2006: Audi R10

[Emohawk]

All LMP cars are lbuilt to carry 2 people, to enter LeMans you car has to be based on a road car, or to have certain common ties to road cars, one of these ties is the ability to transport 2 or more people, single seaters cannot enter LeMans so they simply design the car so the passenger seat can be clipped out and the passengers space covered over to help with aerodynamics.

That list of common ties must be pretty short, "MR turbodiesel V12" doesn't really discribe any of Audi's road cars very accurately.
Or are there more very-limited-edition LMP road cars like the Nissan R390 and Toyota GT-one that I've never heard of?

 

[xcsti]

That list of common ties must be pretty short, "MR turbodiesel V12" doesn't really discribe any of Audi's road cars very accurately.
Or are there more very-limited-edition LMP road cars like the Nissan R390 and Toyota GT-one that I've never heard of?

By "ties to a road car" he means a few features that a road car would have. For example a set quantity of unused space designated as "trunk" even though it is almost never accessible and can't hold anything. Same goes for the two seats business. I believe the rules once said that the cars had to be capable of being converted to two seats, now I think they are being a bit more direct with what that entails. They make it as small as possible in order to keep weight down/where it's needed to keep the cg low and the front and back balanced. They provide enough room in the initial design so if there was a change that dicatated that another person/seat needed to be accommodated for, they could manage.

 

[Layla's Keeper]

If only the French hadn't managed to thoroughly piss off Rob Dyson, then perhaps this rolling affront to the romance of proper motorsport would be summarily dismissed at Le Mans by the next generation Riley and its AER V8.

Fortunately, I have the entire ALMS season to watch and pray that the Dyson AER/Rileys beat the ever-loving tar out of this thing.

If not, oh well. I sure as hell love Crawfords and Dorans.

 

[Mulsanne]

...this rolling affront to the romance of proper motorsport...I sure as hell love Crawfords and Dorans

ROTFLMF'nAO!!!!!!! You call the Audi R10 a "rolling affront to the romance of proper motorsport" and then say you love the Daytona Prototypes? Right.

I'll be the first to admit the R10 isn't the loveliest piece of kit out there (I'm sure my opinion would be different had they put a roof on it...) and I'll also be the first to say the French (ACO) don't have a clue about proper motorsport, but the Audi is much better looking than the NASCARized turtles that populate that other series. Hell, even the DP champion Max Angelelli said his Riley looked like an "ugly piece of s***." (according to Wayne Taylor at the GARRA awards banquet)

I'm just really looking forward to spending three days in Sebring later this month watching the R10 test and then spending a week there in March watching it take on the best in the world. It may run away with the race, but at least I'll know it won because it was the best.

Although, I will join you in hoping the Dyson Lolas win at Sebring and do well during the rest of the ALMS season. Also in hoping to see a proper Riley sports prototype in the ALMS this season.

 

[Layla's Keeper]

Mulsanne, you'll need to recheck your sources. Dyson's Lolas are now in the hands of the Autocon team (which was limitedly campaigning a Riley & Scott MkIIIC) as Dyson purchased a pair of the new LMP1 spec Riley chassis and will be using AER power.

And notice I said that I like Crawfords and Dorans. I'm with Max the Axe, the Riley XI chassis is a rolling doorstop with a bubble on top. None of the sleek tapered design of the Crawford or lithe grace of the Doran JE4.

As much as ALMS elitists don't want to admit it, there are significant differences in the appearance of different DP's. Sheesh, I'll be the first one to jump up and say that the Multimatic is as butt-freaking-ugly as a car can get.

 

[Mulsanne]

You've got the AER engine part right, but Dyson Racing has purchased a pair of new Lola B06/10 LMP1 cars.

http://www.trackbytes.com/news.php?id=1054
http://www.speedarena.com/news/publish/sportscar/printer_6283.shtml

He sold both his old Lola B01/60s to AutoCon Motorsports, who in turn sold one to Duncan Dayton's Highcroft Racing. And I am looking forward to seeing all four cars taking on the Audis at Sebring.

As far as I know and have read, no one has purchased a Riley LMP1 car. That is a shame, as I love the closed-top look and believe it would do well against the Audis, Lolas, Courage, etc. on any LMP1 grid. Personally, I would love to see SunTrust (or anyone else) kick in some money for them to at least run Sebring with Taylor and Angelelli, to give the car a good shake and see how well they do. A good performance there might spur some orders from private teams.