Audi LMS drivers

**Adam43** · 28 Jan 2008, 12:57 (Ref:2115493)

McNish returns to Europe:
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/64877

McNish/Capello and Premat/Rockenfeller in the two cars.

Tom908V12 · 28 Jan 2008, 13:39 (Ref:2115514)

Great news

I guess they will have Lamy/Sarrazin and Gene/Minassian as main opponents

KlausMuller · 28 Jan 2008, 13:40 (Ref:2115515)

Great News... But who will drive in ALMS for Audi this year?

gwyllion · 28 Jan 2008, 13:44 (Ref:2115521)

Quote:

Originally Posted by KlausMuller

But who will drive in ALMS for Audi this year?

Luhr/Werner and presumably Biela/Pirro.

chernaudi · 28 Jan 2008, 15:24 (Ref:2115578)

Isn't it entirely possible that Dindo and Allan can also run the ALMS? When one considers that Biela and Pirro want to settle into semi-retirement(ie, run endurance races only), and that Kristensen has DTM commitments this year(?), and that no LMS races directly conflict with ALMS races(Barcelona happens the day after St. Pete, though), it would seem entirely possible that they could do both series, wouldn't it?

Several NASCAR drivers have run full schedules in Busch/Nationwide and Cup in the same year, which is 70+ races. Doing 18 races a year, most of them shorter than an average NASCAR Sprint cup race would seem doable.

chernaudi · 28 Jan 2008, 15:53 (Ref:2115597)

I forgot, Houston and Spa happen on the same weekend too.

JAG · 28 Jan 2008, 16:38 (Ref:2115618)

I said it would be McNish/Capello months back after McNish's comments on Motors TV.

Johnny1lap · 28 Jan 2008, 19:26 (Ref:2115707)

Good News. Sound like LMP1 will be very intersting this year

Stefvh · 28 Jan 2008, 23:20 (Ref:2115898)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chernaudi

(Barcelona happens the day after St. Pete, though)

Yep, but, Saturday night in St.Pete is almost Sunday morning in Barcelona.

HORNDAWG · 29 Jan 2008, 00:23 (Ref:2115935)

Blue = ALMS
Orange = LMS
Black = LeMans
Purple = FIA GT
C = conflict

January 28-30 : ALMS : Wheels Down Winter Test - Sebring
March 2-3 : LMS : Paul Ricard Test
March 15 : ALMS : 12 Hours of Sebring
April 5 : ALMS : St. Petersburg C
April 6 : LMS : 1000km of Barcelona C
April 19 : ALMS : Long Beach C
April 20 Silverstone C
April 26 : ALMS : Houston C
April 27 : LMS : 1000km of Monza C
May 11 : LMS : 1000km of Spa-Francorchamps
May 18 : ALMS : Salt Lake City C
May 18 Monza C
June 1 : ACO : Le Mans Test Day
June 14-15 : ACO : 24 Hours of Le Mans
June 21 Adria
July 06 Oschersleben
July 12 : ALMS : Lime Rock
July 19 : ALMS : Mid-Ohio
August 03 Spa-Francorchamps
August 9 : ALMS : Road America
August 17 : LMS : 1000km of Nurburgring
August 24 : ALMS : Mosport C
August 24 Bucharest C
August 30 : ALMS : Detroit
September 14 : LMS : 1000km of Silverstone C
September 14 Brno C
October 4 : ALMS : Petit Le Mans C
October 05 Nogaro C
October 18 : ALMS : Laguna Seca C
October 19 Zolder C
November ?? : LMS : ?? Shanghai? Interlagos?
November 23 San Luis

L.P.

Zytek_Fan · 29 Jan 2008, 00:36 (Ref:2115940)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

I said it would be McNish/Capello months back after McNish's comments on Motors TV.

Yeah, McNish wasn't entirely happy with ALMS currently.

Mal · 29 Jan 2008, 05:41 (Ref:2116026)

Race day itself doesnt clash between ALMS and LMS, maybe if Alan ran with a different partner in ALMS he could fly back overnight and let Dindo qualify the car at Barcelona and Monza

dj4monie · 31 Jan 2008, 07:59 (Ref:2117555)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zytek_Fan

Yeah, McNish wasn't entirely happy with ALMS currently.

Yes, he didn't look too pleased when Brian Till would tell him they won the LMP-1 class but not 1st position overall....

Could that be why he was so unhappy, some ACTUAL COMPETITION??? -

KA · 31 Jan 2008, 08:30 (Ref:2117573)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj4monie

Yes, he didn't look too pleased when Brian Till would tell him they won the LMP-1 class but not 1st position overall....

Could that be why he was so unhappy, some ACTUAL COMPETITION??? -

McNish has never struck me as a driver who's afraid of actual competition- and if he was, then why would he be heading for the LMS? I don't imagine Peugeot are going to sit back and let Audi win any more than Penske have been....

