WEC Porsche Prototype Discussion - Page 85

carsten66 · 4 Jul 2013, 22:19 (Ref:3274050)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Articus

Luhr is german, former Porsche factory driver. ALMS GT2, P2, P1 champion. He is very rapid in the Muscle Milk HPD. Easy fit in my eyes.

I don't really see any better fit drivers who have P1 experience and can set the pace and win...Luhr is just as good as the best Toyota and Audi guys.

indeed, also Luhr knows Dumas and Bernhard and already raced with them.

Simmi · 4 Jul 2013, 22:39 (Ref:3274058)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Articus

Luhr is german, former Porsche factory driver. ALMS GT2, P2, P1 champion. He is very rapid in the Muscle Milk HPD. Easy fit in my eyes.

I don't really see any better fit drivers who have P1 experience and can set the pace and win...Luhr is just as good as the best Toyota and Audi guys.

Absolutely nothing against Luhr. Not sure his pace in the ALMS right now in a class of two cars is a great gauge. Don't rate him as highly as the Audi/Toyota pilots myself. And clearly neither do those teams.

If they do enter a third car for the big show then he'd be on my list of guys to put in there.

Lagunaseca_4life · 5 Jul 2013, 03:34 (Ref:3274102)

Luhr has already raced for Audi before, thrashed a r15 in 09 when he backed it in to the barrier at Indianapolis I believe.not sure porsche would remember that, but he is a good wheel man and from Germany, not that their going for a German line up or anything.

Spyderman · 5 Jul 2013, 05:14 (Ref:3274115)

I am also skeptical on the "Luhr" choice. I adhere to the school of thought that says that it hardly ever good policy to re-hire staff that left on their own accord. Naturally there are exceptions. I'm just not sure Luhr is one of them.

littleman · 5 Jul 2013, 06:57 (Ref:3274132)

I imagine Porsche will factor in a degree of commercial logic based on their key global markets.To some extent, Audi certainly do.

So far the drivers are French/German/Swiss and I'm guessing the other line up would be Ex F1 Star name/USA?/British?

Who are fast Brits with P1/P2 experience? Watts/Turvey/Conway/.........

Spyderman · 5 Jul 2013, 07:18 (Ref:3274137)

Porsche sales to the UK are not massive by any stretch of the imagination. I'm not sure that being British would tip the scales if a choice had to be made.
If we go down the "commercial route" then either Pat Long or Briscoe (because of his ties to the US) would be a much better fit, as the US is still Porsche's largest market.

Miguel · 5 Jul 2013, 07:32 (Ref:3274140)

I was secretly hoping for Jeroen Bleekemolen. Of course, lots of chauvinism in that hope. But really, he does have prototype experience, often races in Porsches, is a proper, good driver not under contract to any manufacturer. But then again, he isn't the only one in that category.

Rodger Davies · 5 Jul 2013, 12:18 (Ref:3274229)

After Le Mans this year, Alex Rossi would appear to be a reasonable seat to fill an 'American slot' if it was required.

Pandamasque · 5 Jul 2013, 13:35 (Ref:3274275)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spyderman

I am also skeptical on the "Luhr" choice. I adhere to the school of thought that says that it hardly ever good policy to re-hire staff that left on their own accord. Naturally there are exceptions. I'm just not sure Luhr is one of them.

As in 'left' the Porsche prototyope programme that seized to exist anyway?

Spyderman · 5 Jul 2013, 14:01 (Ref:3274289)

Others raced for Audi but remained Porsche employees.
Also - he left in 2007 and the RS Spyder program continued for another year.

TRspitfirefan · 5 Jul 2013, 14:06 (Ref:3274291)

Quote:

Originally Posted by littleman

Who are fast Brits with P1/P2 experience? Watts/Turvey/Conway/.........

Guy Smith is one of the best drivers anywhere and He still has ties to Bentley, which is owned by Volkswagon.

TRspitfirefan · 5 Jul 2013, 14:09 (Ref:3274293)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simmi

Absolutely nothing against Luhr. Not sure his pace in the ALMS right now in a class of two cars is a great gauge. Don't rate him as highly as the Audi/Toyota pilots myself. And clearly neither do those teams.

If they do enter a third car for the big show then he'd be on my list of guys to put in there.

Lucas Luhr would be a great choice.
Don't underestimate the pace of the ALMS P1 cars. They stacked up pretty well against the Rebellion team.

Gingers4Justice · 5 Jul 2013, 14:22 (Ref:3274295)

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRspitfirefan

Guy Smith is one of the best drivers anywhere and He still has ties to Bentley, which is owned by Volkswagon.

