2010 Le Mans Intercontinental Cup

[Andy77]

Originally Posted by CTD

If the FIA is going to sign off on it, they wont to run it as-well. Unfortunately.

Don`t take my word for it but I believe the FIA holds the trading rights in terms of motor-racing (4-wheel) of the world championship (in motorracing only)

[NaBUru38]

"Intercontinental" is too long, "world" is perfect. Besides, in Romance languages like French, Spanish and Italian, we can shorten the name to "le Mondiale" / "il Mondiale" / "el Mundial". "Series" is too American. "Cup" isn't bad for a short tournament. "Championship" should be only used for a long tournament. How about "trophy"?

[6157]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

Mr 6157 seems to want to beat Audi for peanuts. This seems to be a familiar tune from across the water. Sorry Mr USA. but top class racing costs top class money. It really IS that simple.

As said earlier. You cut domestic budgets, make life easier in the ALMS, and then get a VERY expensive invite for a European budget busting trip, on top... THAT scenario is a Lose/Lose all round!

You seem to think economies bow to the cost of racing. They don't. If people only have peanuts to spend then rules should be written to spend peanuts. The attitude you have is apparently the precise attitude the ACO has and it's killing the ALMS. What's more important: Factory teams and a connection to Le Mans or the survival of the series? Guess what, if the series doesn't survive, it doesn't matter.

Personally I don't care at all if Audi or Peugeot don't run the in the U.S. Yes, it's nice, but I much prefer U.S.-based, ALMS-supporting teams like Highcroft, Dyson, Autocon, and so on. There's a better chance of lower cost prototype racing bringing teams to the series than waiting for pie in the sky manufacturers. Contrary to what someone's personal opinion of Grand-Am is, it DID work for them and it's STILL working.

[JAG]

World Championship status would need FIA approval but they wouldn't run it.

World Championship status requires a series to race on 3 continents with participation from 4 manufactuers.

Autosport say the ACO ducked the question of World Championship status but the tone of the article and an editorial on the matter read as if this is being seriously considered.

[JAG]

Originally Posted by 6157

You seem to think economies bow to the cost of racing. They don't. If people only have peanuts to spend then rules should be written to spend peanuts. The attitude you have is apparently the precise attitude the ACO has and it's killing the ALMS. What's more important: Factory teams and a connection to Le Mans or the survival of the series? Guess what, if the series doesn't survive, it doesn't matter.

Personally I don't care at all if Audi or Peugeot don't run the in the U.S. Yes, it's nice, but I much prefer U.S.-based, ALMS-supporting teams like Highcroft, Dyson, Autocon, and so on. There's a better chance of lower cost prototype racing bringing teams to the series than waiting for pie in the sky manufacturers. Contrary to what someone's personal opinion of Grand-Am is, it DID work for them and it's STILL working.

The ALMS has stabalised this year with 35 entries at Salt Lake City.

Budget prototypes and GT's are already allowed in the series and give a great foundation for teams to eventually step upto higher classes.

Why settle for less when the series is half a dozen prototypes away from being back to it's best?

[JAG]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Farnbacher said of the LMIC , while at Le Mans to some journalists that I know , that it is a mad idea in the currant climate , as the cost will be so much . A 24 hour race , a 12 hour race and a 10 hour race , as well as 1000KMS races . He reckons on between 2.5 and 3 million Euro for his one car Ferrari team .

Thats a bit over the top in my opinion , or not ?

Originally Posted by The Badger

Pug can certainly want a world championship , and so do I but , its way too expensive the way things stand at the minute . remember Pug is a massive company , and can easily afford this kinda effort .

But also remember , the 300,000 Euro that Henri had to pay Pug for last years crashed Pug , broke Henri's back . So , that has to be taken into account , the little fella has money issues too.

There are a couple of points here.

ILMC rounds will be staged at existing LMS and ALMS rounds so you don't need 30+ cars travelling around the world. A core of factories and major teams already take in many of these races so championship status merely formalises this arrangement and is preferential from a marketing perspective.

