Sportscar/GT (and Le Mans) Rumours and Repetition

[Rcz]

Why? The PWC already does the sprint thing here.

Perhaps this is an IMSA ploy?

[DS"]

I don't know why, but this proposed series has some sort of ChampCar vibe around it and I don't mean it in a good way. Wouldn't make me wonder if those same people that ran ChampCar in the later years are behind this new series. On the other hand, NA sportscar racing lost some tracks and teams in the aftermath of the ALMS/RSCS merger, so maybe there could be a solid base for that.
But a PPV model to sell races? Seriously? I understand that non-linear TV gets more and more traction, but I doubt that many people would pay 5-10$ just to watch GT racing, which already exists all over the world and they could probably watch for free on the internet. So what's the point in trying to sell just another GT series?

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Seems the GT3 and GTLM versions of the M6 were at Ladoux









L.P.

They were not.

[Gingers4Justice]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

They were not.

Do you have another source which contradicts S365's report, then? If so, care to share it?

Posts like these aren't terribly helpful for discussion. If you know something, great...but a little more than just going round correcting people would be even better.

[FormulaFox]

Originally Posted by YZFrider

Could this be related to that post from FormulaFox about a "bombshell" that will shake up the sportscar scene. An upstart series. 10 investors that sound like they have considerable influence.

No. The bombshell I've been sitting on(and believe me, my @$$ is in PAIN from it) directly involves matters of IMSA, and heavily involves LMP2 and GTLM.

[Rcz]

Fox, let me ask: in your opinion is this rumor a good thing for the sport or a bad thing.

Should we be excited or worried.

[FormulaFox]

Originally Posted by Rcz

Fox, let me ask: in your opinion is this rumor a good thing for the sport or a bad thing.

Should we be excited or worried.

Can't say one way or another. It has the potential to be either depending on how it's handled, and I do not have enough of the finer details to tell which way they're going. But the main goal is to shake things up, and that's more likely to produce positive than negative results under current circumstances.

But don't get too excited - there isn't even a guarantee of it going anywhere. What's going on involves a lot of groups that were previously uninterested in this matter, and they're a major lynchpin of the plan - if they get cold feet the entire idea is likely to collapse.

[Simmi]

The rumour that just will not die.

Make of it what you will: VW about to purchase Red Bull F1.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/34297046

In the same fortnight that Porsche increase their WEC commitment and Volkswagen say they want to create a dynasty in the WRC.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Simmi

The rumour that just will not die.

Make of it what you will: VW about to purchase Red Bull F1.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/34297046

In the same fortnight that Porsche increase their WEC commitment and Volkswagen say they want to create a dynasty in the WRC.

I reckon the F1 media is contractually obliged by Bernie to try and fan this rumour at least 3 times a year, under risk of losing their accreditation and paddock passes.

[FormulaFox]

Originally Posted by Simmi

The rumour that just will not die.

Make of it what you will: VW about to purchase Red Bull F1.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/34297046

In the same fortnight that Porsche increase their WEC commitment and Volkswagen say they want to create a dynasty in the WRC.

The way things are going with Red Bull's engine deal, I wouldn't be surprised if RBR needs to come over to P1-L to keep a program going.

[MoMedic9019]

Montoya may be testing for Porsche shortly...

Has a contract through 2016, but, may have options during and after.

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by Simmi

The rumour that just will not die.

Make of it what you will: VW about to purchase Red Bull F1.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/34297046

In the same fortnight that Porsche increase their WEC commitment and Volkswagen say they want to create a dynasty in the WRC.

This will keep going for as long as it's in RBR's interest to do so, which it is at the moment because without any outside interest Red Bull Racing are going to get bent over a barrel by the terms of their engine contract with Ferrari.

So one call from Helmut to an eager-to-impress Eddie (who, despite his best efforts, will not be able to dine off "Hamilton to Mercedes" forever) later and we arrive at F1's version of The Neverending Story.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by J Jay

This will keep going for as long as it's in RBR's interest to do so, which it is at the moment because without any outside interest Red Bull Racing are going to get bent over a barrel by the terms of their engine contract with Ferrari.

Wonder if anyone is willing to bring Playlife back into F1. I suspect Mechacrome might be able to find some rebadging supplied from the 90's.

[MoMedic9019]

Montoya now confirmed for Porsche 919 test at Bahrein.

[deggis]

That Red Bull prematurely terminated its contract with Renault (altough then Renault said it is being "renegotiated") certainly makes this rumor right now more interesting.

Anyway, naughty VW may just gotten much bigger issues than anything related to racing: VW could face $18-billion fine for evading smog rules, cheating pollution tests

[deggis]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

Montoya now confirmed for Porsche 919 test at Bahrein.

"Confirmed" = possibility.

http://www.racer.com/wec-le-mans/ite...sche-lmp1-test

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120879

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by deggis

"Confirmed" = possibility.

http://www.racer.com/wec-le-mans/ite...sche-lmp1-test

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120879

GGoodwin said on the MWM Facebook page that the test is mooted as a possibility in the media, but in fact it is already confirmed.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by deggis

"Confirmed" = possibility.

http://www.racer.com/wec-le-mans/ite...sche-lmp1-test

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/120879

No, it's happening. It's just not been said by Porsche publicly yet.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by deggis

That Red Bull prematurely terminated its contract with Renault (altough then Renault said it is being "renegotiated") certainly makes this rumor right now more interesting.

Anyway, naughty VW may just gotten much bigger issues than anything related to racing: VW could face $18-billion fine for evading smog rules, cheating pollution tests

This is massive. Though, I will say, when I had my SRT-4 Neon, I ran a 3" catless turbo-back exhaust. The ECU was programmed to ignore the missing cat o2 sensor.

In Wisconsin the DOT only looked for engine codes showing a missing cat, or faulty o2 sensors, upstream or down. They abandonded the sniffer test in the late 90's.

[Lagunaseca_4life]

Originally Posted by deggis

Anyway, naughty VW may just gotten much bigger issues than anything related to racing: VW could face $18-billion fine for evading smog rules, cheating pollution tests

Read that else where too,tdi clean diesel my a**.knew it wasn't clean when I could see soot poring out of the r18s pipes.but anyways some reports seem to indicate vw will have time to pay and recall vehicles,so I wonder if it will impact any future motorsport budgets.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by Lagunaseca_4life

I wonder if it will impact any future motorsport budgets.

Not likely.

[FormulaFox]

Originally Posted by Lagunaseca_4life

Read that else where too,tdi clean diesel my a**.knew it wasn't clean when I could see soot poring out of the r18s pipes.

There is no such thing as clean internal combustion no matter the fuel. Even under optimal conditions it's still a marketing thing.

However, it IS proven that today's diesel is cleanER burning than regular gasoline.

[chernaudi]

I see this as a relative non-issue considering that Toyota's and especially GM's problems that the US Gov't went after them for actually injured and killed people.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

I see this as a relative non-issue considering that Toyota's and especially GM's problems that the US Gov't went after them for actually injured and killed people.

In that sense maybe a non-issue, but caught on systematically and directly lying to customers.

But is there some kind of a protectionism going on?

[TF110]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

I see this as a relative non-issue considering that Toyota's and especially GM's problems that the US Gov't went after them for actually injured and killed people.

Lets be honest. Toyotas problem was not lying to governments. It was pedal misapplication/the floormats jamming the accelerator. That can be overcome with holding the brakes or shifting to neutral but people didnt do it. GM was a different issue which was failing to recall a defective part which they knew of. Thats more closely alligned to the VW deal.