[LM24] Corvette to not race at Le Mans?

[carsten66]

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

5 million? an hour or so.

... what I understand the big 3 were talking about was first of all they need the money to stay alive of the beginning of 2009 mainly because payments of their suppliers are due...

[KA]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Would the GT2 car be eligible for any other series, FIA or any of the national series, or could it be downgraded to a GT3 spec inexpensively?

Assuming they don't do anything that causes the FIA GT series not to accept the car, then a GT2 Vette would be eligible for LMS, FIA GT and any other GT series in Europe that haven't moved over to GT3-only regs- France and the GT Open series come to mind?


I don't see there's a point in downgrading the car for GT3, as theres already a GT3 'Vette homologated

[naughtymutt]

i thought I read / heard the other day that Corvette was going to try to attract sponsors (other than GM companies) to make up the budget...

Also heard that Porsche were the reason that Audi are not doing much with the R15, making the way clear for a Porsche LMP1 campaign in 2010.

[Nordic]

Despite what may have already been announced, if the bosses of Corvette phone Fehan Friday morning and tell him the program is canned, then its canned end of story, sponsors or not.

The PR impact of a racing team swanning around the world while the factory workers are laid off would not be positive.

Having a motorsport program is luxury, the benefits we see as fans may be lost on accountants who will just see the bottom line.

[fiend540]

This would be terrible news if it turns out to be true

[Flyin Ryan]

Originally Posted by Aslak Vind

Strangely GM confirmed Magnussen´s GT1 contract a couple of weeks ago. But I guess that a lot has happened in the world of GM mismanagement

Well Honda left F1 a couple weeks after resigning Button.

I'm somewhat connected to what's been going on with the carmakers, I see what's going on in my own company and how. Things have changed very quickly in the past month.

[Simon Speichert]

This is just irresponsible journalism from Autosport, IMO. How can you print an article holding something to be true while quoting Steve Wesolowski, the one man who would know, saying it's not?

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Simon Speichert

This is just irresponsible journalism from Autosport, IMO. How can you print an article holding something to be true while quoting Steve Wesolowski, the one man who would know, saying it's not?

Yeah, my thoughts on it as well. Then you have those that glom onto it and run.



L.P.

[Fogelhund]

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20081218/FREE/812189981

Seems this won't go away.

Interesting quote though....

Speaking at a GM press event in Detroit on Thursday, a high-ranking GM official said the company would quit NASCAR before it quit Le Mans.

[broadrun96]

Honestly not surprised by the quitting NASCAR first comment, the guys at the top always seem to be around sportscar events and I can't remember even seeing them on any of the NASCAR coverage. Plus which racing format has the better chance to appease the beancounters with streetable R&D?

[skycafe]

Speaking at a GM press event in Detroit on Thursday, a high-ranking GM official said the company would quit NASCAR before it quit Le Mans.

I recall in Speed coverage of LeMans, and the massive campaign that Chev/Corvette undertook at LeMans, that the program was responsible for doubling Corvette sales in Europe, and therefore worth every penny. Now, that was said in far different times, and I don't have any sales figures handy to know if that was two cars one year and four the next sold in Europe, and therefore a bunch of marketing gobbledygook said in 'fat' times, or if there was real economic merit in the program. Even if there was merit, in the days when you can only hope for enough to 'keep the lights on,' then a racing campaign to France is probably on the chopping block.

[Asa]

The pros and cons of a high profile motorsport program is that it is great marketing for relatively little money; but when the company's finances turn bad, then the most highly visual and seemingly wasteful thing is the motorsport program. It may only cost $5m, but it is very highly visible. If you cut something highly visible, then you are seemingly doing the right thing.

[Mal]

This is another interesting quote from that Autoweek article

"[The 2009 GT1 operation] would be the place to start," he said. "[But] the difficulty is our sponsorship commitments. Due to the international exposure of Le Mans, it might end up costing us more not to do it.""]"[The 2009 GT1 operation] would be the place to start," he said. "[But] the difficulty is our sponsorship commitments. Due to the international exposure of Le Mans, it might end up costing us more not to do it."

[AU N EGL]

What is the worlds most recognized car symbol?

The Chevrolet Bowtie.


the Expose for Chevy and Corvette at Le Mans is WORLD WIDE exposure, not just on Speed TV.

and Corvette Racings sponsors are world wide partners, not just in the US and Europe. Compuware and Mobil 1 have a World Wide Exposure.

[andy_b]

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

What is the worlds most recognized car symbol?

The Chevrolet Bowtie.

Being a Brit, now living in North America, I wouldnt say that at all. Not even Top 10. probably Mercedes, BMW, Ford? Chevrolet doesnt have much heritage in Europe...


plus- are there any bowtie's anywehere on a Corvette (except in the actual flag, within the vette badge)?.... but I do agree with rest you say

[AU N EGL]

Originally Posted by andy_b

Being a Brit, now living in North America, I wouldnt say that at all. Not even Top 10. probably Mercedes, BMW, Ford? Chevrolet doesnt have much heritage in Europe...


plus- are there any bowtie's anywehere on a Corvette (except in the actual flag, within the vette badge)?.... but I do agree with rest you say

Not my opinion, but several world wide studies showed the Chevrolet bowtie is the the most recognized symbol. Next was the Mercedes star.

and the Red Chevy Bowtie is or was on the Wing, and the Drivers collar band and chest pocket area of the drivers suit.

[Mal]

I would have thought the Prancing Horse would be well up there amongst recognised symbols.

[AU N EGL]

It may have been. I will look for the link the info.

