Sportscar/GT (and Le Mans) Rumours and Repetition

[Pandamasque]

I never liked Flying Lizard team (except the truly iconic livery), but it would be a huge shame seeing such another strong American sports car racing operation decline into near-irrelevance (AJR are sort of back, but where's PTG?). I hope FL aren't watered down completely by the time the 991 RSR is available to them.

[The Badger]

I reckon their stepping to GTC for a year , before possibily something from Porsche factory in the near future .

[porman]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

I never liked Flying Lizard team (except the truly iconic livery), but it would be a huge shame seeing such another strong American sports car racing operation decline into near-irrelevance (AJR are sort of back, but where's PTG?). I hope FL aren't watered down completely by the time the 991 RSR is available to them.

Just out of curiosity, what was it that made you dislike the team?

[Pandamasque]

Several occasions (in recent years) of unsportsmanlike, vindictive driving, being a dick and being proud of it. One can often confuse FL's interviews about incidents with ones from NASCAR. Unlike many others I don't find that likeable. But I do respect FL for what they've achieved being essentially a Pro-Am team.

[porman]

Wouldn't you have to admit that there are several teams/drivers that behave in the way that you have described. I don't buy the old "rubbing is racing" crap but if you start to get punted by other cars you might on occasion loose your cool and behave a bit more defensively.

[kurski]

Originally Posted by Mal

Is this true:

https://www.facebook.com/EnduranceInfo?ref=stream

http://radiolemans.0157.org/content/...mp1-return-who

[Simmi]

Kind of a shame that this has come when it seems that hope of them jumping up to P1 has faded away. Doesn't seem like they are up for it which is a real shame. I don't think it's the case now that they are sizing up teams to become 'works' in '14.

The Toyota programme hasn't had as much of an impact among rival manufacturers as I'd hoped.

[ArnageWRC]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Kind of a shame that this has come when it seems that hope of them jumping up to P1 has faded away. Doesn't seem like they are up for it which is a real shame. I don't think it's the case now that they are sizing up teams to become 'works' in '14.

The Toyota programme hasn't had as much of an impact among rival manufacturers as I'd hoped.

I was actually thinking that last night whilst listening to MWM... LMP 1: Audi, Toyota, Porsche in 2014, where are the rest? Honda, Nissan, etc ?

[Simmi]

While I'd never want to criticise Nissan as they are spending money in sportscar racing, they seem to have zero interest in stepping up to P1.

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by porman

Wouldn't you have to admit that there are several teams/drivers that behave in the way that you have described. I don't buy the old "rubbing is racing" crap but if you start to get punted by other cars you might on occasion loose your cool and behave a bit more defensively.

Questionable racing moves by drivers of other ALMS teams are not unheard of, but I'm yet to see anyone else deliberately cause a horrific accident putting many lives at risk to secure the race win (which wasn't even taken away much to the disgrace of IMSA), or deliberately crash into another car during the qualifying 'to communicate displeasure'. If a driver wasn't sacked immediately after doing and saying something like this, it looks to me like the policy of the team.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by kurski

http://radiolemans.0157.org/content/...mp1-return-who

Submitted by Cadpig on 14 Jun 21:37

[deggis]

Originally Posted by Mal

Is this true:

https://www.facebook.com/EnduranceInfo?ref=stream

http://madfolchismad.wordpress.com/2...-honda-hybrid/

From the same guy who made the Nissan renders some weeks ago: http://madfolchismad.wordpress.com/2...9/nissan-lmp1/

[trickyd]

Originally Posted by ArnageWRC

I was actually thinking that last night whilst listening to MWM... LMP 1: Audi, Toyota, Porsche in 2014, where are the rest? Honda, Nissan, etc ?

Its better that they all don't come at once, it delays the bust if you delay the boom. Audi, Toyota and Porsche all will take 3 cars to Le Mans, theres the top 9 cars, one more team would lock out the whole of the top 10. Who's going to pay a fortune to come 12th-15th in anything other than F1? Even F1 has lost manufacturers who were fed up of doing that. If it was Audi or Toyota coming 10th, or anyone else, they would soon pull out.

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by trickyd

Its better that they all don't come at once, it delays the bust if you delay the boom. Audi, Toyota and Porsche all will take 3 cars to Le Mans, theres the top 9 cars, one more team would lock out the whole of the top 10. Who's going to pay a fortune to come 12th-15th in anything other than F1? Even F1 has lost manufacturers who were fed up of doing that. If it was Audi or Toyota coming 10th, or anyone else, they would soon pull out.

