Paul Ricard HTTT LMS Test . - Page 6

AndrewF31 · 9 Mar 2010, 18:40 (Ref:2648406)

2 pages later, to cmk, what Acid09, Horndawg and Andy were saying was what I tried to say but it didn't come out right. Schnitzer is basically BMW's equivalent of AMG Mercedes and Joest Audi. To compare with Audi, you have the Rosberg and Phoenix teams. I think RLR is more like those than they are Joest.
If RLR didn't have BMW backing for the bid it's because BMW wanted to take their main works team. Nothing against that. Just hope they use RLR's knowledge of the car in racing conditions (no doubt Schnitzer has all the technical knowledge since, as mentioned by others, they developed the car initially) as well as drivers.

The Lola Aston Martin without colors looks very strange (Signature one).

Less then 2 weeks to Sebring!

merlot brougham · 9 Mar 2010, 18:58 (Ref:2648421)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Acid09

RLR didn't develop the new M3, Schnitzer did.

They did all the testing before the car even was first shipped to the US. And the sole reason Schnitzer wasn't choosen to run the car in the US it that they were busy with WTCC last year, this year they aren't.

That's not completely true because RLR was chosen to field a car for BMW as early as 2007. They ran part of that year in a Porsche just to gain the experience for the upcoming BMW effort. So they knew they would be running for BMW as early as then.

If Schnitzer did the "development" they sure did an ass job because it took several races for the M3s to become competitive. Schnitzer only did shake downs and very, very initial development. They only had the car for a couple of months before it was shipped off to the US anyway.
Regardless, unless you or I have a direct line to BMW Motorsport, Schnitzer and RLR we won't get this sorted out and we are only arguing about semantics anyway. No matter, BMW is at Le Mans again and that makes me a happy man.

ubrben · 9 Mar 2010, 19:36 (Ref:2648449)

A note on BMW homologation. Three key bulletins available on IMSA's websute:

Original bulletin saying that it ran to ACO specs:

http://www.imsaracing.net/2009/alms/...ms%2009-03.pdf

Weight break post Sebring:

http://www.imsaracing.net/2009/alms/...ms%2009-09.pdf

Post Long Beach. Weight added back and restrictor break:

http://www.imsaracing.net/2009/alms/...ms%2009-11.pdf

Ben

lemansfan · 9 Mar 2010, 19:48 (Ref:2648464)

Quote:

Originally Posted by arnage arnie

And hopefully the same glorious engine note

This is not a Engine it is a Music Machine

http://s6b.directupload.net/file/d/2093/do6zq9pg_jpg

Acid09 · 9 Mar 2010, 23:22 (Ref:2648595)

Quote:

Originally Posted by merlot brougham

No matter, BMW is at Le Mans again and that makes me a happy man.

You´re absolutely right, I agree.

Marcel ten Caat · 9 Mar 2010, 23:41 (Ref:2648603)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentley03

Ok.........

Was the BMW an LMS spec car or the test car?

Not the LMS car ;-)

Marcel ten Caat · 9 Mar 2010, 23:42 (Ref:2648606)

Oh and the Signature Plus car was not used in competition by Aston Martin Racing in 2009.

Tim the Grey · 10 Mar 2010, 00:22 (Ref:2648618)

Huh? I thought they ran every chassis they had, including the Monza rebuild...

**Bentley03** · 10 Mar 2010, 05:57 (Ref:2648686)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stranger

Not the LMS car ;-)

Interesting. LMS/Le Mans cars not yet ready due to relatively recent homologation........and there's only one test car, which is why they had to pack up and go home?

**Bentley03** · 10 Mar 2010, 05:58 (Ref:2648687)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stranger

Oh and the Signature Plus car was not used in competition by Aston Martin Racing in 2009.

Yes, I read that on DSC. I think we were all under the impression there was no 'spare'.

old man · 10 Mar 2010, 10:18 (Ref:2648782)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightStalk3r

Who's to say Westbrook wont still be with JMW for Le Mans, he wont be with Prospeed for Le Mans they have already announced there lineup and it is all paying gentlemen drivers.

Can't see the works AM team having a Porsche competitor from the LMS series in their car for the 24, anyway I am sure Porsche will find him a ride for that race.

The question remains however for JMW, not many top guys available for June?

**Bentley03** · 10 Mar 2010, 10:28 (Ref:2648790)

Quote:

Originally Posted by old man

The question remains however for JMW, not many top guys available for June?

Personally, I'd like to see Jamie Campbell-Walter given a competitive GT drive. There are few better than him once the sun sets at Le Mans!

