ILMC 2011 Discussion

[Simmi]

Looks like DAMS will return to Le Mans according to Autosport.

They are set to tie up with OAK Racing. They will look to run "at least one" of their LMP2 cars at the race.

DAMS were quoted a while ago as saying they wanted to move into LMP2 but it was apparently abandoned over the winter. The article doesn't say if the partnership will go beyond Le Mans.

[KA]

Also in Autosport- GT3 Audi team are planning to expand into LMP2 for 2012, and hope to debut at PLM this year. Team boss Zak Brown to drive, possibly sharing with one of the ex-F1 drivers who've appeared in United's Audis at the Spa 24 hours- maybe Brundle, Johansson or new signing Johnny Herbert.
Car expected to be a Lola, with either a Nissan or Roush Ford engine

[JAG]

Autosport say Peter is indeed considering dropping P1 and having a meeting with the ACO this week.

The split is not a done deal according to the ACO.

ACO director general Remy Brouard said: 'We need to grow step-by-step, so we will analyse whether it is neccessary to split, but would you prefare 30 or 60 cars.'

[JAG]

Originally Posted by KA

Also in Autosport- GT3 Audi team are planning to expand into LMP2 for 2012, and hope to debut at PLM this year. Team boss Zak Brown to drive, possibly sharing with one of the ex-F1 drivers who've appeared in United's Audis at the Spa 24 hours- maybe Brundle, Johansson or new signing Johnny Herbert.
Car expected to be a Lola, with either a Nissan or Roush Ford engine

Sounds like that could be a predominantly ALMS program as they want a presence in US racing.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by JAG

Sounds like that could be a predominantly ALMS program as they want a presence in US racing.

I don't think so... Team principle Zak Brown is more or less married to NASCAR, and I think the powers that be in Daytona Beach would be a bit miffed to see his team with a full-season ALMS-campaign...

[JAG]

Debuts at PLM ahead of a full-season campaign with the realistic options being the ILMC and ALMS.

In an RLM interview they said they were interested in running the R8's in the ALMS when the GT3 idea was floated and had prototype ambitions.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by JAG

Debuts at PLM ahead of a full-season campaign with the realistic options being the ILMC and ALMS.

In an RLM interview they said they were interested in running the R8's in the ALMS when the GT3 idea was floated and had prototype ambitions.

I think in the United Autosports special on RLM (or maybe some other interview elsewhere) United Autosports had mentioned the possibility of campaigning in the LMP2 class.

I know Mr Brown has ties to nascar, and also to the GT1 championship. Yet he chose to race GT3 first. Plus they run a racing business, so if there is money to do series X they will do it regardless of prior business ties.

[JAG]

More talk of giving the ILMC World Championship status.

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...portscars-325/

[JAG]

The Guardians take on Le Mans and the ILMC.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2011...mcnish-le-mans

[gwyllion]

Zhuhai will host the final ILMC round: http://www.lemans.org/en/news/2011-I...ason_3265.html

Please note that in addition to the ILMC teams, this race will be open to GTC (equivalent to GT3) and Formula Le Mans cars entered by local teams.

[vyselegend]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

Zhuhai will host the final ILMC round: http://www.lemans.org/en/news/2011-I...ason_3265.html

Montagny will be p***ed. Last year he was angry at that circuit being "totally unsuited to prototype racing".

Although I suspect that layout might be a good opportunity to race the hybrid 908, as it's basically hard braking / long straight combination for all the lap.

[Victor_RO]

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...TTT_JS_036.jpg

The Hope Racing Oreca 01 hybrid. So we know that it actually exists...

[NaBUru38]

Standings after Spa:

LMP1 Manufacturers:

1. Peugeot, 55
2. Audi, 38
3. Aston Martin, 0

LMGTE Manufacturers:

1. BMW, 49
2. Ferrari, 38
2. Corvette, 24
4. Porsche, 14
5. Aston Martin, 8
5. Lotus, 1

LMP1 Teams:

1. Peugeot, 27
2. Audi, 19
3. Oreca, 18
4. Rebellion, 12
5. Aston Martin, 0
5. Hope, 0
5. Oak, 0

LMP2 Teams:
1. Signatech, 22
2. Oak, 18
3. Level 5, 9

LMGTE Pro Teams:
1. AF Corse, 27
2. BMW, 26
3. Luxury, 5
4. Lotus, 4

LMGTE Am Teams:
1. Proton, 24
2. Krohn, 21
3. AF Corse, 15
4. Larbre, 11
5. CRS, 8
6. AMR Middle East, 0

According to this document, Ferrari only collected 5 points for their second GTE car and BMW 9, whwereas the #89 Farnbacher finished second. How is that?

