Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 21

Thread: New Porsche LMP2 racer

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Southeast US
    Posts
    5,582

    New Porsche LMP2 racer

    Porsche today took the covers off its new LMP2 race car that will compete in the American Le Mans Series, beginning with a Penske Motorsports entry at Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca later this year preparatory to a full-season run in 2006. The Porsche LMP2 features a completely new Porsche engine, transmission and chassis designed to conform to the Automobile Club de l'Ouest 2006 Le Mans rules.

    ALMS President and CEO Scott Atherton expressed his pleasure with the initial details of the German manufacturer's LMP2 race car. Porsche released early technical specifications and images today of its prototype that Penske Motorsports will field for the last two races of the 2005 ALMS season, Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta and the Monterey Sports Car Championships at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in October, and all of the 2006 schedule.

    The Porsche prototype will be powered by a new 3.4-liter, 90-degree V8 engine. Able to produce 480hp at 10,100 rpm under the ACO's regulations, the lightweight Porsche engine has a very low center of gravity. It features four valves per cylinder, a dry sump lubrication system, and an air intake manifold with single cylinder throttle valves.

    The engine is tied to a Porsche-engineered sequential 6-speed constant mesh transmission. A structural part of the car, the gearbox is operated by a paddle shift system on the steering wheel and incorporates a triple-disc carbon fiber racing clutch.

    Like the 1998 911 GT1 race car and current Carrera GT street car, the Porsche LMP2's monocoque chassis is constructed of carbon fiber. It is attached to a strong yet lightweight framework (built to the latest safety standards of international road racing) that includes a front and rear double-wishbone suspension with ball joints, adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars, and four-way shock absorbers. For optimal stopping performance, the braking system includes twin master cylinders, adjustable brake balance, and internally vented carbon brake discs (380 mm front and 355 mm rear).

    For driver comfort and safety, the new prototype is equipped with power steering and a tire pressure control system. An integral partner in the car's development process, Michelin is supplying race tires for the new Porsche prototype.

    ALMS president and CEO Scott Atherton expressed delight at the appearance of the new design.

    “There continues to be a steady and, if anything, increasing level of interest stemming from these announcements,” Atherton said. “It has gone beyond the core group of just those who are excited about Porsche coming back; it has grown to involve people and organizations we have not heard from before. The American Le Mans Series essentially received the ‘Good Housekeeping seal’ when Porsche and Penske made their announcement at the Grand Prix of Atlanta in April."

    Atherton noted that the car, which is intended for customer teams, reaches its LMP2 mandated weight of 1,653 lbs (or 750 kilograms) through an integrated lightweight design rather than the mere use of expensive and exotic materials.

    “Prototype racing is an arena of high technology that enables manufacturers to showcase the technology, creativity and ingenuity of their engineering capabilities in one of the most difficult and demanding environments that exists: endurance racing,” Atherton said. “But it's a semi-controlled environment that doesn't allow ridiculous unbridled technology to dominate and ultimately decimate the relevance of the platform.

    “This is not intended to be a factory program that simply dominates. It’s intended to be a precursor of a comprehensive, multi-car customer program,” Atherton continued. “The high-watermarks that have been achieved in prototype racing were when Porsche has had a strong customer prototype program, whether it was in the 935, 956 or 962 era. Our goal and Porsche’s goal is to return to those times. Having a dozen Porsche prototypes racing in the series would be a spectacular situation for all involved, and I think there is a real opportunity to get there. Teams will have access to a cutting edge, state-of-the-art, factory-supported prototype program as customers of Porsche Motorsport just as they do now with GT2.”

    Atherton said that Penske has been prepping for its ALMS debut for some time.

    “The American Le Mans Series already has its benchmark teams and drivers and events, and I think the combination of Porsche and Penske together will establish another benchmark to aspire to,” Atherton said. “Penske Motorsports has been doing a lot work benchmarking our teams. They're not taking this lightly. They've attended all our events in some form or another so far this year and taken pages of notes and lots of photographs, all with an eye toward benchmarking their debut in our series.

    “The pipeline of content is refilling in LMP1 and LMP2. In the last 90 days, we have seen Courage, Porsche, Audi and now Riley & Scott confirm LMP programs for 2006,” he concluded. “No doubt there are others that we simply haven’t heard from yet. I believe we’re on the front edge of a resurgence of new prototype content, and when this is coupled with the already strong activity in the GT classes, it bodes well for the ALMS in general, especially our loyal fans.”

