View Single Post
Old 19 Oct 2004, 21:41 (Ref:1128815)   #16
tblincoe
Veteran
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 1,761
tblincoe should be qualifying in the top 10 on the grid
i've changed my mind, i think that intersport will get rid of their B160 for a couple of reasons. the car has not been reliable and there are the problems of flexing issues mentioned above. i really think that that car is probably done.

LMP2 is a class custom built for intersport, and i think that they have realized that and LMP2 is where they will go in the future. judging by the performance of the Courage this year (which actually outqualified the intersport Lola B160 Judd at Laguna Seca) it seems as though well-sorted LMP2 cars will be able to compete with the LMP1 cars.

the best thing for intersport to do for 2005 would be to run Jon Field and Duncan Dayton in a B05/40 in LMP2 and run Clint Field and Robin Liddell in the B2K/50. they should run the new Judd XV in both cars (a mildly updated version of the very powerful KV variant run by intersport in the B2K/50 2004). the benefit of running two cars with the same engine is huge and the XV promises to be a very good engine for the LMP2 class. running both cars in the same class will also allow Intersport to run Pirellis on both cars, another big advantage.

this decision would give intersport the best platform for the future, allowing for cost reduction, streamlining of operations, options for expansion in the future, as well as a car that can be competitive in international competition in 2005. intersport can go to lemans next year with their B05/40 and be confident that they can defend their title. intersport can run both of these cars in this configuration (B05/40 in LMES, LeMans, and ALMS, B2K/50 in ALMS) through 2006, and after that could purchase another B05/40 for Clint if they so choose.

so after all that, i'm updating my list

LMP1

2x Champion Audi R8
2x Dyson Lola B160 AER
2x Courage C60 Hybrid Elan

LMP2

2x Miracle Courage AER
1x Intersport Lola B05/40 Judd
1x Intersport Lola B2K/50 Judd
1x Van der Steur Lola B2K/40 AER

GT1

2x Corvette C6-R
2x Risi Maserati MC12
2x Rahal Aston Martin DB9
2x Barbour Ferrari 550
1x ACEMCO Saleen S7-R

GT2

2x Alex Job Porsche 911 GT3-RSR
2x Flying Lizard Motorsports 911 GT3-RSR
2x The Racers Group 911 GT3-RSR
2x J-3 Racing 911 GT3-RSR
2x Panoz Esperante eGT-LM
1x BAM! 911 GT3-RSR
1x Petersen White Lightning 911 GT3-RSR
1x PK Sport 911 GT3-RSR

obviously an area for concern though is LMP1... if the courage panoz deal doesn't pan out or someone doesnt play ball in LMP1 we could have 2 teams in LMP1 which spells trouble if one team can't do a race for any reason.
tblincoe is offline  
Quote