**Bentley03** · 31 Jan 2008, 08:56 (Ref:2117586)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj4monie

Yes, he didn't look too pleased when Brian Till would tell him they won the LMP-1 class but not 1st position overall....

Could that be why he was so unhappy, some ACTUAL COMPETITION??? -

What a strange comment. Sure, the ALMS is at a different level of competition to the LMS in terms of the number of cars likely to contest the overall win, but there is but one natural adversary for the Audi, and that's Peugeot. Perhaps the opportunity to go head to head with another manufacturer competing with a car built to, and raced subject to, the same set of rules, appeals more.

Is it not the case that in Europe he will enjoy what you refer to as ACTUAL COMPETITION, whereas in the ALMS he races to an IMSA manipulated set of rules put in place to create FALSE COMPETITION between the prototype classes?

The Badger · 31 Jan 2008, 09:00 (Ref:2117590)

Hey Dj4 ..... you dont like Wurz , and now you dont like NcNish . NcNish is one of the greatest professionals (on every front) in either the LMS or ALMS ..... he loves competition !!!

dxk1 · 1 Feb 2008, 20:21 (Ref:2118652)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Badger

Hey Dj4 ..... you dont like Wurz , and now you dont like NcNish . NcNish is one of the greatest professionals (on every front) in either the LMS or ALMS ..... he loves competition !!!

I second that!! Nishy is a very fast and very good driver who loves competition and I believe he wants to do LMS so he can compete head-to-head with an equal P1 car! While racing the P2 Porsches was fun for him in ALMS I think he was a little dissapointed with the lack of P1 competition and things are not looking better for P1 in ALMS this year.

DK

yamato · 1 Feb 2008, 22:10 (Ref:2118712)

It could have something to do with the fact that he is a new father, and does not like the constant overseas travel.

An LMS program will allow him to be at home with his family much more than an ALMS program would.

chernaudi · 1 Feb 2008, 22:40 (Ref:2118725)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stefvh

Yep, but, Saturday night in St.Pete is almost Sunday morning in Barcelona.

According to ALMS' site the St.Pete race will be shown Saturday 4/5 at 1:30 PM Eastern US time On Tape Delay. What you might say? I'm wondering the same thing-that it might be a Saturday afternoon race, joined up live part way through like what CBS used to do.

Stefvh · 1 Feb 2008, 22:42 (Ref:2118726)

I thought ST-Pete was an evening race.

chernaudi · 2 Feb 2008, 01:30 (Ref:2118806)

Either the ALMS' site screwed up, or they decided to move the race to being an early afternoon race for whatever reason.

Hugewally · 2 Feb 2008, 03:26 (Ref:2118834)

The race starts at 12:30pm and the broadcast starts at 1:30pm.

Graham Goodwin · 2 Feb 2008, 08:34 (Ref:2118906)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dj4monie

Yes, he didn't look too pleased when Brian Till would tell him they won the LMP-1 class but not 1st position overall....

Could that be why he was so unhappy, some ACTUAL COMPETITION??? -

The words of an observer that has clearly never, ever had a conversation with Mr McNish.

I don't think I have ever met anyone who relishes competition more

brielga · 2 Feb 2008, 12:34 (Ref:2119025)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentley03

What a strange comment. Sure, the ALMS is at a different level of competition to the LMS in terms of the number of cars likely to contest the overall win, but there is but one natural adversary for the Audi, and that's Peugeot. Perhaps the opportunity to go head to head with another manufacturer competing with a car built to, and raced subject to, the same set of rules, appeals more.

Is it not the case that in Europe he will enjoy what you refer to as ACTUAL COMPETITION, whereas in the ALMS he races to an IMSA manipulated set of rules put in place to create FALSE COMPETITION between the prototype classes?

James, you are (as usual) right on. The Audi vs peugeot battle will be fantastic this year and 110% ACTUAL COMPETITION, btw McNish was clearly upset when he lost some races to Penske, is that the reaction of a non-competitive person?

Mike_Wooshy · 3 Feb 2008, 03:30 (Ref:2119458)

Nishy Drove one of my favorite endurance races, In silverstone watching him cut through the traffic in the R8 was wonderful, it was if there was no traffic at all, every corner another move, inside, outside. Not only that it was raining cats and dogs, IIRC he was chasing the lead down and it was truly a breath taking drive one which ill never for get, and to me that shows he is as competitive as they come. Each lap was seat edging stuff.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Audi: Will they or wont they? (LMS 2008)	SALEEN S7R	ACO Regulated Series	60	2 Dec 2007 16:52
Audi on LMS	LeMans.pt	ACO Regulated Series	48	2 Nov 2007 21:07
Audi drivers in 2007	gwyllion	Sportscar & GT Racing	195	11 Jun 2007 15:33
Audi / LMS in 07	HORNDAWG	ACO Regulated Series	9	6 Jan 2007 13:15