As for Pescarolo he has struggled to race in the LMS nevermind entering races in the US or Asia. On the other hand you have teams like Drayson who are enthusiastically welcoming the chance to race in different markets and believe it is crucial for the profile of the sport.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by JAG

World Championship status requires a series to race on 3 continents with participation from 4 manufactuers.

That manufacturer requirement is only if the series official name has "FIA". And it's four manufactures on average over the entire season. Not sure if WRC and WTCC currently comply with this rule...? If it means four manufacturers participating in the championship, not only in single races.

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

"Intercontinental" is too long, "world" is perfect. Besides, in Romance languages like French, Spanish and Italian, we can shorten the name to "le Mondiale" / "il Mondiale" / "el Mundial". "Series" is too American. "Cup" isn't bad for a short tournament. "Championship" should be only used for a long tournament. How about "trophy"?

"Le Mans World Trophy"? Same than with "Intercontintal Cup", problematic because at least I don't think of an actual championship... if that's what ACO wants to establish in long term - I hope the 7-race schedule for 2011 indicates so.

[6157]

Originally Posted by JAG

The ALMS has stabalised this year with 35 entries at Salt Lake City.

Budget prototypes and GT's are already allowed in the series and give a great foundation for teams to eventually step upto higher classes.

Why settle for less when the series is half a dozen prototypes away from being back to it's best?

The entries may have stabilized but the series, as a whole, is far from stable.

For the ALMS, the budget prototypes and GT cars shouldn't outnumber the "stars" of the series. I agree they're a good foundation but how many of those teams can we realistically expect to move up to P 1 at some point in the future? Most of the teams appear to be simply rent-a-rides for drivers looking to get into the series.

The series may only be a half dozen prototypes away but it's also a matter of how far the series is away from those half dozen and there's no destination in sight for that.

[Bob Riebe]

Intercontinental Cup-- hmmm, sounds like something out of professional wrestling.

[Mal]

Originally Posted by Graham Goodwin

In other words - teams entering ILMC (or other full championships) will be favoured over one-off LM24 entries

In reality that will mean that teams entering ILMC are effectively guaranteed a LM24 entry otherwise it will make a mockery of the ILMC as you will have little chance in ILMC if you don't compete in the Double point flagship event.

[ger80]

Yes, you can buy you entry for LM24 in the future by entering the Cup and dont have to be french anymore

[JAG]

Originally Posted by 6157

The entries may have stabilized but the series, as a whole, is far from stable.

For the ALMS, the budget prototypes and GT cars shouldn't outnumber the "stars" of the series. I agree they're a good foundation but how many of those teams can we realistically expect to move up to P 1 at some point in the future? Most of the teams appear to be simply rent-a-rides for drivers looking to get into the series.

The series may only be a half dozen prototypes away but it's also a matter of how far the series is away from those half dozen and there's no destination in sight for that.

The key is to bring new teams, drivers and people into the series.

Once involed it's far easier to encourage them to increase their commitment.

The LMS has prospered because there has been a converyer belt of entrants from national series.

[chernaudi]

Anyone know if Peugeot ever offcially entered the LMIC this year? I know that Peugeot wants to run in 2011, but did they ever sign off on 2010? Peugeot did put our a press release back in April or somewhere around there, but it read more like a litter of intent than a pure entry.

Did their participation depend on the results of Le Mans? I have read that Peugeot is considering pulling out of the rest of 2010 as a factory team. I don't know where this could leave Oreca, but it seems that from what I've read from an anon. source(that spoke to the owner of an Audi fan site, so it could be misinformantion), as well as comments here is that Peugeot might be mothballing the factory 908s now.

Also, with that being a possiblity, Le Mans is also probably the last race that Audi R10s will be entered, as it seems that Kolles has his hands full with HRT.

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Anyone know if Peugeot ever offcially entered the LMIC this year?

