Petit Le Mans 2012 Entry list discussion/speculation

[The Badger]

Official announcement :

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...nce-12864.html

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Official announcement :

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...nce-12864.html

So I guess Murphy is joining PLM then... Good news!

[The Badger]

Thats been announced for a few weeks , but only Firth-Hughs were down for the drive ..... now Hartley is confirmed ..... cool beans .

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Thats been announced for a few weeks , but only Firth-Hughs were down for the drive ..... now Hartley is confirmed ..... cool beans .

[Apologies, had to be posted] Cooooooool beans. [/had to be posted]

Chris

[The Badger]

It means the same as "good egg" .

[FstrthnU]

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...ore-notebook1/
According to Dagys, a "major European LMP1 team appears to be finalizing plans to enter the Petit Le Mans". Obviously it is from the WEC since ELMS doesn't have LMP1 anymore, so I have a strong feeling Rebellion Racing is going for an overall victory at Petit Le Mans. They've got the goods to take the fight to Muscle Milk and Dyson. I highly doubt any of the factory teams will show up (Toyota due to budget, Audi probably has little interest now, and the Porsche is almost certainly not ready yet).

[Salamus]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...ore-notebook1/
According to Dagys, a "major European LMP1 team appears to be finalizing plans to enter the Petit Le Mans". Obviously it is from the WEC since ELMS doesn't have LMP1 anymore, so I have a strong feeling Rebellion Racing is going for an overall victory at Petit Le Mans. They've got the goods to take the fight to Muscle Milk and Dyson. I highly doubt any of the factory teams will show up (Toyota due to budget, Audi probably has little interest now, and the Porsche is almost certainly not ready yet).

That is fantastic news! Could be OAK though.

[R4z3rw33n]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...ore-notebook1/
According to Dagys, a "major European LMP1 team appears to be finalizing plans to enter the Petit Le Mans". Obviously it is from the WEC since ELMS doesn't have LMP1 anymore, so I have a strong feeling Rebellion Racing is going for an overall victory at Petit Le Mans. They've got the goods to take the fight to Muscle Milk and Dyson. I highly doubt any of the factory teams will show up (Toyota due to budget, Audi probably has little interest now, and the Porsche is almost certainly not ready yet).

Originally Posted by Salamus

That is fantastic news! Could be OAK though.

Entirely dependent on Dagys' definition of major.
Although, the WEC dates seem too prohibitive for (any of) Rebellion (or, Strakka/JRM) to consider entry - unless they're planning on entering a spare chassis or, partnering with an existing operation.

OAK seems the more likely candidate.

[Speed-King]

Did Rebellion buy new cars this year or convert their old ones?

[MitchZ06]

Bought new, they'd still have their old cars.

[Speed-King]

My money is on Rebellion, then... they were making noises about looking at fulltime ALMS last year, so it would make sense to do at least PLM.

None of the HPD-teams have a car available, so they are automatically out.

[chernaudi]

We do have to remember the timeline (one off-week between Fuji and China), and if Rebellion were to run PLM, it would almost have to be with one of their older cars more than likely. And problem is, unless they can bum bodywork off of Dyson or they have a stock pile of spares, they can't update those cars to 2012 spec. Granted, that basically means a new nose, but with Lola's situation, spares might not be easy to come by.

My bets are on Rebellion, OAK, or maybe even as a very distant possibility Audi. They've won the WEC manufacturers' title, and they have spare cars and up to date bodywork for them. The question is what would Audi get out of running PLM other than saying that they've won it for the first time since '08?

More than likely, it has to be Rebellion or OAK, since Rebellion has spare tubs at least, and OAK seems to be interested in selling cars in the US. Audi, it's a question or ROI, and I can't see very much at PLM right now for them.

[MitchZ06]

All Rebellion needs to do with their 2011 cars is chuck a fin on the back and open up the tops of the fenders, not huge modifications.

[The Badger]

Hughs-Firth-Hartley confirmed for PLM .

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...nce-12864.html

Really hope Murphy can pull off the win , they deserve it for their brilliant efforts .

[Duff_44]

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

All Rebellion needs to do with their 2011 cars is chuck a fin on the back and open up the tops of the fenders, not huge modifications.

I think the 2012 cars are the same as the 2011 cars, just with updates.
Racing Sports Cars listed the chassis # for Spa as B10/60 HU01 (#12) and B09/80 HU01S (#13), both of which are updated to B12/60 spec.

I think the Euro entrant for PLM will probably be OAK, I think they have another LMP1 chassis kicking around and they're already going to be at PLM with one of their P2 entries.

[isynge]

If it's Oak I assume this will be with HPD power?

[Maelochs]

No one knows yet if it will be Oak but since Oak is getting HPD power for Shanghai and Fuji ....

[HJJ]

The garage 56 entry will be there.

[broadrun96]

Was gonna ask in the merger forum if you could reveal your news since it wasn't about the merger. Highcroft going to run it again?

[joeb]

Originally Posted by HJJ

The garage 56 entry will be there.

That is awesome, and I can't believe I am going to miss my first Petit in 7 years.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by joeb

That is awesome, and I can't believe I am going to miss my first Petit in 7 years.

Sucks for you, but it'll be cool to see the DW. Besides GT, that'll be the only thing worth showing for...that, and a reason to booze it up for three days straight at the track.

We'll miss you in turn 4, seriously. Along with most everyone else.

[Maelochs]

I'd expect a real good turnout this year once folks realize it might be the last one.

[simontibbett]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

I'd expect a real good turnout this year once folks realize it might be the last one.

It won't be the last one, maybe last time called "Petit Le Mans" but unless Grand-Am is 100% retarded they won't dump an event that brings in a LOT of money.

[seanyb505]

I feel like it will be the last one in a spiritual sense. Seriously what will the last race before ALMS is dead and gone going to look like next year? I can't imagine much money from teams will be put into it. I remember moving from Florida and going to Sebring for the last time. This year's Petit will likely have the same feel to it.

[CyberMotor]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Audi, it's a question or ROI, and I can't see very much at PLM right now for them.

Before the introduction of the e-Tron Quattro, I read where Audi wants to become the #1 supplier of electric vehicles in the U.S. by 2015. It think the ROI on the e-Tron Quattro racing in the U.S. could be very high.

Here's a story that says they wish to become the leader in high-end luxury electric cars by 2020. They are touting the 2014 e-tron here, so I think the interest by Audi in the U.S. market is still very high.

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/21/a...uff-in-malibu/