Malaysian Le Mans project for 2009

[Bentley03]

Daily Sportscar broke the news last night that a two car Malaysian Le Mans project is planned for 2009. The driving forces behind this programme are Jack Cunningham and Alex Yoong (Malaysian A1GP partners).

Briefly:
- Malysian built LMP1
- 2 cars, one all Malaysian driver line-up and one international
- Hoping to bring Proton Cars along with other Malaysian A1GP sponsors on board

Alex Yoong's RFH drive in 2006 was the first stage of their planning, and Alex plus three of their A1GP engineers supported the Charouz Le Mans effort this year. Jack Cunningham expects their A1GP crew to be even more involved with Charouz Racing in 2008 and in greater numbers.

Potentially, a very exciting new project!

[SALEEN S7R]

Indeed a exciting new project, but where will they race? JLMC could really do with the additional entries. Perhaps thats more wishful thinking than logic however.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

Daily Sportscar broke the news last night that a two car Malaysian Le Mans project is planned for 2009.

Apparently this was mentioned first in the last issue of Autosport.

LMP seems to be really booming lately.

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by SALEEN S7R

Indeed a exciting new project, but where will they race?

There's really very little information to go on at the moment. With the detail we have so far, it could be construed as yet another of those programmes which is only interested in racing at Le Mans. Such projects invariably come to Le Mans underprepared and, apart from the 'interest' factor, generally prove unworthy of their place. Personally, I believe the ACO should make a full season entry in one of their associated series mandatory before a Le Mans application will even be considered (although I accept that this poses inherent geographical difficulties for the Japanese and projects such as this).

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

With the detail we have so far, it could be construed as yet another of those programmes which is only interested in racing at Le Mans.

A bit like the Indian Courage LC70 project

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

A bit like the Indian Courage LC70 project

Well, yes......although Jack Cunningham's involvement, to me, gives it substantially more credence. Ultimately though, it'll come down to funding. In this respect it's no further forward than any of those other 'dreams' we get so excited about on here!

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Apparently this was mentioned first in the last issue of Autosport.

Ah.........that would explain why I hadn't heard about it!

[brielga]

Yoong has funding to push this forward but 2 cars is a huge investment... maybe it will need gentleman driving aplenty

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by brielga

Yoong has funding to push this forward but 2 cars is a huge investment... maybe it will need gentleman driving aplenty

Maybe if they could get support from somebody like Petronas , they do sponsor "the other" motorsport .

[minimangler]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Maybe if they could get support from somebody like Petronas , they do sponsor "the other" motorsport .

Yeah, Petronas are rich and always willing to throw cash at racing cars, it seems.

Surely Yoong has a big budget to still be going, cause he was sh*t in F1.

[HORNDAWG]

Maybe the ACO should be trying to get Petronas to sponsor the new
Pan-Asian series set for 09 and then maybe some of these teams would have a series to gain experience in. Just a thought.. probably like snow in Hades!

L.P.