2009 Le Mans/LMS/ALMS Thread

[Terrible3]

Originally Posted by MadCat360

Do Acura make their own chassis? Because last year they looked a hell of a lot like Lolas... this year they look like Courages.

The old acura's were Lolas. Trust me the Acura P1 has nothing in common with the Courage. The front air management is closer to a T1 or an Allard than the courage. I am so excited to see some pictures of this new car, but deeply saddened by the fact that Audi has basically dropped out of ALMS. The new closed top Lola Mazda looks so nice also!

[Airpoppoff]

anyone have the story behind this?




And has everyone seen this?

http://www.truthin24.com/

[pfrocker]

That was Ortelli's crash in Monza for the LMS series.

+ YouTube Video

[jack_christie]

Whole thread on fly sportscars:
http://forums.finalgear.com/motorspo...ghlight=flying

More on the FIA investigation and other safety stuff:
http://www.fia.com/public/in_safety_11-1208.pdf (4mb)

[MadCat360]

These cars have such huge aero effects. In particular the ground effect. You have to remember that these cars are completely flat underneath. The ground effect is the airflow between the car and the ground. This is very sensitive to disturbance. It also has one of the biggest impacts on downforce. If the ground effect is broken, the car will get airborne provided enough speed. NASCARs do the same thing, as do Formula cars. Every car with a flat bottom has ground effect.

Sometimes you hear commentators talk about dirty air when drafting too close and the loss of downforce that ensues. This is not so much to do with the air flowing over the car as it is the air flowing under it.

[kEv H]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/15/p...m-out-of-alms/

Apparently Porsche are pulling out of P2 for ALMS, but will continue support for the GT3 RSR cars in GT2.
So many manufacturers pulling out of motorsport this upcoming season. Hopefully things rebound and they can all come back.

[vikiradTG2007]

Another bombshell has hit...


http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72530

Chevrolet pull out of Le Mans

Thursday, December 18th 2008, 12:24 GMT

Chevrolet will not return to the Le Mans 24 Hours next season, according to this week's Autosport magazine.

The American manufacturer's Corvettes have won at La Sarthe four times since 2000 but has been told to reduce its racing budget next year.

The GT1 programme has been scrapped so Chevrolet can concentrate on the new GT2 Corvette, which will be introduced in the second half of the 2009 season.

But Steve Wesoloski, road racing boss of Chevrolet's parent company General Motors, denied that a decision had been made.

"We are still going ahead with our plans for a reduced programme of Sebring, Long Beach and Le Mans," he said. "No one has told me otherwise. We are, of course, prepared for all eventualities. It all hinges on what happens in Washington."

Not entirely unexpected, given that GM is likely to shut up shop until Le Mans is due (June 13-14). But there's still going to be privateer 'Vettes, like the Luc Alphand-run ones, I'm guessing... right?

Plus they've had their ar$es delivered to them on a plate by Aston Martin for the last two years.

[vikiradTG2007]

This is it, then. GT1 is dead.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72718

Brabham expects no Aston at Le Mans

By Steven English and Matt Beer Saturday, January 10th 2009, 15:27 GMT

Aston Martin driver David Brabham does not expect the 2008 GT1-winning team to participate in the Le Mans 24 Hours this year - but confirmed that an LMP1 project is on Aston's agenda.

Brabham was part of the victorious factory Prodrive Aston Martin crew at Le Mans last year, and has driven for the team since 2005.

There has been no official confirmation of Aston's plans for 2009 yet, amid the decline of GT1 worldwide and strong hints that the Charouz team's success with an Aston Martin-engined Lola prototype last year might pave the way for an Aston LMP1 car, but Brabham thinks it is unlikely that the factory squad will be at Le Mans in any class this June.

"From what I understand, Aston Martin aren't going back to Le Mans as a factory team with the GT1," he said at the Autosport International Show today.

"They might do in LMP1 but I think they're still trying to get that organised.

"I've been fortunate to have Aston Martin Racing ask me for several years to be involved in their programme. They haven't rung me this year because there's probably no programme."

The Australian will remain with Highcroft Racing this season as the team move into the LMP1 class of the American Le Mans Series with Acura, and said he was open to offers for Le Mans.

"Sure, I'd love to go back to Le Mans," Brabham said. "I'd like to go there with an Acura but we're not quite ready for that. America is really my priority and if I can do Le Mans, great."

However, this might mean a record number of entrants in GT2. I mean... GT2 'Vette, V8 Vantage, Ford GT, Porsche, Ferrari, Spyker and so on...

[argatoga]

It must suck to be Prodrive, first Subaru pulls out of WRC now this. I like the idea of another P1 car, and a more diversified GT2 will be a good thing.

[MadCat360]

IMO they only ever needed one GT class to begin with. That's one thing I like about GrandAm, it's got more interesting battles because it doesn't have so many fricken classes...

[devil500]

Audi is going to have a movie on the 2008 24 of Le Mans.

