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22 Dec 2011, 00:47 (Ref:3002980) | #2426 | ||
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If Bernhard has a guaranteed Audi seat for the next two years he should take it, if he perfroms well teams will be fighting for his signature in 2014. |
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22 Dec 2011, 05:24 (Ref:3003011) | #2427 | |
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Im not so sure about this but If Audi is thiking about securing they're future against the like sof Toyota and Peugeot then they really need to make some hard decisions. Go easy on me but what if Kristensen and McNish lose they're WEC seats and are replaced with Lotterer and Treluyer. Or atleast place McNish and Kristensen in a third car in a privateer team?
Everyone keeps saying that McNish and Kristensen have been with Audisince forever buts thats part of the problem. I love Kristensen and McNish but they're getting older(im walking on eggshells here sorry). Its time for Audi to consider developing they're new talent. Audi need to develop its drivers. This is the only way unfortunately otherwise they are going to lose Lotterer/Bernhard/Treluyr to peugeot, Toyota... and then when Kristensen and McNish finally do decide to retire Audi wont have enough drivers.... The Treluyer-Lotterer pairing needs to happen as they're pretty much best friends outside of motorsport... |
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22 Dec 2011, 06:36 (Ref:3003024) | #2428 | |||
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I agree about Treluyer and Lotterer. Maybe they will employ them all and slot two into one of the R8 teams. |
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22 Dec 2011, 07:43 (Ref:3003034) | #2429 | ||
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A interesting (to me) observation that I recently made is as follows: Porsche have been publishing a number of videos of their past participation in LeMans as a buildup to their comeback in 2014.
In each film, a (current) works driver provides a small contributing line on the Porsche comeback (along with other past drivers). In the last of the series of short films, the following drivers provide their comments: Dumas, Lieb, Bergmeister, Pilet, Lietz,Holzer and Long. Bernhard does not provide any comments (and is only seen briefly). Is the writng already on the wall? |
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22 Dec 2011, 08:48 (Ref:3003049) | #2430 | |||
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Bernhard's contribution is seen at 1:46. These are fantastic promo trailers. Edit: Just realised you were referring to this trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqXQ4...feature=relmfu Unsure as to whether Bernhard's omission means a great deal. Henzler didn't receive any face time, either. Last edited by R4z3rw33n; 22 Dec 2011 at 09:00. |
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22 Dec 2011, 09:24 (Ref:3003070) | #2431 | ||
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However, I don't think that Treluyer and Lotterer will give up their Japanese factory driver for some racing in a GT3 car. Lotterer turned down the offer from Toyota to spearhead their LMP1 program and he is giving up Super GT as well as Formula Nippon (which he won in 2011). Treluyer has officially given up his Super GT seat with NISMO. I also doubt that Bernhard wants anything less than a WEC seat. If he like GT racing, he can just stick with Porsche. |
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22 Dec 2011, 10:22 (Ref:3003095) | #2432 | |||
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22 Dec 2011, 10:31 (Ref:3003104) | #2433 | |
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I can't recall anyone ever doing a partial DTM season intentionally, at least in a works team. I don't think DTM wants that either.
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22 Dec 2011, 10:52 (Ref:3003116) | #2434 | ||
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Fact of the matter is that Andre and Benoit being at Audi is looking more likely--I think that Ben's official departure from Nismo may've been the final nail in the casket as far as his sportscar future, and though he didn't say it publicly, Audi was probably at the top of his LM24/WEC wish list. And we have more or less confirmation from a Japanese motorsport magazine that Lotterer has asked for a multi-year LMP contract from Audi, and he very well may've signed the dotted line, and if not, such a deal very well may be imminent.
Only question is exactly who will go where--will Audi run 3 drivers per car, or will they have two WEC two car efforts--Abt was rumored for such a deal, but nothing much has been heard since late summer, but the rumor is that Audi will enter at least four cars at LM, and LM is a points paying stop on the WEC, and having such entires could maximize Audi's WEC Mfg'rs' Championship potential. If Andre and Ben both end up at Audi, I'd bet that they'd be paired on a full season team. Only question is will it be Joest or which ever the second team is, provided there is a second team. Fassler might be on the "other" team unless Audi runs 3 drivers per car in the shorter races, and as far as Bernhard goes, it depends on who wants his services worse--and probably who wants to spend more on a contract. |
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22 Dec 2011, 11:06 (Ref:3003125) | #2435 | ||
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Porche's return in 2014 with a LMP1 car? I'm being off long time
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22 Dec 2011, 12:14 (Ref:3003153) | #2436 | |||||
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Quote:
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The FIA WEC sporting regulations state: Quote:
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22 Dec 2011, 12:18 (Ref:3003156) | #2437 | ||
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For the sake of completeness, there is also a trophy for the private LMP1 team, but a team such as Abt would not qualify as a "private" team.
