The never ending Toyota return to Le Mans (LMP1) Saga

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by deggis

No, Rob Leupen interview at motorsport-total.com. He also said 3 for LM.

Thanks. The success of the TS030 should make it easier when asking for a bigger budget.

[gregtummer]

I was just thinking about this yesterday. Imagine if Peugeot were still around.

For the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans you could very easily have:

3 Audis
3 Peugeots
3 Toyotas
2 Porsches
2 Rebellion
1 Strakka
1 Muscle Milk

*Drool*

[Canada ALMS fan]

Even without the French Lions that is pretty impressive plus add an OAK, a JRM car or 2, and a Dome 2014 may just be the year I go to Le Mans.

[Ultimo]

I want to make my inaugural trip for 2014, with full support to Porsche.

What can I say, I am nostalgic for the 956s that raced when I was a baby. If only Peugeot had stayed... Ah well. We will always say if "only." Let's be happy with what we have!

Also, let's hope Honda steps it up!

[deggis]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Not amazingly happy to see Vasselon quoted in today's Autosport as saying they are aiming for two cars in the WEC and two at Le Mans.

Everything is still clearly up for negotiation with the men holding the briefcases.

Also mentioned:
- confirmed (again?) that all 6 drivers have been retained, quote from Vasselon
- announcement later this month (mid-November), decision delayed from October
- if no full season 2nd car, then likely at least Silverstone or/and Spa

[Ultimo]

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

Even without the French Lions that is pretty impressive plus add an OAK, a JRM car or 2, and a Dome 2014 may just be the year I go to Le Mans.

I only half read your comment! The Canadians may be coming! Woo!

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by Ultimo

I only half read your comment! The Canadians may be coming! Woo!

Be afraid... be very afraid!

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by Ultimo

Also, let's hope Honda steps it up!

As Radio Le Mans speculated they may "have" to, and with Toyota demonstrating you can beat Audi on a fraction of the budget, it certainly will look more appealing than they previously thought. Toyota is getting huge value from this project compared to their F1 foray.

[Ultimo]

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

As Radio Le Mans speculated they may "have" to, and with Toyota demonstrating you can beat Audi on a fraction of the budget, it certainly will look more appealing than they previously thought. Toyota is getting huge value from this project compared to their F1 foray.

I have heard a lot of talk about Toyota running on a budget vis a vis Audi. What are some [speculative] numbers we can throw arond here?

[gregtummer]

I think Dr. Ulrich said it takes $50 million to have a real shot to win Le Mans and $75 million to do the whole WEC.

[Graham Goodwin]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Not amazingly happy to see Vasselon quoted in today's Autosport as saying they are aiming for two cars in the WEC and two at Le Mans.

Everything is still clearly up for negotiation with the men holding the briefcases.

The proposed programme is 2 for WEC and three for LM

[TF110]

So with two cars in WEC, drivers who will be in the cars the whole season? My guess is of course #7 Lapierre and Wurz (Nakajima part time with SuperGT). #8 Sarrazin and Davidson (Buemi part time/full time depending on F1?). What about a third car for LeMans? Andrea Caldarelli, Kamui Kobayashi (if not in F1?), Akira Iida? I can only guess.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Ultimo

The Canadians may be coming! Woo!

Whats this ?

[FstrthnU]

Originally Posted by TF110

So with two cars in WEC, drivers who will be in the cars the whole season? My guess is of course #7 Lapierre and Wurz (Nakajima part time with SuperGT). #8 Sarrazin and Davidson (Buemi part time/full time depending on F1?). What about a third car for LeMans? Andrea Caldarelli, Kamui Kobayashi (if not in F1?), Akira Iida? I can only guess.

I think Sarrazin is dependent on how much Starworks is willing to keep him and whether he wants to race for overall wins or stay in the ultra-competitive P2 class. I think we'll see him at some point, but I think it's too early to take a guess as full-season driver.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

I think Sarrazin is dependent on how much Starworks is willing to keep him and whether he wants to race for overall wins or stay in the ultra-competitive P2 class. I think we'll see him at some point, but I think it's too early to take a guess as full-season driver.

