[ELMS] ELMS 2015 Discussion

[Deleted]

90 minutes? I'm shocked to hear that ACO, for the first time ever this century I believe, has a sprint race in it's catalog. This will surpass the dual 500km races at Okayama in 2009.

If only would they apply same for WEC or even ELMS - no not 90 minute races but - event variation. But no

Of course, instead of having 90 minute AsLMS support races for 5 cars they could have just integrated it to the WEC race since they are there anyway, but no there as well.

[Ospi]

Any elms teams intending to do Fuji will need two cars, no way around it. I can see a few one off leases going on for the event. I'm yet to hear of one person outside of the aco who believes the handling of the aslms Fuji round is good.

Also not sure how they intend on the teams refuelling during the race given they'll be in some backyard support paddock and I can't imagine the wec teams being overly keen on dismantling and removing their rigs to allow the Asian class to move theirs in (good luck getting them to share either).

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Ospi

Any elms teams intending to do Fuji will need two cars, no way around it. I can see a few one off leases going on for the event. I'm yet to hear of one person outside of the aco who believes the handling of the aslms Fuji round is good.

Also not sure how they intend on the teams refuelling during the race given they'll be in some backyard support paddock and I can't imagine the wec teams being overly keen on dismantling and removing their rigs to allow the Asian class to move theirs in (good luck getting them to share either).

What happened at COTA with the WEC and TUSCC events?

[TheMightyM]

Part of the problem is the ELMS schedule. Eight weeks between the third round at the Red Bull Ring and the fourth round at Paul Ricard with the final race of the season at Estoril six weeks after that is just ridiculous. A more compact schedule would allow ELMS teams to race in the AsLMS series opener or at Petit Le Mans if they wanted to.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

Part of the problem is the ELMS schedule. Eight weeks between the third round at the Red Bull Ring and the fourth round at Paul Ricard with the final race of the season at Estoril six weeks after that is just ridiculous. A more compact schedule would allow ELMS teams to race in the AsLMS series opener or at Petit Le Mans if they wanted to.

Good point.

If only ACO's level of logical thinking was at least as big as their cockiness...

[Coach Ep]

US team Starworks looking to join the P2 fray for a 2 race toe-in-the-water experience at the end of the year before a seasonal campaign in 2016 (without sacrifising their US activities).

No choice of car has been made yet, it sounds like availability is a big item in the selection proces.

http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/0...t-to-lmp2.html

[joeb]

Would be great to see them competing in P2 again.

Also interesting to hear that Riley could have a car ready to race at the final elms race.

[Deleted]

Updated entry graph after some no-shows at Austria

[Deleted]

Red Bull Ring had good, solid weekend timetable with Formula Renault 3,5 and TCR on the schedule making it valuable offer and more reminiscent of the past LMS years. Ricard schedule returns to the form of Imola of there being nothing else on the offer.
http://europeanlemansseries.com/asse...615_ced891.pdf

RBR weekend was also free for everyone because of the WSBR presence, yet here it's 10 euros despite two series less on track. I don't think getting rid of the admission fee would break ACOs budget.

And even further annoyingly despite having absolute free hands in timing the start of the race, they can't even make it epic by having it finish after sunset in the dark, like in 2013 (and to lesser extent 2010 with the 8 hour race)

Yes I know what bella is going to respond here again, that ELMS already has enough track time and all that to make it worth it, but here she argues for jam-packed racing track days of fun being the jazz, why can't ELMS have such jam-packed weekends? As I've said on the other threads, and here before too, the time should come to swallow the ego and share the track with other (bigger) series, sharing the bills and allowing some grown interest. It doesn't have to be a closed elitist club just for participants, jammed at the bottom of the notorious ACO 'pyramid of endurance' and left only to rot as some low division feeder series producing accessories for the upper masters, it could be more if the desire was there.

[Deleted]

It's getting mildly goofy within name changes of certain LMP2 team.