If you want more manufacturers, then they should cut their squad into two cars. Audi is obviously have 4 cars at their disposal when racing at Le Mans, so they should cut down into 2!

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by trickyd

Its better that they all don't come at once, it delays the bust if you delay the boom. Audi, Toyota and Porsche all will take 3 cars to Le Mans, theres the top 9 cars, one more team would lock out the whole of the top 10. Who's going to pay a fortune to come 12th-15th in anything other than F1? Even F1 has lost manufacturers who were fed up of doing that. If it was Audi or Toyota coming 10th, or anyone else, they would soon pull out.

And thats the very reason I say limit the entries to two cars .

[Simmi]

Again people calling for two car teams before there is any kind of issue. I want to see the best cars and the best drivers, and having nine cars potentially able to win trumps having six. Try to get the privateers a bit more parity and you can add more to that number.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Again people calling for two car teams before there is any kind of issue. I want to see the best cars and the best drivers, and having nine cars potentially able to win trumps having six. Try to get the privateers a bit more parity and you can add more to that number.

And what was your view on Pescarolo's entry into this years LM with the ex-Aston chassis , before the race ?

Calling for 2 car teams before there is an issue you mean . Remember there are 4 class's now , not 2 .

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by The Badger

And what was your view on Pescarolo's entry into this years LM with the ex-Aston chassis , before the race ?

Calling for 2 car teams before there is an issue you mean . Remember there are 4 class's now , not 2 .

I don't really see the relevance of the question regarding Pescarolo? You mean it wasn't a worthy entry I assume. I said at the time and I stand by it that ahead of the race I'd rather see that car try and run than another identikit P2 Oreca-Nissan. I don't think anyone knew it was going to be as bad as it was.

I'm talking about the top drawer works P1s. Those are the cars that I really want to see. That said I love multi-class racing. Yes there are four classes thanks for the reminder - if you look at the entry list this year you can see that there were relatively few P1s. So why try and further limit that number?

In hindsight the 4 Audis vs 1 Toyota was overkill but not 3 vs 3 vs 3 which we assume we'll be treated to in '14. History is littered with examples of multi-car entries so I really don't see the issue. There is no concrete evidence of a fourth manufacturer willing to jump in so yes, why shoot yourself in the foot over an assumption?

[Salamus]

I don't understand the problem with manufacturers bringing 3 or 4 cars to Le Mans. Audi did it last year, Peugeot did it a couple of times, and history shows that there have been many instances of manufacturers bringing more than 3 cars (Nissan 1998, Jaguar 1988 with 5 cars!, etc, etc). If a 4th manufacturer enters Le Mans, I would love to see 12 cars duel it out for the overall victory. And I know there are 4 classes at Le Mans, and 12 cars is not a lot for one class. In 2008, there were 22 LMP1s and there were 4 classes, so I don't see the problem.

[Fogelhund]

1971 8 Ferrari 512, 7 Porsche 917.
1988 11 Porsche 962

Sell the factory cars, I don't care how many you let run.

[trickyd]

Just to clear up the point I was making, I don't have a problem with Audi, Porsche or whoever taking 6 cars if they want to, I just think they wouldn't be happy coming 10th or so for long.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by trickyd

Just to clear up the point I was making, I don't have a problem with Audi, Porsche or whoever taking 6 cars if they want to, I just think they wouldn't be happy coming 10th or so for long.

Just to be clear, I do! I could care less how many Audi R18s (example) are on the grid, as long as there are only 2 true Werks R18s, or any other true Werks programs.





L.P.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Salamus

I don't understand the problem with manufacturers bringing 3 or 4 cars to Le Mans. Audi did it last year, Peugeot did it a couple of times, and history shows that there have been many instances of manufacturers bringing more than 3 cars (Nissan 1998, Jaguar 1988 with 5 cars!, etc, etc). If a 4th manufacturer enters Le Mans, I would love to see 12 cars duel it out for the overall victory. And I know there are 4 classes at Le Mans, and 12 cars is not a lot for one class. In 2008, there were 22 LMP1s and there were 4 classes, so I don't see the problem.

There was only 2 class's then , big differance .

[Salamus]

Originally Posted by The Badger

There was only 2 class's then , big differance .

Why does the number of classes matter? Just because we have 4 classes currently, doesn't mean the grid sizes have to be split up evenly.

I would gladly trade in a few LMP2s and GTE-Ams if it meant more factory entries fighting for the overall victory.

[The Badger]

Well , that depends on who enters the championship , as they get first call on official invites .

I just think , to even out the chances for privateers podiums , 2 factory entries are enough .