West Racing enters two Lambo LP 560 GT's in 2011 ALMS.
[url]http://www.americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=news|15440[/url]
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West Racing enters two Lambo LP 560 GT's in 2011 ALMS.
[url]http://www.americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=news|15440[/url]
Dyson is rumored to have two cars possibly, and have dumped BP as primary sponsor.
[quote=Chernaudi;955666]Dyson is rumored to have two cars possibly, and have dumped BP as primary sponsor.[/quote]
dumped? because the BP name is tainted? (Or lost, because BP ran out of money?)
[quote=henk4;955676]dumped? because the BP name is tainted? (Or lost, because BP ran out of money?)[/quote]
More likely the former. BP isn't short of cash but could have decided motorsport isn't where they could best renew their "green" PR spin.
BP also owns Castrol....and the races after the spill it seems the car livery was changed from BP to Castrol for obvious reasons.
Hopefully the team lands an adequate sponsor.
[quote=csl177;955678]More likely the former. BP isn't short of cash but could have decided motorsport isn't where they could best renew their "green" PR spin.[/quote]
well, the first post sounded like Dyson actively sought to get rid of BP as a sponsor, a brave thing to do these days in motorsport.
[quote=Dino Scuderia;955681]BP also owns Castrol....and the races after the spill it seems the car livery was changed from BP to Castrol for obvious reasons.
Hopefully the team lands an adequate sponsor.[/quote]
[quote=henk4;955684]well, the first post sounded like Dyson actively sought to get rid of BP as a sponsor, a brave thing to do these days in motorsport.[/quote]
I spoke to soon. Dino, have you read anywhere they did drop them? After watching the video it seemed more like Dyson was expressing optimism with the green project and BP's fuel... he just didn't mention BP, which as you pointed out might have been deliberate since they switched to Castrol livery. BP likely helped craft the message... after all, who would drop a big-money sponsor in this economy?
I said that BP is no longer primary sponsor--it seems that some electronics company is now main sponsor.
Maybe BP knows that with the criticism with how they handled the Gulf Oil Spill that putting small Castrol and BP stickers on the Dyson Lolas is the best way to save face with the team and the ALMS?
This is the new sponsor:
[url="http://www.modspace.com/"]ModSpace: Modular Offices, Construction Trailers, Portable Storage, Portable Classrooms and More[/url]
I found where they have traditionally sponsored ARCA and other stockcars.
[quote=Chernaudi;955700]I said that BP is no longer primary sponsor-[/quote]
you did not SAY that, but it was the implication of your words. What you SAID was something totally different.
"...and have dumped BP as primary sponsor"
That's what has seemed to have happened, unless it was BP who pulled the plug because of their image in the NA market. And you can expect that in the short term at least that Rob, Chris and the ALMS management would like to distance themselves from BP for a while, with the ALMS' mantra of "green racing" wouldn't they?
And at a time where Audi Sport boss Wolfgang Ullrich said that Audi running in the ALMS was sponsor dependant. But at least BP isn't Union Carbide after the Bhopal disaster.
Both shouldn't have happened, but I do see a difference in the amount of corporate greed/evil in killing 11 people vs about 3000, if not more.
OAK Racing has confirmed the second of its drivers for the 2011 Intercontinental Le Mans Cup with the signing of Frenchman Pierre Ragues, who returns to the team having successfully raced with them in 2008.
During his previous stint with OAK Racing, then known as Saulnier Racing, the 26-year-old Ragues scored his first-ever endurance racing podium and also helped the team to its first of three consecutive podium finishes at the Le Mans 24 Hours, ending the year fifth overall in the Le Mans Series LMP2 drivers’ standings.
He has since gained valuable LMP1 experience in both the Le Mans Series and at Le Mans while racing the Signature-Plus Lola-Aston Martin, scoring two podiums in 2010 and finishing fourth in the final drivers’ classification.
Ragues will share one of OAK Racing’s LMP1 OAK-Pescarolo prototypes with compatriot Guillaume Moreau, whose continuation with the team was confirmed last month, in the seven-round ILMC which encompasses the legendary Le Mans 24 Hours and also includes prestigious events in the USA, China and Europe.
François Sicard, Managing Director, OAK Racing: “We are very happy to welcome Pierre back to the team. We remained in touch since 2008 and have followed his results closely – it feels like he’s coming home. Pierre is one of the most experienced young French racing drivers around and he has clearly demonstrated the key qualities of speed and reliability required for endurance racing. Pierre also knows Guillaume Moreau well from their Formula Renault days and his technical experience in the LMP1 class will be of invaluable help to the team as we move up from the LMP2 category.”
