Le Mans 2010: LMP1 Will Be Closed-Prototypes Only (Updated)

[Metar]

I'm sorry but air flowing faster over the car is not lift it is downforce. Air flowing faster under the car is lift. The coupes smooth shape channels the air far more effectively over the car. Although I expect the engineers of the open cars have their ways of overcoming the deficiencies associated with a gaping hole in the middle of the car.

Aerodynamics for kiddies, lesson 1: Why does an a wing on an airplane make it fly? Coupes channel the air more effectively, creating less drag - but the airflow also generates lift. F1 engineers encounter this in sidepod design, hence their attempts at downsizing them, and breaking up airflow over the sidepods by utilizing louvres. Some reading, if you want, as to why a teardrop coupe's bare bodywork (without diffusors, wings and other parts) generates some lift.

As to air flowing faster under the car being lift, well, that's bollocks. Look at an aeroplane's wing - air flows faster over it, hence lower pressure on the top, which generates lift. Same logic applies to downforce - faster air below the car generates a low-pressure area. Also, diffusors need faster-flowing air - and they produce massive downforce - about 40% of an F1 car's downforce, for example.

 

[GTveteran]

Yes you are right. I must apologize. For some reason I'd gotten it into my head that faster air speed meant higher pressure.

 

[Jason~Bourne]

However, I never got the idea why LMP's have a open cockpit, as far as I know it does not improve aerodynamics, I would even say its bad for it.
(Air flow gets stuck somehow in the cockpit opening? Less downforce cause of no angled windshield?)

As others have said, the windscreen plays a huge role in the cars aerodynamics. A good advantage of open cockpit lmps is the time it takes to do a drivers change. Instead of waiting on the side, drivers get on top of the car to help their teammate get out. They put in the drivers seat (if needed), and both drivers help the new driver get ready. In a closed cockpit car, you as the old driver can only work from the side, while with an open cockpit car, you can do this from 3 sides (left, front, right).

For lmp rules of 2010, I thought that the closed cockpit rule hasnt been abandonded, but "Evo" rule was. The idea was to make the new P1 cars look like the manufacturers street cars, but due to lack of interest, it was canceled at the beginning of this month. But there havent been any indications of canceling the idea of closed lmps. The idea is booming. You have Peugeot, Dome, Lola, Epsilon-Euskad, and another that will be announced soon. And these cars look great, and attract a lot of fan attention.

 

[[empty space]]

well, if you want to race, youve to build cars to the rules ...

and, out of those cars listed, only the dome is attrative imo.

 

[JohnBM01]

Anyone get the latest edition of Automobile magazine? The June 2008 edition of the magazine features a sneak peek at some upcoming cars. One of them is the Corvette C7. There is even a look at [a] mid-engined Corvette(s) racing at Le Mans in 2010. Here is an excerpt from the article:

"...a new top category tenatively called LMP1 Evo. In essence, this is the merger of today's LMP1 and GT1 classes, with two goals in mind. The first goal is to reduce speeds down to less than the 145-mph lap average exceeded in last year's twenty-four-hour race. The second is to shift appearances from fendered formula cars to racy road cars. ..."

-source: Automobile magazine, June 2008 edition, page 65



This indeed sounds like somewhat of a return of the mid-late 1990s in which great sports cars have high-end racing models going full speed. For one who missed out on watching the GT1 cars of 1996-1999, I'm excited to see something like this return. I'm trying to find a picture of this Corvette C7R (not the Callaway from 1997) as this proposed C7R in this edition of Automobile magazine, but I've failed to find one online. So I may scan a picture from this magazine to show online. This proposed Corvette LMP1 Evo (if you will) is told to have a mid-engine design and obviously be a wicked cool race car. This will be the first mid-engined Corvette since 1989 when the Corvette GTP ran circuits around tracks in IMSA competition.

