What is Aston Martin up to?

[CTD]

Could Henri and AMR join forces!?.
This just accrued to me. Henri has often done miracles with "low end top teams", and AMR is just that!

[fieldodreams79]

I'll stay optimistic on seeing a coupe, then. Nice to hear there is potential.

I assume a screaming AM V8? Forgive me as I am not very familiar with the new engine regs.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

I'll stay optimistic on seeing a coupe, then. Nice to hear there is potential.

I assume a screaming AM V8? Forgive me as I am not very familiar with the new engine regs.

I believe it will be a roar instead of a scream .
The V8 Vantage could maybe be base for a LMP2 project?

[Ultimo]

I fear the AM still won't be able to challenge the big boys at Peugeot and Audi.

I will be pulling for it though - you guys have tainted me to be pro-gasoline/anti-diesel.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by CTD

I believe it will be a roar instead of a scream .

That all depends on the V8 now, doesn't it?

[dj4monie]

Originally Posted by Down F0rce

It makes drivers changes during pit stops less cumbersome, meaning faster pit stops. The team that spends the least time in the pits is usually odds on to win...

Part of the appeal of this type of racing for me in the variety of cars on offer, so good on Aston going for an open top. Peugeot will probably be back with a closed car, we'll have to see what Audi do now.

BINGO!

They are going for the LMP2 route with less weight and I think building a Coupe might have been harder and/or more expensive to get down to minimum weight.

By not having top ingress and egress should become easier and time in the pits.

Audi and Peuqeot will still go enclosed because they are banking on overall pace on track. I don't think there's really a huge negative or positive going either direction, you can win either way.

But that's what makes this form of racing so good, you can attack a problem from different directions.

[Captain Spyro]

Originally Posted by joeb

the press release mentions 6 cars will be built for next season, but didn't say anything about where the cars will be running other an Le Mans. So could we possibly see one or two running in the ALMS next season?

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sourc...1ty1U-Mx9AjAbQ

According to Autoweek, four of the new cars have been presold to collectors with one of the remaining racing at Sebring. So...does that mean more cars will be built or am I missing something as three will be at Le Mans, I think?

[courageous]

That has been the Aston LMP1 business plan since they came in.

Sell the car to a collector who let's the team race it in the hope of making their investment in 'just a race car' more valuable by it becoming 'a winning race car' (or the collector gets to be one of the works drivers)

[JayBMS]

It will be intresting to see who the works drivers are.

If AMR want to take on Pug and Audi they'll need a very stong lineup.

I'm guessing they'll have;

Mucke
Turner (unless he's in a GT car)
Enge
Hancock
Fernandez

and im sure i've heard both Andy Meyrick & Chris Buncombe talking about 2011 this season

is that enough to take on McNish etc...?

[knighty]

I'm sure I'll be lambasted for saying this, but I believe AM's driver choice this year has been poor, half of them look like thay are paying for the seat, if david richards is serious about producing a headline show for 2011 and a serious effort at LeMans I suspect he should enroll a selection of ex-F1 drivers, people like:

Hill
Brundle
Blundell
McNish
Davidson
Frentzen
Vielleneuve
Coulthard
Mansell + greg & Leo.......imagine the PR from that!
etc....

Engine wise, if they are going the gasoline route I can only see them going one particular way, turbo charged, either a V6 or a V8, probably the latter as implied elsewhere........a normally aspirated engine just wont have the torque offered by a turbo engine........yet again the 2011 gasoline regs will already be at a significant torque defecit to the diesels, so they must do all possible to minimise that gap.

[JAG]

Aston have apparently chosen an atmo 3.4 V8 similar to the HPD and Porsche motors.

This years petrol vs diesel comparaison goes out of the window with all new engines and restrictors.

The ACO's 'target' power output is 520bhp yet the HPD in the ALMS apparently produces 585bhp, in the LMS I'm guessing it's closer to 540bhp with smaller restrictors.

In 2011 you would think P1 petrol cars will recieve a generous restrictor like the ALMS one and a 25-50kg weight break to compensate for the diesels torque advantage.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by knighty

Hill = He would need plenty time to get into shape , remember Bouchet in the Pescarolo , his neck muscles were hurting after the test , and he was currant .
Brundle = Too old in the tooth I reckon , hasnt driven for 9 years .
Blundell = Maybe too old too , and not currant either .
McNish = Couldnt afford him , and on an Audi contract .
Davidson = Probably on a Pug contract too .
Frentzen = thats a good idea .
Vielleneuve = Not quick enough , Pug dont want him either .
Coulthard
Mansell + Greg & Leo = PR wont win the race .

