What is Aston Martin up to?

[Graham Goodwin]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Where are those 5 cars though? One is with Jota, one with the TBA team, one with Villois in GT Open... what about the other two?

Jota in LMS
Villois in GT Open
Triple A in Super GT
Gulf Team First In ILMC
And the unannounced effort

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Graham Goodwin

Jota in LMS
Villois in GT Open
Triple A in Super GT
Gulf Team First In ILMC
And the unannounced effort

Thank you.

[Bentley03]

During the RLM programme covering the ACO press conference this morning, I'm sure I heard Hindy say the new AMR ONE's (LMP1's) are Cosworth 2 litre turbo powered. It's the first time I've heard Cosworth mentioned in association with this project. Is this correct? Did I imagine it? Did I miss something?

[isynge]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

During the RLM programme covering the ACO press conference this morning, I'm sure I heard Hindy say the new AMR ONE's (LMP1's) are Cosworth 2 litre turbo powered. It's the first time I've heard Cosworth mentioned in association with this project. Is this correct? Did I imagine it? Did I miss something?

Interestingly listening to the RLM 2010 Sportscar Review podcast last night (and yes, I know I'm a bit behind the times), they mentioned that the engine was being built by Cosworth. Like you, I hadn't been aware of this, but at least Mr Hindhaugh is being consistent.

[gwyllion]

An interview with Stefan Mucke today: http://www.86400.fr/articles/125-ste...r-tres-bientot

The car is almost finished and can do a shakedown any day now.

They registered one car for the full ILMC season, but have not yet decided which races they will participate in. Only Le Mans is certain at the moment. They are unsure whether they can make Sebring.

[pederb]

The Vantage GT2 is the only AM that has not won a Championship, right?

[Victor_RO]

Of the current Prodrive-run cars? Quite right.

[pederb]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Of the current Prodrive-run cars? Quite right.

Yes I'm not talking about the future

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by pederb

Yes I'm not talking about the future

Well there's plenty of Aston Martin racing cars in the past that haven't won championships... or even races for that matter.

[GT6]

there have been a few disapointments over the years.

[isynge]

This might be a more than usually left field one, but Radio Le Mans' Midweek Motorsport tonight dropped some pretty broad hints about Nico Hulkenberg being involved in a manufacturer sportscar effort, and that there was some major news to come about the Aston Martin project.

Is this the RLM crew having an imaginative speculative joke with us, or might there be some legs to this?

[JAG]

Didn't they say a few weeks back they basically knew the Aston line-up so has something changed to comment on it tonight?

I didn't hear all the show this week but it sounded as if more than one driver was a suprise.

[acox93]

The engine has nothing to do with cosworth, it is designed and built in house just like everything else on the car with the exception of the gearbox.

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by acox93

The engine has nothing to do with cosworth, it is designed and built in house just like everything else on the car with the exception of the gearbox.

So Mr H is mistaken........I did wonder.

[Tim the Grey]

Mr Cox? Just be careful what you say on here. You never know who might read it. I try to avoid anything to do with where I work!

Let the speculation run rampant, it usually does anyway!

[acox93]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

Mr Cox? Just be careful what you say on here. You never know who might read it. I try to avoid anything to do with where I work!

Let the speculation run rampant, it usually does anyway!

Dont worry i would never say anything that shouldnt be said. Very little has been released about this program and it shall stay that way until the launch.
What i will say is that im very excited for the year ahead and i hope it brings us success.

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

Mr Cox? Just be careful what you say on here. You never know who might read it. I try to avoid anything to do with where I work!

Let the speculation run rampant, it usually does anyway!

That's part of the fun here!

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

Mr Cox? Just be careful what you say on here. You never know who might read it. I try to avoid anything to do with where I work!

Totally agree with the sentiment Tim, we wouldn't want anyone jeopardising their job or abusing privileged information. I frequently get a bee in my bonnet about journalists breaking embargos or revealing information against the wishes of teams or individuals.

But, it's very much appreciated and in everyone's interest when an informed member posts something that puts the record straight, as in this instance.

My thanks to Mr Cox!

[Tim the Grey]

I had no problem, and I doubt anyone at Prodrive would, with what was said. I read APPRENTICE, and worry that sometimes mouths can run away with the owner.
It would be a shame to lose that "informed insider"!

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

I had no problem, and I doubt anyone at Prodrive would, with what was said. I read APPRENTICE, and worry that sometimes mouths can run away with the owner.
It would be a shame to lose that "informed insider"!

Totally agree, I was simply using your post as a way to properly thank acox93 for the info.

[Tom908V12]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

An interview with Stefan Mucke today: http://www.86400.fr/articles/125-ste...r-tres-bientot

The car is almost finished and can do a shakedown any day now.

They registered one car for the full ILMC season, but have not yet decided which races they will participate in. Only Le Mans is certain at the moment. They are unsure whether they can make Sebring.

Very late this simple "shakedown", the Aston LMP1 risks to lack of developpment for Sebring and even Spa and Le Mans

[SALEEN S7R]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Dont worry about Prodrive.

[Tim the Grey]

I tend not to. But even Big Guns can misfire...
It all seems a touch rushed.
But treating Sebring as a Shake Down may not be so bad. It's known as a car breaker track, so if it survives, it all looks good, no?

[JAG]

I don't know if it applies to the Aston but I was watching a program about the Mini WRC which said much of the car was designed on computer with extra time dedicated to perfecting fine details rather than rushing the build of the car.

Since the cars hit the stages it reportedly hasn't missed a beat.

[chernaudi]

Personally, I think that AMR having the car ready for Sebring will be a bit of a stretch. Audi have more resources and far more experience with sportscar racing, and they'll run R15s at Sebring instead of R18s, a big part of which concerns logistics--even if the R18 is proven to be reliable and fast, there'll like be a parts/spares shortage, and Audi learned from the early days of the R15 how much of a logistical nightmare that can end up being.

Even Peugeot had issues with that with the new 908, as it seems that their test program was slowed by one of their cars being destroyed, and a spares shortage breifly held up the program.

AMR might be at Sebring, but they're a far way behind Peugeot and Audi, who've rolled out cars and raced at Sebring in the past in a short time. It worked with the R8 and the R10, but their luck ran out on the R15, and Audi doesn't want to run the risk of that happening again, which also explains why Peugeot have tested since late July. They don't want to repeat the hard early days of the old 908 again.