Sportscar/GT (and Le Mans) Rumours and Repetition

[Deleted]

The Viper might be gone, as Riley would have to spend money to modify the old chassis for the new "regs" just to be used once in the whole year, and also it's disappeared from the FIA BoP lists again, so that could release one spot.

Anyway, what you mean by four Fords?

edit: scratch that modification rule as AM would let them just run the old chassis for one year I guess. But were they particularly satisfied this year, apart from the notice they got?

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by Chiana

The Viper might be gone, as Riley would have to spend money to modify the old chassis for the new "regs" just to be used once in the whole year, and also it's disappeared from the FIA BoP lists again, so that could release one spot.

Anyway, what you mean by four Fords?

edit: scratch that modification rule as AM would let them just run the old chassis for one year I guess. But were they particularly satisfied this year, apart from the notice they got?

I was trying to block out as much of the Ford going back to Le Mans PR as I could, but from what I heard it sounded as if they wanted to run both their WEC cars and TUSC cars at Le Mans next year. I might have misunderstood what they were getting at, but I'm pretty sure some Ford exec said four cars at Le Mans next year…

Now whether the ACO gives them four spots is a different matter…

[Deleted]

Alright I had pretty much passed on the articles, frankly because I don't have much interest in the matter, but having read them

The two Ford teams will be operated by Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS). Both series teams intend to compete with a four-car effort at Le Mans.

I guess it's pretty clear then where the free'd up garages go. Obviously that's two auto invites, and the other two if actually entered as said ACO are gonna let in because of good faith

[TheMightyM]

And I remembered correctly. From the Ford press release announcing the program:

“Both series teams intend to compete with a four-car effort at Le Mans.”

So, yes, Ford wants four spots. Whether they’ll get four is a different matter entirely. Two is a given, three likely, though asking for four may be asking a bit much but I’m sure at worst the fourth car would be on the reserve list.

[Deleted]

If Aston Martin is able to get five and AF Corse with it's satellite teams million every year, the four are given. They want to cater such big name anyway, it's all about catering now as Viper and co showed

[FormulaFox]

Anyone heard if Glickenhaus has managed to get enough orders to provide hope for homologation?

[deggis]

Originally Posted by FormulaFox

Anyone heard if Glickenhaus has managed to get enough orders to provide hope for homologation?

When was GTE ambition mentioned?

On other hand, he mentioned on the long RLM interview (was broadcasted on the test day, iirc) that if sells enough of the road cars, he might do an actual private LMP1.

[Jam3s]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Depends on what LMPs would replace them. Apart from MSR, all the LMP2 teams with decent results in their own series are already at Le Mans every year, so the extra LMPs would possibly be taken from the rear of the ELMS grid. And frankly, given the option, I'd rather take two GTE-Pro cars that run towards the front of that class's field than two LMP2 cars that trundle at the back of theirs.

Well not all teams can find the funding for non pay drivers during a full season and thus rely on slower pay drivers to go racing. It doesn't mean they are inept in their ability to produce a capable car in the right hands. Given it's LM, the chances of finding funding for the one off event to put faster bums in seats is higher.

[Koenigsegg]

Can't imagine Porsche also closing down it's factory TUSC involvement next year for the 2017 car. So Porsche can still be present in GTE-Pro at Le Mans next year under the Porsche North America banner. All current GTE cars will be grandfathered for next year, including GTE-Pro. So they don't have to develop anything new for Le Mans only.

[FormulaFox]

Originally Posted by deggis

When was GTE ambition mentioned?

Early on in the project he talked about taking the car to Le Mans. Since then he mostly backed the talk off to GT3 at best, but with the revamp of the rules coming there's little doubt the door to GTE is open again.

[MoMedic9019]

I guess it's a rumour...but...

2016 will be the final year for WEC at COTA, there will be a new US venue in 2017.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

I guess it's a rumour...but...

2016 will be the final year for WEC at COTA, there will be a new US venue in 2017.

And that rumoured venue (if I read some tweets correctly today)...

...is...

...Road America. (with pitlane/paddock upgrades)

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

And that rumoured venue (if I read some tweets correctly today)...

...is...

...Road America. (with pitlane/paddock upgrades)

Far from guaranteed, and it may not be in 2017. New information I've learned today with a few phone calls may see no US round in 2017, but re-appearing in 2018.

It depends on a few things. COTA is in massive financial strife and I fully expect the venue to be closing it's doors in terms of motorsport after then end of the 2016 season.

[J Jay]

This was being heavily hinted at when Marshal Pruett was on MWM this week, laying out the case for COTA to more or less switch full-time to hosting entertainment & corporate events. I didn't connect the dots then unfortunately.

Regardless of which venue takes it (apart from Road Atlanta?) they will need to prepare so if the US round is left out for '17 then it may be a wise call.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by J Jay

This was being heavily hinted at when Marshal Pruett was on MWM this week, laying out the case for COTA to more or less switch full-time to hosting entertainment & corporate events. I didn't connect the dots then unfortunately.

Correct. They are struggling quite significantly. F1 may not be returning after this year.

