2009 Le Mans/LMS/ALMS Thread

[devil500]

24 Hours of Dayton in a few hours!

[vikiradTG2007]

....... Which has nothing to do with Le Mans or the ALMS in any way.

[AarheadC]

Originally Posted by devil500

24 Hours of Dayton in a few hours!

haha. That's in Ohio, right?

[MadCat360]

Originally Posted by vikiradTG2007

....... Which has nothing to do with Le Mans or the ALMS in any way.

They're basically the same series... just slower. And uglier.

I'mma watch the last half on Speed, but I couldn't be bothered enough to watch the whole thing. I don't like Grand Am enough.

I will be watching the 12 hours of Sebring though. All of it. Live. Just plomp down and go.

I made it last year with only 1 nap. Lets see if I can keep the eyes open the whole time this year.

[Martyn]

It's only twelve hours, you lightweight!

I'm not going to be able to see all of Sebring because I'm going clubbing, which is a shame! I'll probably catch the first two hours or something.

[Martyn]

Aston Martin to challenge for overall Le Mans win

Gaydon, 27 January 2009. On the 50th anniversary of its outright win at Le Mans, Aston Martin will return to La Sarthe with two Works LMP1 cars bearing the iconic blue and orange livery of Gulf Oil.

In an ambitious attempt to emulate the legendary achievements of the 1959 DBR1 driven by Carroll Shelby and Roy Salvadori, Aston Martin will endeavour to bring the Le Mans title back to Britain.

“2009 is a hugely significant year for Aston Martin at Le Mans and the challenge of reclaiming victory in this famous race for Aston Martin and Great Britain was simply too great to ignore,” said Aston Martin Chairman, David Richards. “However, we do not underestimate the task. While we have won the GT1 class for the last two years, competing against the proven speed and endurance of the diesel-powered cars with all their years of winning the prototype class, will be a massive undertaking. Nonetheless, I see this as a great opportunity to showcase the ingenuity of British engineering talent.”

Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin Chief Executive Officer commented: “Racing has been, and still is at the heart of Aston Martin. Our cars today are subtle, elegant and handcrafted but they still have the genes for competition. I am happy that we have found partners who, with their support, will enable us to compete at the highest level of endurance racing. We will put all our heart and skill behind this project to demonstrate the essence of Aston Martin: Power Beauty and Soul.”

The new car which is based on the 2008 Charouz Racing System Lola will be powered by the same production-based Aston Martin V12 engine which, last year, helped Aston Martin secure its second successive Le Mans GT1 title with the DBR9. It also powered the Charouz car to a new La Sarthe lap record for a petrol car.

Aston Martin Racing is developing the car in conjunction with Lola, Michelin, Koni and BBS and continues its relationship with major partner Gulf Oil and official clothing partner Hackett.
In 2009, the ACO is introducing new regulations aimed at balancing the performance of petrol and diesel engined prototypes making the LMP1 category more appealing and relevant to Aston Martin.

Signalling ongoing commitment to motorsport, in addition to the Le Mans 24 hour race, the team will also compete throughout the year in the Le Mans Series (LMS), which opens with the 1000 km de Catalunya on the 5th of April.

Aston Martin Racing Works drivers, Jan Charouz (CZ), Tomas Enge (CZ), and Stefan Mücke (DE), who raced the Charouz car last year will renew their relationship with the team along with Darren Turner (GB) who was part of the winning DBR9 GT1 crew in 2007 and 2008. Harold Primat (CH) joins the team for the first time in 2009 with the remaining driver to be announced imminently.

To focus maximum energy on the LMP1 programme, the Works team will not defend its GT1 title at Le Mans. However, Aston Martin Racing will support any of its official partner teams and customers competing at the race.

Aston Martin Racing partner, Drayson Racing, has expressed its desire to compete at Le Mans with the new Vantage GT2. This follows confirmation of the team’s LMS entry and American Le Mans Series programme with a bio-ethanol powered Vantage GT2. Further announcements are expected in the weeks ahead as other Aston Martin Racing partner teams and customers confirm their plans for racing in the GT1, GT2, GT3 and GT4 classes of national and international racing series.

The Le Mans 24 hour race will be held over the weekend of 13-14 June.

-ends-

http://www.astonmartinracing.com/new...7-e9312652746e

[Hazardous]

That thing looks seriously cool. Really looking forward to see whether it'll be competitive against the diesels.

[vikiradTG2007]

Rumour has it that Prodrive has actually entered THREE of the Aston Martin LMP1 cars for Le Mans. That is going to be seriously cool, and Le Mans 2009 is already shaping up to be more of a classic than last year's fight to the bitter end.

So with regulation changes, we might have some 16 LMP1 cars capable of going for the outright win: 3 Audi R15s, 3 Peugeot 908s, 3 Aston Martin LMP1s, and with a bit of luck 2 privateer Audi R10s, the Dome S102, the two Pescarolos and the two Courages...



