ALMS 2012 Discussion

[chernaudi]

I've tweeted John on his thoughts, and he says that the WEC indeed is part of the issue, as the gentleman drivers want the biggest bang for their often considerable expenditure of bucks, you know, guys like Tracy Krohn and Rob Kauffman, who'd probably be in the ALMS or Grand Am full time if not for the WEC being a much larger stage.

Also, it's generally agreed (Derek Bell, Scott Pruett, and Dagys) that a merger is the best solution, but barring the ACO/FIA's 2014 rules swaying things in that direction, it's not gonna happen any time soon. I agree with what Scott and Dave Despain said on Wind Tunnel--fans want to see cool cars, cool drivers, advanced technology, and close racing. The WEC can give that, but by proxy can Grand Am and the ALMS offer those things, too? They can now, to various degrees, and a combined series can, but with Don Panoz and Jim France being so bull-headed, who would give up what to get a unified series. Again, only those guys ties to the FIA and, to a lesser degree, the ACO, can give us any glimmering, faint chance of that happening unless ALMS and Grand Am get some major management shake ups.