[LM24 Race] JLOC Lambo saga .

[The Badger]

Here is the story I heard while up at the race .

JLOC was told by the ACO that if they wanted to take up their entry , they would have to buy a new car from Reiter , which they did . Also they were told that Reiter should run their car for them , Reiter didnt want anything to do with it cuz JLOC had bought no sales support or spare parts .

Probably the reason it lasted so long , was it was brand new .

I dont think they deserve to be considered for an enrty again . 5 year ban .

[johntt]

GT1 isn't going to be at Le Mans next year anyway so unless Lambo make a GT2 car and JLOC get their hands on one, I can't see it happening.

[naughtymutt]

The JLOC car was running until sunday morning when it was removed after not having completed enough running - the same nearly happened to Drayson Racing (who were not classified later) and JLOC lasted longer than some high profile entries (1x908, Beachdean Mansell, BMW Art Car, Jaguar).

[nobster]

Never seen a JLOC lambo running so many laps at Le Mans before, the disgrace at Le Mans IMHO was the Jaguar, slow and not reliable! That car should not have been there!

[isynge]

I was perfectly happy with the JLOC performance. The car's nice to look at, didn't get in anyone's way, and best of all, produced big globs of flame out the exhaust under braking at Tertre Rouge, and ran enough laps to justify its existence.

Would I pick it over, let's say a Tokai University entry? Probably not. Would another Porsche or Ferrari GT2 entry have been better? Again, not to my eye.

Would I look favourably on them if they came up with a GT2 Lamborghini entry? Might well - in the absence of anyone else wanting to run a Lambo at Le Mans I don't have too many problems with it.

[zac510]

I still can't believe the owner's club is wealthy enough to fund an entry. Are there other funding/sponsors aswell?

[Japanese Samurai]

Isao Noritake(chairman of JLOC) is a famous businessman.
He is managing the wholesale trade of rice.
He seems to have expended most of the budget of JLOC.

[Yakuncha]

Originally Posted by zac510

I still can't believe the owner's club is wealthy enough to fund an entry. Are there other funding/sponsors aswell?

A friend based in Japan was working for JLOC at Le Mans and its not even the club funding it, just 1 rather wealthy guy. There are a few small sponsors, including a tyre sponsor but mostly funded by 1 guy, lucky for some

Edit, see above, was beaten to it

[GT6]

Well I must admit to being pleasently surprised, the lambo ran through practice and for a large chunk of the race. IMHO it looked good and although it did not really deserve a place on the grid the team put up a good show.

[andy_b]

The Lambo was very popular, looked great and lasted longer than many cars. If you get rid of that entry on that basis, you have to bin anyone who retired before that.

[m1fcf]

Originally Posted by nobster

the disgrace at Le Mans IMHO was the Jaguar, slow and not reliable! That car should not have been there!

I wouldnt say it was a disgrace, I suspect it suffered the same problems as the JLOC did a year ago. The entry was 12 months too soon.

But could you really see someone with a Jaguar entry not putting it in the race this year, when it is the 50th anniversary of Jaguar at Le Mans? Even if it did only do a handful of laps, I think it was still a good and worthy entry.

When it did run the sessions on Thursday it did get quicker and quicker, so there is somethine there that is worth racing.

[Flyin Ryan]

Originally Posted by The Badger

JLOC was told by the ACO that if they wanted to take up their entry , they would have to buy a new car from Reiter , which they did .

well, good for Reiter

[Dunlop Corner]

Originally Posted by m1fcf

But could you really see someone with a Jaguar entry not putting it in the race this year, when it is the 50th anniversary of Jaguar at Le Mans? Even if it did only do a handful of laps, I think it was still a good and worthy entry.

I don't think someone should get a valuable entry to Le Mans just because their car is from a marque that was at Le Mans some years ago. If it was a serious works effort like BMW, sure let them in. If their car was somewhat ready and reliable, yes get them in for the sake of diversity. But don't allow them in with a dud just because it is called Jaguar.

I thought JLOC had embarred themselves the last two years. This year, they gave a good try. A popular car that after all did last half the race, does merrit it's place. Absolutely a step forward from JLOC this year, but i still don't think they have redempted the disasters before that.