Because I'm a car fan... because I'm a sportscar racing fan... I often imagine what truly high-end versions of cars (whether true sports cars or everyday vehicles) would look like and perform like if given a real race car treatment. I wonder if this will give other car companies a chance to take great street cars to help build these LMP1 Evo beasts. Think back to the 1990s when the '90s version of the Lotus Elise was out... followed by its Lotus Elise GT1 brother. This is basically a hark back to those days of sportscar racing I best remember. This would just be a question of who would develop these LMP1 Evo machines based on street cars. Could a Ferrari 599 GTB Fiorano be made for racing in this high-level of competition (even if Ferrari isn't really committed as a full-fledged contender in the highest class of sportscar racing? Could Aston Martin make themselves a high-level LMP1 Evo entry in the highest level of sportscar racing since the Aston Martin AMR-1 of the late 1980s? Could Mazda or Nissan take their flagship sports cars and try to make some noise? This could really mean some intense competition if this idea (as well as the way I'm describing it) really catches on.

 

[Mt. Lynx]

I think this sounds like a great idea! I loved the GT1 cars of the late 1990´s, even if some of them wasn´t very succesful, like the mensioned Lotus Elise GT1, or the Panoz Esperante GTR-1. But a sort of comback for these types of monstermachines would be very welcome.

There has been a proposed rulechange for GT1 by the SRO, wich was made to attract more manufacturers to the sport, but it seems that GT1 is no fave among manufacturers, since most either opt for GT2 or LMP1 cars. AFAIK the change to closed top LMP1 cars was also some pretty farfetched idea of having the cars look more like streetcars aswell. Didn´t really work though...

Now, todays GT1 cars aren´t really that much slower than they were during the late 1990´s, so a conversion to this kind-of-prototype racecars shouldn´t actually be that hard. The Maserati MC12 basically only needs a bigger rear wing, and it´s done. Especially the Corse version. I could also mention the Zonda R, the Gumpert Apollo and the Mazda Furai, whom all could need a place to compete!

 

[GTveteran]

I think this would work well. I think if these LMP1 Evo cars are able to compete for the win at Le Mans then a lot of manufacturers could be interested. I also think that they would be even more interested if they don't have to build road going versions of the supercars as in the '90s. Which they shouldn't because they're going to be Prototypes.

 

[Mt. Lynx]

Hmmm, I´d say I´d want at least one roadgoing version, like during the 90´s. And possibly a demand for more if there is a public interest in more roadgoing versions. Either that, or complete shadows, like the SuperGT´s or DTM cars. IE, they are racecars from the ground up, but they have roadgoing relatives out on the market.
When I think more about it, the latter is more likely.

 

[JohnBM01]

Okay. For your look at what an LMP1 Evo car can be like, here is a picture of what a mid-engined Corvette would look like. Take a look at the Corvette C7R as seen in the June 2008 edition of Automobile Magazine:

Does this fuel any sort of inspiration for more pure race cars based on sports cars?

 

[V1P3R]

God that's a bad PS job... lol

 

[[empty space]]

Okay. For your look at what an LMP1 Evo car can be like, here is a picture of what a mid-engined Corvette would look like. Take a look at the Corvette C7R as seen in the June 2008 edition of Automobile Magazine:

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/5366/corvettec7rcy2.jpg

Does this fuel any sort of inspiration for more pure race cars based on sports cars?

wow, thats ugly. looks like a zonda with a c6 nose pasted on and shortened. id have to agree, thats a really bad photochop.

but, forgive my close mindedness, but, road cars completing against proper prototypes = ftl imho. i would think that once aston martin/prodrive/lola shows the way with their GT1 powered lola, that others might follow that way? or at least, thats what id prefer to happen.

i also like the fender f1 car look tbh because i think f1's look awefull with the open wheels. though i will admit, i miss the clean lines of the 1998 911 gt1 and 1999 mercedes CLR-LM as well.

 

[Mt. Lynx]

Yup, that photochop only tells you how to apply a C6.R front to a Chrysler ME FourTwelve...
I´m telling you, the C6.R is at this present day actually midengined, only the engine is still seated in front of the driver instead of behind. In my book they shouldn´t have to change that radically to be competitive in a proposed LMP Evo competition.
Todays GT1 cars are in fact a pretty good base for LMP Evo. At least the looks. They´d need to get rid of the original chassis, maybe lower the body, widen it and ad more downforce. But IMO, the basic looks are already there.

