[ALMS] ALMS 2012 Discussion

[Dyson Mazda]

Here is my Petit Le Mans list as things stand right now

IMSA P1
6 Pickett Racing HPD ARX-03a Honda
16 Dyson Racing Lola B12/60 Mazda

IMSA P2
37 Conquest OAK/Morgan Nissan
54 Black Swan Racing Lola B11/80 Honda
055 Level 5 Motorsports HPD ARX 03b Honda
95 Level 5 Motorsports HPD ARX 03b Honda
# Dempsey Racing Lola B12/80 Judd

IMSA PC
5 Muscle Milk Racing Oreca FLM09
05 Core Autosport Oreca FLM09
06 Core Autosport Oreca FLM09
7 Merchant Services Racing Oreca FLM09
8 Merchant Services Racing Oreca FLM09
9 RSR Oreca FLM09
18 Performance Tech Oreca FLM09
25 Dempsey Racing Oreca FLM09
52 PR1/Mathiasen Racing Oreca FLM09

IMSA GT
01 Extreme Motorsports Ferrari 458 Italia
02 Extreme Motorsports Ferrari 458 Italia
3 Corvette Racing Corvette C6R ZR1
4 Corvette Racing Corvette C6R ZR1
17 Falken Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
23 Alex Job Racing Lotus Evora GTE
44 Flying Lizards Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
45 Flying Lizards Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
48 Paul Miller Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
55 BMW RLL BMW M3 GT2
56 BMW RLL BMW M3 GT2
91 Viper Racing SRT Viper GTR-S
92 Viper Racing SRT Viper GTR-S

IMSA GTC
11 JDX Racing Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
22 Alex Job Racing Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
24 Competition Motorsports Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
30 NGT Motorsport Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
31 NGT Motorsport Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
32 GMG Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
34 Green Hornet Racing Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
66 The Racer's Group Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
77 Magnus Racing Porsche 997 GT3 Cup

UC
0 Highcroft Racing/All American Racers Deltawing Nissan

IMSA P1: 2
IMSA P2: 5
IMSA PC: 9
IMSA GT: 13
IMSA GT: 9
UC: 1
Totals: 39

Rumors
1x Dyson Racing Lola B12/60 Mazda (P1) - Abdul Al Faisal
1x Dyson Racing Lola B11/66 Mazda (P1)
1/2x Libra Racing Radical SR-10 Roush Ford Ecoboost (P2)
1x Autocon/Burgess/McMurry LMP2 (P2)
1x Alex Job Racing Lotus Evora GTE (GT)

Major Wish
1x Porsche Motorsports Porsche 918-Hybrid (UC)

Also the series should invite the GT3 teams in Europe to race as UC entries if they are not going to try to incorporate the class. It is not ideal but it will have to do. The GT class will be a lot better than the one that races at Le Mans this year.

[FstrthnU]

Have we heard anything from Risi recently? Maybe they'll come in for Petit Le Mans at least unless they already sold off their 458 GTC car (since their Grand Am car was based off a GT3, not their GTE).

[KA]

So does Dyson pulling the plug on their Le Mans entries make that rumoured third car less likely (ie if they've not been able to put together a deal to take even a single car to Le Mans when they had two entries, what are the chances they can do a deal to run three cars later this year?)

...or more likely (ie they've done a deal for the third car, but it's with someone who wasn't interested in Le Mans this year?)

[Fogelhund]

For now all it means is that Dyson is not racing at LM. Dyson has said for a long time that they only want to race there when they are competitive. By the looks of things, they aren't going to be close with the Diesels, and are behind the HPD's too. So, it could have been a competitiveness decision, or it could be that the money for LM didn't come through.. not sure it means anything for ALMS at this point.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

Have we heard anything from Risi recently? Maybe they'll come in for Petit Le Mans at least unless they already sold off their 458 GTC car (since their Grand Am car was based off a GT3, not their GTE).

PLM only is about as good as it might get this year for them. But I haven't heard of any PLM plans. I don't know how hard it would be, for them to assemble a new crew, after basically letting all non-dealership people go.

[Dyson Mazda]

So does Dyson pulling the plug on their Le Mans entries make that rumoured third car less likely (ie if they've not been able to put together a deal to take even a single car to Le Mans when they had two entries, what are the chances they can do a deal to run three cars later this year?)

...or more likely (ie they've done a deal for the third car, but it's with someone who wasn't interested in Le Mans this year?)

They said the ACO has known about it for 2 weeks and John Dagy's rumor just came out so I would say no.

[Catingaround]

On Dyson, Fogelhund makes the most sense about competitiveness, if there are any monetary issues though I'd rather Dyson focus on their ALMS effort. Dyson has done a lot for the ALMS, wishing them all the best going forward. Hope they get the Lola sorted soon, but damn, that Wirth is looking awesome.

[Mal]

Dyson will have Jonny Mowlem as their third driver for the 4 enduros in ALMS according to Autosport

[KA]

That's interesting, as they used Steven Kane at Sebring. Haven't looked at the calendar, but are there any GA clashes that would mean Kane's Oryx Audi ride taking priority?

Must admit, if they are going to run their other new Lola as a second/third car later in the season, Kane/Mowlem might be a pretty handy pairing to put in it...I Don't suppose life's that simple though...

[pablocomics]

I think that it isn´t a crazy idea to have some extra european teams on Petit Le Mans (maybe 1 or 2). Oak Racing has one LMP1 and one LMP2 without any use... By a reasonable price you can lease those cars. Like united Autosport did past year
...and there are some Le Mans invitations out there

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by pablocomics

...and there are some Le Mans invitations out there

You sure thats still the case ?

If so , that could draw a few entries . Apart from that , why should European teams support PLM , when American teams dont support ELMS ?

[Dyson Mazda]

Dyson will have Jonny Mowlem as their third driver for the 4 enduros in ALMS according to Autosport

This was at the end of the SPEED article

Dyson is expected to run only a single-car effort at Mazda Raceway, as its No. 20 Lola B11/66 Mazda of Michael Marsal and Eric Lux, which debuted last weekend at Long Beach, is scheduled for the five sprint races this season.

However, Chris Dyson told SPEED.com last weekend there's a "very good chance" of seeing the team's third Lola-Mazda surface later this summer, potentially as soon as the fourth round of the season at Lime Rock in July.

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...mazda-raceway/

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by The Badger

You sure thats still the case ?

If so , that could draw a few entries . Apart from that , why should European teams support PLM , when American teams dont support ELMS ?

I'm 99% certain that the invitations are still there. It is the American LE MANS Series still.

And Europeans would go to Petit to win a major, established, well attended endurance race with a global reach. Not to mention, they don't have to worry about Audi, Penske or any factories as they did in the old days.

But ELMS or European teams without a series affiliation looking to justify their 2013 season with an automatic Le Mans invite seem most likely to me.

Chris

[KA]

Originally Posted by Jonerz

But ELMS or European teams without a series affiliation looking to justify their 2013 season with an automatic Le Mans invite seem most likely to me.

Chris

that could hinge on what happens with the ELMS, especially if they do slot in a replacement for the cancelled Zolder race late-season as was suggested. On the other hand, if the ELMS does fall apart due to small grids, there could be a few LMP2 teams looking for somewhere to race late-season...

[Fogelhund]

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/201...n-other-cities

Baltimore in turmoil again?