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22 Dec 2011, 13:52 (Ref:3003199) | #2438 | |
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22 Dec 2011, 13:58 (Ref:3003203) | #2439 | |||
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In case people are wondering about the possibility to enter more than two cars in Le Mans, the rules are as follows:
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22 Dec 2011, 14:03 (Ref:3003210) | #2440 | ||
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For instance, in 2006 the #19 car was driven by Tielemans, Bleekemolen, Kiesa and Björk consecutively. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_De...ms_and_drivers |
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22 Dec 2011, 14:08 (Ref:3003211) | #2441 | |||
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So does the FIA mean a team like Pescarolo will be the only type of "private" team elegable for the private championship, or does it include teams that follow the NASCAR/GT-E model, where there are no "factory" teams, but teams still get some support from the manufacturer? If the former, the title will go either to Pescarolo or OAK, as they're the best performing cars with no real factory support from anywhere. On topic, now: would that make it pointless for Abt to run outside of LM? Maybe Audi's rumored four car entry for LM might be a smoke-screen to just run four Joest cars, with two camo'ed under a different banner, which is no different than the "third" ASNA cars of past seasons. |
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22 Dec 2011, 14:24 (Ref:3003214) | #2442 | ||||
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22 Dec 2011, 15:16 (Ref:3003226) | #2443 | ||
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FWIW, rumor from Germany has it that Abt will not do GT-Masters next year, presumably to focus on DTM, but I could also see them making room for a WEC or LM-campaign...
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22 Dec 2011, 16:11 (Ref:3003246) | #2444 | ||
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Timo is German. Romain is French. Maaybe Audi wants more German drivers? The only have Lotterer and Rockenfeller. |
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22 Dec 2011, 20:54 (Ref:3003365) | #2445 | ||
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It turns out that our discussion about Bernhard choosing between Audi and Porsche is completely hypothetical. Porsche already announced their driver lineup for 2012 when they announced that the development of the hybrid 911 will continue:
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23 Dec 2011, 05:33 (Ref:3003450) | #2446 | ||
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.....But Mr. G, I think both Dumas and Bernhard will continue to be "on loan" to Audi whenever they want/need them, provided Porsche does not require them.
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23 Dec 2011, 09:25 (Ref:3003481) | #2447 | |
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Yes, in http://www.pitlane-vision.com/gazett...de-2011-r.html Dumas already stated that his program for 2012 will be similar: a lot of GT racing with Porsche and a few races with Audi (Spa, Le Mans, Sebring?). For Bernhard this will probably also be the case.
Because Lotterer and Treluyer have presumably given up their Japanese contract, they will do the full WEC season. If Bernhard would have signed a full time Audi contract, the situation would have been a bit more complicated (3 candidates for only 2 WEC seat). |
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23 Dec 2011, 13:09 (Ref:3003545) | #2448 | |||
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most likely Bernhard and Dumas will share the 3rd car with someone else?
And with that new 997, I'm sure they'll love driving it. In fact, I believe Bernhard or Dumas were the ones testing the car in Estoril in October. With Porsche they both have a diverse calendar and the mid/long-term chance of driving the new Proto. When looking at the "works drivers", they are the ones with Proto experience. So, basically, Audi will have the same lineups as last year. About the 3rd and 4th entries, the Regulation states Quote:
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23 Dec 2011, 13:24 (Ref:3003548) | #2449 | |||
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That seems very probable: Fassler-Lotterer-Treluyer, Capello-Kristensen-McNish and Bernhard-Dumas-Rockenfeller.
Of course there is still the rumor that Duval will race for Audi in Le Mans. Bonanomi and some of Audi's DTM youngster are eager to participate in Le Mans as well. Quote:
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23 Dec 2011, 14:50 (Ref:3003576) | #2450 | |
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well even this year peugeot in 4 races on 7 ran with an extra car (the oreca 908HDi one) that could reach points, but the rule was that only the first 2 best finished cars could obtain points, this isn't fair at all i think because peugeot with a car more than audi had more chance to obtain points. A simple rule should be that only the 2 cars that entered officialy the WEC should reach points, all others not, audi can run LM and other races also with 10 cars, but only the 2 that joint the champ (that will be the #7 and #8) are elegible for drivers, team and manufacters championship. Simple.
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