ALMS Round 1: Sebring 12h, March 15 2008

[dxk1]

Now that Sebring is only about 2 weeks away, shouldn't it have its own thread?

New Vici entry now listed as official for the 12 hours.

DK

[The359]

I don't see the Vici car on the IMSA PDFs, even though they did update today to add the Flying Lizard lineup.

[dxk1]

Originally Posted by The359

I don't see the Vici car on the IMSA PDFs, even though they did update today to add the Flying Lizard lineup.

That's true, I didn't see it there either, but here's a link to the article I saw: http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/02/...rt-at-sebring/

DK

[The359]

Yeah, I knew of their announcement, I just thought you were implying they were on the entry list now as well. Hopefully soon.

[pach233]

Any word on any of the following:

VDS
Transport
Farnbacher
Doran Kuttner

Hoping for some quantity to be added ot the really incredible quality of the entry. Can't wait!

[Chaos81]

I can't wait for this race.

14 days, 15 hours, 14 minutes, and 20 seconds until the race.

[minimangler]

Originally Posted by pach233

Any word on any of the following:

Farnbacher

Did I read they'd switched to Ferrari? or, because it's 2:43 am, am I just crazy?

[Zurbert82]

Yeah they switched to a Ferrari for the LMS and Le Mans. I think they may have an operation over here as well still running a 997, but I'm not sure. Maybe I'm crazy too, lol.

[cmk]

Originally Posted by Zurbert82

Yeah they switched to a Ferrari for the LMS and Le Mans. I think they may have an operation over here as well still running a 997, but I'm not sure. Maybe I'm crazy too, lol.

To be fair, they are running both a 430 and a 997 in the LMS. They, at least in Europe, are a customer-driven organization and now that they have established long-running relationships with customers in the LMS, they will pretty much run what they brung (bought). Pierre Ehret bought a Ferrari this year after years of Porsche competition, and that is the LM car as well. Similarly, Lars Erik Nielsen is continuing to run his Porsche (which I think was Farnbacher's LMS 07 car while Pierre's 997 remained in the US) so they'll field that too.

Here in North America with Farnbacher-Loles, I'm increasingly skeptical about them running anything in the ALMS. Money seems to be an issue for F-L right now, no matter how much they want to run a pro car with Dirk Werner and/or a customer car. 3 cars for the ALMS indeed...a note to the wise, fund first, run yap later.

[AU N EGL]

they have Sebring on their 2008 schedule http://www.farnbacherloles.com/

[Ockside]

Interesting stuff on Pierre Ehret's site. He has purchased the two Tafel Porsches but is selling one of them. The it has the 997 GT2 RSR that they used in 2007 which has been sold.

http://www.pierreehret.com/eng_index.htm

He has also tested the Tafel 430 so what will he be racing if anything at Sebring?

[Ockside]

Just seen that Pierre Ehret is driving the Tafel 430.

[Zurbert82]

Vici and Farnbacher Loles have been added to the list. 16 total GT2 cars, which is the same number of LMP's. http://imsaracing.net/2008/events/se...%20Entries.pdf

[dxk1]

According to an article I just read (http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...FS=ALMS-LEMANS) LG will be on Kumhos for the Sebring and the rest of ALMS this year! That doesn't seem to be such a great idea, does it? As far as I know, they are not known for GT2 tires having only run one or two races last year with the Viper. Anyway, I would like to see them do well so that other teams want to run the Vette in GT2 for the future.

DK

[tux]

Intresting that the juan barazi zytek has been entered

[cmk]

Originally Posted by tux

Intresting that the juan barazi zytek has been entered

Not terribly shocking though, since Juan and Verge have raced at Sebring recently with the former's Courage C65, so along with Horag, there is precedent. I realize the timing of the LMS test days and LM entry list is unfavourable, but it's once again disappointing to see the low turnout of European entries for Sebring this year.

[minimangler]

I'm a bit dissapointed by that field

Bring back the days when Sebring counted more toward Le Mans entry, and so brought the Europeans too.

[tux]

Would have been good if there was more gt1 entries, the sort of number that there was in 2005 would be good.

Looking forward to seeing Audi vs Peugeot and also the debut of the bio diesel radical.