EDIT: I've changed my avatar in order to express a degree of support for the Aston Martin LMP1 effort.

[MadCat360]

Bathroom break!

[Hazardous]

Originally Posted by vikiradTG2007

Rumour has it that Prodrive has actually entered THREE of the Aston Martin LMP1 cars for Le Mans. That is going to be seriously cool, and Le Mans 2009 is already shaping up to be more of a classic than last year's fight to the bitter end.

It's no rumour, David Richards said it in one of the press releases that three cars have been entered. Although it's not certain whether they will run the third car.

edit: it wasn't a press release, it was in Autosport.

[Twerp128]

Originally Posted by Martyn

I'm not going to be able to see all of Sebring because I'm going clubbing,

You have your clubbing scheduled 2 months in advance

Either way it's not an excuse, you'll always have more fun drunk at home watching a race with friends than drunk at a stupid club with horny, fat women who are all wearing clothes two sizes too small.

[Martyn]

Originally Posted by Twerp128

You have your clubbing scheduled 2 months in advance

When you're seeing your favourite DJs perform, and the ticket prices are cheaper in advance, yes.

Originally Posted by Twerp128

Either way it's not an excuse, you'll always have more fun drunk at home watching a race with friends than drunk at a stupid club with horny, fat women who are all wearing clothes two sizes too small.

Hah, I doubt that. This club isn't stupid.

[Forstrocker]

That is really good news!

[Terrible3]

Originally Posted by vikiradTG2007

Rumour has it that Prodrive has actually entered THREE of the Aston Martin LMP1 cars for Le Mans. That is going to be seriously cool, and Le Mans 2009 is already shaping up to be more of a classic than last year's fight to the bitter end.

So with regulation changes, we might have some 16 LMP1 cars capable of going for the outright win: 3 Audi R15s, 3 Peugeot 908s, 3 Aston Martin LMP1s, and with a bit of luck 2 privateer Audi R10s, the Dome S102, the two Pescarolos and the two Courages...

Well it will be nice to see a big field of P1 cars, it seems like its been years since we have had that. The last time there was a decent amount of prototypes was back when Benz, Toyota, Nissan, Porsche and BMX duked it out back in the day.

I would not get too excited about it being a close race though. I would be putting heavy money on Audi and the 908s. Personally I think the 908 will take it this year, considering they have had nearly three years of Dev. The R15 on the other hand will be basically fresh.

I dont see the Dome, Courages or the Aston having much of a chance, but we will see. I guess I am being ignorant, but I am basing my judgment on the years past performances.

[argatoga]

I can't wait for this one. The elimination of GT1 will be a good thing, as GT2 will be much more diversified. Also it will be nice seeing some more competition in P1 (with Gulf livery!).

[vikiradTG2007]

Originally Posted by Terrible3

I dont see the Dome, Courages or the Aston having much of a chance, but we will see. I guess I am being ignorant, but I am basing my judgment on the years past performances.

The past years' performances go out the window. Diesel cars get much smaller air restrictors, in order to decrease their power, and LMP1 aero regulations are being tightened. So Aston has a bit of a head start, they'll have a car fully adapted to the new rules.

[Forstrocker]

Originally Posted by vikiradTG2007

So Aston has a bit of a head start, they'll have a car fully adapted to the new rules.

And what about the Audi R15?!
Sadly, both cars are goingt to be developed for just two years of racing (2009 & 2010) because in 2011 there will be a big change of LMP regulations.

[Terrible3]

Originally Posted by vikiradTG2007

The past years' performances go out the window. Diesel cars get much smaller air restrictors, in order to decrease their power, and LMP1 aero regulations are being tightened. So Aston has a bit of a head start, they'll have a car fully adapted to the new rules.

Correct me if I am wrong, but did a Lola aston not run last year? Also the R15 will be a ban new car, so it to will be optimized to the new rules. I am guessing the new restrictors will bring the performance of the diesels much more inline with the non diesel cars. With that being said, if the power of the mighty diesels is reduced to similar output of that of the other cars then they would be at a massive weight disadvantage. I cant wait to see the new acura run at ALMS this year, there is not be a N/A P1 car since panoz I think.

[vikiradTG2007]

A Lola-Aston did run last year, but this year's effort is going to be fully backed by Prodrive, which runs the whole Aston Martin Racing operation. The diesels won't suffer due to the reduced power as much as we would expect, because they have the lightest possible diesels for that capacity. As for the Acura being the first normally-aspirated LMP1 car since the Panoz, that's esentially bollocks. Cars have been racing here for years with the Judd GV V10 engine (first in 4 l form, then 5 l and now 5.5 l).

[Forstrocker]

Originally Posted by vikiradTG2007

Cars have been racing here for years with the Judd GV V10 engine (first in 4 l form, then 5 l and now 5.5 l).

That's true, for example the LMP1 Pescarolos! The Judd V10s are really great engines!