[LM24] Penske/Porsche, Why Skip Le Mans?

[AU N EGL]

Originally Posted by minimangler

Porsche don't enter Le Mans BECAUSE of these reliabilty issues- they can't gurantee their cars so won't let anyone enter.

No Porsche did not enter LMP2 at LM because Roger Penske TOLD Porshe, if you want Team Penske at LM YOU( PORSCHE) will pay the FULL BILL about $2,000,000 for that race.

Penske said the months of May and June are too busy for his racing business to do only one race.

What 6 NASACAR and Indy 500 races in that time frame.

[canam]

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

No Porsche did not enter LMP2 at LM because Roger Penske TOLD Porshe, if you want Team Penske at LM YOU( PORSCHE) will pay the FULL BILL about $2,000,000 for that race.

... is that what it would cost to make the car reliable over the full 24 hours

If Porshe thought they could win it, they would have entered there own cars. They just didn't want to lose the race through reliability problems ($2m down the drain). Penske is a substantive organisation and could have handled the resourcing requirements.

[jhansen]

You're both right. Penske could run Le Mans if he wanted to, and if he didn't have to use his own money. And Porsche could make it happen, if they wanted to. I see too many ifs in this equation.

[Spyderman]

It has been said over and over again: Porsche will not go to Le Mans (in any official capacity) using a P2 car.
It has nothing to do with reliability! It has to do with the possibility of winning.
No P2 car stands the slightest chance of winning (under normal conditions) at Le Mans against the oil-burners.

[KA]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

It has been said over and over again: Porsche will not go to Le Mans (in any official capacity) using a P2 car.
It has nothing to do with reliability! It has to do with the possibility of winning.
No P2 car stands the slightest chance of winning (under normal conditions) at Le Mans against the oil-burners.

Even if the reliability issures were sorted I'd be fairly surprised if a P2 could win at Le Mans against petrol P1s either, without a pretty major retirement list in P1......

[TWK]

Originally Posted by minimangler

Porsche don't enter Le Mans BECAUSE of these reliabilty issues- they can't gurantee their cars so won't let anyone enter.

Come, now. Porsche and everyone else knows your car doesn't need to be reliable to win LMP2 at Le Mans - at least not thus far.

By the way, there are some very interesting theories here, like "engine power/longevity options," and Porsche won't "let" entries occur.

[SebringMG]

Originally Posted by KA

Even if the reliability issures were sorted I'd be fairly surprised if a P2 could win at Le Mans against petrol P1s either, without a pretty major retirement list in P1......

Agreed! While the P2 cars are very quick - Sebring showed how their pace dropped off over time. A P2 will not be able to win LM, they just don't have the straight line grunt to be able to compete with any P1 car down the straight and not enough corners to make the difference up there.....

[AU N EGL]

Originally Posted by canam

... is that what it would cost to make the car reliable over the full 24 hours

If Porshe thought they could win it, they would have entered there own cars. They just didn't want to lose the race through reliability problems ($2m down the drain). Penske is a substantive organisation and could have handled the resourcing requirements.

Penske said his price to run LM24 was for Porsche to pay HIM, Penske Racing $1`million per car. Had nothing to do with realiabilty, Porsche did not want to pay penske.

No one can expect to enter just one LM24 and Win ( oh wait Pug did)

[porsche45]

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

Penske said his price to run LM24 was for Porsche to pay HIM, Penske Racing $1`million per car. Had nothing to do with realiabilty, Porsche did not want to pay penske.

No one can expect to enter just one LM24 and Win ( oh wait Pug did)

The only one streched during that time would be The Captain, himself. The Porsche crew does not work the nASScrap or IRL races. Porsche and/or Penske could fund a run at Le Mans.

[minimangler]

Originally Posted by TWK

Come, now. Porsche and everyone else knows your car doesn't need to be reliable to win LMP2 at Le Mans - at least not thus far.

By the way, there are some very interesting theories here, like "engine power/longevity options," and Porsche won't "let" entries occur.

According to RLM reliability was why they did not go.

[TWK]

Originally Posted by minimangler

According to RLM reliability was why they did not go.

Who? One opinion, right?