Watts-Enge-Kox

Kane-Turner-Smith

Mansell-Mansell-Mansell ..... for the PR .

That could work .

[knighty]

Originally Posted by JAG

Aston have apparently chosen an atmo 3.4 V8 similar to the HPD and Porsche motors.

This years petrol vs diesel comparaison goes out of the window with all new engines and restrictors.

The ACO's 'target' power output is 520bhp yet the HPD in the ALMS apparently produces 585bhp, in the LMS I'm guessing it's closer to 540bhp with smaller restrictors.

In 2011 you would think P1 petrol cars will recieve a generous restrictor like the ALMS one and a 25-50kg weight break to compensate for the diesels torque advantage.

thats a very intersting set of numbers, I didnt have a clue that the HPD LMP2 was producing such a high number in the ALMS, but I guess their restrictor strategy is different...........do you mind me asking where this set of numbers came from?????.....I guess AM have done their homework, and for sure its worked for Porsche, and HPD going that 3.4 V8 atmo route, but I stand by what I said........a 2.0 Turbo will have over 600NM of torque.........a 3.4 atmo could not come close in that respect, but I guess an atmo engine has a neater aero package due to no intercoolers, so top speed will be good........ and at the end of the day LeMans is about naked speed, max power and slippery aero package will hurl a car around at quite some pace.

I notice none of you disagree with my comment that the 2010 drivers are not great or possibly pay drivers ;-)

Regarding Hill......did you ever hear about when he tested a GP2 car about 3 years ago......the press were expecting him to cruze around and do a few demo laps, wave to the crouds etc......he jumped in, slaughtered the track and was on the radio the whole time - as he always was, aparrently his laps were of qualifying effort, the press were agast at his instant raw speed.......believe me when I say he has still got it......the problem is he cant be bothered at the moment, but I'm sure that may change once his son graduates from Formula ford......Joshua is now winning races in UK formula ford, looks like he is going to make it somewhere too........perhaps Josh and daddy could end up at LeMans one day.........I would crawl over broken glass to see that!!!!!

[JAG]

I believe ALMS P2 cars use larger 2008 restrictors as all LMP's are combined into a single class.

In 2008 the RS Spyder and Acura were a match for the R10.

P2 restrictors have been reduced in Europe a couple of times to make a clear differential between P1 and P2.

Even so the HPD of Strakka has been quicker than a number of very decent P1 cars.

I would expect the ACO to return to these 2008 restrictors for petrol P1 cars. With bigger P1 tyres and running around 850-875kg they'd be very quick.

*The HPD figure was mentioned in a discussion about the AER Mazda.

[CTD]

http://www.translate.google.dk/trans...2F&sl=fr&tl=en
Jota will apparently be fielding the new AMR among AMR themselves.

[HORNDAWG]

Jota: http://www.jotasport.com/Jota_Sport/Home.html





L.P.

[dxk1]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Watts-Enge-Kox

Kane-Turner-Smith

Mansell-Mansell-Mansell ..... for the PR .

That could work .

I'm sure some of these line-ups would be effective, but why not keep Fernandez as well? The man can flat out drive and he's a good guy to boot.

DK

[The Badger]

Oh , dont get me wrong ..... Im planning on there being an Aston in the ALMS where he will be the lead driver .

Fernandez ranks pretty high in my book .

[JAG]

Aston wil run three cars at Le Mans with a customer car available mid-season according to todays Autosport.

That being the case my factory drivers would be-

Watts
Kane
Cocker

Long
Gavin
Turner

M.Franchitti
Mucke
Fernandez

Names to consider if available-

M.Andretti, Coulthard, Raikkonen

[Down F0rce]

DC has said he would only want to share a car if he could share with his mates, such as Brundle or Gil de Ferran. Get those two involved and then DC would be interested.

[Tim the Grey]

Now THERE's a team to think about. They can quietly mention who/what/why/where they won't be covering GPs, and get Joe Public watching, p'raps get the Beeb watching, and grab a tidy sum from a title sponsor...

[Tim the Grey]

Oh, and I would chuck Tomas Enge into one of the seats...

[GT6]

Not really that bother who willdrive the AM as long as it beats the deisels and looks as good as the artist impressions show.

[Tim the Grey]

I'd like a 3 legged herniated TOAD if it stuffed the diesels!

[JayBMS]

i''ve been thinking more about this

I'm sure i read Fernandez was a multi year deal.

I rate Mucke quite highly and im sure AMR will keep him on.

Handcock will be in the JOTA GT2 car i think.

Enge and Turner should be there unless one is loaned out to to a GT team

Primat is solid and should being some $$ to the program.


so by my math that leave only 1 or 2 seats up for grabs if AMR go for 3 Driver cars