Pierre Ragues: “I enjoyed a great season with the team in 2008 but felt that the opportunity to move into LMP1 was too good to turn down. However I parted on very good terms and today feels like a homecoming for me. This programme in the ILMC, taking part in all the most prestigious events such as Sebring, Le Mans, Road Atlanta and Spa, is a dream-come-true for a young driver like me. Although the nucleus of the team is the same, it has grown a lot since I was last here and is even more professional. My testing programme starts in mid-February and it will be an important time ahead of Sebring. I can’t wait to start.”
OAK Racing’s third driver for the team’s ILMC campaign will be announced shortly.
will they use new chassis? (One of their LMP2s actually started life as an LMP1 car)
I think that all Pescarolo 01s were either converted from LMP1 Courage/Pescarolo C60s or Courage C65s to start with. I don't have any idea if they actually built any of their cars from scratch up until now.
However, that's a credit to how good the C60 was in the right hands--the only chassis that rivals it in longevity/success was the Audi R8, which was far more successful, but Audi retired that as soon as it was practical to run the R10 in the ALMS in '06. And, of course, if not for the diesels and if LMP 900s were still legal, the R8 could probably still be winning races today.
Of course, how Pescarolo was able to modify the C60 tubs is that they're built in the "traditional manner" in two halves. Unlike the Audi R18, which is cast in one giant mold.
Ad-hoc mods there are virtually impossible. But that's the trade off. Pescarolo could convert any C60 chassis he wanted or bought into a new car, and he took full advantage of it, and saved a little money in the bargan.
The Pescarolo 01 was a new tub, not based on any Courage and introduced in 2007. Up to then Pescarolo had used Courage tubs.
They build eight of them,
#1 was the first works LMP1, totalled in 2009 at Spa
#2 was the first LMP2 and went to Kruse, was later destroyed in a truck fire
#3 reportedly went to Lister but never raced
#4 Rollcentre LMP1
#5 LMP 1, Ran as the second works car, then converted to LMP2 for Oak racing, as #24
#6 LMP2, for Oak racing #35
#7 LMP1, works car
#8 LMP1, 2009, with the new aero package.
Well, why did Henri try and buy up some old Courage C60 tubs? Easier and cheaper to replace the upper half of the tub with a rule's compliant one than build an entire car from scratch.
Even if the cars were 100% new, the C60 design ancestory can't be denied. And its possible that some of the Pesca tubs were once Courage C60s at some point. Lola did the same thing with the AMR Lola that Enge nearly wrote off--they replaced the damaged section of the tub with a new one and gave it a new serial number.
Also, in the ALMS, LMS and ILMC, LMPC/FLM cars can run in all races in their own category outside of Le Mans, and the class champion in the LMS events will get an LM24 invite for 2012.
Mulsanne's Corner is now reporting that the Audi R15s that are to be raced at Sebring will have minimal if any changes versus their 2010 spec aside from performance ballancing.
The only advantages that they'll have is more torque (larger engine) and if Sebring is held to IMSA sporting regs, faster stops with the open car.
Isn't it amazing.....all of the sudden it's Lotus Lotus everywhere!
ILMC: Lotus Confirms Evora GT2 Program
Jetalliance Racing to campaign pair of Lotus Evoras in highly competitive category; set for Sebring debut...
[url="http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/ilmc-lotus-confirms-evora-gt2-program/"]AUTO RACING - ILMC: Lotus Confirms Evora GT2 Program[/url]
There's been much rumor and consternation over the 2011 ALMS TV package...well....here it is officially. True fans need to be hooked into ESPN3.
[url]http://americanlemans.com/primary1.php?cat=news|15452[/url]
First pictures of Henri sitting in his new car have appeared on the web.
[quote=henk4;956749]First pictures of Henri sitting in his new car have appeared on the web.[/quote]
Pics? I can't find any.
[quote=Kitdy;956761]Pics? I can't find any.[/quote]
[url="http://www.lemans.org/fr/actualites/Pescarolo-Team-c-est-la-rentree_2631.html"]Actu Auto - 24 Heures du Mans 2011 - Pescarolo Team : c'est la rentre ! - LeMans.org[/url]
just become a friend of the ACO on facebook and you will receive these things automatically, and Canadians are supposed to speak French.
That looks just like the old car. No big honking fin on it yet ...
[quote=henk4;956762]just become a friend of the ACO on facebook and you will receive these things automatically, and Canadians are supposed to speak French.[/quote]
We are supposed to, but bilingualism in Canada really isn't a two way street. A much higher percentage of Quebecois are fluent in English than Canadian Anglophones are in French.
In Ontario, we are mandated to take French from grades 3-9 (options for 10-12 and there also French immersion schools). I took it for those years, and I think the education was inadequate. I was not very good with languages so I know only a pathetic amount of French. The last time I studied it I was 14 and I have never had to use it. Whenever I have been in Quebec, everyone has spoken English to me. When I next visit, I will make an effort to speak at least a modicum of French.
