Porsche LMP1 return for 2014 confirmed!

[Spyderman]

This is Murphy's take on things:
http://murphythebear.com/blog/index....ut-what-is-it/

[PorscheCurves]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

This is Murphy's take on things:
http://murphythebear.com/blog/index....ut-what-is-it/

Pretty good read that.

[pederb]

I wonder how the cancellation of LMP-1 will affect Porsche's decision of returning to Prototype racing?

[Audi Racer]

Originally Posted by pederb

I wonder how the cancellation of LMP-1 will affect Porsche's decision of returning to Prototype racing?

No worries LMP1 is only being cancelled in the LMS. Porsche is running in the WEC. i dont think any manufacturers have interest in the LMs which is why they probably binned the class.

[JAG]

In Autosports article about Penske running Porsches, it's said Penske were in talks with Audi about running an R18 at Le Mans this year.

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by Audi Racer

No worries LMP1 is only being cancelled in the LMS. Porsche is running in the WEC. i dont think any manufacturers have interest in the LMs which is why they probably binned the class.

They can also unbin it if enough P1's start to want race states side.

But for that to happen Porsche would need to sell customer cars as would Aston and Toyota. Thats all assuming any of them make the light of day or can turn a wheel more than once.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by JAG

In Autosports article about Penske running Porsches, it's said Penske were in talks with Audi about running an R18 at Le Mans this year.

Ancient news. Penske, Highcroft and I believe Wayne Taylor were in talks to run all of ALMS, and LM... but Audi NA said no to the funding.

[chernaudi]

Issue with that was that it was confirmed that Penske and the others were in talks to run grandfathered R15s in the ALMS this year.

I don't think that there was much (at the time) to deduce that Penske would get an R18 or two for LM, or after LM. But this may throw a kink into the rumored "customer" R18 program for the WEC, but knowing Penske and how he runs his ship (see the end of the RS Spyder program after PMNA stopped funding much of that program), the only reason I can see him getting R18s is to prepare for the 2014 Porsche program, and he has a sponsor lined up.

I'll believe the Audi R18/Porsche 2014 rumors when I see it happen, just like the Abt WEC rumors.

[chernaudi]

And to add, if Penske were to get R18s next year, they probably wouldn't run in the ALMS. Audi of America boss Johan de Nysschen has commented in a discussion on the Audi fan site Fourtitude that Audi currently has no plans to run the full ALMS season (only the WEC races) because of reports that the ALMS intends on combining LMP1 and LMP2 into a single main LMP class like in 2010 for 2012.

It's doubtful as of now that Penske will get R18s is a fact in anyway, but it's more or less a fact that outside of Sebring and PLM next year, Audi won't run any other ALMS events until the LMP1 class returns as its own class. Which means no Penske ALMS program.

So if Penske runs R18s to get ready for the 2014 Porsche program, it'll have to be in the WEC, which is why if Penske gets the Porsche nod, he might do testing but won't race until 2014.

[Mal]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

And to add, if Penske were to get R18s next year, they probably wouldn't run in the ALMS. Audi of America boss Johan de Nysschen has commented in a discussion on the Audi fan site Fourtitude that Audi currently has no plans to run the full ALMS season (only the WEC races) because of reports that the ALMS intends on combining LMP1 and LMP2 into a single main LMP class like in 2010 for 2012.

It's doubtful as of now that Penske will get R18s is a fact in anyway, but it's more or less a fact that outside of Sebring and PLM next year, Audi won't run any other ALMS events until the LMP1 class returns as its own class. Which means no Penske ALMS program.

So if Penske runs R18s to get ready for the 2014 Porsche program, it'll have to be in the WEC, which is why if Penske gets the Porsche nod, he might do testing but won't race until 2014.

I would take that with a pinch of salt: - If Audi and Penske definitely wanted to do P1 in 2012 then ALMS would provide the class for them.

[chernaudi]

Originally Posted by Mal

I would take that with a pinch of salt: - If Audi and Penske definitely wanted to do P1 in 2012 then ALMS would provide the class for them.

Just saying that if it didn't happen this year, don't expect it to happen now, especially since Audi seemingly would rather run the WEC than the ALMS, and even if Audi did run, would the ALMS really separate LMP1 and LMP2 next year?

I don't think that even with Penske and Porsche showed up next year that they'd split the class. If they won't roll over for Audi or Porsche, they probably won't roll over for anyone else.

[Spyderman]

In the meanwhile, yesterday saw the symbolic turning of the first soil that heralded the start of the extension of its Research and Development Centre in Weissach (Baden-Württemberg). The site is being enlarged through the addition of a highly modern design studio, a high-tech wind tunnel and an electronics integration center. Porsche is investing around 150 million euro in this respect.

[MitchZ06]

Yup, they're serious!

[bjohnsonsmith]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

In the meanwhile, yesterday saw the symbolic turning of the first soil that heralded the start of the extension of its Research and Development Centre in Weissach (Baden-Württemberg). The site is being enlarged through the addition of a highly modern design studio, a high-tech wind tunnel and an electronics integration center. Porsche is investing around 150 million euro in this respect.

That's a serious investment.

[Audi Racer]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

In the meanwhile, yesterday saw the symbolic turning of the first soil that heralded the start of the extension of its Research and Development Centre in Weissach (Baden-Württemberg). The site is being enlarged through the addition of a highly modern design studio, a high-tech wind tunnel and an electronics integration center. Porsche is investing around 150 million euro in this respect.

Sounds like porsche is getting into Sportscars for the long term.