Acura/HPD's future plans

[Christian Mogami]

ESM plan to use Dunlop tires at Cota and next year in WEC.

Also plan to run two cars at Le Mans next year.

[Lagunaseca_4life]

Cool, who's going to pay the Le Mans bill with the alcohol ban and all?? Coming out of Ed's pocket?

[Rodger Davies]

Yeah, I wouldn't say ROI was above enjoyments on Ed's list of reasons for sportscar racing.

[jc_nl]

Originally Posted by Lagunaseca_4life

Cool, who's going to pay the Le Mans bill with the alcohol ban and all?? Coming out of Ed's pocket?

Probably the same way Bruichladdich did, suddenly they end up being a table water brand...Or do a Martini and pretend to be a clothing brand.

Lot's of options.

[carbon_titanium]

there are a lot of ways to cheat the ban... in 2010 highcroft team had not any tequila patron writings on the car, but the logo of the brand was clearly watchable on the car. Toyota gt-one had marlboro sponsorship, of course "marlboro" nevere appeared on the car but there was however a giant white triangle on the front of the car .

[pederb]

Originally Posted by jc_nl

Probably the same way Bruichladdich did, suddenly they end up being a table water brand...Or do a Martini and pretend to be a clothing brand.

Lot's of options.

Did not Marlboro become a clothing brand when cigarette advertising became banned ?

[carbon_titanium]

Originally Posted by pederb

Did not Marlboro become a clothing brand when cigarette advertising became banned ?

for sure became a barcode...

[pederb]

Originally Posted by carbon_titanium

for sure became a barcode...

Think that was later, but yes

[Rodger Davies]

Not to mention, they did it before with Highcroft; can't complain at any charity benefitting from the exposure. Especially if in every interview through the week you mention that you were unable to run in the regular Tequila Patron livery...

[Simmi]

I still file any ESM/Le Mans news as 'believe it when I see it'. They'd really add to the race so I hope they can make the trip along with Viper and a few others.

[Deleted]

As long as those new HPD coupes prove to be A) many in numbers B) as beautiful as they appear on the PR renderings, I don't care who runs them at Le Mans.

Though obviously having as many American teams as possible would be good for everyone involved

[Christian Mogami]

Honda could be paying for ESM in a indirect way(we forgot to cash your check for the engines,parts and service).

Like the Oak team in TUSCC will race with the HPD engine for the rest of the Season(so things can happen).That was the deal of the year in TUSCC!

Who knows.

[Jack Spratt]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Excuse me?

Andretti never announced a P(2) program nor confirmed the plans to start one, all that was published was that they were expected to close in on one.

It was always about TUSC, not WEC - so no (direct) business with the ACO, just IMSA. See http://racer.com/imsa/item/104153-im...ototype-return

Class rules are laid out until 2016 and BoP is done whenever IMSA feels like it (and therefor almost on a race-by-race routine).

Pro line up concerns are not relevant since they are allowed in TUSC.

Factory support as in manufacturer run teams is not allowed - pretty much anything else is in TUSC (look at Ford and GM).

So much for being an insider...

This.

Andretti didn't pull out because of the BOP, the WEC, TUSC or any supposed factory related nonsense.

[Christian Mogami]

Originally Posted by Jack Spratt

This.

Andretti didn't pull out because of the BOP, the WEC, TUSC or any supposed factory related nonsense.

Also Pagenaud going to Chevy(Ganassi).

The talk of this morning was that HPD has a week to match or better Chevy's(Ganassi)offer to keep him in the Honda's camp(Andretti or SPM).

But can you believe the people(Andretti team member) who whisper that to my ear or the Honda PR guy Jack?(who is paid to give wrong info or no info)

[Articus]

Originally Posted by Christian Mogami

Also Pagenaud going to Chevy(Ganassi).

Interesting. HPD would be foolish not to match the offer. Pagenauds versatility goes well beyond Indycar. He's a high profile plug and play sportscar driver. Hard not to see them wanting him inside one of the HPD coupes for WEC or Le Mans. On that note HPD can get him more rides than Ganassi ever could. He could switch to WEC, he could go do SuperGT, he could try SuperFormula, he could even get to test the Mclaren Honda F1 car!

This sounds like tit for tat contract negotiations. Pagenaud does his own negoatiating. No manager. I doubt Pagenaud will leave the Honda camp. So much more opportunity for a European driver.

[TF110]

Im not sure an hpd contract and connection would reach as far as f1, but the wec most definitely. Is indycar with Chevy a better direction when honda could turn it up next year? Its probably about the money.

[Rodger Davies]

Originally Posted by Christian Mogami

But can you believe the people(Andretti team member) who whisper that to my ear or the Honda PR guy Jack?(who is paid to give wrong info or no info)

Jack.

Seeing as you asked.

[Christian Mogami]

My source could have the Paganaud deal wrong.

SPM states only that there is a Big Money outfit after him.

And today a story breaks about the Nissan LMP1 Team is after him.

So this is going to be fun to see where he lands,

[TF110]

Looks like the wec is hpd's destination- http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/h...sport-pullout/

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by TF110

Looks like the wec is hpd's destination- http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/h...sport-pullout/

That is an EXTREMELY presumptive leap, from what was said. His comments seem rather noncommittal IMO.








L.P.

[TF110]

No. No, its not presumptive. The only team confirmed purchasing one is thinking the wec at least partially. All signs point to hpd running in the wec. No one said that was their only destination.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by TF110

No. No, its not presumptive. The only team confirmed purchasing one is thinking the wec at least partially. All signs point to hpd running in the wec. No one said that was their only destination.

Show me where the post even hints at both! It says "Looks like the wec is hpd's destination", singular as in the WEC only.









L.P.

[BullMan]

I don't think we'll see more than one HPD coupe on the TUSC grid next year, and that will be the one ESM car int he NAEC rounds. No full season P2s in TUSC, I reckon.

[Christian Mogami]

My opinion.

If IMSA doesn't take away 50hp from the DP and go with a softer tire there will not be a full season P2 in TUSCC next year.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Show me where the post even hints at both! It says "Looks like the wec is hpd's destination", singular as in the WEC only.









L.P.

Its being relative. We already know esm is buying two and will run some tusc races. Sorry I didnt spell it out specific enough. Whats it matter anyway? Theres nothing presumptive about saying there will be hpd coupes in the wec. Thats the main point.