Paul Ricard Winter Test: SMP Racing
Silverstone 4 Hours: AF Corse
Imola 4 Hours: SMP Racing
Red Bull Ring 4 Hours: SMP Racing
Paul Ricard 4 Hours: AF Racing

[J Jay]

So according to the pattern, we can expect SMP Corse to turn up to Estoril?

[Deleted]

SMP Corse by AF Corse powered by SMP Racing

Yet the GTE Ferrari still looks to be just be called SMP Racing at Nurburgring. Not that it's any clearer though as it has AF Corse stickers in it, and the AF Corse Ferraris have SMP Racing stickers...

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by Chiana

SMP Corse by AF Corse powered by SMP Racing

Reminds me Bridgestone Presents the Champ Car World Series Powered by Ford.

[Coach Ep]

No Nic Jönsson behind the wheel at Krohn (for the first time since 2009!), sounds like he's becoming team manager, maybe he's retiring from racing since he's 48 now. In the meantime Tracy Krohn is 61(!).

[Deleted]

I'm actually surprised Krohn have not folded after LM but really done the full series.

[Coach Ep]

Elton Julian's Dragonspeed will follow in Krohn's footsteps and run the ELMS in a Oreca 05 next year.

(recently) http://www.dailysportscar.com/2015/0...full-elms.html

(about a month ago) http://sportscar365.com/lemans/elms/...eca-05-nissan/

IF Starworks commits for next season as well (and Krohn continues) we'll see 3 US P2 teams compete full season in Europe.

Hmmm.....

[Deleted]

The Eurasian American Le Mans Series.

The Transatlantic Le Mans Series.

The Alternative Le Mans Series (ALMS).

The Space Time Continuum Refugee Breakaway Le Mans Series.

[Ephaeton]

Originally Posted by Chiana

The Eurasian American Le Mans Series.

The Transatlantic Le Mans Series.

The Alternative Le Mans Series (ALMS).

The Space Time Continuum Refugee Breakaway Le Mans Series.

I like transatlantic. Now throw in a 16 day US trip with three races on three weekends on Road america, atlanta, and VIR, thank you very much.

(stay away with your realistic arguments about cost and what not. Can't a man dream for a moment?! speaking of which, naturally this US LM showcase would include privateer P1s)

[Jam3s]

So Olivier Pla joining Krohn and LM24 pole sitter Richard Bradley to join the Eurasia squad. That's two very quick drivers, qualifying is going to be fun.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Ephaeton

I like transatlantic. Now throw in a 16 day US trip with three races on three weekends on Road america, atlanta, and VIR, thank you very much.

(stay away with your realistic arguments about cost and what not. Can't a man dream for a moment?! speaking of which, naturally this US LM showcase would include privateer P1s)

It would certainly be nice if next season the ELMS comes to a close mid September leaving a week or two before Petit so at least the US entrants could join if they wish - or even better: make it a point scoring round (like in 2012)!

Of course, that would require too much sensible thinking from the ACO so it's not gonna happen. So yes, call it dreaming if you want....

[Deleted]

Not only 2012 PLM, 2001 was technically also joined

You would get probably 20-25 car lead class at Petit if the two series were aligned affain. For that one off race you could allow pro lineups for the Euro cars in order to make em more competitive against the US. Reinstate the LM auto invites at the same instance to make it extra attractive.

Of course, it won't happen, just like any other integration, as selfishness is the buzz word today

[blankfile]

ELMS teams would destroy the US teams because of the tires even with amateur drivers

[Coach Ep]

Blimey, didn't think of that, it would certainly be an interesting way to 'BoP' the two different series.

I think I'd rather have Contis than Tracy!

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by blankfile

ELMS teams would destroy the US teams because of the tires even with amateur drivers

Good point: D

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Blimey, didn't think of that, it would certainly be an interesting way to 'BoP' the two different series.

I think I'd rather have Contis than Tracy!

Originally Posted by blankfile

ELMS teams would destroy the US teams because of the tires even with amateur drivers

Great bop choice there, Conti tires or Am driver