ILMC 2011 Discussion

[Deleted]

Petit Le Mans just proved that ALMS can get very decent grids without ILMC. There really weren't that many local competitors at Okayama and Zhuhai.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Petit Le Mans just proved that ALMS can get very decent grids without ILMC. There really weren't that many local competitors at Okayama and Zhuhai.

Yes, but think it the other way round: ALMS team sponsors enjoyed getting international exposure for two races. Now there would be only one, and ALMS teams would take a hit from that.

[Deleted]

At the moment ILMC gets no extra media exposure anyway (even if ACO thinks otherwise). Petit was mainly marketed as an ALMS event, and that it was. There might be slightly better "global" TV package next year, yes, but I doubt ILMC grabs headlines any time soon.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Yes, but think it the other way round: ALMS team sponsors enjoyed getting international exposure for two races. Now there would be only one, and ALMS teams would take a hit from that.

So before ILMC, PLM didn't have International exposure? Did calling it an ILMC race somehow give it more exposure?

It simply comes down to the entrants, as to whether there is exposure or not.

[trahsub]

Not locking in PLM (while it's understood there are scheduling issues) is hard to fathom. Having it as a TBD along with an Asian race that may or may not happen is a clear showing of incompetency.

[JAG]

Autosport say PLM should be confirmed in early December once the China race is sorted.

[Mal]

The ILMC in itself wont make much difference to PLM but the presence of the manufacturers does- ie Audi, Peugeot and next year Aston Martin. I would expect Audi and AM to apply as much pressure as possible to get PLM onto the ILMC calender and all concerned would be stupid if they didnt reach a deal.

I hope it is all just posturing.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by Mal

The ILMC in itself wont make much difference to PLM but the presence of the manufacturers does-.

Isn't that the same thing? I mean no ILMC, no manufacturers... So, yes ILMC in itself does make a big difference.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Isn't that the same thing? I mean no ILMC, no manufacturers... So, yes ILMC in itself does make a big difference.

Well that hasn't always been the case over the past few years has it. Teams have opted to run the race because it is a marquee event. Without an ILMC date it will be the scheduling that would prevent the big boys being there I'd imagine.

[vyselegend]

Indeed PLM proved for several years it is as big a race by itself to attract big manufacturers, independently of any championship (be it ALMS or LMIC).
It should be part of the LMIC though, not only because it's one of the top three "classics", but also because there's a risk manufacturer's official budget are for just LM24 & LMIC licensed races. In the end wathever Quesnel or Ulrich or Richards etc thinks, it's the respective CEO of the brand who decides where they race.

I believe, since they all need to keep driver rotation as high as possible, there's no doubt teams would favor the 10 hours at Road Atlanta rather than 6 hours anywhere else, regardless of the quality of the layout (which would still favor PLM anyway).

Though, both Audi & Peugeot being very keen to race in China for marketing purpose, the question is how much are they ready to sacrifice for that?

[courageous]

Make no mistake, the 'scheduling problems' line is rubbish - same as with the le mans test day.

This took me less than 5 minutes to work out:

Feb*27*ILMC / ALMS Sebring
Mar 6
13 ALMS
20
27 LMS
Apr 3
10 ALMS
17
24 LMS
May 1
8*ALMS
15
22 ILMC / LMS Spa
29
Jun 5 Le mans Test
12 IMSA special event
19 ILMC Le Mans
26
Jul 3
10 ALMS
17
24 ALMS
31
Aug 7 LMS
14
21 ALMS
28
Sep 4 ALMS
11
18 ILMC / LMS Silverstone
25
Oct 2 ALMS
9
16 ILMC / ALMS Petit Le Mans
23
30 AsLMS
Nov 6
13 AsLMS
20*
27 ILMC / AsLMS Fuji

10 ALMS rounds (+ a local event)
6 LMS rounds
3 Asian rounds
Always at least a fortnight between LM type races, the 24 itself is at least 3 weeks away from any race relevant to the entries.

Now think that at least 2 of these weekends won't happen in the real world anyway & it become obvious that you can schedule 2011 for everyone but media deals (money), ego & power are as usual going to get in the way

[Simmi]

I know what you're saying but a fortnight isn't a huge amount of time when you consider the cars have to be sent back to base, resorted, packed up and sent off. They cant just get there the day of the race either but I know you know that. Depends entirely how they opt to send them but it's not easy. And that doesn't even take into account repairing damage.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Well that hasn't always been the case over the past few years has it. Teams have opted to run the race because it is a marquee event. Without an ILMC date it will be the scheduling that would prevent the big boys being there I'd imagine.

