The Le Mans General Discussion Thread

[CodeRedR51]

Why would the WEC press conference be to announce a new car? Wouldn't that be up to the manufacture to do that?

 

[RACECAR]

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/news/ten-teams-invited-to-2015-24-hours-of-le-mans/?v=2&s=1

invites sent,

hold up! Wayne Taylor racing????

*Reads* Holy crap.

 

[RACECAR]

Found a article about the LMP classes and saw this interesting bit here:

While yet to officially break cover, the new Nissan GT-R LM NISMO has already been racking up testing miles in Arizona. A three-car entry for Le Mans has been confirmed, with two of the reportedly mid-front engine designed car for the entire season. Olivier Pla, Bruno Senna, and Jann Mardenborough appear to have already been signed, with the likes of Marc Gene, Nicolas Lapierre, Nick Heidfeld, Lucas Ordonez and other Nissan Super GT pilots all rumored for possible drives. (2 cars)

Assuming this is true, that is quite amazing. Also looks like another one of Dan Panoz's ideas has been "stolen"

 

[AJ]

The WEC is going to have a press conference on Jan. 13 during the NAIAS in Detroit.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/consu...-revealed-for-2015-detroit-auto-show/30241670

Could it be something with the rumored Ford LM program.

New Ford halo car expected to be unveiled at the show with a 2016 USCC/Le Mans motorsport program run by CGR, but probably not that that press conference.

 

[CodeRedR51]

I still don't think the WEC press conference is about specific cars, just doesn't make sense.

 

[fortbo]

I still don't think the WEC press conference is about specific cars, just doesn't make sense.

This, they wouldn't talk about specific cars at a WEC press conference. By the way, I wasn't mocking you in that post I made. I forgot you said that also, my bad

 

[AJ]

Announcing a partnership with a US supplier/partner is probably the most likely.

 

[mikeerfol]

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/ne...-sports-car-race-it-at-le-mans-in-2016-459802

Confirmed: Ford to build new sports car, race it at Le Mans in 2016

 

[Roger the Horse]

Always double check.

Some sources are not reliable...

 

[IforceV8]

I still don't think the WEC press conference is about specific cars, just doesn't make sense.

If the 2016 GTE rules are announced along with the new Ford GT it does.

 

[RACECAR]

Always double check.

Some sources are not reliable...

Here's a legit source here

 

[HKS racer]

Except there was a break between 1999 and 2004. And the regulations were completely different when the GT1 was back in 2005.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_FIA_GT_Championship_season
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_FIA_GT_Championship_season
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_FIA_GT_Championship_season
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_FIA_GT_Championship_season
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_FIA_GT_Championship_season

GT class = GT1 class.

 

[Furinkazen]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_FIA_GT_Championship_season
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_FIA_GT_Championship_season
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_FIA_GT_Championship_season
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_FIA_GT_Championship_season
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_FIA_GT_Championship_season

GT class = GT1 class.

Yes I did say this in my post... and at LM was known as GTS...

 

[HKS racer]

Yes I did say this in my post... and at LM was known as GTS...

Which post?
And yes you people here made some good points about
-why we have GT3 / GTPro and no GT1,
-why we have P1 and no GT1.

Pretty reasonable, at least from a $$$ point of view.

But not being Audi CEO, just being a motorsport fan I think we lost LOTS of charm with the departure of GT1's. That's all.

 

[Furinkazen]

Which post?
And yes you people here made some good points about
-why we have GT3 / GTPro and no GT1,
-why we have P1 and no GT1.

Pretty reasonable, at least from a $$$ point of view.

But not being Audi CEO, just being a motorsport fan I think we lost LOTS of charm with the departure of GT1's. That's all.

Perhaps, but the current health of GT racing indicates that if anything, GT1 is totally unneeded.

 

[mikeerfol]

Here's a legit source here

Which names their source the same website motorsport.com does

 

[05XR8]

http://www.motorsport.com/lemans/ne...-sports-car-race-it-at-le-mans-in-2016-459802

Confirmed: Ford to build new sports car, race it at Le Mans in 2016

Get Scott Pruett in the GT3 version at the 2016 or 2017 Bathurst 12H and its on like popcorn!

 

[Snaeper]

There's been enough speculation that I think it's good.

There's no way Joey Hand would jump out of a BMW factory drive and into a team that just lost their pay driver.

 

[Earth]

...the new (Ford) won't be a "retro" throwback like the 2004 model was.

