[LMS] Australian Le Mans Series?

[kurski]

Originally Posted by johntt

Thoughts?

Australia's Le Mans Series could be a good, but I think that is not as good as Asian Le Mans Series.

I think the WEC or the ALMS calendar should be the Australian race.

[rich07]

My thoughts?

An Australian Le Mans Series would be pretty cool but it wont happen for a few reasons.

1. Money. We have a decent field of GT3 machines here in Aus GT but Im guessing its not pain free for those campaigning the cars. So with that said-how on earth do we expect people to move up to LMPC or LMP2 cars which are much more expensive to race? Not withstanding the fact that most people can point out a Ferrari or a Porsche in the street but wouldnt have a clue what an LMP was. That doesnt help find sponsors.

2. If it aint Holden or Ford here not many people care except for the diehard fans and they are few in number. Harsh but true. Maybe if you put some V8 Supercar drivers in seats you might get some more spectators.
Most people here including motorsport fans have been brainwashed into thinkng V8 Supercars are the be all and end all of motorsport on four wheels. Variety is the spice of life you idiots, any car on the WEC grid would be faster then a V8 Supercar on any track you mention. Most people here have the stupid idea that their beloved V8s would blow the doors off any of the Eurotrash or Japcrap (their words not mine) that race in ACO racing these days. The reality is somewhat different

*I like the V8s-I think Bathurst is one of the greatest tracks and the 1000 one of the toughest races in the world but so many people here need to take the blinkers off and enjoy the variety that motorsport offers outside V8s.

3. A race as part of the WEC or Asian Le Mans Series would make a far more realistic option and you'd have a bigger more stronger grid to boot with a chance of seeing Audi v Toyota which you would definitely not see in an AusLMS.

Its nice to dream isnt it? Too bad I got into sportscar racing after The Race of a Thousand Years..I dont care who was at fault for the race not returning but you screwed up royally!

[MitchZ06]

Don't worry Rich, it'll be back in the year 3000....

The biggest problem is that huge Holden vs Ford following is solely made up of bogans, the more motorsport orientated fan in Australia is rather rare in comparison.

And yes, I had an argument once with someone I knew who believed the Holden V8 Supercar would lap any track I cared to name faster than the GT1 Corvette C6.R....

[rich07]

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

Don't worry Rich, it'll be back in the year 3000....

I can wait til then (starts tapping foot and glancing intermittedly at clock )

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

And yes, I had an argument once with someone I knew who believed the Holden V8 Supercar would lap any track I cared to name faster than the GT1 Corvette C6.R....

[cptkablamo]

If someone with some promotional money went in - like the Gold Coast, or an event in WA with some government backing, and you had it for a few years, you'd build up a following. You'd have to argue whether a round of the Super GT or AsiLMS would be better with an eventual eye on the WEC.

You stage it as an entertainment event in or close to a big city and you'll be ok.
We all know that people never came to watch Champ Cars at the Gold Coast - they only came for the V8 Supercars - what happens when the Champ Cars go away? You get the lowest crowds in the history of the event and even after working it back up after a couple of of years you are still nigh on 100 000 down on when the Champ Cars were there.

Holding it out in the sticks won't work - get a direct link to Eastern Creek and you *may* have a chance, Sandown could work if they upgraded the track but it needs to be right there in front of people - so you'd have to be looking at a street event...wonder if Albert Park could be used twice a year?

It's possible...it would be difficult and I hope it happens.

[Asa]

If a promoter can bring back "The Race of a Thousand Years" and have good prize money in place, and he opens up the entry for LMP2, GTE and GTC, then I am pretty sure many of the current teams from WEC, AsLMS and ALMS will travel.

[Matt]

Originally Posted by Asa

If a promoter can bring back "The Race of a Thousand Years" and have good prize money in place, and he opens up the entry for LMP2, GTE and GTC, then I am pretty sure many of the current teams from WEC, AsLMS and ALMS will travel.

that'd be an excellent event

[Purist]

Would you be thinking another 6-hour race for a revived Adelaide event, or some other duration/distance?

[Chiana]

8 Hour would be ideal for me, 4PM to midnight. Run it on the same weekend as Clipsal 500 too, first schedule V8SC race for midday and then the second for Sunday, as per usual. Also make the Australian GT and/or Porsche Carrera AU cars eglible for GTC to boost up the grid counts.

Of course this will never ever happen but it's nice to dream a little

Let's face it, even Australian GT isn't in the best of shapes. If they cannot even attract GT3s, what change would ACO-style series/event have?