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

According to this document, Ferrari only collected 5 points for their second GTE car and BMW 9, whwereas the #89 Farnbacher finished second. How is that?

Farnbacher is not entered for the ILMC.

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by Victor_RO

Farnbacher is not entered for the ILMC.

That is why they don't score points in the teams classification.

I thought that any car entered in the race could score for the manufacturers classification.

I just checked the rules and I was mistaken:

For the GTE Manufacturers’ classification, a classification will be established after each race GTE Pro and GTE Am combined. Only the two cars entered in the ILMC by the same manufacturer can score points in the manufacturers’ classification (whoever the entrant): namely those that have obtained the highest position at the end of each event (addition of the points of the 2 cars) in the GTE classification (GTE Pro and GTE Am combined).

[Accident]

If that is the case, then how does Corvette have 24 points in the manufacturer championship?

Larbre got a DNF at Sebring and only earned 4 manufacturer points at Spa, so I assume that means that the factory cars earned points at Sebring despite not being ILMC entries.

[NaBUru38]

It seema that the GTE Manufacturers title includes both Pro and Am classes, Larbre's car counts.

[JAG]

Speed have a story up coming about possible ILMC expansion, with a second race in China, Brazil and India all possibilities.

[Pandamasque]

Who needs a second race in China? Why not go to Japan?

[AGD]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Who needs a second race in China? Why not go to Japan?

I'm sure Peugeot and Audi are the ones who are driving the ACO toward China. I'm not so sure if those two are interested in racing in Japan. I think we know Peugeot isn't interested in racing in the US. It's all about following the money. The manufacturers could care less about the quality of the tracks.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

Who needs a second race in China? Why not go to Japan?

Its an Asian series , not a Chinese one . We need one in Australia to drum up interest .

[AGD]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Its an Asian series , not a Chinese one .

What is an Asian series? The AsLMS is dead or at least on hold as far as I can tell.

We need one in Australia to drum up interest .

Only 989 more years until the next Le Mans race in Australia!

[Pandamasque]

I'd love to see LMP1s go round Bathurst threading around 60 other cars

Originally Posted by AGD

I'm sure Peugeot and Audi are the ones who are driving the ACO toward China. I'm not so sure if those two are interested in racing in Japan. I think we know Peugeot isn't interested in racing in the US. It's all about following the money. The manufacturers could care less about the quality of the tracks.

On the other hand showing up at places where people care about racing is good for the series. Japan has more potential teams and manufacturers for ACO racing.

[rich07]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Its an Asian series , not a Chinese one . We need one in Australia to drum up interest .

Could not agree more .

Unfortunately I cant see it happening soon, mainly because of a lack of people willing to put up $$$ (government or otherwise) to host the event (although Audi did spend $1.5m to race and win the Bathurst 12hr with the R8 LMS in February). A lot of people like racing here in Australia but not too many have been exposed to the wonders of sportscar racing (V8 Supercars is the big thing down here), but I think you'd get a decent turn out if it was promoted well and had some guest drivers from Australia.

A 1000km race at Bathurst or Phillip Island would be incredible.

[911targa]

Originally Posted by AGD

I'm sure Peugeot and Audi are the ones who are driving the ACO toward China. I'm not so sure if those two are interested in racing in Japan. I think we know Peugeot isn't interested in racing in the US. It's all about following the money. The manufacturers could care less about the quality of the tracks.

both Mainland and Taiwan are big markets for Porsche,too.So far I hear several news say Porsche is going to build a professional test track in the south of China and should finish in years.Macao have a world famous track but fit mostly for GT race not prototype.Anyway Malaysia's Sepang track looks quite good for GT cars as well,hopefully both can hold ILMC events if there are more GT entries and less top class private prototypes in the future.