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8 Nov 2016, 17:42 (Ref:3686562) | #7376 | ||
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S365 also states that Lieb and Dumas are still under threat:
http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/t...ady-finalized/ |
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9 Nov 2016, 18:48 (Ref:3686807) | #7377 | ||
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9 Nov 2016, 19:06 (Ref:3686812) | #7378 | ||
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If it is then I'd say they made the right choice, home country bias notwithstanding.
Regardless, I wonder if the announcement will be held off until the end-of-year event or if it will happen at Bahrain. |
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9 Nov 2016, 22:05 (Ref:3686850) | #7379 | ||
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I can see Porsche moving Leib back to the GT side of things. He's had more success in GT cars than the Porsche LMP1, and the GT program obviously can benefit from his engineering and development background.
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10 Nov 2016, 00:23 (Ref:3686870) | #7380 | ||
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Possible.
The problem is: what does Lieb want? If Porsche wants to keep Lieb in the family for his engineering/development abilities, it's unlikely he will be "demoted" if he doesn't want to. Of course, if he wins the title, then that - together with the Le Mans win - would be "mission accomplished" , and would make it much easier for him to walk away from the LMP program, and go help develop the new GT car. If that were the case: Bamber or one of the Audi drivers? I'm hearing rumors Lotterer in particular is being targeted. |
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10 Nov 2016, 02:37 (Ref:3686885) | #7381 | ||
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Not unless TMG get him first. Lotterer might be in with a shot due to Audi and Porsche both being part of Volkswagen Group, but Andre also has a long standing business relationship in Japan with Toyota, and I can see them making an offer. And TMG/Toyota Hybrid Racing isn't exactly skimping on cash anymore given the investment that they're making in updating the 2017 spec TS050, and the issue of running a third car for LM is very likely, as well as entering it for all the pre-LM races.
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10 Nov 2016, 04:34 (Ref:3686905) | #7382 | |
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Vasselon said a third Toyota car could be something previous Audi drivers feature in. That was mentioned on Endurance-info. I don't think Porsche picks any of them up unless they too have a third car.
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10 Nov 2016, 12:10 (Ref:3686944) | #7383 | ||
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Regarding Lotterer, there's a few things to consider:
* Toyota have announced their full-time driver lineup has been completed before Audi's withdrawal. That means probably Lopez and 5 others (most likely 5 of the 6 current ones), and no Audi drivers. * Porsche has made no such announcement. There was a seat available (Webber) that seems to go to Tandy. There is still some buzz regarding Lieb's and Dumas' seats. * What does Lotterer want? Does he want/prefer a full-time WEC drive or a Le Mans drive only? Does he want to do something else? (e.g. SuperGT) * Does Lotterer have a contract with Audi or the VW group? Is it a WEC-specific contract or is he tied to the brand (Audi or VW)? Does the contract run out at the end of 2016? Does the contract end because Audi leaves WEC? * If he's still contracted to Audi in 2017, can/will Audi place him in a GT-car? Does he want that? Combined with a Le Mans drive at Porsche or Toyota? * If he's still contracted to Audi, does Audi loan him out to Porsche? Like Porsche did with Dumas and Bernhard (and Rockenfeller?) a few years ago? Too many variables at play. Same questions for the 5 other Audi drivers - although my guess is Lotterer would be top of the pick list. |
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10 Nov 2016, 12:23 (Ref:3686948) | #7384 | ||
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I think only Lotterer is the real question mark. The most likely scenarios for the others - di Grassi and Duval focusing on Formula E, Fassler and perhaps Jarvis back to GT cars, Treluyer into retirement. So they're likely off the market for Porsche and Toyota.
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10 Nov 2016, 12:50 (Ref:3686952) | #7385 | ||
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The same driver lineup thing happened in WRC, but expect that to change a fair bit too in recent weeks as some of the drivers in VW WRC and Audi LM are top drawer and a team could quite rightly sacrifice a lesser driver to employ one of them.