I actually would like it if French (and English in French speaking Canada) was a core subject taught from Kindergarden to Grade 12 - a fully bilingual country would be great.
Any other Canadians have something to say about this?
Anyhoo, that car does look very similar to what I remember the old one looking like.
[quote=Wouter Melissen;956763]That looks just like the old car. No big honking fin on it yet ...[/quote]
if anybody has the right to invoke the grandfather clause, it should be Henri...
[quote=Kitdy;956764]
Any other Canadians have something to say about this?
[/quote]
I am ESL, I didn't have to learn French when I moved to Canada in Grade 9....
:D
[url="http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-cytosport-goes-with-lola-aston-martin"]AUTO RACING - ALMS: CytoSport Picks Lola-Aston Martin[/url]
Didn't see that one coming....
I might be bothered to turn up at Mosport to see that...
[quote=RacingManiac;956789]I am ESL, I didn't have to learn French when I moved to Canada in Grade 9....
:D[/quote]
I was wondering what you'd have to say about this.
It's probably better for you that you speak Chinese than French in North America though.
[quote=RacingManiac;956861][url="http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-cytosport-goes-with-lola-aston-martin"]AUTO RACING - ALMS: CytoSport Picks Lola-Aston Martin[/url]
Didn't see that one coming....
I might be bothered to turn up at Mosport to see that...[/quote]
Then I may see you there. I would love to see an AM prototype, and have been to Mosport 4 of the last 5 years for the Grand Prix.
I think my last year going there for ALMS was 2007, was at the last Detroit race in 2008(already moved to MI at that point)....then the lack of cars in the last 2 years have pretty much dampened my interest at the race...
I love watching races at Mosport though, great access, lots of great, unimpeded photo spots, and a track just small enough to walk all the way around for 2 hour and 45 min race...with cars going at insane speed through the corners...the place also holds special memory since 2006 and 2007 the Toronto FSAE guys pretty much live there during the day leading up to comp since we test at their paddock area....
Neat. How many ALMS races have you been to there?
I hit the Canadian Touring Car Championship there as well this year, also the Indy here.
I wanted to hit the Canadian Superbike Championship but slept in.
The atmosphere is so cool - many fans are hardcore and there is a good feel about the place.
[quote=RacingManiac;956861][url="http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-cytosport-goes-with-lola-aston-martin"]AUTO RACING - ALMS: CytoSport Picks Lola-Aston Martin[/url]
Didn't see that one coming....
I might be bothered to turn up at Mosport to see that...[/quote]
Will be cool to see/hear this jewel run even if LMP1 is a bit limp overall.
2001-2007, I went there uninterrupted during those years....the first few with my dad and the last 2 or 3 with people from the SAE team, and those are the years that we started walking the track during the race. Basically catch the start in turn one, snap few pics, then went down to turn 2 to see the brave man in the LMPs flying through there flat on a blind, down hill, off camber turn...go to turn 3 snap a few pics of cars apexing with curb. Then walk to 5a and 5b and see the car at the slowest point of the track. Then walk down the back straight through the woods and hear them echo through it...Stay a bit at turn 8 and see the LMPs just lift off the gas and turn in at 180mph....then usually wrap up up on the little hill at turn 9 as we usually park around there. Then try to beat the traffic out the track....:D
Rebellion Racing LMP1 Toyota Lola Coupe expected to enter Sebring.
[url="http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88911"]autosport.com - Le Mans News: HPD steps up to LMP1 for Le Mans[/url]
HPD is going LMP1 again.....but with the ARX-01-based car, not the purpose built ARX-02a...
ARX-01d will be their 2011 spec LMP2 car, with the new turbo charged V6.
ARX-01e will be their 2011 spec LMP1 car, presumably with a development of the 3.4 liter V8, since thats what the 2011 rule calls for, basically the 2010 and prior's P2 motor...
Curious to see the updates, and if we'll see the wider front tires again, but on the ARX-01 platform....
Edit: MulsannesCorner's bits on it: [url="http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newsjan11.html"]Mulsanne's Corner News, January/February 2011[/url]
Coupe for 2012.
How can you still read Mulsanne's Corner? They're out of touch for some months already....
[quote=faksta;957739]How can you still read Mulsanne's Corner? They're out of touch for some months already....[/quote]
[url="http://www.mulsannescorner.com/"]Mulsanne's Corner, technical analysis of contemporary sports prototype racing cars[/url]
this link works perfectly well.
[quote=faksta;957739]How can you still read Mulsanne's Corner? They're out of touch for some months already....[/quote]
Read the news....Their car pages won't update until there are actually new cars to see....and he is still updating all the old cars as more information are on them already...
Also considering he has a day job, I think the site is still pretty good...
What does he do for a day job?
[quote=Kitdy;957748]What does he do for a day job?[/quote]
He builds racing cars.
I think now is a Model Maker/Wind Tunnel Tech at Panoz.