So a fresh new design. Im lovin it

This season NASCAR has an open date one week after Le Mans. I wonder if Ford can work with them and get that open week to match Le Mans in 2016. That way Ganassi's NASCAR drivers can enter the race.

Would like to see

Car #1
Scott Pruett
Joey Hand
Jamie McMurray

Car #2
Kyle Larson
Sage Karam
Charlie Kimball

 

[Snaeper]

So a fresh new design. Im lovin it

This season NASCAR has an open date one week after Le Mans. I wonder if Ford can work with them and get that open week to match Le Mans in 2016. That way Ganassi's NASCAR drivers can enter the race.

Would like to see

Car #1
Scott Pruett
Joey Hand
Jamie McMurray

Car #2
Kyle Larson
Sage Karam
Charlie Kimball

A nice dream, but all of those NASCAR boys would also have to visit the Le Mans test day.

And I seriously doubt that Ford would want one whole car full of Le Mans rookies. I'd expect to see, at most, one NASCAR driver. And it wouldn't be a Chevy one.

 

[RACECAR]

Which names their source the same website motorsport.com does

But its not Motorsports.com. No one trusts Motorsports.com (Despite the name).

There's been enough speculation that I think it's good.

There's no way Joey Hand would jump out of a BMW factory drive and into a team that just lost their pay driver.

Thing is, CGR doesn't really need Memo Rojas because Felix Sebates himself already is a golden egg. Besides, Joey will do a lot less brain fade crashing and has previous experience with the team so he won't exactly be new to them.

 

[LancerEvo7]

GT1 is totally unneeded.

Which goes back to my question that started the discussion, why not promote GT2/E and GT3 like what was done in the early 00's?

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

Which goes back to my question that started the discussion, why not promote GT2/E and GT3 like what was done in the early 00's?

Why not ask the aco?

 

[trustjab]

I know its posted elsewhere, but Mike Fuller (aka Mulsanne Mike) has a write up of the Nissan lmp1 rumors. My bro hit me off to this news. He goes into some detail about the front engine rumor, even talks a bit of front wheel drive.

 

[05XR8]

A few 3second sketches

Nissan did use the mid-engine back in 80's-90's. Nothing saying they can't do their front/mid-engine layout this time. Yes, mid engine is the best layout for LMP racing full stop I won't argue that fact.

I know its posted elsewhere, but Mike Fuller (aka Mulsanne Mike) has a write up of the Nissan lmp1 rumors. My bro hit me off to this news. He goes into some detail about the front engine rumor, even talks a bit of front wheel drive.

Taken from that article

Would anyone else have considered a front engined LMP?

Well, I did.

 

[LMSCorvetteGT2]

I hate you Ford...why, why must you do this. Everyone is building marvelous stuff to go GT racing with and now you have to throw your hat in the ring and do the same and also build a road car too...I hate you!

Note: This is satire and a rant, that doesn't mean I really hate ford but look forward to the fact they'll release a car that I'll most likely want along side the other GT variant cars that have road versions currently or soon. Too many cars for me to want and like, can only pick one.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

Slightly off topic but along the same lines, just got a Christmas chard through from Charlotte Fantelli director from Journey To Le Mans.

 

[Wilbur]

I hate you Ford...why, why must you do this. Everyone is building marvelous stuff to go GT racing with and now you have to throw your hat in the ring and do the same and also build a road car too...I hate you!

Note: This is satire and a rant, that doesn't mean I really hate ford but look forward to the fact they'll release a car that I'll most likely want along side the other GT variant cars that have road versions currently or soon. Too many cars for me to want and like, can only pick one.

Bloody Ford for ruining such a good thing!

I am actually glad to see them build a new one, it sucks they ended that program....it's one of my favorite GT cars of all time no matter the year (and I'm far from a Ford fan for the most part outside a few things).

 

[TDZdave]

Bloody Ford for ruining such a good thing!

I am actually glad to see them build a new one, it sucks they ended that program....it's one of my favorite GT cars of all time no matter the year (and I'm far from a Ford fan for the most part outside a few things).

I'm hoping Ford puts together a Prototype program, and hopefully Mustangs in GTE and GT3 for realzies this time,

 

[cnd01]

I'm hoping Ford puts together a Prototype program, and hopefully Mustangs in GTE and GT3 for realzies this time,

I think they're trying to sell their EcoBoost Turbo engine to LMP2 teams, but no one has bought one so far