Sportscar/GT (and Le Mans) Rumours and Repetition

[NelisB]

Originally Posted by deggis

He has a contract for 2013, though, but I bet he could have whatever clauses he just wanted.

Google translation of that cover is: "close to the exit? / why he could leave the rally at the end of the year / how citroen manages his possible [eventual?] departure"

Sounds like pure speculation.

I guess even winning gets boring sometime. Would love to see Loeb back in a LMP and as a fultime entry, maybe he can go with the rumored Honda program. Would be a nice high level signing...

[Articus]

Originally Posted by Simmi

AutoHebdo are speculating that Sebastien Loeb will retire from the WRC at the end of this season.

http://twitpic.com/9teyxs

I think it's time for him to move on. His running at the test day last weekend may have been the final push that he needed. Immediately he was back on the pace and in the top five or so LMP2 runners.

Would be good to see his team go full season WEC next year before moving up to P1 in 2014. Maybe part of a two-car team with Pescarolo?

Interesting. I thought he would stick around 1 more year to have a go at Ogier in the Volkswagen...Well Ogier is looking good for a first title then...

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by NelisB

I guess even winning gets boring sometime. Would love to see Loeb back in a LMP and as a fultime entry, maybe he can go with the rumored Honda program. Would be a nice high level signing...

Exactly this. Nine consecutive championships is just ridiculous. He's said he isn't happy particularly with the way the rules are going. He has the opportunity to bow out the undisputed greatest that there will ever be. Like deggis says he will have plenty of clauses in place. He's the one calling the shots there.

I think the Honda concept is a bit left-field to be honest. Unless they approach his own team which he has clearly set up to step into. I really have high hopes for Loeb Racing and hope they can grow into something more than a Oreca-Nissan LMP2clone.

[Articus]

Originally Posted by joeb

A little more info on PURE can be found here, but yes they are developing a 2014 regs F1 engine.

Why? We have already seen from IndyCar that new engine manufacturers struggle to survive. Lotus is on the verge of being teamless..

Also in F1. With Cosworths return.They field 1 team.a backmarker. The Manufacturers are supposedly going to be made to provide cheap engines to a smaller team that wants one. Who would pass up a Renault/Mercedes/Ferrari engine for Pure or Cosworth is beyond me..

[ArnageWRC]

I'll be honest, I'm a Rallyfan before a Sportscar fan, but I'm a realist, and not blind to what is happening.
Loeb signed a contract last year for 1 year, with an option on another year - I actually thought he'd go to VW, and maybe test an Audi R18. However, that didn't happen.
I think he's enjoyed his Sportscars outings, and after his 2nd in 2006 in the Pescarolo-Judd, Le Mans is an itch he can't get rid of. Setting up his own team is another string to his bow, and his performance in Pau was pretty good, as was the Le Mans test on Sunday; with more seat time I expect him to get quicker. I can't imagine him in a non-French LMP car.....but who knows?

[alexkiller8]

Originally Posted by ArnageWRC

I'll be honest, I'm a Rallyfan before a Sportscar fan, but I'm a realist, and not blind to what is happening.
Loeb signed a contract last year for 1 year, with an option on another year - I actually thought he'd go to VW, and maybe test an Audi R18. However, that didn't happen.
I think he's enjoyed his Sportscars outings, and after his 2nd in 2006 in the Pescarolo-Judd, Le Mans is an itch he can't get rid of. Setting up his own team is another string to his bow, and his performance in Pau was pretty good, as was the Le Mans test on Sunday; with more seat time I expect him to get quicker. I can't imagine him in a non-French LMP car.....but who knows?

judging by the fact that total actually is a sponsor of toyota i guess that an audi r18 test will be almost impossible.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by alexkiller8

judging by the fact that total actually is a sponsor of toyota i guess that an audi r18 test will be almost impossible.

Read carefully, he was talking about the potential of a test in the R18 in the context of a hypothetical move to Volkswagen in rallying.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by ArnageWRC

I'll be honest, I'm a Rallyfan before a Sportscar fan, but I'm a realist, and not blind to what is happening.

Same as you I was a rally fan before endurance but even a couple of years ago I was saying Loeb needs to go. It will benefit both sports greatly.

[alexkiller8]

now i've read well, but it will depend if total will keep on sponsor loeb even in a WV car... loeb will be in a crossed fire between audi that wants him for a test and total that suggest him to don't do it because total is a toyota sponsor...
valentino rossi is in a similiar situation, he more than once ran in a ferrari gt3, but now that ducati is owned by audi will be still able to do it? or for "coincidence" will drive an r8lms in some race?