Corvette Racing in Le Mans means too much for Chevy, GM, car and truck development, Market exposure and their sponsors to give Le Mans up.

OT the top two selling vehicles in the US for 2008 are not little hybrids fuel efficient ego boosting greenie beanie status cars, but vehicles that ppl need for work or business. The top two? Ford F150 and Chevy Silverardo pickup trucks. /OT

How is this related? Many Corvette owners also own a Chevy Pick up truck(s) or Chevy SUVs. Chevrolet Brand Name Recognition is very important to the company.

[Tim the Grey]

IIRC top 3 BRANDS worldwide are Coca Cola, McDonalds, and Mercedes. BMW are in the top 10. No other car manufacturer makes it.

[Nordic]

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

OT the top two selling vehicles in the US for 2008 are not little hybrids fuel efficient ego boosting greenie beanie status cars, but vehicles that ppl need for work or business. The top two? Ford F150 and Chevy Silverardo pickup trucks. /OT

How is this related? Many Corvette owners also own a Chevy Pick up truck(s) or Chevy SUVs. Chevrolet Brand Name Recognition is very important to the company.

The Ford F series and Silverado sales are in a decline, compare those to the Toyota Camry and other cars which are stable or increasing. As you can also see the the Toyota Prius is now into the top 20 and sales are growing, but still a fracton of the top 5.

Giving the contined decline in the US, these figures will clearly show another steep fall, and the F series and Silverado could well have lost the top places.

June 3, 2008; Reuters compiled the following chart of the 20 top-selling vehicles in the U.S. through May of 2008 as reported by the automakers.

Total sales of the top 20 vehicles fell 3 percent or -73,755 units to 2,347,879. Following is a list of the top-20 selling vehicles, ranked by total units.

Following is a list of the top-20 selling vehicles, ranked by total units.

RANK VEHICLE 2008 2007 '07 RANK %Chng
1 Ford F-Series P/U 235,924 290,282 1 -18.7
2 Toyota Camry 198,309 193,900 3 +2.3
3 Chevy Silverado-C/K P/U 197,030 265,941 2 -25.9
4 Honda Accord 166,158 153,431 6 +8.3
5 Honda Civic 164,994 137,288 8 +20.2
6 Toyota Corolla 152,308 165,722 4 -8.1
7 Nissan Altima 133,465 114,318 9 +16.7
8 Chevrolet Impala 122,281 144,541 7 -15.4
9 Dodge Ram P/U 112,795 154,143 5 -26.8
10 Ford Focus 105,499 77,732 15 +35.7
11 Chevrolet Cobalt 93,362 79,257 14 +17.8
12 Honda CR-V 89,017 84,464 11 +5.4
13 Toyota Prius 79,675 76,747 16 +3.8
14 Ford Escape 76,966 73,058 17 +5.3
15 Chevrolet Malibu 74,925 59,627 26 +25.7
16 Ford Fusion 73,197 66,260 20 +10.5
17 GM Pontiac G6 71,062 59,063 28 +20.3
18 GMC Sierra P/U 70,765 84,106 12 -15.9
19 Toyota Tundra 66,278 61,113 23 +8.5
20 Ford Econoline/Club Wagon 63,869 80,641 13 -20.8

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by GT6

If they do not enter GT1 lets hope they get their act together and are allowed to enter GT2 for Lemans 09, but I suspect that the problems at GM may limit any factory racing next year, perhaps we will still get a private entry or two.

Unless GM enter into bankruptcy, P&M will continue racing. I believe their contract runs through 2010.

[Tim the Grey]

60k+ fall in sales for said 'tools of the trade'...
Looks more like wannabe farmers to me!

Sorry, fuel prices are rising, Pick Up and SUV sales are going into free fall...

[Nordic]

Many are brought on finance, the level of default on those loans will rise fast. Those cars when reclaimed by the banks loan companies etc will flood the market, and futher hit the car market.

Alot of those loans are provided by GMAC, another risk that will hit the GM bottom line.

As for a contract running into 2010, it wont be worth the paper its written on if GM say no more racing, P&M will stop.

Clearly the best way forward would be to better help the privateer teams and spread the love.

[broadrun96]

The biggest part of the loan offered is tied to concessions on the wage front, no wording in it about limiting advertising or marketing campaigns (racing). Given the way Fehan and others have said the future is tied to what happens in Washington it looks like the Vette program will be around for 09. Looks like the loan is more of an incentive for CAFE, and a crippling blow to the UAW, wages and perks must be inline with non-US manufacturers by 12-31-09. The books must also be freely accessible by the feds throughout the duration of the loan. And there is a caveat about the feds being able to block any large transaction, but it is specified in USAToday and Washington Post that the cap is anything over $100M. Doubt the program needs that much cash, but if motorsport is all in one total (NASCAR, sportscars, GARRA, etc) it could hurt some.

All together, it looks like the program may be saved. Now the associated advertising and marketing campaigns at the track will decrease if not almost disappear but think the cars on track can be justified as cost beneficial advertising, especially compared to Super Bowl ads they recently cut back ($2.6M per 30 sec block, but I can't remember how much GM dropped)

[TWK]

Both the Autosport and AutoWeak reports were false from the start. They should at least met their obligation to call such unsourced material "rumors."

If they want to print rumors (there's nothing wrong with that) they need to call them that, not pretend they are news, as they did in this case. Perhaps they didn't know the difference? Note that though the AutoWeak story referred to unnamed "sources," Autosport didn't even do that.

In this economy nothing is for certain, but for now Corvette remains committed to its GT1 Le Mans entries for 2009.