Tim the Grey · 10 Mar 2010, 10:36 (Ref:2648793)

I guess they must have bought a spare tub from Lola at some point, after they'd bent 2 before?
News to me, whatever.

Wasn't there a whole thread around this subject, 6 months back???

Tim the Grey · 10 Mar 2010, 10:37 (Ref:2648794)

Rob Bell, Tim Sugden, JC-W? There's a joke in there somewhere!

NightStalk3r · 10 Mar 2010, 11:25 (Ref:2648830)

Quote:

Originally Posted by old man

Can't see the works AM team having a Porsche competitor from the LMS series in their car for the 24

It's no different to Peugeot having Barbham last year for Le Mans while he was a works Acura driver.

Tim the Grey · 10 Mar 2010, 23:33 (Ref:2649262)

Er, yes, actually. They weren't competing head to head...

Come on, it's like the RAF inviting Adolf Galland to test fly a Spitfire in 1939...

The Badger · 10 Mar 2010, 23:35 (Ref:2649264)

He probably did test a Spitfire too ..... on German soil !!!

cmk · 10 Mar 2010, 23:45 (Ref:2649269)

Quote:

Originally Posted by old man

Can't see the works AM team having a Porsche competitor from the LMS series in their car for the 24, anyway I am sure Porsche will find him a ride for that race.

The question remains however for JMW, not many top guys available for June?

If Porsche had wanted to control his goings-on that much they would not have terminated his factory contract at the end of 08. His current contract is with Prospeed, and if they have their lineup, it sounds like the contract should allow him to be elsewhere. If DT is out, as he is, I would not be surprised to see Westy in with Bell and Sugden at LM.

cmk · 10 Mar 2010, 23:47 (Ref:2649271)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentley03

Yes, I read that on DSC. I think we were all under the impression there was no 'spare'.

Indeed, especially as one of the crashed tubs was replaced with one from an ex-Charouz Lola Aston. Perhaps this was a late-season purchase given the number that kept getting wrecked?!

**Bentley03** · 10 Mar 2010, 23:58 (Ref:2649277)

Don't think it's been mentioned, but I was intrigued to see the quickest P1 over the two days was on Dunlops, and that the quicker of the two Lola Aston Martin's was also on Dunlops. Could be as simple as Dunlop bringing a compound more suited to the cold weather than Michelin........or not?

isynge · 11 Mar 2010, 00:22 (Ref:2649287)

Given that Dunlop seem to have done something very significant with their LMP2 rubber I see no reason why they can't have done the same in LMP1. Chucking some significant tyre issues in and muddying the waters where heretofore Michelin have been dominant would help make this year even more exciting.

@Tim the Grey - kudos for raising the erudition bar with the Galland reference, if study wasn't currently hors de combat with house renovations I'd have been straight upstairs to dig through texts on RAF and Luftwaffe to see if something like that happened - nothing would surprise me!

Marcel ten Caat · 11 Mar 2010, 00:32 (Ref:2649290)

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmk

Indeed, especially as one of the crashed tubs was replaced with one from an ex-Charouz Lola Aston. Perhaps this was a late-season purchase given the number that kept getting wrecked?!

Lola B09/60 HU03S...so indeed a spare tub utilized to build up a new car after a crash prior to Le Mans.

**Bentley03** · 11 Mar 2010, 00:42 (Ref:2649296)

Quote:

Originally Posted by isynge

Given that Dunlop seem to have done something very significant with their LMP2 rubber I see no reason why they can't have done the same in LMP1. Chucking some significant tyre issues in and muddying the waters where heretofore Michelin have been dominant would help make this year even more exciting.

That's very much what I was implying. The potential for a tyre war in both prototype classes adds a dimension we've been denied for a number of years. I'm watching with great interest!

HORNDAWG · 11 Mar 2010, 00:56 (Ref:2649300)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bentley03

That's very much what I was implying. The potential for a tyre war in both prototype classes adds a dimension we've been denied for a number of years. I'm watching with great interest!

The only place I see where Dunlop may suffer is with the diesels, due to the experience that Michelin has with the amount of torque put down, as compared to the petrol P-1s.

L.P.

**Bentley03** · 11 Mar 2010, 01:09 (Ref:2649303)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

The only place I see where Dunlop may suffer is with the diesels, due to the experience that Michelin has with the amount of torque put down, as compared to the petrol P-1s.

L.P.

Absolutely, and I guess it'll remain that way unless a manufacturer asks them to produce an LMPD tyre for them. They'd definitely need a development partner to work with.

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