8, but reportedly very few parts will interchange between 4.0 and 3.4, and the engines can't be used interchangably between the LMP1 and LMP2 machines without modifying the tub or using a semi-stressed adaptor kit.

[Tim Northcutt]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Granted, both the 3.4 and 4.0 are based off of the still born Indy Car V8...

Not true...Robert Clarke himself told some journalists who are friends of mine that the 3.4 L Acura LMP2 engine was built and designed from a clean sheet of paper and in no way is related to the IRL V-8 engine.

FWIW