They announced they weren't going to Le Mans when they announced the program, well before they'd turned a wheel in a race. So, I guess they already knew they'd break a lot?

It was an ALMS program, period, from the start with no plans for Le Mans. The contingency is there if a European team wants to buy a car, or if any team wants to go to Le Mans on its own nickel. So far, no one has. The only two teams that are racing the cars have little Le Mans history and only a passing interest (well below their ALMS plans). No big mystery.

With only one sale even rumored before next season to a buyer in Europe, an entry in 2008 would seem not to be highly likely, either.

[jhansen]

Moved from the PLM Entrants thread.

[watermelon]

i thought it had something to do with the fact of the audi/ porsche family connection as it wouldn't make no sense for porsche to even challange for the main prize while audi is focusing on it as their main marketing push... plus they wouldn't stand much chance i guess....??

[chewymonster]

Not much chance for overall victory. Reliability that is questionable.

[AU N EGL]

Originally Posted by jhansen

Moved from the PLM Entrants thread.

Phewww, and I thought I was getting senial.


We can talk about reliabity or who did not pay or want to pay what? The fact is Spyder and Penske were not at LM in 07 so we really dont know.

What will happen in 2008, again, we dont know. I think a lot will have to do with the ACO and any adjustments or diffinition of "what is a "manufacture team "and "manufacture involvment" per class regulations.

Then the silly season team scambling will begin for 2008.

[Hugewally]

I think everone puts way too much into the Porsche won't go unless they can win theory.

They still have cars in GT2 right?

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by TWK

With only one sale even rumored before next season to a buyer in Europe, an entry in 2008 would seem not to be highly likely, either.

Dyson would appear to be the most likely Porsche participants at Le mans. Will they finally do what they have been threatening to do for a number of years?

I also believe that there will be a strong desire (from Porsche) not to allow Acura a free run at the Le Mans LMP2 title (LMS challengers notwithstanding).

I'm (personally) very hopeful of a Porsche presence in LMP2 at Le Mans in 2008............

[minimangler]

Nah Porsche don't want to limp across the line, it would look silly- they want to run, for 24 hours, without breaking down, and they don't think they can. Thats why.

[Bullett]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

Dyson would appear to be the most likely Porsche participants at Le mans. Will they finally do what they have been threatening to do for a number of years?

I also believe that there will be a strong desire (from Porsche) not to allow Acura a free run at the Le Mans LMP2 title (LMS challengers notwithstanding).

I'm (personally) very hopeful of a Porsche presence in LMP2 at Le Mans in 2008............

If I can ask, What have they been threatening?

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Bullett

If I can ask, What have they been threatening?

To race at Le Mans. The team have expressed a desire (on a number of occasions in recent years) to do so. The EX-257's were deemed unsuitable and the B06/10's too new in 2006, but now, with the Spyder's..........??

Probably just wishful thinking on my part, but if the desire is there and they can find the budget for 2008, it would seem plausible.

[Spyderman]

There is a difference between Porsche being at Le Mans in an official capacity and customer Porsches (with Porsche support) racing there.

Perhaps this might shed some more light on their thinking:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...010760,00.html

[AU N EGL]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

There is a difference between Porsche being at Le Mans in an official capacity and customer Porsches (with Porsche support) racing there.

Perhaps this might shed some more light on their thinking:

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/s...010760,00.html

Good read.

[Bentley03]

I like this passage from the article.....

Kristen is armed with some knowledge of the changes to the rules for 2008 but he cannot divulge specifics until the ACO makes an official announcement.

"I think what the ACO wants to do for 2008 is definitely a good step.

"I don't know exactly what the revision will be but it will help to increase the attractiveness of LMP1."

.....sounds very encouraging!

[AU N EGL]

Originally Posted by Bentley03

I like this passage from the article.....

Kristen is armed with some knowledge of the changes to the rules for 2008 but he cannot divulge specifics until the ACO makes an official announcement.

"I think what the ACO wants to do for 2008 is definitely a good step.

"I don't know exactly what the revision will be but it will help to increase the attractiveness of LMP1."

.....sounds very encouraging!

[minimangler]

they say that everytime.