Yes, see here and here.

[chernaudi]

Well, rumor now is that Aston Martin might skip it this year(Fernandez says that AMR won't do PLM), and after the engine issues at LM, Peugeot's proposed LMIC plans might be out the window. In the Peugeot 2010/2011 thread I think, it's stated in a post that Peugeot may not run the LMIC now because of the events of Le Mans, unless Peugeot let's Oreca run it for them.

Edit: here's post #406 from the Peugeot 2010/2011 thead and why Peugeot might not run the LMIC in part because of Le Mans:

"At the beginning of the year Peugeot said they had 2 objectives (see here): Le Mans and the preparation of 2011. If seems logical that from now Peugeot will shift their focus on the 90X instead of trying to solve the tub failure and engine failure of the 908.

Grandfathering the 908 seems very unlikely. The current LMP1 cars have to run in 2011 with extra restrictions (more weight and smaller restrictors). Peugeot can not effort to dedicate extra resources to this."

And the Audi site blog that also calls into question Peugeot's commitment to the 2010 LMIC: http://forums.vwvortex.com/entry.php...-Could-Be-Over.

[JAG]

Aston Martin never entered the 2010 ILMC.

The rumour is they'll not enter PLM but will go to a couple of other ALMS races.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by chernaudi

Well, rumor now is that Aston Martin might skip it this year(Fernandez says that AMR won't do PLM)

Noooooo! I was looking forward to hearing that car (and my friends) one more time before the rules changes!

[deggis]

Audi's press blah blah: http://www.audi.com/com/brand/en/exp..._mans_cup.html

I noticed this: "This international series is then likely to increase to at least six races in 2011."

Is it because perhaps Fuji or Zhuhai is not yet totally confirmed?

[Mal]

...... and if that is to be believed they still have 2 races to enter to be eligible:

To be eligible to win the LMP1 title, the GT2 title, or the team cup, entrants must participate in all three races as well as five other races hosted under the Le Mans label, with the exception of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by deggis

Audi's press blah blah: http://www.audi.com/com/brand/en/exp..._mans_cup.html

I noticed this: "This international series is then likely to increase to at least six races in 2011."

Is it because perhaps Fuji or Zhuhai is not yet totally confirmed?

That blahblah was written before the ACO announcement of 10/06: http://www.lemans.org/en/news/ACO-Pr...-2010_626.html

2011 Calendar:
* March USA (Sebring 12 hours*)
* May Europe (Spa 1000 kms*)
June 11/12 Europe (LE MANS 24 hours) - double points race
* September Europe (Silverstone 1000kms*)
Sept/Oct USA (Petit Le Mans, Atlanta)
End of October Asia (Japan Mount Fuji 1000kms)
* Mid November Asia (China ?Zhuhai 6 hours?*)

*To be confirmed

[deggis]

Umm... ok. Mariantic linked it so I just assumed it was recent.

[chernaudi]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

That blahblah was written before the ACO announcement of 10/06: http://www.lemans.org/en/news/ACO-Pr...-2010_626.html

Also, that was likely before the ACO announced that to be qualified for the LMIC you only need to run two races now.

However, if Audi believe that they need to run 3 more races, then I guess it's time for rumors to fly on what LMS/ALMS races Audi intends to run before September.

[NaBUru38]

The World Touring Car Championship will race in Suzuka in late October/early November 2011. What if the Asian Le Mans Series or even the LMIC joins them?

[Samoan Attorney]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

The World Touring Car Championship will race in Suzuka in late October/early November 2011. What if the Asian Le Mans Series or even the LMIC joins them?

From what was being said at the WTCC meeting last weekend in Zolder..........that is not going to happen..............LMIC and WTCC will run at different circuits on the same weekends............joined up thinking............like this year LMIC Zhuhai being two weeks before WTCC Macau...........making it too expensive to stay out and cover both events.

[NaBUru38]

I said that because the organisers were happy with last year's Okayama joint race.