This might be an unpopular idea, but I would much rather see Audi and Corvette go to Europe and race in the Le Mans Series. The LMS races would be more interesting with Audi taking on the best of Europe's prototypes, while the Corvette would take on Oreca once again.
I know Layla's Keeper has mentioned it before, but having only P2 and GT2 (renamed as Prototypes and GTs) cars wouldn't really make a difference in the ALMS this year. No disrespect to the Autocon and Intersport teams, but Corvette and Audi have no competition. Tweak the rules and let Autocon and Intersport change their cars to P2 specification (I know, easier said than done) and let's have one hell of a prototype class.
Of course, I would hope that this is only temporary (i.e. this year only).
Anyone else's thoughts on this?
I think you and I are in opposite camps on this one Dougie. First of all, wait until Intersport sort out their Creation. Remember, the Zytek and Creation were very competitive with the R10 at Laguna last year so we know this car has potential. Apparently, Intersport will get LM P1 sized tires soon (if they didn't get them for this race) and once Kumho or whoever it is that supplies their tires catch up to a competitive stance against the Michelins look out. I'm not going to debate your argument for Audi and Corvette leaving (however if they did SPEED better show tape delayed, same-day coverage of the LMS races or I'll go absolutely postal.) However, with the EX 257 and Creation being converted to LM P2, it wouldn't be that hard as both cars started life in 675 form. I got the impression from the broadcast that Aston Martin Racing are on their way back to ALMS (or at least one Aston in the guise of some sort of Aston team already in existence). That being said, perhaps European teams will start realizing that they can take advantage of the horrid situation in GT1 for next year or at the end of this year, to get some air-time for sponsors (especially manufacturers both car and tire.) I think GT1 looks a bit brighter for end of 2007 and towards 2008. As we work our way towards the closed top prototype era and the possibility of Acura and Porsche picking up the fight in LM P1 perhaps ALMS has a bright future all together (assuming the ACO are willing to chill out on the regulation changes.)
JohnBM01
D1. Mazda is the only Japanese make involved in the ALMS right now. Honda's American luxury division, Acura, is also involved. What other Japanese manufacturers do you think should look into ALMS competition (any class)?
D2. The 12 Hours of Sebring is the finest race other than the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta. Do you think Sebring should have a second race in the ALMS season? My inspiration for this question came from when FIA GT raced two events in America with the second race known as Sebring Octoberfest. I think if anything, I don't know if there could be a second Sebring race in October because the Laguna Seca 4-hour endurance is becoming its own premeire racing event. Do you really jeaprodize one great race by bringing up another one?
D3. Should the ALMS look into adding a class of GTP racing cars? Should such a style of car warrant its own class? Modern GTP cars would probably fall into the class of LMP1 because of their power and the fact they are prototypes. However, I'm sort of dreaming that manufacturers were convinced to build high-grade, racing-exclusive versions of their finest flagship sports cars. But let's say that they have to be mid-engined with rear-wheel drive, make no less than 500 horsepower, and loosely resemble a road-going sports car available for sale. Should manufacturers and race constructors give it a shot? And should they be able to compete in the ALMS?
D4. Which class is in need of more competition: P1 or GT1? Only four P1 enties were at St. Petersburg and two Corvettes in GT1. Audi is tough to beat while not many have stepped up to take on Corvette. If you had to choose one class to update with more competition, which would it be and why?
D1. I'd like to say Toyota should come aboard because of Acura's involvement and TRD can power Lexus, however their involvement in NASCAR and NASCAR road racing - that is Grand-Am, I doubt it'll happen. So I guess my default answer is Nissan. They had an engine program in the recent past why not combine that engine program with a fresh Lola and some Japanese $$$.
D2. Well, Sebring should just host the 12 hour in March in my opinion. I don't like change. Haha. Perhaps IMSA and GARRA will become closer friends in the future and we'll see the DP's running at Sebring in late September or October...
D3. LM P1 regs will be closed top prototype GT's... putting that together I guess that makes GTP. So... I say no.
D4. GT1 is desperate. Two cars from the same team that will sudo race one another. Even if a tight battle is going on, you know there will be a penchant for taking it easier because both cars will be wearing factory yellow. In the P1 class on the other hand Intersport switched to the Creation at the very, very last of seconds so development is required and once they get a tire underneath them that will help significantly. Bottom line, the Creation is a quick car and will be competitive in no time. We know that we will get one or two more prototypes at the end of the season in the forms of the usual suspects, (new cars out of) Zytek and Creation. Perhaps we will get even more with the LMS cars being in South America towards the end of the year... naw, LMS and ACO aren't interested in "helping a brother out" even if that brother is the reason for a lot of the world wide popularity in their series. As far as GT1 goes we may see a third and possibly fourth car. But that is purely speculation. Both classes are desperate for cars and that isn't good.
m.piedgros
I completely forgot, perhaps P1 get even stronger with one or two AER-Lola's coming in. Ex-Dyson cars to be exact, however, I don't know their exact status. I guess the bottom line is, this past race was a barn-burner. Those 997's appear to be to the 996's what the 935's were to the 930, to a certain extent. These new generation of GT2's are just insanely quick - on that note I say good luck Panoz, congratulations on the podium, next time two of the favorites that didn't make the finish will make the finish and you will be relegated to obscurity once again if you don't pull up your socks and develop, develop, develop. Is that Advan tire GT1 worthy like the Pirelli's were? P2 and P1 for a while blended into one class. Sadly, with two P1's piddling around at the back of this one-off formed prototype class. Very exciting, however the Diesel power seemed to nullify all advantages that we assumed the P2's had. As far as GT1 goes, they don't really deserve a mention. However, I am desperate to mention GT1 as perhaps my mentioning it will somehow draw Ferrari's, Lambourghini's, Saleens, et al out of the wood work and onto the grid. Doubt it. The P2 battle itself was quite good. The battle between the Audi's too was brilliant and the idea that Audi aren't sporting is just ludicrous. They came here in the late 80's with the intent on proving to the American market that all-wheel-drive wasn't just for your off-roader. They did just that, racing and winning in Trans-Am and IMSA competition. Fast forward ten years and Audi needed to re-establish a presence and an identity in North America and the R8 did that. Battling tooth and nail with various competitors providing for what was easily the best racing in the world at the time. Most recently, Audi needed to prove to the North American market that Diesel's aren't just those dirty, smelly, smokey tractor motors, they did that unfortunately because of oversights by the ACO to not much of a challenge. As the regulations are pulled tight competition should be there. With the P1 class showing signs of growth perhaps by the time the new regulations are put in place we will see great competition. Only to be crushed by the regulations change, however Audi (or more likely Porsche) will step up to the plate and knock in a homer, much to the chagrin of GTPlanet members only to actually be leading the way when more manufacturers like Acura return to the big prototypes again, just in time for the ACO to do something stupid. It's a vicious cycle really. And unless there is a radical change in regulations, we will see the same thing over and over again.
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