Sportscar/GT (and Le Mans) Rumours and Repetition

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by Acid09

As great as all this is shaping up to be, I'm a little afraid that Ecclestone and the powers in F1 won't let it happen that easily...they wouldn't sit and watch while sports car racing grows stronger than their precious circus.

BE is on the brink of losing most of his powers. Whoever replaces him may not have all those strings to pull (which is why CVC will stick to BE for as long as they can).

[gustavobamba]

I believe that Alfa Romeo could put the Ferrari V6 turbo engine and compete in LMP1.

Ferrari LMP1 - i don´t think will happen

Alfa Romeo LMP1 with ferrari v6 engine- probably in 2015

[Samoan Attorney]

Originally Posted by gustavobamba

I believe that Alfa Romeo could put the Ferrari V6 turbo engine and compete in LMP1.

Ferrari LMP1 - i don´t think will happen

Alfa Romeo LMP1 with ferrari v6 engine- probably in 2015

LC2 anyone?

[Pandamasque]

I agree about Alfa, It would also makes sense road car marketing-wise, as they are more or less present in the segments occupied by Audi and Toyota, as well as Porsche when 4C comes out.
The next logical step would be a Maserati badged P2 engine or even a complete car. Unfortunately it looks like Marchionne has given up on Lancia.

[DS"]

Alfa in LMP1 would really fit. Sure, Ferrari would be even bigger and better. But Ferrari doesn't really need to be marketed anymore. I mean, everyone knows Ferrari and what they do. Alfa on the other hand...

Maybe FIAT could do it like GM did in Grand-Am: Badging their cars as Ferrari or Alfa Romeo. The costs would stay the same, as I doubt that FIAT will allow Ferrari and Alfa to produce their own packages.

And yes, Lancia is unfortunately done. They've become Chrysler in all but name.

[Mal]

I am with those who think a Ferrari P1 is unlikely and this is posturing to get their way in F1. However as I have said before Ferrari is the one team who could attract sufficient private funding to pay for it perhaps from Russia or elsewhere, so I do live in hope.

Also with the new sales targets there is a big push forward for Maserati at the moment so maybe there is something in the offing for them. It would make sense to use Ferrari's racing facility to design a car for any fiat brand.

[Thaw Daggerslash]

Alfa? Good god no. They'd be stopped by the side of the track in a cloud of steam within a couple of hours!

Sorry, that's such an over-used stereotype, I know, but couldn't resist.

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by Thaw Daggerslash

Alfa? Good god no. They'd be stopped by the side of the track in a cloud of steam within a couple of hours!

Sorry, that's such an over-used stereotype, I know, but couldn't resist.

That's exactly the reason why they need to excel in endurance racing. Having some US-bound program would also help their return (saga!) to the US market.

[Maelochs]

Probabaly a lot of Americans have never even heard of Alfa---but would endurance racing in Europe really help in North America?

[Pandamasque]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

but would endurance racing in Europe really help in North America?

No. But try reading my post again.

[Maelochs]

Well ... I guess they could build a Dallara-Ferrari and do what i suggested Ferrari do, sell a new 333 SP ... Not so sure any manufacturer will do well in USCR P-classes.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

Well ... I guess they could build a Dallara-Ferrari and do what i suggested Ferrari do, sell a new 333 SP ... Not so sure any manufacturer will do well in USCR P-classes.

Manufacturer focus should be on WEC, and IMO that includes the GT entrants.

[Pandamasque]

If USCR reconsiders its stance on P1 by 2015 or 2016, Ferralfaserati can get a private team to run some factory backed cars there against Porsche.

[Maelochs]

No upside for Ferrari, running P2 through another team, or even running a P1 probably, compared to what they can do for so much less with their GT program, it seems to me.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Manufacturer focus should be on WEC, and IMO that includes the GT entrants.

Not really!







L.P.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Not really!







L.P.

That's not really my opinion? Hmmm Ok.

[vincegail]

Originally Posted by Samoan Attorney

LC2 anyone?

Yes please!

[Pandemonium]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Not really!







L.P.

You must be so blind to say that the Fia Wec is not where its at. Come on the FIA and the ACO don´t care at all about USA racing. But how could they the USCR looks so boring. No lmp1 manufacturers will race on an american series get it straight. Lmp1 manufacturers are european or japanese. So stop polluting our thread with the stupid USCR that nobody cares about. Haven´t you heard of Le Mans? lol all participants in the WEC automaticlly go there plus the future winners of ELMS and ASLMS. So go talk about Sebring and stuff like that in the USCR thread.

[Thaw Daggerslash]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

No upside for Ferrari, running P2 through another team, or even running a P1 probably, compared to what they can do for so much less with their GT program, it seems to me.

Getting screwed over by the so called "balance" of performance, you mean?

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

You're aware that 1000km is shorter than the current race distance for any race with P1s in, right? I mean, I agree with that distance - for me, that is the classic endurance racing distance - but that wouldn't make much difference to the present.

I've said since this started, if you don't include classic races/circuits in this, it doesn't have the credibility as a series that it needs. China/Bahrain might serve a short-term need, but there's no history there to create the 'brand' that they need to to make it a worthwhile, long-term championship.

And the Ferrari thing won't happen without an external backer; as usual, they'll just be after something from Bernie or the F1 rulemakers.

Right, Im thinking 1000 miles, as that would be a longer distance. KM was in my mind though since were talking non-US centered racing. Even at Interlagos, 1000km would be a little more than 5 hours in time. But if it were 1000 miles it would be almost 8.5 hours.

[Mr Pink]

I think the aim should be to make every event special, this in term would lead to a strong series. At the moment Le Mans is basically the only event of this type in the WEC, maybe with the round in Japan on it's way there? Of course there's the big three in the US but they're all in USCR next year.

In my mind this could be achived by seriously considering things like venue, lenght and not least general interest, atmosphere and historic relevance. Of course it wouldn't reach Le Mans in terms of popularity but that isn't the point. The point is, in a world champinship with as few rounds as the WEC there's no room for Shanghais that no one cares about, before every race people should be excited "wow I look forward to the Mil Milhas this year!"

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Manufacturer focus should be on WEC, and IMO that includes the GT entrants.

I agree , but works Gt teams I mean . And support privateers in their various series .

Manufacturers should be pushed towards supplying a 2 car privateer team in P1 .

[dxk1]

Welcome to the forum Pandemonium with your slings and arrows (and your axe)! Quite a how-do-you-do!

DK

[Mal]

Not really a rumour - but a wish...

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/in...-revive-spyker

It would be good to see them back

[GT6]

It would be nice but can't see it really happening. Love the look of those cars completely different from the other look alike gt's and they sounded good to