In fact, if GT1 cars were allowed to breath freely, they´d have in excess of 700 bhp, and if they took out the ballast they are running to meet weightregulations, they should be pretty competitive as it is.

OK, let´s be hypothetical now; If LMP Evo was to be shadowcars, what cars would you like these shadows to shadow =)?

 

[GTveteran]

They could JGTCize the GT1 cars for an effective stepping stone. Add all the other changes mentioned above and yes I think they would be competitive.

 

[JohnBM01]

Two different websites I looked up talked about that this LMP1 Evo deal is dead. So if this is true, then we can simply forget about LMP1 Evo. About as accurate as one month ago. So if LMP1 Evo is done for, then something has to be done to boost LMP1 and GT1 evolvement so that they don't truly become laughing stocks as far as competition goes.

[UPDATE] Pratt and Miller may still consider making their mid-engined Corvette. Just not so sure if other car companies and race makes are considering making prototype coupes to compete in sportscar competition to actually warrant such a class of car. P&M may just be relegated to competing in LMP1 with a closed-top car. Very reminiscent of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP and the Le Mans-winning Bentley EXP GT.

 

[V1P3R]

They could JGTCize the GT1 cars for an effective stepping stone.

On American and European Race cars? That sounds as good as slapping a "Powered by Honda" on a Chevy Cavalier.

 

[Mt. Lynx]

On American and European Race cars? That sounds as good as slapping a "Powered by Honda" on a Chevy Cavalier.

Nono, what he meant was that they should be built from the ground up as racecars, instead of the way it is now, where GT1 cars have to use some stock parts (chassis, engineblock to name two things). "JGTCize" would also include vastly more downforce.

Two different websites I looked up talked about that this LMP1 Evo deal is dead. So if this is true, then we can simply forget about LMP1 Evo. About as accurate as one month ago. So if LMP1 Evo is done for, then something has to be done to boost LMP1 and GT1 evolvement so that they don't truly become laughing stocks as far as competition goes.

LMP1 is very much alive and kicking as far as I know. Not in the ALMS, but in the Le Mans Series here in Europe we have lots of new entrants in the class, of wich at least two have gone with the closed tops. One is the Aston Martin powered Lola, and the other the Epsilon Euskadi.
The entrylist for this season contained no less than 18 cars in LMP1, but I think only 16 are running.

[UPDATE] Pratt and Miller may still consider making their mid-engined Corvette. Just not so sure if other car companies and race makes are considering making prototype coupes to compete in sportscar competition to actually warrant such a class of car. P&M may just be relegated to competing in LMP1 with a closed-top car. Very reminiscent of the Peugeot 908 HDi FAP and the Le Mans-winning Bentley EXP GT.

That is both good and bad. Good for LMP1 and the series it competes in, but on another level maybe not so good. LMP1 is slowly but steadily becoming a playground for manufacturers to display their level of technical know-how, much like Formula 1. It is of little or no significance for the roadcars, and sportscar racing should atleast have some impact. If they atleast had some visual resemblence to a roadcar, that could be justified IMO.

 

[Motominded]

That is both good and bad. Good for LMP1 and the series it competes in, but on another level maybe not so good. LMP1 is slowly but steadily becoming a playground for manufacturers to display their level of technical know-how, much like Formula 1. It is of little or no significance for the roadcars, and sportscar racing should atleast have some impact. If they atleast had some visual resemblence to a roadcar, that could be justified IMO.

Remember the 80's GTP Chevy Corvette Lolas?