[deggis]

Originally Posted by Simmi

It will benefit both sports greatly.

2013-201x rally titles will get "he won just because Loeb left" stamp.

[ArnageWRC]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Same as you I was a rally fan before endurance but even a couple of years ago I was saying Loeb needs to go. It will benefit both sports greatly.

Yeah, I remember you from a few forums Of which people are living in cloud cuckoo land regards to the WRC.

As was pointed out by another poster regarding the Audi R18; it was depending on him joining VW - which was strongly rumoured at the time, especially with Sainz there. However, it went to executive board level of Citroen/PSA, that's how desperate they were to keep him on board. However, look what happened earlier this year - he went out of RallyPortugal, and a few days later was a the ELMS race at Le Castellet - while the Rally was still taking place.
I fully expected him to carry on next year - now I'm not so sure. I've read/heard he has quite big plans for the team for the future...every outing in a LMP/GT cars seems to whet his appetite further.

[Articus]

Originally Posted by deggis

2013-201x rally titles will get "he won just because Loeb left" stamp.

Yeah I feel as thought Loeb has managed to tick off Ogier in absolutely everyone which way possible...First when he was with the team..Then we he leaves..Then when Loeb leaves and he cant take down loeb in a fair fight..Loeb the devil hehe.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by deggis

2013-201x rally titles will get "he won just because Loeb left" stamp.

Can't argue with this. But at least we don't know which driver will receive this dubious title. For once it could be any one of six men!

Similarly you get a sportcar team with potential P1 aspirations, guaranteed sponsorship and the PR boost from Loeb's involvement.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Simmi

You have to wonder whether Forza will have some kind of answer to what GT have done with the Academy. What better advert can you have for your 'real driving simulator' that to have your game producing bona-fide racing drivers.

Think Forza have also sponsored a chicane at LM this year.

Forza is a sponsor of the American Le Mans Series. You can tune ESPN3 on Xbox 360, I think.

[deggis]

Not much substance though:

Nissan is dropping heavy hints that it, Renault or Infiniti could take a close look at Le Mans, Renault having just launched a new Alpine sports car at the Monaco Grand Prix. Porsche is committed, as is Audi. Toyota is too busy working on this year to think about 2014 for the time being but if another manufacturer stepped up, the LMP1 grid could be interesting.

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/b...es-at-le-mans/

[BSchneiderFan]

The Alpine launched at Monaco was only a concept car, and Renault says it's only 50/50 whether it will go into production.

[FstrthnU]

http://www.worldcarfans.com/11206144...CarFans.com%29
Maserati is apparently planning a mid-engine sports car for 2015 based off the Alfa Romeo 4C. Perhaps we could see this at Le mans in GT?

[Pandamasque]

Diesel engines in LMP2 will be allowed a year earlier than planned, in 2013. At 'least one manufacturer' is about to make an announcement about supplying such engines next year.

Sounds like Skyactiv-D.

[MitchZ06]

Dempsey Racing Diesel P2?

[helgi]

Lotus LMP1? Motorsport-total.com

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by helgi

Lotus LMP1? Motorsport-total.com

I hope it's not gonna be another failure since Lotus is in a crisis at the moment.

[kurski]

Originally Posted by helgi

Lotus LMP1? Motorsport-total.com

do you know what is the name of that design firm in Munich?

[lms]

is that real? an actual lotus lmp2? sounds bloody awesome. and its a coupe.

[deggis]

which is tonight at Le Mans officially presented.

http://translate.google.com/translat..._12061507.html

If this is the manufacturer announcement that has been rumoured, then a bit disappointed that it's not Honda. At least not yet.

[Thaw Daggerslash]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Diesel engines in LMP2 will be allowed a year earlier than planned, in 2013. At 'least one manufacturer' is about to make an announcement about supplying such engines next year.

Sounds like Skyactiv-D.

I'm against this for two reasons.

Firstly, the ACO STILL haven't hit the right balance in equality between petrol and diesel cars, something they've been trying to do since...ohh...2007? On the basis LMP2 probably has its most competitive field EVER this year, I don't want that to change next season because someone has a diesel.

Also - whilst diesels LMPs are incredibly technical and interesting from that side of things, you have to say that the engine note is really boring. Fans like engine noise. It is part of racing. Having 4 silent Audis this year is already overkill...no more!

No but seriously, I think the ACO should listen to F1 fans on this. Remember the whole fuss over what the new engines in F1 would sound like? It is the same here. I don't want noise at motorsport to become something of the past.