[WEC] Porsche Prototype Discussion

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Good question!
And yet, fans and "experts" alike keep repeating the "LMDh = less costly route" mantra on and on. They just repeat it without giving it much thought because someone with vested interests said so.
Case in point:

Economies of scale though? The expensive bit is designing and making the monocoque. The idea is that these LMDhs will be The hybrid does add cost, but so would homologating a new LMH chassis yourself.

You raise a good point though. SCG seem to be doing an affordably decent job so far with their LMH.

[S griffin]

It is something to think about, but we’ll see how many more build their own chassis. The main focus will still be on Le Mans, so hopefully there will still be enough in the top class.

I just hope this new formula works, but there will be tough times ahead

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

Economies of scale though? The expensive bit is designing and making the monocoque. The idea is that these LMDhs will be The hybrid does add cost, but so would homologating a new LMH chassis yourself.

Well, again what's to stop, say, Porsche from using the same Multimatic tub and then building their more unique car from there, thus sharing that significant part of investment with LMDh and LMP2. Delta Wing proved that the same tub can produce radically different designs

It seems like one of the principle points is manufacturers being keen to tick that "hybrid" PR box with absolute minimum effort/money invested. Since it buys them brownie points with the PR department, but it's no longer viewed as a prospective "future technology" by any OEM. Many OEMs already perfected hybrid enough and moved on to focus their R&D on full EV, while others skipped that stage entirely. So the "hybrid" stickers still serve to sell today's product, but the tech behind them can't be of much relevance to tomorrow's product.

Originally Posted by Gingers4Justice

You raise a good point though. SCG seem to be doing an affordably decent job so far with their LMH.

It's a shame though that SCG may be competing for clients with one arm tied behind their backs having a range of perception problems: from relatively unproven record, which only results can amend, to actual doubts over their ability to lobby fair BoP against the goliaths of industry, not to mention lobbying the right to even enter competition in IMSA.
And who knows whether a big OEM will ever produce an LMH with a customer-friendly formula, let alone a non-hybrid one.

[Spyderman]

Interesting article IMO

https://www.porscheroadandrace.com/c...-do-the-trick/

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Graham Goodwin

Not the case - maximum 3-4 customer chassis available in year one from Multimatic afaik

I was wondering if that might be the case. So the chassis may have to be split between customers and series and even Audi and Porsche teams.

Also makes me wonder what is the maximum number of cars Multimatic can build in a year. Is the 8 year one chassis the max? Or will they be able to bump that up if necessary to meet demand?

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

Interesting article IMO

https://www.porscheroadandrace.com/c...-do-the-trick/

I found it a bit weird. 90% of the article is using historical examples to bash all the trends that resulted in the creation of Hypercar (making good, albeit obvious, points). And then 10% asks whether Hypercar will do the trick. I guess the answer is no. Hypercar is everything that the author hates about sportscar racing wrapped in one neat package.

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

I found it a bit weird. 90% of the article is using historical examples to bash all the trends that resulted in the creation of Hypercar (making good, albeit obvious, points). And then 10% asks whether Hypercar will do the trick. I guess the answer is no. Hypercar is everything that the author hates about sportscar racing wrapped in one neat package.

Well, we old timers think alike.
Motorsport is very different now-a-days and we just have to get used to it.

[Pandamasque]

I wish that could be changed too, but I've come to realize it's the direct result of the change in corporate culture. And since for the past 60 years big motorsport has always relied on big corporate funding, there's no escaping that change. Forget about big adventures and epic challenges. The big players are so risk averse I'm surprised they haven't yet figured out a way to get an insurance for finishing below 1st.

And a lot of fans totally buy into the paradigm choosing "close racing" at the expense of real competition, big names at the expense of allowing in new challengers etc. If Shelby tried to do his thing today he wouldn't be allowed into IMSA series because GM, Acura at al can't imagine losing to some no-name, who doesn't sell 2500 cars/year in America. And then fans on Facebook would bully him for being a dreamer and a big-mouth nobody!

[S griffin]

It's not so bad, but it's hard for some who can't find the sponsorship. You can't get anywhere without the backing, just have to do it as best you can. Anyway look forward to this year's Le Mans and hopefully more next year. Hopefully Porsche will be able to do more next year, fingers crossed

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

Well, we old timers think alike.
Motorsport is very different now-a-days and we just have to get used to it.

Auto racing was (and the real thing still is) my passion.
The advertising "show" that much of it has become is not something I care to "get used to".
I'm just finding other things to do with my time.

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by jimclark

Auto racing was (and the real thing still is) my passion.
The advertising "show" that much of it has become is not something I care to "get used to".
I'm just finding other things to do with my time.

I hear you!

[S griffin]

We just have to keep our fingers crossed we get Porsche and a few others up there in good time

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by S griffin

We just have to keep our fingers crossed we get Porsche and a few others up there in good time

Sorry mate, but what does this add to the conversation?

[Spyderman]

[https://twitter.com/PorscheRaces/sta...195166212?s=20

Wonderful video: fourth episode of the #PorscheMoments series. Host
@Timo_Bernhard
meets Norbert Singer and Hans-Joachim Stuck

[Spyderman]

Wonderful podcasts at MotorSport on the "Porsche's Winning Formula" series.
This one is with Norbert Singer and the last question is on the new regulations (LMH and LMDh)

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...inning-formula

[Spyderman]

The remarkable Romain Dumas:
https://play.acast.com/s/cf181808-25...1-b3023d32d9dd

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

The remarkable Romain Dumas:
https://play.acast.com/s/cf181808-25...1-b3023d32d9dd

Loved it. Brian Redman was fantastic too.

[Spyderman]

Yes, they are all brilliant.
Kudos to MotorSport magazine; the podcasts are excellent.

[Spyderman]

Apparently Multimatic has an exclusive contract with VAG - I had no idea.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

Apparently Multimatic has an exclusive contract with VAG - I had no idea.

I have a feeling we're going to see a couple more VW owned brands in lmdh with this same multimatic chassis. Lamborghini the 'newest'.

[Spyderman]

Episode 6 - (Last one)
https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/2021...ger-25506.html

[Spyderman]

Thomas Laudenbach takes over as head of Porsche Motorsport

[Spyderman]

This time it looks like it may just might happen: Porsche and Audi to F1
https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/...-porsche-audi/

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

This time it looks like it may just might happen: Porsche and Audi to F1
https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/...-porsche-audi/

That would be an exciting development if it did happen, however F1 only has room for 10 teams.

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by bjohnsonsmith

That would be an exciting development if it did happen, however F1 only has room for 10 teams.

I think perhaps one or two current teams may not be around by 2026 (or bought by VAG)

I have always been against Porsche going to F1 because as a true dyed in the wool "Porschista" I have always felt that Porsche's spiritual home was (and is) in sportscar racing.
However, the prospect of a BoP prototype class is really quite unappealing to me. For the first time in my life I can say that I hope that this happens.