Doran Racing Maserati to debut @ ALMS Road America

chemhead1 · 1 Aug 2007, 21:20 (Ref:1978593)

Just found this about 2 minutes ago:

Quote:

Doran Racing has entered a Maserati MC12 for the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) event at the Road America road course with drivers Fredy Lienhard and Didier Theys. It will be the first race for the new team's new LM GT1 car.

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=263753

Boy, I can't wait to see the Doran Lista livery on it!

The Badger · 1 Aug 2007, 21:23 (Ref:1978595)

Ive seen a pic of it somewhere ..... cant remember where though . It was the usual dark blue with Lista sponsorship in light blue and white i think . Looked smart ..... But i presumed it was Horag that will run it ?

Hugewally · 1 Aug 2007, 21:37 (Ref:1978612)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Badger

Ive seen a pic of it somewhere ..... cant remember where though . It was the usual dark blue with Lista sponsorship in light blue and white i think . Looked smart ..... But i presumed it was Horag that will run it ?

It's hell getting old isn't it...

http://www.the-paddock.net/content/view/241885/49/

The Badger · 1 Aug 2007, 22:09 (Ref:1978624)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugewally

It's hell getting old isn't it...

http://www.the-paddock.net/content/view/241885/49/

Yeah ..... i know ..... its a real ******* !!!

zac510 · 1 Aug 2007, 22:16 (Ref:1978630)

I didn't think they were to race in the LMES/ALMS? Is an exception being made?

Hugewally · 1 Aug 2007, 22:27 (Ref:1978636)

The MC12 is allowed by IMSA to run in the ALMS series.

dxk1 · 1 Aug 2007, 22:47 (Ref:1978643)

I know when they were allowed to run in the ALMS a few years ago they were not awarded any points. I would presume that that would be the case again.

DK

pederb · 1 Aug 2007, 23:23 (Ref:1978657)

Great news, I'm still hopefull that ACO one day will approve it for Le Mans.

The359 · 1 Aug 2007, 23:38 (Ref:1978673)

I wondered the same thing as well, if they will be allowed points. Not that it really matters, Corvette has won the championship.

Hugewally · 2 Aug 2007, 00:09 (Ref:1978688)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxk1

I know when they were allowed to run in the ALMS a few years ago they were not awarded any points. I would presume that that would be the case again.

DK

The one year that the MC12 ran in the ALMS it was not eligible for points (and prize money) as mentioned, but the next year it was fully eligible for both points and prize money (though no one ran the car at all that year). I would seem to think nothing has changed and it is still fully eligible.

SALEEN S7R · 2 Aug 2007, 00:38 (Ref:1978697)

Good to have another GT1 car in the ALMS. Of course they probably wont be hassling the Corvettes but if they are in front of the leading GT2 cars then that will be a good start and if one of the Corvettes slip up providing the MC12 is running smoothly it could be well placed to pick up the pieces. Realistically thats all they can hope for though given they are such a small team with 2 drivers who whilst are capable are not top line professionals. Shame it isnt Vitaphone going over to the ALMS, they would give the Corvettes a good hard race. IMO.

pederb · 2 Aug 2007, 00:44 (Ref:1978701)

Well they only have finish to get third place in GT1

cmk · 2 Aug 2007, 03:57 (Ref:1978752)

If anything will save them, having Michelin boots will. I'm not saying that it's going to make it a competitive car, but even the Risi MC12 only had Pirellis, and maybe this crew will actually all speak the same language. With Fredy they'll never compete over a full race distance but perhaps even Didier isn't quite as quick as he once was.

I hope this isn't the coming program that had Michelin not wanting to commit techs to others. I fear it might have more to do with green Fords playing silly games...

courageous · 2 Aug 2007, 20:51 (Ref:1979357)

Nice for another car to join in, but don't really see the point - they won't beat corvette, at best they will only have an aston to beat, the car is not eligible for LM entry, no sponser is going to use this as a promotional event beyond the race itself.

Surely if you want to run a private entry in ALMS GT1, you should pick a car that is LM legal (even a 550 or Lambo) thus ensuring you will get an auto entry in the 24hrs if you want it?

pederb · 2 Aug 2007, 21:01 (Ref:1979369)

Quote:

Originally Posted by courageous

Nice for another car to join in, but don't really see the point - they won't beat corvette, at best they will only have an aston to beat, the car is not eligible for LM entry, no sponser is going to use this as a promotional event beyond the race itself.