Survival of the fittest it is, and they will all be compensated if they lose a drive, that much is a right really. |
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10 Nov 2016, 13:25 (Ref:3686960) | #7386 | |||
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Quote:
Jarvis has indicated he wants to stay in LMP, so maybe he can pick up an LMP2 seat if anyone's interested in his services. |
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10 Nov 2016, 13:34 (Ref:3686962) | #7387 | ||
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But in the WRC there is a new manufacturer, Toyota.
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10 Nov 2016, 17:58 (Ref:3687000) | #7388 | |||
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Quote:
*IIRC that's not an exaggeration... |
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13 Nov 2016, 08:17 (Ref:3687564) | #7389 | |
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Motorsport.jp reports that Andre Lotterer will join in the Porsche team for 2017.
It also reports that he will also participate in Super Formula from Team Tom's. http://jp.motorsport.com/wec/news/we...%81%B8-849576/ |
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13 Nov 2016, 08:41 (Ref:3687567) | #7390 | ||
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I wonder what Nick Tandy is thinking right now...
Although the situation was slightly different for Porsche than Toyota - as they had drivers with LMP1-H experience in their stable - it looks like Lotterer was too good a driver to pass up regardless. If Toyota were speaking to Lotterer (not that we'd find out now), the offer of a full season as opposed to the first three races may have made the decision for him. |
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13 Nov 2016, 08:45 (Ref:3687568) | #7391 | ||
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We know Webber's seat is available but there are rumours that Lieb and Dumas leave so Tandy can have a full season drive too.
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14 Nov 2016, 00:41 (Ref:3687861) | #7392 | |
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Lotterer and Timo together? Wow. Best trio IMO, by far.
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14 Nov 2016, 12:24 (Ref:3687977) | #7393 | ||
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Lotterer to Porsche according to Motorsport.com
http://www.motorsport.com/wec/news/l...season-850197/ |
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14 Nov 2016, 12:38 (Ref:3687980) | #7394 | ||
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Wonder if Lieb/Dumas would go back into GTE if they lost their seats.
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14 Nov 2016, 13:38 (Ref:3688005) | #7395 | |
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Some more info in this article on Lotterer's situation:
http://www.motorsport-total.com/wec/...-16111404.html His Formula Nippon drive dosen't pay him anything, the team only covers his travel expenses and his Tokyo apartment, he needs a second programme to actually earn money to make a living. Considering this a limited programme with Toyota probably wasn't an option for him, he needed a full season drive...looks like he found one |
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14 Nov 2016, 14:09 (Ref:3688009) | #7396 | ||
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I also don't think that even if Audi Sport were generous enough to, I don't think that Andre would like getting paid to do nothing. The guy's a racer, that's what he does and does well.
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14 Nov 2016, 14:30 (Ref:3688012) | #7397 | |
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I was waiting for confirmation of this move and have to say that I'm very pleased. I honestly don't see Lieb staying. Smart move by Porsche and Lotterer.
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14 Nov 2016, 17:27 (Ref:3688037) | #7398 | ||
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I see no reason for Porsche not to at least bump Lieb down to the GT ranks for 2017 (though he may choose to retire at the top of course).
They do have a new car coming after all. Dumas to GT, then the (possible) third prototype at Le Mans. It does seem increasingly likely that Tandy, Bamber and Lotterer will be racing full season next year. |
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14 Nov 2016, 18:05 (Ref:3688048) | #7399 | |||
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Quote:
While there are obviously other things that factored into his decision to join Porsche, it's not hard to imagine that if he was paid for his Super Formula drive then he might have been more likely to pick Toyota, even if it was only the third car... As for Lieb/Dumas, I think the former would be hard done by with a move to GTE, but his off-track skills are ideal for preparing and developing the new 911. Dumas hasn't impressed me for a while now so I wouldn't be fussed if he is moved out of the #2. So we could be looking at a lineup of Bamber, Bernhard, Hartley, Jani, Lotterer & Tandy. Wow. |
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14 Nov 2016, 18:25 (Ref:3688053) | #7400 | ||
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A possible 'demotion' to GTE would maybe not be as hard as it seems for Lieb, depending on the result in Bahrain.
If he closes 2016 with a championship win *and* a Le Mans win, wouldn't that be "mission accomplished"? Maybe he'll happily accept GTE as a new challenge? On the other hand, he could be massively disappointed too. |
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