I agree that it hasn't been that way in the past. Without being an ILMC race, it won't quite be the marquee event it was. Manufacturers will approve budgets for LM and ILMC... whether they'd approve a one off is questionable. You also mentioned scheduling. Cars arrive over a week in advance of PLM, so ILMC entries would need no European events, at least two weeks.

Courageous... your schedule is wrong for this year, or was it just theoretical? If theoretical, it is easy to create a schedule that works for all, if that is your goal. PLM is Oct 1st. Pretty tight against Silverstone, but it could work.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

I agree that it hasn't been that way in the past. Without being an ILMC race, it won't quite be the marquee event it was. Manufacturers will approve budgets for LM and ILMC... whether they'd approve a one off is questionable. You also mentioned scheduling. Cars arrive over a week in advance of PLM, so ILMC entries would need no European events, at least two weeks.

I suppose the manufacturers would have to weigh up the prestige of winning vs the cost, logistics and whether anyone (outside of Road Atlanta) is going to be able to see the race with whatever the tv package ends up being.




In other news it looks like Team Bruichladdich could be at Sebring. The stumbling block? Scheduling...

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...ance-5674.html

[courageous]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

it is easy to create a schedule that works for all

Exactly my point - it is not a case of too many races, not enough dates, this is the ACO doing short termism bang for buck

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by courageous

Exactly my point - it is not a case of too many races, not enough dates, this is the ACO doing short termism bang for buck

It becomes a good deal more complicated as soon as you start to schedule around F1 (steals TV-audience), DTM (Audi!) and WTCC (Eurosport!)... and suddenly you have more races then suitable weekends.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by Simmi

I suppose the manufacturers would have to weigh up the prestige of winning vs the cost, logistics and whether anyone (outside of Road Atlanta) is going to be able to see the race with whatever the tv package ends up being.

No matter what the TV package ends up being, I don't believe that participation at PLM is based upon the TV. The ratings are so poor, that no manufacturer would justify such an expense whether they stay on Speed, or move to whatever has been rumoured.

[JAG]

According to Pescarolo 2011 could be the last year for the LMS, in it's current form at least.

"For now, I'm not talking about the ILMC, because for a team that just repeat, it is more reasonable to aim at the Le Mans Series which has already won twice, to win a third time before it disappeared perhaps because in 2012 it will perhaps be the year where we will see a rebirth of the World Endurance Championship. It's something everyone talks about and that many people hope that this will happen. So, a third victory in the Le Mans Series, it would not hurt for us is a reasonable goal. "

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...ance-5678.html

[Japanese Samurai]

Sports-carracing.net report ILMC.
Fuji and Petit Le Mans dropped out of the calendar of ILMC.
They reported that this depended on the intention of "a certain" manufacturer.
They are not clarifying the manufacturer.
However, they reported that the manufacturer was neither AUDI, BMW nor Porsche.
The manufacturer(yes, it's Peugeot) seems to want to race in not Japan and the United States but China.
http://www.sports-carracing.net/201011news.htm

[fiend540]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Sports-carracing.net report ILMC.
Fuji and Petit Le Mans dropped out of the calendar of ILMC.
They reported that this depended on the intention of "a certain" manufacturer.
They are not clarifying the manufacturer.
However, they reported that the manufacturer was neither AUDI, BMW nor Porsche.
The manufacturer(yes, it's Peugeot) seems to want to race in not Japan and the United States but China.
http://www.sports-carracing.net/201011news.htm

If this is the truth, it is really sad and pretty pathetic.

[Tim the Grey]

Peugeot don't sell many cars in Japan or the US. They sell bucketloads in China.
Now where will you spend your money...?
I suspect that is the be all and end all. No other agenda, merely where marketing can see a return.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Sports-carracing.net report ILMC.
Fuji and Petit Le Mans dropped out of the calendar of ILMC.
They reported that this depended on the intention of "a certain" manufacturer.
They are not clarifying the manufacturer.
However, they reported that the manufacturer was neither AUDI, BMW nor Porsche.
The manufacturer(yes, it's Peugeot) seems to want to race in not Japan and the United States but China.
http://www.sports-carracing.net/201011news.htm

The tail that wagged the dog.

Let's rename this PILMC.

[CTD]

Let's not jump the gun!
We only have one source currently!

[fiend540]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

Peugeot don't sell many cars in Japan or the US. They sell bucketloads in China.
Now where will you spend your money...?
I suspect that is the be all and end all. No other agenda, merely where marketing can see a return.

Yet Audi, Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Corvette, you know basically every other manufacturer currently Involved in the sport do. So, to rule out two markets based on One manufacturer is crap. That is to say, since this has yet to be proven true and is merely rumor, I guess we will wait and see.

[courageous]

The ACO are probably the best example of nationalistic favouritism, so it at least sounds a plausible reason.