[dj4monie]

Originally Posted by dxk1

According to an article I just read (http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...FS=ALMS-LEMANS) LG will be on Kumhos for the Sebring and the rest of ALMS this year! That doesn't seem to be such a great idea, does it? As far as I know, they are not known for GT2 tires having only run one or two races last year with the Viper. Anyway, I would like to see them do well so that other teams want to run the Vette in GT2 for the future.

DK

Kumho is just trying to find a niche in this market and I am fine with that. DO not tell me your going to blame Intersports' pace on them?????

Was it not Richard Berry that spun the car on several occasions??

Is it not Clint Field can not keep pace with the other LMP2 cars nevermind the Audi's???

Creation + Judd + Intersports = SLOW

Kumho won LMP2 at Le Mans last year, does that mean they don't know what they are doing???

Yokohama won Le Mans and has put a respectable tire under PTG for years.

Clearly the tire of choice is the French tire maker, yet they don't want to dominate the series and become the sole supplier of tires, though it would take the wind out to of sails of most with that argument.

This is more of Kumho's cup of tea anyway, GT2 is not that far off SCCA T1 and T2 where they dominate.

[dxk1]

Originally Posted by dj4monie

Kumho is just trying to find a niche in this market and I am fine with that. DO not tell me your going to blame Intersports' pace on them?????

Was it not Richard Berry that spun the car on several occasions??

Is it not Clint Field can not keep pace with the other LMP2 cars nevermind the Audi's???

Creation + Judd + Intersports = SLOW

Kumho won LMP2 at Le Mans last year, does that mean they don't know what they are doing???

Yokohama won Le Mans and has put a respectable tire under PTG for years.

Clearly the tire of choice is the French tire maker, yet they don't want to dominate the series and become the sole supplier of tires, though it would take the wind out to of sails of most with that argument.

This is more of Kumho's cup of tea anyway, GT2 is not that far off SCCA T1 and T2 where they dominate.

I'm certainly not trying to blame anyones failures on Kumho or any other tire maker. I was just expressing a concern over Kumho's lack of experience making tires for that class of racecar. I'd like to see LG succeed. Since this will probably be a learning year for them, it would have been nice to see them on an established & successful tire so that concern could be taken out of the equation. If Kumho goes about it correctly, and there is no reason to say they can't, perhaps both LG & Kumho can be successful in future years.

DK

[The359]

The 2005 LMP2 class drivers champion can't keep pace?

[Hugewally]

Originally Posted by dxk1

According to an article I just read (http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...FS=ALMS-LEMANS) LG will be on Kumhos for the Sebring and the rest of ALMS this year! That doesn't seem to be such a great idea, does it? As far as I know, they are not known for GT2 tires having only run one or two races last year with the Viper. Anyway, I would like to see them do well so that other teams want to run the Vette in GT2 for the future.

DK

I don't see any reason that Kumho won't produce a good tire for GT2.

[dj4monie]

Originally Posted by The359

The 2005 LMP2 class drivers champion can't keep pace?

Shall I put up lap times or do we have to wait until first open practice?

LMP1 by design is suppose to be a faster class. The Creation was suppose to be a good private effort and proved to be quite fast the past 2 seasons at the two final events of 2005 and 2006.

I'm pretty safe in assuming that Clint Field in equal equipment and tires, taking the crews out of it and let Porsche techs setup the cars, would quite a bit off the pace of Ryan Briscoe....

Clint's problem isn't money obvoiously if he was a "fine" talent he would be started racing much sooner in life, other teams would be trying to sign him away from his father, etc, etc.

I am critical of C Field and C Dyson because they are the "Silver Spoon" of this generation of Sportscar family teams and even if only 2 tenths off professional pace says your not serious about WINNING. When your a "small" team with limited budget, you need to make up the pace on the track since you can't make it up back at the shop.

As I have stated several times, Sportscar fans hold this funny notion that rich people are to be excused from any talk of being serious about racing.

Just WHERE did the Fields spend most of their time last year? -

Not at the front, they got more camera time from the "Cub Reporters" than on the track and as a racing fan or Intersports fan that should be troubling to you.

[The359]

Did he buy into the 2005 drivers championship as well? Or his Le Mans class victory?

I'm not saying he's Ryan Briscoe, but it's ignorant to attempt to blame everything BUT the tires.

[The359]

Ian Bickerton explains why Creation is a no-show at Sebring. They apparently changed carbon suppliers, which delayed construction of the second CA07, so the team decided to cancel their Sebring plans.

From EI.