[ALMS] ALMS 2012 Discussion

[joeb]

I have been trying to delay the start of this thread until the current string of races ends, but teams are starting to release plans for next season.

First of all, we likely won't know the ALMS schedule until Petit, that is the traditional release time. The schedule will likely look similar, except there is the rumored demise of Long Beach.

On the classes front, we have very little information from the series. We know that 2012 will be the 3rd and final year of the contract for having the GTC and LMPC classes. Although the LMPC's have had their homologation extended by the FIA/ACO, so I don't see that class leaving anytime soon. Will the ALMS open up the GTC class this season? We will have to wait and see.

In GT there have been few announcements. BMW has hinted at a return, and I think the RSRJag's have more in store. There was the announcement about Lotus Sport USA running the GTE Evora's, but past that, I can't remember any other announcements.

In the LMP2 ranks, will Level 5 return with their new HPD's, or take them to the WEC? Will anybody else join the fray, with a Riley perhaps?

Onto LMP1 where we have had a few announcements this week. Dyson said they will be back with their 2 current cars next year, and are working towards running a 3rd. Do they even have 3 Lola coupes? MuscleMilk are currently evaluating chassis/engine combinations, and are looking at Lola, Oreca, and HPD with Toyota, Cosworth, and HPD as possible engines. Did he say Cosworth? Other possible entries - Autocon, Intersport, DeltaWing?


As of now there seem to be a lot more questions regarding 2012 than there are answers. Hopefully some of the puzzle pieces will begin to fit by the time this season wraps up.

[Fogelhund]

Will it even be called the ALMS, or will it be IMSA?

It appears to me as though Robertson's are nearing the end of their run, just speculation on my part.

I would guess that Risi will not be back.

I see Patron leaving the series, as both a sponsor of the series, and of ESM, probably meaning ESM exits.

Lotus, Signature.... both end up being vaporware.

[Speed-King]

Ouch, GT plummeting into single digits and no Ferraris? That's pretty ugly...

[Jonerz]

Signature ends up being Vaporware, for sure. Signature I don't have my hopes up for. Core Autosport I anticipate moving to LMP2, as I believe that was their initial plan. Though, if they think that they might be the only car in LMP2, they might as well just stick with LMPC and screw the expense.

I don't know why Risi and Patron/ESM would leave. I think the disappointing media package that Risi complained about is the only factor between the two teams that would make one want to leave, and I think Giuseppe is far more interested in the IMSA/ALMS/ACO product than Grand-Am (or World Challenge? Don't know if that is on his radar).

Robertson's withdrawals have me thinking they are dusted.

Will be interesting to see if the ALMS continues as the ALMS, as Fogelhund has said. Certainly next year wouldn't be a bad time to start slowly implementing their own rules and call the series IMSA Sport Car or IMSA GT or something, opening up the rules for BIG stock block American V8s, the old Judd GV5.5 and such as I have desired and many have indicated are what attract the fans.

To the other side of the speculation argument, clearly with one more year of LMPC and with Dyson and Cytosport sticking around, it would be hard and complicated for IMSA to go GT-only, but I don't think that is something that is being thought of by anyone in Braselton at the moment.

So we shall see. Also, this is four, negative-speculation filled season discussion threads, 09, 10, 11, and 12.

Chris

[broadrun96]

Will hate to see ESM go anywhere, have always loved the Patron livery. Is Ed leaving GT racing (since his racing was the inspiration for the ALMS involvement), do they not feel the investment is worth it any longer, or just speculation so far?

[Fogelhund]

I heard fairly early in the season, that a big sponsor was going to be leaving the series at the end of the year. This came from an impecable source.

Go ahead, list the "big" sponsors.....

In my opinion, Scott Sharp's heart is in Open Wheel.... For the combined money they are spending in series sponsorship, and the cars, I believe they could run a Grand Am GT Ferrari, and an Indy Car. I think Scott will be saying that the exposure of running just Indy 500 alone is greater than the whole of the ALMS season, and Ed Brown would still get to have his fun racing.

Again, this is my speculation, based upon what I've been told on a sponsor leaving, so nothing hard in facts.

[fiend540]

Well one thing is for certain, you know Atherton will give us some big BS talk about how great the series is, how awesome the media package is and how they have a lot of new entries and sponsors coming into the series. They will follow this up by making a bunch of head scratching decisions that will further lead to the demise of the series.

[Fogelhund]

One thing for certain, it will be interesting to see what the State of the Union address has to say. A shame I won't be there this year, but it might be hard not to start laughing in the middle of it. It will be awfully hard to follow up on last years big announcements of the Riley LMP2 and West Racing.

Oh, and ALMS here is a hint... that WEC, unfriend, block... ok?

[WolfsburgRS]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Oh, and ALMS here is a hint... that WEC, unfriend, block... ok?

[arakis]

oh and why would risi exit?

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by arakis

oh and why would risi exit?

Just a hunch... two of the new Ferraris in Grand Am will be run under the Ferrari of Ft.Lauderdale-Banner, but that's a dealership not a race team, I wouldn't be too surprised if they'd have the cars be run by someone else, and with Risi having a similar setup with Ferrari of Houston right now....?!

[arakis]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Just a hunch... two of the new Ferraris in Grand Am will be run under the Ferrari of Ft.Lauderdale-Banner, but that's a dealership not a race team, I wouldn't be too surprised if they'd have the cars be run by someone else, and with Risi having a similar setup with Ferrari of Houston right now....?!

I am more under the impression that Giusepe Risi is more drawn towards Le Mans then toward grand am, what is possible is that he runs the grand am team that someone else would finance, and use those finances to run a ALMS/ Le mans programe.
after all he seems to be very proud and personaly invested into ferrari spirit and history, and historicly ferrari is a Le Mans racer.

I can't see him droping Le mans for grand am, it would be out of character. he seems like a person verry proud of his historical ferrari contacts.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by arakis

oh and why would risi exit?

Jonerz states why the don't believe that the ALMS is worth the investment anymore, and what Jonerz states is not speculation.

[HJJ]

Schedule growing by two rounds next year.

T.V. more same day coverage. It can't all that bad when a tape delayed race on network outdraws a live race on a cable "sports" network.

Patron stays. Ferrari's stay. GTC allows Ferrari's as well. Audi in GT2.

The 50th Daytona 24 will be big. But not as big as Sebring or PLM, no matter what Big Jim wants (not sure he can count). But when they go to Hoestead, more of the same (club racing crowds).

[joeb]

Originally Posted by HJJ

T.V. more same day coverage. It can't all that bad when a tape delayed race on network outdraws a live race on a cable "sports" network.

this is off topic but, I don't know what the real draw of the "old" big networks is anymore. Maybe it is just my personal tv viewing habits, but it seems like most people have cable/satellite access these days, and use the guide feature instead of just flipping between the 3-4 major networks. end rant.


If I recall the ESPN/ABC deal was for multiple years, not just this one. So we at least know what to expect on that front for next season. We will just have to see how the split between ESPN2 and ABC goes, and how long of a programming block they are willing to give up for sportscars.

Sebrings 60th running next season coincides with the opening of the NCAA basketball tournament, so that will be where the sports media is focused.

2012 Schedule
We have at least 2 confirmed dates:

Feb 8-9 Winter Test
Mar 14-17 Sebring