What will Audi do in 2008?

[Mal]

With the Penske Porsches beating Audi in ALMS and the Pugs looking faster in LMS, what will Audi do next year?

With the Pugs aiming for victory in Le Mans as well will Audi make serious changes to the R10 to rise to the challenge or will they be confident they can still win?

[gwyllion]

I think Audi will just stay in ALMS. The big question is whether IMSA will follow the ACO decision to increase the LMP2 weight to 825 kg.

[Spyderman]

I would say that the odds of that happening are pretty strong.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

I would say that the odds of that happening are pretty strong.

Could you please clarify what you think is likely to happen?

[gwyllion]

Audi staying in ALMS or IMSA raising LMP2 weight by 50 kg or Audi making serious changes to the R10 or a combination of all this?

[Jonerz]

I think Audi still have the car to beat the Pugs over 24 hours at La Sarthe and don't doubt the Audi on speed... I think they can run with the Pugs in the first few hours as well. Champion have said they are back in ALMS next year with factory R10's and so has Penske said he will be with factory Porsches. If those were the only two teams in LMP1 and LMP2 they'd be back next year just to face each other. In this short time they've developed quite the rivalry. IMSA are well aware of the diesel petrol problems in P1 and are also well aware their races would be quite boring if the P2's weren't competitive with the P1's so expect to see IMSA at least wait to pull the trigger on the weight increase.

Chris

[The Badger]

Id like the R10 to stay away from the LMS but unfortunatly we need it to take the fight to the Pug .

[gwyllion]

LMS first needs to improve promotion before the marketing department allows Audi to race in Europe. Unless of course national importers (e.g., Audi UK) pay the bill.

[brielga]

There's some interesting TV deals being negotiated which could bring some relief for the LMS in terms of coverage. Let's keep our fingers crossed. Will this tempt Audi to get the R10s acrosss the pond?

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by brielga

Will this tempt Audi to get the R10s acrosss the pond?

We don't have a crystal ball I think Audi Sport and Joest want it. It is only a question whether they get the budget.

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Could you please clarify what you think is likely to happen?

Sorry Foglhund, I've just seen your post.

I think that IMSA will follow the ACO….Maybe not immediately, but in the fullness of time. (i.e. at the very latest by mid season)

[JAG]

It's not either or, it's Champion/Audi US in the States and Joest/Abt whoever in Europe.

Chassis should now be available and with Peugeot, Porsche and possibly even Corvette taking in a couple of races, the media argument no longer stands, the series is growing .

I can only think Audi don't want to be beaten regularly on both sides of the Atlantic!

[chewymonster]

Modify the R10 for the ALMS.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

Sorry Foglhund, I've just seen your post.

I think that IMSA will follow the ACO….Maybe not immediately, but in the fullness of time. (i.e. at the very latest by mid season)

I don't believe it will happen. They'll give teams a year.

[Spyderman]

I sincerely hope you're right, but won't that cause problems for qualifying for an invitation to LM?

[Lusitano]

Originally Posted by Mal

With the Penske Porsches beating Audi in ALMS and the Pugs looking faster in LMS, what will Audi do next year?

Run for cover, perhaps?

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by JAG

It's not either or, it's Champion/Audi US in the States and Joest/Abt whoever in Europe.

Is it not Champion with some Joest help in the Alms and Joest if it happens in LMS jag ? Joest dont need any help to make a car go fast .

[henk4]

not mentioned yet, but what will Audi do with the (ex)Swiss Spirit project?

[ger80]

Will we see changes in the Audi future after the todays DTM race (was it a race?)?

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by ger80

Will we see changes in the Audi future after the todays DTM race (was it a race?)?

I don't think it will change their opinion about LMS (Maybe they would if Merc had quit racing ). One or two weeks ago Audi has announced they will enter DTM in 2008.

Was it a race? No it was a farce.

[ger80]

At least a LMS R10 for Rocky and Lucas Luhr would be great. They are young and they need some real races a year, not only LM ....

[JAG]

Originally Posted by FIRE

I don't think it will change their opinion about LMS (Maybe they would if Merc had quit racing ). One or two weeks ago Audi has announced they will enter DTM in 2008.

Was it a race? No it was a farce.

Again I don't think it's relevant, if Audi left the DTM, maybe not next season but 2009, they would likely go to the WTCC.

The Le Mans/LMS/ALMS program serves a different market.

[Fogelhund]

Here is a link with some of the details of what happened in the DTM race people are referencing above.

http://www.crash.net/news_view~cid~13~id~154841.htm

[ger80]

Originally Posted by JAG

Again I don't think it's relevant, if Audi left the DTM, maybe not next season but 2009, they would likely go to the WTCC.

The Le Mans/LMS/ALMS program serves a different market.

WTCC? Seat is driving WTCC (even TDI diesel now), makes so real sense to let Audi drive WTCC too.

[Jimmy Magnusson]

Besides, should the DTM die (which it will do at some point), Audi will still need to market itself to the German customers. Which means no to WTCC or LMS. Now, correct me if I'm wrong but I believe F1 is pretty popular in Germany..