Earlier in the thread, there were links to where Toyota has said they'll keep the same 6 drivers from this year into 2013. That means Sarrazin (+Davidson and Buemi). I'm sure he'd much rather compete for the overall win than be in LMP2, plus I think Toyota would pay a bit better and give him a much better chance to win LeMans

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

I think Sarrazin is dependent on how much Starworks is willing to keep him and whether he wants to race for overall wins or stay in the ultra-competitive P2 class. I think we'll see him at some point, but I think it's too early to take a guess as full-season driver.

As quality of an outfit as Starworks are, I'm sure the decision will take 0.030 of a second for Stephane.

[Ultimo]

Originally Posted by The Badger

Whats this ?

Canada ALMS and I are both Canucks (and seemingly Le Mans virgins), and both of us want to hit the 2014 race.

[Graham Goodwin]

Originally Posted by Simmi

As quality of an outfit as Starworks are, I'm sure the decision will take 0.030 of a second for Stephane.

AFAIK its not Starworks that jhave an offer in with Sarrazin its 8Star (Enzo Potolicchio's new team)

[deggis]

Originally Posted by Ultimo

I have heard a lot of talk about Toyota running on a budget vis a vis Audi. What are some [speculative] numbers we can throw arond here?

In the motorsport-total interview Rob Leupen mentioned 80 million, but it was apparently more like a general estimation and not their actual budget, not to mention this year's budget.

It's in the same ballpark though than other budgets quoted:

http://tentenths.com/forum/showpost....postcount=2180

[Ultimo]

Originally Posted by deggis

In the motorsport-total interview Rob Leupen mentioned 80 million, but it was apparently more like a general estimation and not their actual budget, not to mention this year's budget.

It's in the same ballpark though than other budgets quoted:

http://tentenths.com/forum/showpost....postcount=2180

Thanks for that deggis. If this is true, are they really running on a budget compared to Audi? Maybe they are spending a bit less but surely not heaps less?

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Ultimo

Thanks for that deggis. If this is true, are they really running on a budget compared to Audi? Maybe they are spending a bit less but surely not heaps less?

Everything I've heard (without anyone having gone into specifics) is that Toyota are running on a budget significantly less than Audi. I thought that was the common understanding given they couldn't even get a second car in the game this year.

[The Badger]

80 million Niara perhaps !!!

[Acid09]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Everything I've heard (without anyone having gone into specifics) is that Toyota are running on a budget significantly less than Audi. I thought that was the common understanding given they couldn't even get a second car in the game this year.

Yes, I think nobody doubts that. If you look at their setup at Le Mans, it wasn't much bigger than of a well-off LMP1 privateer effort, nothing like Audi's "we take over the whole event" approach.

In several interviews they mentioned that they`re not willing to spend as much in the future either, that's why budget control is so important to them when it comes to the 2014 regs.

[The Badger]

Maybe its got something to do with the fairly recent devestation that Japan has suffered ..... and it may not be politically correct to be seen to over indulge in motorsports ?

Their LM effort , was nowhere near the best privateer effort , it was eons beyond , and has been ever since .

I do wonder , what would have happened if Davidsons car hadnt had the misfortune to connect with that Ferrari .....

How long could it have lasted ?

How long could it have pressured the Audi's ?

Even , was there a chance that it may have won ?

I fully expect a monster race next June .....

[Simmi]

I don't think there's any doubt the engine would have expired but obviously you can never truly know.

As you say next June will be insane. I'll hitch-hike there if I have to.

One interesting thing for me is a point that Trussers brought up which is - have Audi (in true F1 style) been concentrating on their '13 machine during the back end of the season rather than trying to compete on a race-by-race basis with Toyota.

They won everything they could win regardless so it didn't really matter. Not saying they'd ever want to lose a race but it's certainly tripled the hype around Le Mans compared to what we had this year.