Regardless of which venue takes it (apart from Road Atlanta?) they will need to prepare so if the US round is left out for '17 then it may be a wise call.

Road America is the best prepared to handle it, they know what needs to be done. There have been plans for the required improvements for certain events since 2012... some have happened, others were postponed. Part of the postponed plans have been the pit garages and terraces.

[Deleted]

COTA giving up? This is fantastic news! Also might force the ACO to reconsider it's "requirements" if they want to be in US.

But let's be honest Indy Roval is the only other Grade 1 in States, and with garages, and ACO talking heads have mentioned it before, so you know... Also they have the other two Grade 1 tracks in Canada and Mexico so they might just say "well we are still present in North America if we go there" or some shiz...

And if F1 is left without circuit, they'll either go to Indy too or hire Tilke to build another asphaltdrome in the middle of nowhere in Alabama or something. Which is where WEC would inevitably switch then too.

I would love Road America but I don't believe in it any more than I believe in seeing P1s at PLM and Sebring again.

[TF110]

Said tweet from Pruett https://twitter.com/marshallpruett/s...87474736336896

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Chiana

COTA giving up? This is fantastic news! Also might force the ACO to reconsider it's "requirements" if they want to be in US.

But let's be honest Indy Roval is the only other Grade 1 in States, and with garages, and ACO talking heads have mentioned it before, so you know... Also they have the other two Grade 1 tracks in Canada and Mexico so they might just say "well we are still present in North America if we go there" or some shiz...

And if F1 is left without circuit, they'll either go to Indy too or hire Tilke to build another asphaltdrome in the middle of nowhere in Alabama or something. Which is where WEC would inevitably switch then too.

I would love Road America but I don't believe in it any more than I believe in seeing P1s at PLM and Sebring again.

Why do you believe that it is ACO who decides the venues?
To my understanding, it is far more possible that it is FIA, as they are doing the grading, and we saw LMP's race at Road America and Sebring before FIA joined.

[Deleted]

If I had said FIA deggis would've slated me for blaming FIA for everything

But I don't disagree with you. It's probably more FIA than ACO. Whatever, it's the same unit now.

Originally Posted by TF110

Said tweet from Pruett https://twitter.com/marshallpruett/s...87474736336896

I think if this somehow were to actually magically happen, it would become my second favorite race in the world.

And Road America isn't even in my top 5 NA tracks, so it'd mean a lot

[TF110]

A wec race at Road America would be the best race in N.A. imo. I'd be ecstatic to see lmp1's back there. I wonder if theyd be close to Indycar in terms of lap time.

[Deleted]

They'd surely demolish them, the Dallaras might have been able to easily outpace the second hand P1 Lolas and HPDs in the ALMS twilight days, and even earlier Audis and Porsche Spyders in some capacity, but the game has changed now

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by Chiana

COTA giving up? This is fantastic news! Also might force the ACO to reconsider it's "requirements" if they want to be in US.

COTA is likely,(90+%) to close it's doors to motorsport after the 2016 season. Last I heard today, and this hasn't been discussed in public, is that they can't afford sanctioning fees, and certain calendars for 2016 will not see a return of certain series, or the addition of COTA to schedules.

Buh-bye Lonestar LeMans, F1, and everything else.

A US round is guaranteed, the additional round will be either Montreal or Mexico. 9 rounds, possibly 10 maximum. (Sebring might be an addition in the distant future depending on GT regs/convergence.)

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

COTA is likely,(90+%) to close it's doors to motorsport after the 2016 season. Last I heard today, and this hasn't been discussed in public, is that they can't afford sanctioning fees, and certain calendars for 2016 will not see a return of certain series, or the addition of COTA to schedules.

Buh-bye Lonestar LeMans, F1, and everything else.

A US round is guaranteed, the additional round will be either Montreal or Mexico. 9 rounds, possibly 10 maximum. (Sebring might be an addition in the distant future depending on GT regs/convergence.)

COTA also has property tax issues.

And the obvious questions: Where does this leave the Nurburgring, which also wants a WEC date? It, like Road America, works much better with an August date rather than April or October.

It COTA disappears and the WEC comes to Road America, would that continue to be a joint weekend with IMSA?

And what does IMSA add in place of COTA?

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

COTA also has property tax issues.

They have many, many issues.

And the obvious questions: Where does this leave the Nurburgring, which also wants a WEC date? It, like Road America, works much better with an August date rather than April or October.

That's an interesting question. I think we will see the WEC go to 10 rounds, Bahrain to get dumped, RA takes over COTA, and Montreal or Mexico get added.

It COTA disappears and the WEC comes to Road America, would that continue to be a joint weekend with IMSA?

That's the desire.

And what does IMSA add in place of COTA?

Portland? Montreal? Who knows... but, there are options.

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

That's an interesting question. I think we will see the WEC go to 10 rounds, Bahrain to get dumped, RA takes over COTA, and Montreal or Mexico get added.

They can’t just dump Bahrain -- in fact, it’s probably the most stable date on the calender right now aside from Le Mans as the WEC has a contract through 2017.