Audi R9

[PaulSands]

Autosport is reporting that work has already started on Audi's R9 2004 Le Mans challenger.
With that news in mind do you think any other manufacturer is going to have the balls to step up to the plate and take Audi on with a full prototype?

[BSchneiderFan]

Let's hope so. Porsche would be great, but failing that - Mercedes-Benz? Toyota? Ford/Aston Martin?

[pirenzo]

Nah.

[Wout]

Originally posted by PaulSands
do you think any other manufacturer is going to have the balls to step up to the plate and take Audi on with a full prototype?

There wasn't any other manufacturer planning to enter the 2004 race anyway (as far as I know).
btw : Audi still hasn't made an official announcement yet!?
If Audi is going to take part of the race, we know now who is the Le Mans 2004 winner.

[PaulSands]

new regs may add a degree of uncertainty

[Aysedasi]

Originally posted by Wout

If Audi is going to take part of the race, we know now who is the Le Mans 2004 winner.

Yes, but how can you be so sure the Debora team will get an entry......?

[Wout]

Originally posted by Aysedasi
Yes, but how can you be so sure the Debora team will get an entry......?

Good point. We will remember 2004 as the year from the huge battle between Audi and Debora!!

[Aysedasi]

Wouldn't that be good?


No - seriously!!

[Wout]

I'm sorry. Jan Lammers will not let that happen!!

[Aysedasi]

OK. Well let's just leave it as:-

We will remember 2004 as the year of the huge battle between ..........


Any huge battle will do!

[Wout]

You're right!! Even it's a battle between the safety-cars!
And if the R9 is a beauty like the R8C was, I don't care if they win for another year (and another year, and another..)

[Tim Northcutt]

In 2003, the best racing ont eh circuit was for "Best Non-VAG" and I will follow that competition if the overall race winner is a runaway...

You've goota admit...the final laps of action with the Factory Courage, the Panoz and ultimately with the RfH Dome getting into the mix was great stuff after 23 hrs and 45 min. of otherwise great racing across the board...

Maybe a 5th category should be added:

LMP1
LMP1 "Non-VAG"
LMP2
GTS
GT

(Just kidding, but I did enjoy the racing this year and believe it will be just as good next year)

[SALEEN S7R]

Tim I think u have a idea there. Why not introduce a new class for LMP1 privateers, rather than just mixing them with the manufacturers. Have the same regulations of course, but a seperate prize for the privateers. Oh btw that would make 6 classess not 5. Currently there are:

LMP 900
LMP GTP
LMP 675
GTS
GT

[paulzinho]

I know the Bentleys are supposed to have finished their program but does anyone see them returning? Even in just a privateer form, would definitely be good to see.

[Aysedasi]

But if there are going to be so few factory LMPs (as many seem to be predicting), what's the point?

[paulzinho]

To kick ass again and move one step closer to world domination?

[rdjones]

Oh well thats the winner then - no point in going - what am I saying of course I'll be there..........

[Kurt Maxwell]

I think Audi are OK with beating no one.

They can win LM and then run ads that say we won and people buy their cars.

The ALMS and LM24 are what Ratel says he won't let the FIA GT become-"a marketing platform for one or two manufacturers".

[Kurt Maxwell]

Speaking of VAG- Lambo in FIA NGT/ ACO GT and Audi in FIA GT/ ACO GTS? This according to someone involved with the Lamborghini effort.

Please Mr. Ratel-GT and GTS as class designations for both series!

[Smokey 6 litre]

Whats Nissan doing in motorsport at the moment, they used to be in Le Mans and British Touring cars.
Most teams who are in motorsport generally stay in it at some level or other.

[FIRE]

Nissan had some difficult (financial) years. But I think at the moment with help of their new owner Renault they are on the way back.

At the moment Nissan is involved in the SUPERFUND WORLD SERIES by NISSAN. This is a single seater series in which the cars are powered by a Nissan V6 from AER. This AER was also responsible for the engine of the MG Le Mans car.

[Tim Northcutt]

To Saleen:

Remember, the categories change for next year....

LMP1 will include the open and closed cockpit cars under 2004 regs, plus the grandfathred 3 LMP classes from 2003

LMP2 will be the "privateer" class at 750 kg with a Homologated engine option form the GT classes for displacement, etc...

[Kurt Maxwell]

Update and clarification-Audi are SUPPORTING the idea of a GTS Lamborghini. Once enough Gallardos are made a GT car may be seen as well.

No idea about an R9 LMP,but expect LMPs to be slowed and GTS to be faster.

[Graham Goodwin]

Most likely result of current machinations is currently a Lambo Murcialago prepared by Reiter engineering with some subtle factory support.

[MulsanneMike]

"...expect LMPs to be slowed and GTS to be faster"

I don't see any evidence of this. Considering that the '04 LMP rules have been out approaching a year now, I'm pretty sure the ACO isn't going to tinker with them again to slow the cars down. Consider the equivalency formula for an '03 LMP to run next year (with '03 restrictors) compared to a new '04 LMP (running '02 diameters) leads me to beleive that they feel the new cars will be close to similar speeds and not dramatically slower. To slow the prototype category will take some unexpected changes (reduced diameter restrictors for example) and typically the ACO allows a long lead notice (recent example being the '04 chassis rules).