Check it out The Truth In 24

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/01/13/r...truth-in-24-i/

I heard it's going to be out on ESPN some time in March so it'll be in it's full HD glory

[Terrible3]

I am really hoping that Truth in 24 comes out on blueray, it would be a shame if it didn't.

As far as prodrive goes, its a same they are not going to be at Le Mans this year. It would be nice to see them beat out the vetts one more time before the class pretty much ends.

With the Vetts going to GT2, perhaps prodrive will pick up a GT2 effort. GT2 is already looking awesome for this year, perhaps the best racing in ALMS in a long time. The battle between the 911s and the Ferraris last year at mosport was so close.

I am still let down by audi, I was a massive audi fan and now its sad to see them leave the moment they have a real contender. If only panoz would come back to P1

[Martyn]

That film looks stunning, as a Le Mans geek, I'm surprised this is the first I've heard of it!

[vikiradTG2007]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72809

Mansell to race Ferrari in GT2

By Steven English Thursday, January 15th 2009, 18:00 GMT

Leo Mansell will drive a Ferrari 430 GT2 in the Le Mans Series and at the Le Mans 24 Hours this year.

The 24-year-old son of 1992 world champion Nigel previously raced in British Formula 3 and the Atlantic Championship, and will share the Team Modena entry with regular driver Antonio Garcia for his first season in sportscars.

"Modena team principal Graham Schultz said: "We are looking forward to a long relationship with Leo and his partnership with Antonio Garcia should be a very strong one - Antonio has been a key part of Team Modena's international race success.

"Our link with Nigel is exciting, he will bring his huge experience of motorsport to bear on our programme and help us move to a new level."

Nigel Mansell added: "I think Leo is a natural for sportscar racing, he really took to the cars we tested last year. It will be a very exciting season, it will be my first visit to Le Mans and I am looking forward to it."

I had read a report in Autosport magazine, while I was in the UK, that Nigel and his two sons tested a Chamberlain Synergy Lola-AER LMP1 car at Estoril and they were all pretty well on the pace. There was some talk of an all-Mansell line-up for Petit Le Mans in that car, but it never materialized.

Wonder if there's any chance of that for LM2009 in a GT2 Ferrari...

[vikiradTG2007]

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72861

Kolles to run privateer Audis in LMS

By Simon Strang Monday, January 19th 2009, 08:51 GMT

Colin KollesThe pioneering diesel-powered Audi R10 TDI will return to the Le Mans 24 Hours and the Le Mans Series in 2009 despite the German manufacturer's decision to withdraw from the series and build an all-new R15 TDI LMP1 prototype, after it announced that former Formula One team principal Colin Kolles will run two privately-entered cars for the season through his TME team.

As well as doing a full LMS season, Kolles, whose outfit also runs a squad of Audi A4s in the DTM, is planning to take his R10 TDIs to the Le Mans 24 Hours, where the car remains unbeaten.

It will be the first time a privately-entered Audi has raced at La Sarthe since 2005.

As part of the agreement to sell the R10 TDIs - which not only won Le Mans, but also helped to secure the LMS, ALMS and Petit Le Mans titles in 2008 - Audi has agreed a service package encompassing support for the private racing commitments by members of Audi Sport's technical staff.

Audi's head of motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich said: "We welcome the fact that Dr Kolles decided to take on this commitment and wants to purchase two Audi R10 TDI cars.

"While on the factory side of the house we are concentrating on the development and fielding of the new R15 TDI sportscar as well as on the DTM, we are pleased to see that the R10 TDI will be privately entered in future and that racing vehicles of the Audi brand will continue to be represented in the Le Mans Series," he added, stressing the independent nature of Kolles' project. "That is why we agreed to the sale of the cars.

"However, our involvement will be strictly limited to providing support under the terms of the service agreement."

Five Audis vs. three Peugeots? Sounds rather unfair.

[Martyn]

It can only be a good thing. It should sway the Peugeots to play in the LMS too!

Also, not sure if you know, but that Corvette story from 18th December has been called as bollocks! They're racing the C6.R for half the ALMS season, and entering it into the 24, then going to GT2.

[MadCat360]

Originally Posted by Martyn

It can only be a good thing. It should sway the Peugeots to play in the LMS too!

Also, not sure if you know, but that Corvette story from 18th December has been called as bollocks! They're racing the C6.R for half the ALMS season, and entering it into the 24, then going to GT2.

Yeah, that's what they said they were originally going to do last year. Who called it balls though?

[Terrible3]

Originally Posted by vikiradTG2007

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72861



Five Audis vs. three Peugeots? Sounds rather unfair.

Privateer Audis wont be nearly as quick as the factory backed 908s. Sure Audi will be helping out, but I cant see it being the same effort put into the 24 hours of years past.

[Martyn]

Originally Posted by MadCat360

Yeah, that's what they said they were originally going to do last year. Who called it balls though?

Corvette did.

Well, Doug Fehan, the big boss man!

[MadCat360]

Well that's good.