    Mazda already has claimed an LMP2 class victory with its engine in the rotary-powered Courage C65. Other manufacturers that have committed to LMP1 programs for 2006 include Audi, Courage and Riley & Scott. The new entries, along with the ALMS’ current crop of outstanding cars and teams in both the prototype and grand touring classes, put the ALMS in position to continue its climb in popularity among fans, sponsors and media outlets worldwide.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Southeast US
    Posts
    5,582
    Oops, I see this already in the race forum.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Brickland.
    Posts
    1,854
    I still think that the R8 will still 0wn it. even though porche has tried so hard...
    There is 3 people on a boat with loads of children running around it, the 3 people are: 1. Bob geldof, 2. Ozzy Osbourne, and 3. Micheal jackson, they're sailing out for the G8 live aid, they've hit a rock and they're sinking, bob says: "save the children!" ozzy says: "Fuc the children!"

    Micheal says "have we got time?"

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Southeast US
    Posts
    5,582
    Quote Originally Posted by cuntukimushroom
    I still think that the R8 will still 0wn it. even though porche has tried so hard...
    The R8 isn't racing anymore, it was retired after LeMans last week.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    USA+CH
    Posts
    1,412
    they R8 will be illegal after this season as far as i know.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Beveren, Belgium
    Posts
    215
    Quote Originally Posted by johnnyperl
    they R8 will be illegal after this season as far as i know.
    Nope, it's time for Audi to come up with something new...
    Will their succes suffer from the new rules ( like Ferrari now in F1 ) or do they allready have a plan to beat their concurents....
    As Audi is a German constructor and not Italian, i think the last option

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    186
    the R8 is LMP1 anyways, LMP2 is a diff class, so they don't race head to head at all.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    TUJUNGA, CALIFORNIA U.S of A.
    Posts
    4,208
    Quote Originally Posted by johnnyperl
    they R8 will be illegal after this season as far as i know.

    we will be back in one year,,, i hope!
    Some Rulers Are Immortalized In Marble Others,
    In Carbon Fiber.{Hard Core Audi Fan}Ich Fahr Omnibus!
    """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Kansas City
    Posts
    4,177
    ...Utah! Get me two...

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    11,037
    Quote Originally Posted by johnnyperl
    they R8 will be illegal after this season as far as i know.
    Audi's always end up being illegal when they can't be beaten
    I remember the BTCC a decade ago, when the A4 quattro was winning everything...the quattro system was banned and Audi couldn't win without it so eventually pulled out altogether
    Audi humbles Porsche. A new dawn starts today.

    Being nice since 2007.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    112
    Quote Originally Posted by cuntukimushroom
    I still think that the R8 will still 0wn it. even though porche has tried so hard...
    lol, porsche rules

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Rozenburg
    Posts
    10,012
    Quote Originally Posted by nikola scg
    lol, porsche rules
    You are still here? I suggest you sign up at flat-6.net and stop bothering us with your fan boy nonsense.
    If you should see a man walking down a crowded street talking aloud to himself, don't run in the opposite direction, but run towards him, because he's a poet. You have nothing to fear from the poet - but the truth.

    (Ted Joans)

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Warsaw
    Posts
    4,448
    Quote Originally Posted by Wouter Melissen
    You are still here? I suggest you sign up at flat-6.net and stop bothering us with your fan boy nonsense.
    why you just don't ban him?
    12 cylinders or walk!

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Apr 2003
    Location
    Rozenburg
    Posts
    10,012
    Quote Originally Posted by dydzi
    why you just don't ban him?
    Stupidity is not against the rules.
    If you should see a man walking down a crowded street talking aloud to himself, don't run in the opposite direction, but run towards him, because he's a poet. You have nothing to fear from the poet - but the truth.

    (Ted Joans)

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Location
    Kansas City
    Posts
    4,177
    Quote Originally Posted by Wouter Melissen
    Stupidity is not against the rules.
    but it should be
    ...Utah! Get me two...

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Really useful performance listings...
    By Egg Nog in forum Technical forums
    Replies: 59
    Last Post: 04-18-2021, 05:13 PM
  2. Porsche Typ 597 "Jagdwagen" - the Cayenne's ancestor
    By Delmaster in forum General Automotive
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 06-06-2009, 08:21 PM
  3. The new Porsche LMP2 car.
    By Quiggs in forum Racing forums
    Replies: 37
    Last Post: 06-25-2005, 08:54 AM
  4. Porsche Tractors
    By lfb666 in forum Multimedia
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-12-2004, 11:43 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •