ALMS 2013 Discussion

[FalkenALMS]

Originally Posted by picchiofan

Given that GA is already talking split races, you'll get the ~15 or so GTE cars with the 30-35 GAGT cars in their own race. They've pretty much achieved it.

The split races will only be possibly two races. Several representatives have stated it is not the goal for GT to have its own class every race. It will only be the races where there will be too many cars on track to consider it safe racing, ie Lime Rock and possibly Long Beach.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by FalkenALMS

The split races will only be possibly two races. Several representatives have stated it is not the goal for GT to have its own class every race. It will only be the races where there will be too many cars on track to consider it safe racing, ie Lime Rock and possibly Long Beach.

A shame. GT on their own would have been well worth watching. Stuck behind a bunch of DPs and a couple of DWs... Not so much. Oh well, this cycle too will only last so long. Maybe next time it will be interesting.

[The Badger]

From what im reading , I take it Conquest is gone ?

Level 5 is up in the air regarding any championship ?

Where does that leave P2 then , with respect to ALMS ?

Whats the score with Dempsey ?

[Maelochs]

Conquest has no money and Oak/Morgan has taken the car back, L5 is not interested in racing with itself and Dempsey is up in the air because Mazda pulled out---he was planning to run the Mazda Skyactiv diesel.

Dempsey's car is actually an L5 car on loan. Maybe he could buy it and buy an engine, but maybe the money isn't there.

L5 said basically they have a turn-key operation with up to three P2 cars for anyone with the money, but no one apparently has the money.

One less class in ALMS for 2013, it seems

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Where does that leave P2 then , with respect to ALMS ?

At this point, it seems the only chance there is a P2 class, is if anyone actually buys a Deltawing. Which is kind of funny, that the only cars in the class, might be cars that aren't actually built to any class rules.

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

At this point, it seems the only chance there is a P2 class, is if anyone actually buys a Deltawing. Which is kind of funny, that the only cars in the class, might be cars that aren't actually built to any class rules.

Almost no need to call it P2 then really. I wonder if any P2 teams coming for the WEC weekend will run another chassis in the ALMS race too? Greaves, Gulf Racing Middle East, Signatech (assuming they are around???), and OAK come to mind seeing as they all have multiple chassis.

[Breitling24]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

At this point, it seems the only chance there is a P2 class, is if anyone actually buys a Deltawing. Which is kind of funny, that the only cars in the class, might be cars that aren't actually built to any class rules.

I recall a couple of rumours of DW sales, have any actually been confirmed?

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by Breitling24

I recall a couple of rumours of DW sales, have any actually been confirmed?

Nothing confirmed. The story was two closed topped DW's, one open.

[Victor_RO]

Looks like we'll be seeing P2 cars in the ALMS... for Sebring at least.

https://twitter.com/dsceuroeditor/st...68128757915648

Greaves Motorsport confirms participation in 2013 Sebring 12 Hours. One car confirmed. #ALMS #Sebring

EDIT: This is what I was talking about when it came to P2s being in the merged series: even if American teams might be unwilling to go the P2 route, European teams might still be taking P2 machinery to the major start-of-season endurance races in the USA and taking on the DPs.

[Canada ALMS fan]

^ They announced that back in Oct. Mr. Goodwin has said Murphy is looking quite likely as well. Longer term, the problem is that the P2 cars are going to have their aero severely dumbed down so the cars would require modification to run over here. If one of the DP tugboats hits one of these due to the "rubbin' is racin'" NASCAR mantra these teams could end up with large repair bills too. Is it worth it still for the Euro teams? Hope so.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

Longer term, the problem is that the P2 cars are going to have their aero severely dumbed down so the cars would require modification to run over here. If one of the DP tugboats hits one of these due to the "rubbin' is racin'" NASCAR mantra these teams could end up with large repair bills too. Is it worth it still for the Euro teams? Hope so.

Really, where have you seen anything released on what the rules are going to be? These are assumptions, being pushed as fact!



L.P.

[Canada ALMS fan]

http://www.gordonkirby.com/categorie..._is_no367.html
From the article:

Bailey was technical director of IMSA during the early eighties amid the arrival of the great GTP era so he knows whereof he speaks. As Roger says, it will be difficult to find an equitable way to substantially reduce the downforce and aerodynamic efficiency of an LMP2 car while raising a Daytona Prototype's performance level.

Not much assuming there...

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

http://www.gordonkirby.com/categorie..._is_no367.html
From the article:

Bailey was technical director of IMSA during the early eighties amid the arrival of the great GTP era so he knows whereof he speaks. As Roger says, it will be difficult to find an equitable way to substantially reduce the downforce and aerodynamic efficiency of an LMP2 car while raising a Daytona Prototype's performance level.

Not much assuming there...

Yeah, but look a few sentences earlier in the actual quote:

We've got to find a way to upgrade the Daytona prototypes to make them equal in performance to an LMP2 car.

There's no mention in there about slowing down the LMP2s.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

http://www.gordonkirby.com/categorie..._is_no367.html
From the article:

Bailey was technical director of IMSA during the early eighties amid the arrival of the great GTP era so he knows whereof he speaks. As Roger says, it will be difficult to find an equitable way to substantially reduce the downforce and aerodynamic efficiency of an LMP2 car while raising a Daytona Prototype's performance level.

Not much assuming there...

Really?
Yet, Scot Elkins, said this;

"So our conceptual class, the top prototype class which is the Daytona Prototype and the P2s, it's a little bit of work that we have to do to make those two work. A lot of people have told us that it seems like it's impossible but we know it's not impossible. We have done a lot of work jointly, especially on the GRAND AM I'd and on our side we have been doing a lot of simulation and we have done a lot of pre work to determine what we can do is possible.
Because of the link with the ACO, the intention is to keep the P2 car as close to that technical specifications as we possibly can and increase the performance level of the Daytona Prototype through the various aerodynamics, brakes, stuff like that, those are the details we are working through and we will utilize the year we have through 2014 to make all of those consolidated."

http://www.alms.com/articles/their-o...d-richard-buck






L.P.

[Canada ALMS fan]

Voices from both sides of the merger are pushing for their agenda at this point. Either way, innovation is gone for the time being. As Scott Atherton said today, the idea is balance everyone out so as not to obsolete hardware. Bottom line enjoy the 2013 ALMS season! It will be the last time you see LMP1 and when there are LMP2 entries it may be the last time you see those cars with diveplanes, real tires, etc.

[CyberMotor]

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

http://www.gordonkirby.com/categorie..._is_no367.html
From the article:

Bailey was technical director of IMSA during the early eighties amid the arrival of the great GTP era so he knows whereof he speaks. As Roger says, it will be difficult to find an equitable way to substantially reduce the downforce and aerodynamic efficiency of an LMP2 car while raising a Daytona Prototype's performance level.

Not much assuming there...

So, this then becomes the big question. Since LPM2 and DP can not be balanced according to Bailey, will NASCAR/GA accept the higher tech and more advanced LMP2 cars as the top class while their main product plays second fiddle? The great fear by many, including myself, is that they will answer 'No' to that question. Hopefully, that will not be the answer. I think the answer to this question will answer everyone's question about how wise this merger is.

I'm a great fan of the prototypes. I would rather see three Audis, Toyotas and Acura/Hondas race rather than 30 dumbed down imitations of prototypes. I realize the difficulty of building a series upon the fickle nature of the manufacturers, but if you want people at the track and watching whatever and however they can, you need the world's latest prototypes.

There needs to be both. The stability of the professional privateers and the excitement and draw of the top classes. Some how, some way, they've got to figure this out and make the right decision.

I would prefer to see LMP1 but I know the realities. Not seeing at least LMP2 calibre prototypes would be a huge loss.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

Voices from both sides of the merger are pushing for their agenda at this point. Either way, innovation is gone for the time being. As Scott Atherton said today, the idea is balance everyone out so as not to obsolete hardware. Bottom line enjoy the 2013 ALMS season! It will be the last time you see LMP1 and when there are LMP2 entries it may be the last time you see those cars with diveplanes, real tires, etc.

Sorry, the linked article is both ALMS, Scot Elkins, and GARRA, Richard Buck. So both are represented in it by the people who are actually doing the work! No assumptions, period.




L.P.

[Adam43]

I can see how we got here, but we probably should keep this to the merge thread and let this one continue with the 2013 ALMS series.

[Canada ALMS fan]

On a positive note we could see 2 new manufacturers in GT by year end according to the John Dagys chat. Not sure if for ALMS or GTE in WEC? Also, another ALMS GT team to be announced in the next week or so.

[FstrthnU]

The question is how "new" will these manufacturers be. There's already been rumblings about Acura (NSX) and Mclaren (MP4-12C), so what else is there? Leaning towards American, Japanese, or German? Possibly even a Lamborghini GTE?

[Canada ALMS fan]

Either way, hard to take it as bad news.

[rich07]

McLaren would have to be a sure bet for the first but I'm stumped on the second one. A couple of contenders but none realistic.

[Breitling24]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

The question is how "new" will these manufacturers be. There's already been rumblings about Acura (NSX) and Mclaren (MP4-12C), so what else is there? Leaning towards American, Japanese, or German? Possibly even a Lamborghini GTE?

Well, Loeb has scheduled an announcement, and already has a couple of Mclarens for FIA... taking a dip in the wishing well.

[Fogelhund]

Jeff Braun ‏@jvbraun
.@leminko11 Thanks, I hope to be doing Le Mans this year. Just need to find a team that wants me there to help. So far no deal done.

Doesn't say much for L5's Le Mans prospects.

[Victor_RO]

https://twitter.com/sebringraceway/s...379842/photo/1

Sebring event poster released.