[ALMS] ALMS 2012 Discussion

[Simmi]

Interesting news about Abdul Al Faisal testing for Dyson after Sebring.

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...ance-9930.html

Looks like he has some form of Red Bull backing. Looks like that's a no brainer for the second car at Le Mans and maybe later on in the ALMS.

He must have caught the Le Mans bug last year in the Felbermayr car.

[Dyson Mazda]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Interesting news about Abdul Al Faisal testing for Dyson after Sebring.

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...ance-9930.html

Looks like he has some form of Red Bull backing. Looks like that's a no brainer for the second car at Le Mans and maybe later on in the ALMS.

He must have caught the Le Mans bug last year in the Felbermayr car.

Does anyone have any info on this guy?

[FstrthnU]

Originally Posted by Dyson Mazda

Does anyone have any info on this guy?

Info? Well, last year he raced for Team Need for Speed Schubert in a BMW Z4 GT3 in FIA GT3 Europe, and this year he's still with Schubert who are now known as the Saudi Falcons and are still running the Z4. His most recent race I can recall is this year's Dubai 24. He is an Arabian prince.

Last year Oryx brought a guy named Humaid Al-masood (might need to check spelling) with their Lola-Mazda, so seeing another Arabian guy in ALMS this year could be interesting.

[FstrthnU]

Can't edit that post, so one other bit of info

Al Faisal was apparently hired by Felbermayer-Proton to drive the #88 GTE-Pro Porsche at Le Mans last year. Don't think he did the full ILMC/LMS because of schedule conflicts with GT3.

[KA]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

Info? Well, last year he raced for Team Need for Speed Schubert in a BMW Z4 GT3 in FIA GT3 Europe, and this year he's still with Schubert who are now known as the Saudi Falcons and are still running the Z4. His most recent race I can recall is this year's Dubai 24. He is an Arabian prince.

Last year Oryx brought a guy named Humaid Al-masood (might need to check spelling) with their Lola-Mazda, so seeing another Arabian guy in ALMS this year could be interesting.

So maybe Dyson are looking in the direction of Middle-Eastern money again for either Le Mans and/or the third Dyson car that's been rumoured for after Le Mans? I'd already been wondering if Al-Masaood, Kane and the Oryx backing might return for one of the LM entries...

[The Badger]

It was the intention of Oryx to do Le Mans , so I would suggest thats a valid option .

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by The Badger

It was the intention of Oryx to do Le Mans , so I would suggest thats a valid option .

It just depends whether they have put all their eggs into the Grand-Am basket with the R8.

It's been intriguing me ever since the entrylist came out who we would see in these two cars. I'm hoping beyond hope that they will put two quick guys in alongside Guy Smith. They'd be stupid not to try that if they can afford it. In an ideal world you'd move Steven Kane into that car.

Then for the second car that always looked like it would need pay drivers to come on board. I'd be in favour of Al-Masood/Al Faisal as that would surely open up even more interest from a region seemingly itching to get involved in motorsport.

[The Badger]

Love to see Leitzinger in one of them cars .

[tkelland]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Love to see Leitzinger in one of them cars .

I've been (probably naiively) holding out hope for an American Chris Dyson, Butch Leitzinger, Andy Lally grouping for one car and a Euro grouping for the other in Guy Smith, Steven Kane and one more (maybe Andy Meyrick if his Aston duties aren't in use that week).

[Victor_RO]

http://www.alms.com/articles/lotus-e...racing-florida

Alex Job have gotten their hands on the Evora GTE and the associated spares package.

[KlBD]

Originally Posted by tkelland

I've been (probably naiively) holding out hope for an American Chris Dyson, Butch Leitzinger, Andy Lally grouping for one car and a Euro grouping for the other in Guy Smith, Steven Kane and one more (maybe Andy Meyrick if his Aston duties aren't in use that week).

Isn't Lally linked to the Lizards for 2012, or is that just for the ALMS enduros?

[Chiana]

IndyCar just confirmed Reliant Park for 2013, so may we get this street event back to ALMS schedule too? I may be in minority but I loved the 06-07 races on this bumpy stop-and-go track, especially as it was run on evening. I would hate if we lost yet another support bill opportunity for Grand-Am or World Challenge

October date would of course move it close to PLM though

[Purist]

If PLM is kept the same weekend as this year, there will still be two weeks between the two. That should be quite workable, and seeing the cars run under the lights was a good time.

The track has a few decent overtaking points, has fairly generous width for a temporary circuit, and contains a few nice, quick corners. The previous races there for ALMS and ChampCar didn't have huge amounts of running under caution, so that's a good sign.

[FstrthnU]

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/29/a...%28Autoblog%29

Just a little something, Autoblog scored an exclusive interview with GMG Racing to talk about their Audi R8 LMS. At the end of the interview, GMG said they'd love to homologate it for the ALMS but they would need a lot of factory support from Audi to make the modifications. GMG says it could definitely be done though, and they've already had talks with the IMSA.

[picchiofan]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/03/29/a...%28Autoblog%29

Just a little something, Autoblog scored an exclusive interview with GMG Racing to talk about their Audi R8 LMS. At the end of the interview, GMG said they'd love to homologate it for the ALMS but they would need a lot of factory support from Audi to make the modifications. GMG says it could definitely be done though, and they've already had talks with the IMSA.

What an odd article.

"We don't like the GA spec R8, because they reduce the aerodynamics and detuned the engine, so we're looking at homologating an R8 for World Challenge, to do so we'll need to reduce the aerodynamics, and detune the engine".

'kay. Translation: There's 30+ car fields in GA with about 12 strong front running entries, as opposed to two cars in WCGT.

Also a little confused with the "less clutch" comment. The GA spec car ran the same clutch as the rest of the R8 race cars, Audi claims the lack of traction control caused it to shatter, multiple times, even with the detuned engine. For Barber they're getting a full on race clutch.