Surely if you want to run a private entry in ALMS GT1, you should pick a car that is LM legal (even a 550 or Lambo) thus ensuring you will get an auto entry in the 24hrs if you want it?

You got a point there.

Fogelhund · 2 Aug 2007, 21:19 (Ref:1979389)

Quote:

Originally Posted by courageous

Nice for another car to join in, but don't really see the point - they won't beat corvette, at best they will only have an aston to beat, the car is not eligible for LM entry, no sponser is going to use this as a promotional event beyond the race itself.

Surely if you want to run a private entry in ALMS GT1, you should pick a car that is LM legal (even a 550 or Lambo) thus ensuring you will get an auto entry in the 24hrs if you want it?

The point is, the owner bought the car, that had never been raced before... for his collection. He has decided he would like to race it some.

No, the car is not eligible for a LM entry, but then they've run the FULL LMS schedule in a LMP2, and could apply if they wanted for LM, for that car. (They are third in the LMP2 standings, having won a race) They've earned the right to race at LM if they choose, IMHO.

No sponsor is needed, the guy has enough money to fund racing for quite some time, and has done so for years.

Hugewally · 2 Aug 2007, 21:38 (Ref:1979404)

Quote:

Originally Posted by courageous

Surely if you want to run a private entry in ALMS GT1, you should pick a car that is LM legal (even a 550 or Lambo) thus ensuring you will get an auto entry in the 24hrs if you want it?

But for that to happen, you'd have to either win the ALMS GT1 championship or win Petit Le Mans. Seeing how this might be a one (or two) race deal, does the auto-invite really matter?

Purist · 2 Aug 2007, 21:43 (Ref:1979412)

It sounds like Leinhard already has his auto-invite with the LMP2, and since when has Kevin Doran been interested in taking his own effort to Le Mans? I've never heard particular talk of him wanting to (though I could be wrong on that).

SALEEN S7R · 2 Aug 2007, 22:17 (Ref:1979444)

Quote:

Originally Posted by courageous

Surely if you want to run a private entry in ALMS GT1, you should pick a car that is LM legal (even a 550 or Lambo) thus ensuring you will get an auto entry in the 24hrs if you want it?

That is the thing though, do they want a entry for Le Mans? A lot of teams in the ALMS dont seem to be overly fussed and this is a small team, it would take a lot of money for them to compete at Le Mans with no guarntee of sucess. Maybe if the team becomes established and bigger in the coming years it could be something to think about but at the moment they dont have the funding going by the sounds of things.

AU N EGL · 2 Aug 2007, 22:21 (Ref:1979449)

Road America should be a great track for the MC12. Lots of long fast straights, with the right mix of corners and esses.

Fogelhund · 2 Aug 2007, 22:25 (Ref:1979454)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SALEEN S7R

That is the thing though, do they want a entry for Le Mans? A lot of teams in the ALMS dont seem to be overly fussed and this is a small team, it would take a lot of money for them to compete at Le Mans with no guarntee of sucess. Maybe if the team becomes established and bigger in the coming years it could be something to think about but at the moment they dont have the funding going by the sounds of things.

Why is it you are completely ignoring their third placed standings in LMP2 in LMS?

pederb · 2 Aug 2007, 22:35 (Ref:1979461)

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

Road America should be a great track for the MC12. Lots of long fast straights, with the right mix of corners and esses.

Yea, I can't wait to see it.

The359 · 2 Aug 2007, 22:45 (Ref:1979476)

How much of a connection is there between Doran Racing and Horag Racing? I know Didier Theys and Fredy Lienhard are clearly connected with both, but are they the same entity?

Fogelhund · 2 Aug 2007, 22:52 (Ref:1979484)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The359

How much of a connection is there between Doran Racing and Horag Racing? I know Didier Theys and Fredy Lienhard are clearly connected with both, but are they the same entity?

Lienhard owns the cars for both, and funds both. They are his teams essentially.

The Badger · 2 Aug 2007, 23:56 (Ref:1979521)

What role does Kevin Doran play in this then ?

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