[Bodysnatcher]

yet in 2006 when they got to the last few hours, none of you remember?

they have had their problems, but they still deserve their entry

[cmk]

Honestly I don't see what the issue with the entry for this year was. Why should they be given an entry ban? The car was not quick in its class but you could easily levy the same criticism against the Race Performance Radical or the WR. It outlasted several of the cars in its class including 2 of the vaunted Matech Fords - because its fuel line burst and because none of the drivers drove it into a wall at high speed - and the team pushed very hard to rebuild the gearbox in order to try and make the laps for the 18 hour cutoff.

[TheNewBob]

Originally Posted by Bodysnatcher

yet in 2006 when they got to the last few hours, none of you remember?

they have had their problems, but they still deserve their entry

I also think 2007 was extremely unfortunate, so the 2009 disaster seems to have been just a one-off - although that doesn't mean they are 'forgiven' for it.

As the only representitive of Lamborghini, and the fact that they tried really hard this year, their 2010 entry was not a wasted one. However next year, in the unlikely event that JLOC and someone else (preferrably Reiter) both enter a GT2 Lambo, then the grid slot should probably go to a different team.

[Dead-Eye]

Also keep in mind that they weren't "given" an entry, they earned it in the AsLMS.

[cn009]

And not to mention beating the Larbre Competition Saleen in the Asian Lemans Series!

[The Badger]

Dont care what anyone says , to go to Le Mans without a spares package is just , im speechless !!! I honestly cant think of a fitting word for it .

[andy_b]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Dont care what anyone says , to go to Le Mans without a spares package is just , im speechless !!! I honestly cant think of a fitting word for it .

better than going to Le Mans ina car which can hardly turn a lap and only do 4 laps in the race.

[pablocomics]

They have two option for next year if they want to continue.

1-buy a Lambo GT2 from Reiter, but that car was terrific, it barely run 50 laps on past year tests (driven by the Prince of Taxis). Probably it isn´t as bad as the Jaguar, but it´s really close.

2-Buy a LMP2 with a Lambo engine, probably it´s the cheapest option

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by pablocomics

2-Buy a LMP2 with a Lambo engine, probably it´s the cheapest option

Next year the LMP2 engines are limited to 5.0 liter and 8 cilinders maximum. So a Lamborghini engine is not an option.

[Aysedasi]

The JLOC Lambo did OK, in my book, but if I was the ACO, they wouldn't get an invite of any kind in 2011. IMO (which I know I've reiterated at every opportunity), they were exceptionally lucky to be granted an entry this year. And they plodded around as cars often do at Le Mans. They acquitted themselves adequately. But based on their performances in 2009 and 2010 do they deserve another go (in whatever) in 2011? I hardly think so....

Originally Posted by andy_b

better than going to Le Mans ina car which can hardly turn a lap and only do 4 laps in the race.

Not entirely true....

The Jaguar - yes, it was embarrassing - embarrassing that Jaguar's return to Le Mans should have been with such a woeful entry. But the car did a heck of a lot more laps than the Lambo managed last year (something like 43 throughout practice) and easily beat it on longevity in the race - 4 laps compared to the Lambo's 1 last year!

[The Badger]

I'll be honest .

From the fact that they bought a new chassis from Reiter Eng , with zero support or spares for that matter , they did very well indeed . Probably cuz the car and all the bits were new .

I gather from this that they are not very serious at all , so no , they dont deserve to get back . But , rules are rules , if they again win their class in the AsLMS , you can hardly stop them !!!

[Fiorentina 1]

I think they did a decent job. They ran further then all the GT40; who were the class favorites. They didn't qualify last, and they ran over 50% of the laps. A lot better then some, especially the Rocketsport JAG. The Lambo ran 1 lap last year and I believe 1 lap in 06 or 07, so this year's result was great.

I think we have to hear their side of the story on the spares package deal. Sometimes it is indeed a 'package' and you can't pick and choose what you want to buy; you buy the lot (package) or nothing. Therefore, maybe they felt they didn't need all the stuff that was in that 'package'.

I think it's great to get another manufacture in the race and an entry from outside Europe & USA. I hope they come back next year!