[WEC] Porsche Prototype Discussion

[Canada ALMS fan]

knighty your insight is always appreciated.

[CTD]

Thanks Knightly!
You also got mentioned anonymously on Mulsanne Corner

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by carsten66

I've never expecting something else from Piech...

No surprise face here either. I think VAG-F1 rumours are always started by F1 media so that they'd have something to write about until the inevitable umpteenth official denial comes.

[porman]

Thank you for the information Knighty. That must have been one interesting lecture. I think Piech's strategy is a wise one. It will only push the technology for each brand even further. I can see the rivalry becoming quite intense come June 2014. Should make for a very entertaining race. Just so long as Porsche wins.

[Ultimo]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

No surprise face here either. I think VAG-F1 rumours are always started by F1 media so that they'd have something to write about until the inevitable umpteenth official denial comes.

Hadn't you heard?! Every single manufacturer in the entire world is joining/quitting F1!

Originally Posted by porman

Thank you for the information Knighty. That must have been one interesting lecture. I think Piech's strategy is a wise one. It will only push the technology for each brand even further. I can see the rivalry becoming quite intense come June 2014. Should make for a very entertaining race. Just so long as Porsche wins.

The only crime is Peugeot won't be there. Imagine 4 factories going at it... Alas.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Ultimo

The only crime is Peugeot won't be there. Imagine 4 factories going at it... Alas.

That really would have been great to see.

[Ultimo]

What woulda been really cool is we'd have had two diesels and two gas cars; and the Audis with AWD and Toyota strictly RWD. What a sight.

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Ultimo

What woulda been really cool is we'd have had two diesels and two gas cars; and the Audis with AWD and Toyota strictly RWD. What a sight.

Plenty of variety to stimulate interest can only be a good for the sport, shame it didn't happen.

[Jacques Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Ultimo

What woulda been really cool is we'd have had two diesels and two gas cars; and the Audis with AWD and Toyota strictly RWD. What a sight.

I agree.

AWD racing cars are awesome to watch. There's a U.S. series, the SCCA Pirelli World Challenge (I honestly have no idea if it's known or not, so sorry if I sound like I'm insulting your awareness of auto racing...I just assume it's a little niche series no one cares about if I like it ), with AWD Volvo S60s in it. I watch just to see them take off out of the corners with the beefy Cadillac making it up on the straights...variety's great in racing at all levels!

[TrueBlueFlyer]

the SCCA World Challenge is a fascinating series... though perhaps not as prestigious as the alternatives here in the US.... shame the Mustangs are made so slow for that series. One of the last events I volunteered for them the Mustang drivers protested the rules by not racing.

[EgoSprint]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

No surprise face here either. I think VAG-F1 rumours are always started by F1 media so that they'd have something to write about until the inevitable umpteenth official denial comes.

That is not quite right:

I'm director and editor in chief of Autoblog in its spanish edition. Some months ago, in the press road test of the new Audi A3 in Majorca, some senior managers of Audi told us that:

- The prospect of seen Audi versus Porsche in Le Mans is "very low"
- If Audi leaves LM, they will keep racing in other form
- They said that "there are only three main world racing events: WRC, F1 and Le Mans; since Porsche will be in Le Mans, and Volkswagen in WRC, let you imagine".
- After that, we published that Audi "may join F1"

Anyway... after the words of Ulrich Baretzky, there are no doubts that Audi will keep themselves on Le Mans...

[trickyd]

It amuses me that people are taking it as signed and sealed that Audi will stay because VAG and Audi suits are saying so. How often do bosses of any organisation, particularly sporting ones, lie about even the blatantly obvious? All the time. As an example, say Vettel signed for Ferrari next year, and everybody knew, how long would Red Bull and Ferrari keep up the pretence that it was all media imagined rubbish and they know nothing about it? Months most likely. There is a fair chance they will both be at Le Mans, especially if 2014 is a development year for Porsche, but I don't see them competing long term, and I wouldn't be suprised at all if Audi concentrated on Touring Cars, GT cars, DTM and all their other stuff without ever sharing tarmac with a Porsche protortype.

