Acura/HPD's future plans

[AU N EGL]

doh that would do it.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Well, let me put that in a different light. There are 4 teams in P-2 and every one of them own the cars that they are racing, and there will probably only be 2 teams that move to P-1. What do you think Acura will do about the other two teams that own their cars? Which is the reasoning behind it seeming to me that there will be Acuras in both classes.


L.P.

I agree, and think cars will be in both classes. It wouldn't suprise me if Forsythe ended up buying one of the P2 cars - possibly one of the teams that is presumably moving up a class and running it.

[TWK]

Originally Posted by joeb

Also, I agree Badger, having Brabs be competing for overall wins sure would be fun to watch!

He's not now?

[The Badger]

Yeah ..... you know what was ment ..... LMP1 wins ....

[joeb]

Originally Posted by TWK

He's not now?

hahaha, good point! Ok, so I mean next year when IMSA adopts the full P2 regs (if they do).

[chernaudi]

Originally Posted by Dead-Eye

Hasn't Audi done away with them? I seem to remember reading something to that effect...could be wrong though.

Not to go off the main topic, but I was at the Mid Ohio ALMS show the day after the ALMS race, and both Audis that were raced had the front brake shrouds on, but didn't run the ones on the rear brakes.

Also, if you watch the video that Pirro did on the ALMS's you'll see that very fact much more out in the open.

Appearntly, Acura is just following Audi and Peugeot's lead in that area.

[deggis]

Another change to prove they are serious

[The Badger]

Dont like that at all ..... it did look good .

[Aslak Vind]

Saw Brabham at CHGP in Copenhagen, and I was amazed as to such a nice bloke he is. And that Acura drivingsuit, that is seriously cool"

[HORNDAWG]

Well Highcroft-Patron (I know) have once again got that "w" at the head of P-2. And the pace that the Acuras are setting against the Spyders is rather impressive, especially considering the D.I. upgrade that the Spyders got which has been reputed to be both 10% more powerful and have 10% better economy.


L.P.

[cmk]

This is the first race where it really felt like the Acuras were universally racing better than the Porsches. It had a little feeling of sea change around it.

[Aslak Vind]

I think Acura is busy these days, testing solutions. Preparing for next year

[SebringMG]

Originally Posted by cmk

This is the first race where it really felt like the Acuras were universally racing better than the Porsches. It had a little feeling of sea change around it.

IMO they have better drivers than Penske and have a car now that is very nearly as good as a Porsche (in Penske hands, not Dyson lol)....Penske teamwork still better tho.....

[Aslak Vind]

I think you are right, I have never grasped the concept around Penske´s hiring of the error-prone Ryan Briscoe. There was actually a reason behind Toyota´s letting him go.. Believe it or not..

[cmk]

I'm not really seeing the criticism of the #6 drivers extending to the #7. Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas are among the best in the business. I believe that the Acura teams have suffered from having excellent drivers but not necessarily consistent pairings. Brabs is top-notch, for instance, but his partner is not up to his pace. The AGR car has played musical chairs for 2 years, and Fernandez/Diaz should really be the most even pairing but have had bad luck, some of it doubtless self-perpetuated. The De Ferran/Pagenaud pair should come good in time, but both are in need of a few more races to equal Bernhard/Dumas in reliability.

[peckadj]

yeah brabs is doing all the work this year. maybe the team was a bit short of cash

[dxk1]

Originally Posted by cmk

Brabs is top-notch, for instance, but his partner is not up to his pace.

You have to admit, there aren't too many drivers in the P2 Class that can match Brabs' pace. I believe Sharp has performed much better than anyone predicted at the beginning of the year. He certainly has kept his nose clean and not made too many blunders. He has usually handed Brabs a decent car in a position for Brabs to make a run for victory. Three P2 victories for the team would attest to the fact that Sharp has not been that much of a liability. Consider, they have beaten Penske three times this year. Not too shabby.

DK

[cmk]

No, it's not shabby. That said, they've made some good calls and it's helped. On average, the pairing is not as fast as Bernhard/Dumas. That's not a knock - they have been one of the strongest driver pairings the series has seen.

[Aslak Vind]

Originally Posted by dxk1

You have to admit, there aren't too many drivers in the P2 Class that can match Brabs' pace. I believe Sharp has performed much better than anyone predicted at the beginning of the year. He certainly has kept his nose clean and not made too many blunders. He has usually handed Brabs a decent car in a position for Brabs to make a run for victory. Three P2 victories for the team would attest to the fact that Sharp has not been that much of a liability. Consider, they have beaten Penske three times this year. Not too shabby.

DK

I agree!

One of the best pairings, we have seen Branham in, was way back when he sdrove in LMP1 with Jan Magnussen. Those two are both immensely talented, raw speed and seldom makes mistakes.

[Mal]

Autosport print edition is saying that Hondas LMP1 programme is still not approved and the it is very unlikely to be at Le Mans 2009. This is largely because of the uncertainty over the rules meaning that the LMP1 car is still a computer model will not be turned into reality until the 2010 rules are confirmed in November.

[ger80]

Think the ACO does not a good jon in this point. They started the discussion over one year ago and still didnt fixed anything ...

[JAG]

September 15th is when '09 LMP1 and LMP2 regs will be announced according to an ACO press release (on Planet Le Mans).

I'm not sure if the 'Evo' regs will be revealed at the same time.

[deggis]

Did Autosport interview someone from HDP/Honda in that story? And especially 2010 regs were mentioned?

[Aslak Vind]

Originally Posted by ger80

Think the ACO does not a good jon in this point. They started the discussion over one year ago and still didnt fixed anything ...

Well, at least they are consistent!

But its rather rude towards the constructors, not being able to decide..

[deggis]

Originally Posted by JAG

I'm not sure if the 'Evo' regs will be revealed at the same time.

In November. According to that E-I press conference summary.

Like you said, in that announcement from July, it says Sept. Must mean only 09 regs.

If I remember correctly those "new Acura in CAD" rumours started in June before Le Mans... has it been in halt whole summer then?