Good shout. Would like to see him in the WEC.

Articus · 5 Jul 2013, 14:45 (Ref:3274302)

I don't know. I've watched Luhr racing for a long time in many classes and he was fast as anyone in the Daytona Prototypes, in ALMS GT2, and in P2 with the RS Spyder winning that championship. and then LMP1 still very quick.

I didn't expect that others didnt see it the same as me. I guess this means Lucas Luhr is "underrated"?

Christian Mogami · 5 Jul 2013, 15:35 (Ref:3274316)

We will find out next year how good Luhr is,if the rumor is true with Muscle Milk going to WEC with the new 2014 HPD P1.

Hawkwood · 6 Jul 2013, 10:47 (Ref:3274543)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miguel

I was secretly hoping for Jeroen Bleekemolen. Of course, lots of chauvinism in that hope. But really, he does have prototype experience, often races in Porsches, is a proper, good driver not under contract to any manufacturer. But then again, he isn't the only one in that category.

You're be no means the only one hoping Bleekemolen gets hired to race an LMP1 next year - I've been a big fan of his for years, he can race literally anything!

In another way though I hope Lieb and Lietz get the remaining two drives, they have been great servants to Porsche for many years knowing that they have no chance to get overall wins, they deserve the chance of that I think.
Also I enjoyed hearing Lieb say live on Radio Le Mans during the race that he was definitely not thinking of moving into a team management role and would be racing for many more years - this aimed at Porsche maybe? A "hey, pick me!" shout?

Salamus · 6 Jul 2013, 14:45 (Ref:3274597)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Articus

I don't know. I've watched Luhr racing for a long time in many classes and he was fast as anyone in the Daytona Prototypes, in ALMS GT2, and in P2 with the RS Spyder winning that championship. and then LMP1 still very quick.

I didn't expect that others didnt see it the same as me. I guess this means Lucas Luhr is "underrated"?

I think he deserves a shot in a factory P1 too. The man is fast and successful in anything he drives. I guess people consider him underrated because he isn't very successful in endurance races when driving a P1.

Victor_RO · 6 Jul 2013, 14:49 (Ref:3274598)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salamus

I think he deserves a shot in a factory P1 too. The man is fast and successful in anything he drives. I guess people consider him underrated because he isn't very successful in endurance races when driving a P1.

He got his shot in 2008-2009 with Audi and the two previous years with Porsche.

carsten66 · 6 Jul 2013, 15:33 (Ref:3274602)

In addition to the already mentioned drivers, Porsche are in the comfortable situation to go cherry picking... and besides Ryan Briscoe I'm thinking of Dario Franchitti and Simon Pagenaud...

Salamus · 6 Jul 2013, 15:56 (Ref:3274607)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

He got his shot in 2008-2009 with Audi and the two previous years with Porsche.

Yes, and he deserves another shot.

Articus · 6 Jul 2013, 16:01 (Ref:3274610)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

He got his shot in 2008-2009 with Audi and the two previous years with Porsche.

He did. And he won the ALMS championship in P2 with the Porsche and won the ALMS championship in P1 with Audi. Not to mention 2 ALMS GT2 championships Honestly he was randomly let go from Audi because they just wanted to reshuffle because the R10 and R15 were ill handling cars.

I always believed he got fired because of that Le Mans crash. That didn't speak to his talent.

The guy still has ties to Porsche and Nissan which is a bit conflicting. The guy won Le Mans twice in GT2. Two ALMS GT2 championships. 1 ALMS P2 championship. 2 ALMS P1 championships.

In addition he was FIA GT1 champion in 2011.

If there is no promise in Luhr then there is no promise in anyone lol.

I think he's good endurance driver because he's raced in GT cars and knows how to navigate traffic much like Dumas and Bernhard.

but Im not hiring for Porsche so I guess they will have the last say.

kevin993 · 6 Jul 2013, 16:09 (Ref:3274613)

I don't think he has LMP or open wheel experience, but it would be good to see Sean Edwards get a shot at some point.

Articus · 6 Jul 2013, 16:13 (Ref:3274615)

What's James Rossiter up to these days?

Hawkwood · 6 Jul 2013, 16:53 (Ref:3274622)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Articus

What's James Rossiter up to these days?

Isn't he contracted to Lotus for the full season?
Aside from being Force India test driver obviously.

GT3.14 · 6 Jul 2013, 18:06 (Ref:3274643)

And Super GT as well.

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