[R4z3rw33n]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

No surprise face here either. I think VAG-F1 rumours are always started by F1 media so that they'd have something to write about until the inevitable umpteenth official denial comes.

Originally Posted by EgoSprint

That is not quite right:

I'm director and editor in chief of Autoblog in its spanish edition. Some months ago, in the press road test of the new Audi A3 in Majorca, some senior managers of Audi told us that:

- The prospect of seen Audi versus Porsche in Le Mans is "very low"
- If Audi leaves LM, they will keep racing in other form
- They said that "there are only three main world racing events: WRC, F1 and Le Mans; since Porsche will be in Le Mans, and Volkswagen in WRC, let you imagine".
- After that, we published that Audi "may join F1"

Anyway... after the words of Ulrich Baretzky, there are no doubts that Audi will keep themselves on Le Mans...

What Pandamasque's said seems pretty reasonable; at least, if precedent's any indicator. I'm amazed the major motorsport press isn't yet covering F1 drivers' bowel movements, and attempting to pass it off as 'news'.
The quality of content provided by such outlets has been on a steady decline as far as I can remember.

As an aside, your suggestions seem based on some pretty tenuous internal speculation.
You've somehow reasoned if ~A, B, -> C, without any firm basis for such (particularly when there are, despite popular belief, other options).

Regardless of whether events transpire in similar fashion as predicted, context is important.
It's hard to place a great deal of merit on off-hand comments made by regional (consumer) product/sales managers, which concern global motorsport ventures and significant expense.

Speculation's fine, to an extent. Just don't expect it to be considered otherwise sans any reasonable credence.

[Simmi]

Oliver Runschke ‏says on twitter that Porsche have confirmed the LMP1 will be entered in 2014 WEC by Weissach based works team, roll out will take place mid 2013.

https://twitter.com/oliver_runschke

Not really a surprise or anything new but good to see a potential confirmation.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Oliver Runschke ‏says on twitter that Porsche have confirmed the LMP1 will be entered in 2014 WEC by Weissach based works team, roll out will take place mid 2013.

https://twitter.com/oliver_runschke

Not really a surprise or anything new but good to see a potential confirmation.

Good news.
Mid 2013!?, has the time table been moved forward a bit? Last time it was in the end of 2013, so perhaps we could see a test race at the final WEC race?

[Canada ALMS fan]

EI has an article up in French confirming too! This is exciting, full WEC so we'll all get to see it.
http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...nce-14766.html

[Simmi]

All the new Porsche info in one place here:

http://www.planetlemans.com/2012/12/...ns+Newsfeed%29

Interesting that they have promoted Jean-Karl Vernay up the ranks. I didn't know he had been racing Porsches this year. If he pops up at Le Mans next year I wouldn't be surprised. Perhaps one for a P1 seat in the long-term.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

full WEC so...

Like that was really a question mark?

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by deggis

Like that was really a question mark?

True. However after hearing so many false rumours and announcements in sportscars the past 5 years one can forgive me for being a little skeptical until things are spelled out. 2014 will be a mega year in LMP1, imagine if Peugeot had stuck around too?

[The Badger]

Porsche normally do what they say they will do .

[Holt]

What are the chances American Patrick Long gets a factory ride in 2014?

An American hasn't finished on the overall podium in what, 10 years?

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Holt

What are the chances American Patrick Long gets a factory ride in 2014?

An American hasn't finished on the overall podium in what, 10 years?

Im sure he is already destined for the P project .

[deggis]

Gary Watkins:

It is understood that approximately 200 people are working on the P1 project.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104769

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Im sure he is already destined for the P project .

I feel possibly the opposite way, where by quite a lot of existing Porsche drivers will be passed over in favour of new blood.

[Fogelhund]

Roll out in 2013 could easily mean car on the ground, starting testing. It doesn't necessarily mean races entered, as you would think they would do some months of testing before racing. Though races in 2013 would be nice, if the car is ready.