2009 American Le Mans Series Thread

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What the hell is every's obsession with new regulations and Ugly cars? First Nascar's COT' The FIA's 2009 F1 Regs, and now the ACO's new LMP1 rules :mad: Here's the recently revealed Acura ARX-02A as an Example:

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Personally, I liked it better when it was like this:

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This thankfully won't the LMP2 cars, allowing them to keep thier beautiful forms:

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There aren't any new P1 chassis regulations, the Acura P1 is running to the same regulations as the 908 and R10 etc.

If you look at the new Aston Martin P1 it looks cleaner than even the Acura P2.

Engine regulations are the only change, P1 will use current P2 engines (3.4 atmo or 2l Turbo), P2 will use GT2 or production engines, but will only be mandatory in 2011.

The Acura P1 and Audi R15 will both use engines built to the new regulations in 2009.
 
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RACECAR
What the hell is every's obsession with new regulations and Ugly cars? First Nascar's COT' The FIA's 2009 F1 Regs, and now the ACO's new LMP1 rules :mad: Here's the recently revealed Acura ARX-02A as an Example:
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Some of the new F1 cars look really good. Have you seen the Williams F1 car? That car looks really good, with the wing and everything!


The ARX-02a doesn't look that bad, the only things that bother me are the strange wing mountings and the middle of the front fender/hood. It looks "fat" sort of.

Anyways, Creation said that the ALMS is a priority.
This link has a lot of news on the current Sebring test including times and news on other GT series.
 
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There is ofcourse also a change in the width of the rear wing, not just the engine.
I really like the Acura though, I simply love cars that look very aerodynamically advanced. I have high hopes for the R15!
That said, I´m not at all impressed by the clean look of the new F1 cars. They look too bland!
 
I just heard that Creation Racing are moving from the UK to America 👍
 
JAGUAR1977
There aren't any new P1 chassis regulations, the Acura P1 is running to the same regulations as the 908 and R10 etc.

If you look at the new Aston Martin P1 it looks cleaner than even the Acura P2.

Engine regulations are the only change, P1 will use current P2 engines (3.4 atmo or 2l Turbo), P2 will use GT2 or production engines, but will only be mandatory in 2011.

The Acura P1 and Audi R15 will both use engines built to the new regulations in 2009.
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Why are they using these shorter width wings then? They look stupid to me, they are so inproportionate to the rest of the car.

Alex.
I just heard that Creation Racing are moving from the UK to America 👍
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Wow, thats interesting. Are we looking at possibly a full season campaign for ALMS? If so, looks like Audi's Cherry picking is starting to do exactly what I predicted:D
 
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RACECAR
Why are they using these shorter width wings then? They look stupid to me, they are so inproportionate to the rest of the car.
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simple function over form. just because something looks nice dosnt mean it will perform better. maybe they are finding that there setup is better for the car who knows.
 
Creation Autosportif to America? Let me tell you something. That is a BIG plus. Creation is a fantastic team. They may not be a top-flight team like another one I respect, Prodrive, they are a lovely sportscar racing team that will really add some spice to the ALMS. I hope they will do a great job in the ALMS. I don't know how anyone can discredit this team.
 
As the winter test ends, there is a lot to look forward to. There are the new Acura's and BMW's in there for instance.

In P1, I think its really going to be a good fight betweent Intersport, Autocon, Corsa, Acura and Creation. But the reason we didn't see the Autocon Lola at the Test was becuase of the new rear wing regulations, they needed to get a new rear wing from Lola, and it wont come in 'till March Autocon's website says.

Its great to see that dyson racing finnally got some laps in near the end of the test. Their fastest time was actually faster than the Fernandes Acura.

Two teams thats its great to see at the test are Panoz PTG, and my favourite; Primetime Race Group.
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Look at this Panoz, that looks really aggressive doesn't it?

Back to Primetime, based on their top times at the Sebring 12 hours last year and this year's test, they are 2 seconds faster. Remember, Primetime got a 5th in class at Sebring last year. Also, Joel Feinberg broke an IMSA Lites track record during the test for the IMSA Lites.

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"We've already gone faster than we ever did here last year," said Hall, who will drive with team owner Joel Feinberg. "The team has done a lot of work. The engine's performance has improved, we have lowered the car, lowered the engine - really lowered the entire center of gravity. That has made a huge difference. Last season the car really was tough to handle through the corners. Now it's much, much easier and that's a credit to the effort the team has put in."

Can't wait for Sebring!
 
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GT2 class is going to be epic win this year in the ALMS....
And that Viper CC and Panoz GT-LM look HOT. I hope they fair well against the F430 GT, the upgraded 2009 997 GT3 RSR, E92 M3 GTR, and Vette C6 GT2.
Also, did anyone ever find out who the mystery GT2 team was?
 
Venom800tt
Also, did anyone ever find out who the mystery GT2 team was?
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of course we found out...but....we dont want to tell you....cuz...ummm..:scared:

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ummm...it would spoil the surprise.....yea thats it we didnt want to spoil the surprise for you so were keeping it a mystery :sly:
 
NapoleonMikey
of course we found out...but....we dont want to tell you....cuz...ummm..:scared:

💡
ummm...it would spoil the surprise.....yea thats it we didnt want to spoil the surprise for you so were keeping it a mystery :sly:
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Pfft, I hate surprises :crazy:

And I just noticed the wing supports on the ARX-02A... I have never seen the wing mounted from the top like that on any car...
 
Clarification on the rear wing: according to new ACO rules, P classes has to have a smaller rear wing, and the GT classes has to have a Gurneyflap of a certain size on the rear wing. However, IMSA has sort of overruled this for P2 in ALMS, but any team also running at Le Mans will have to have a smaller rear wing at the 24 hrs.
 
Mt. Lynx
Clarification on the rear wing: according to new ACO rules, P classes has to have a smaller rear wing, and the GT classes has to have a Gurneyflap of a certain size on the rear wing. However, IMSA has sort of overruled this for P2 in ALMS, but any team also running at Le Mans will have to have a smaller rear wing at the 24 hrs.
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I knew there was some kind of rules change going on. Exactly what effect do these smaller wings have in comparison to the wings we have seen in the past few years?
 
RACECAR
Why are they using these shorter width wings then? They look stupid to me, they are so inproportionate to the rest of the car.
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That is a minor change that applies to P1 and P2, it's a method to peg the performance of the cars by cutting downforce, changes like this happen every year. I would expect the top teams to have gained much of the lost downforce back

The proposed ACO changes would have required all new, very different looking, cars, but this was scrapped.
 
RACECAR
I knew there was some kind of rules change going on. Exactly what effect do these smaller wings have in comparison to the wings we have seen in the past few years?
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The obvious intention was of course to cut downforce, and IIRC it was also a measurement in answer to the flips of last season, but like Jaguar1977 said, most of the lost DF should now be regained.

@Jaguar1977; what ACO changes? Are you refering to the Evo rules?
 
Im interested in watching the P1 class this year. I dont remember reading anything about Peugeot returning, but I know they were faster than Audi last year. If the fix reliability then they will be a serious problem for Audi. Also looking forward to the new Audi, but they do a good job of not letting anything see it unless its on the track. At least there will be more than three entries in P1 and it wont be just audi and intersport racing, especially for the remainder of the season. Im saying Acura will do well (I think the factory Porsches are not returning?) in P2, Corvettes will take GT1, and unless something bad happens to them, Flying Lizard will likely win GT2. Panoz won three years ago, but they dont quite compare to the pace of the Porsches and Ferraris. Ive been able to go for the last 4 races, and Im looking forward to attending this one. College students get half off on tickets at the gate btw, even for the 4 day pass.
 
seanyb505
Ive been able to go for the last 4 races, and Im looking forward to attending this one. College students get half off on tickets at the gate btw, even for the 4 day pass.
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are you talking about sebring? because if so ill have to be sure to remember to grab my student ID even though im no longer a student. not like they will know any better :sly:
 
Yes sebring, when the ALMS is there not the HSR event in December. IIRC my friend just showed the people a couple assignments and a book or something and they gave him the discount. Best to remember your id probly though.
 
Why should you care about the 12 Hours of Sebring?


Direct: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXJH6k62baw

Since Sebring was mentioned, it was good to mention this video. Sebring is the ALMS' Super Bowl. Only instead of two teams clashing in one of the oldest and most historic sportscar races in America (maybe North America as well), it's several different teams clashing at once. Le Mans invites are on the line. You want to race in France in mid-June? Do well at this race. Can't wait to see this year's race. Should be a great one, as always.
 
In many articles around the web on the ALMS, they are saying that there is a "Mystery" GT2 Team. Who is this Manufacture? Personally, I thinks it is either Lexus, or weirdly, Hyundai.

The reason I say Lexus is because of the "M3 Killer" that is the IS-F. Remember that Lexus was planning a IS350 in GT2 a few years back. And the reason i say Hyundai is because of the new Genesis Coupe, I think it has some potential in racing besides in drifting.

Who do you think is the "Mystery" Team?
 
Crashbroke23
Who do you think is the "Mystery" Team?
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its actually me. ive been building a geo metro GT2 spec car and now i finally got the funding to race it. but dont tell the other teams its going to be a surprise. :crazy:

but in all honesty i have no idea id like to see a japanese manufacture get into the mix in GT2 but who really knows.
 
Very reasonable to suspect Lexus. There are already completed cars, now there just needs to be a team to get them and develop them. And I honestly don't see what Manufacterer. Jaguar maybe? Anyone's guess at this point.
 
RACECAR
Very reasonable to suspect Lexus. There are already completed cars, now there just needs to be a team to get them and develop them. And I honestly don't see what Manufacterer. Jaguar maybe? Anyone's guess at this point.
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Yeah, I'd have to guess Lexus also, since they actually constructed a pair of IS350 GT2's not too long ago. If I recall they were supposed to race last season, but then Lexus backed out. Other than Lexus maybe Nissan, with a variant of the 370Z.
 
I think it will just be another team fielding another Porsche, Ferrari or Panoz. Something that's already proven in the series. I love seeing new entrants, but they're rarely competitive anymore. I know the Viper finished 5th at Sebring, but how many laps off were they? Same with the Doran Ford GT. Nice looking car, not that quick. If someone brings in a new car you can almost guarantee they wont be anything to keep your eye on. I doubt the BMW M3 GTR's will even put up much of a fight. I would, however, love to be proven wrong, I like a good race.
 
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Mt. Lynx
I thought it was finalized that the "mystery-team" was Falken tires with a Porsche?
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No, they aren't the mystery team because various vids and articles at the ALMS site said that the Manufacture will announce their Plans at 12 hours of Sebring.

To Venom800tt, I don't think it's Nissan because remember that there was some photos of a Nissan GT-R being tested for GT-1.
 

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