 

[[empty space]]

Two different websites I looked up talked about that this LMP1 Evo deal is dead. So if this is true, then we can simply forget about LMP1 Evo. About as accurate as one month ago. So if LMP1 Evo is done for, then something has to be done to boost LMP1 and GT1 evolvement so that they don't truly become laughing stocks as far as competition goes.

so, how do we get manufacters to stop doing lemans one to three times, and then leaving for more expensive waters of f1? or just outright quiting after they win once? or getting them to support either the alms or lms? or both? (factory audi raced in alms, elms, and lemans in 2000)

we lost both bmw and toyota to formula 1 and what have they done really? toyota probably could have entered two cars in ALMS in 99 and would have left bmw and panoz fighting for scraps. if not alms, the elms (which would eventually become the lms) started 2000 so they could have raced it there. the speed and quality of the GT-One was probably high enough that with constint small upgrades, im sure the bentley would have been hard pushed for its win 2003. they just really needed a gear box that could handle all of the power. they did at least, what, 6 cluster changes in 99?

bentley could have raced it speed 8 at either the alms or elms/lms, but, didnt. the 2003 12 hours of sebring proved they had a fast car as well as their win at le mans, but, why didnt they race it outside of lemans?

porsche stoped racing in 1999 to make a suv ... thats a joke right? well, at least their back now support the a/lms with 4 or 5 teams in p2.

i wonder how long acura will stick around? and peugeot as well?

how about mercedes? they had 3 flips in practice and qaulifing iirc and still entered an unsafe car and then ran away with their tail between their legs because their car was unsafe?

now, how does zytek/creation, oreca, or pecarolo sport and judd or aer, make cars that are fast and durable, yet, affordable for privateers to race with the manufactors?

how much support is acura getting from courage? or aston martin from lola? or are the manu's completely devolping the chassis on their own? i wonder how things would turn out if aer and lola got back together and form a privateer manufactor like panoz was? theyd have to find a few big spouncers though to make it really work though. zytek/creation and judd would be a good combo too.

GT1? why should a manufactor spend prototype levels of money on a road car that wont be competing for an overall win?

oh, and, thank you audi for 10 years of racing 👍

sorry for ranting, if ive my facts/date/whatever wrong, feel free to correct them

 

[GTveteran]

Originally Posted by V1P3R
On American and European Race cars? That sounds as good as slapping a "Powered by Honda" on a Chevy Cavalier.

Nono, what he meant was that they should be built from the ground up as racecars, instead of the way it is now, where GT1 cars have to use some stock parts (chassis, engineblock to name two things). "JGTCize" would also include vastly more downforce.

Thank you.

As for the rest... Bentley were not allowed to race full programmes by parent company Audi. They didn't want to let the sub brand show them up by winning anywhere else until they let them.

Peugeot should be around until they decide to go back to rallying... Again.
Porsche have always had a presence in motorsport. Just not always the top class.

I don't know whats going to happen with these ideas. I hope they do something to raise manufacturer awareness in the top class or another class capable of challenging for the outright. Personally I wouldn't of minded seeing all coupes for LMP1. But I also like the idea of LMP1 Evo. However I can see manufacturers being hesitant to make the switch. If they get a decent rules package and so on it will be good but until then we'll have to wait and see.

 

[JohnBM01]

Thank you, MotoMinded! That's the best Corvette GTP picture I could ever find. And really, I hope we can see some kind of harking back to the mid-late 1990s GT1 cars. It probably seems best to come up with a hybrid of GT and prototype to help both causes. I haven't a problem with formula prototype cars (I often think of most formula cars as sportscars without the extra bodywork, but I would enjoy seeing these rather swoopy LMP1 Evo beasts race. Just any sort of trailer or something to showcase LMP1 Evo would be amazing.

Or maybe LMP1 Evo could be sacked and just come up with some other kind of class similar to LMP1 Evo. There still has to be some convincing to come up with a class of racing. Or look at this this way- do you showcase a brand better with an open-top prototype, or with a closed-top prototype with the design resembling certain road-going cars? Think of the Mercedes-Benz GT1 cars from the late 1990s (including the ones Peter Dumbreck wrecked in two days ). Something with a fluid and aggressive design works for me. Two Le Mans-winning cars from the 1990s come to mind as to making high-end LMP1 Evo machines- the McLaren F1 and the Porsche 911 GT1 have the bodywork styles to make LMP1 Evo-style cars.

If LMP1 Evo is dead and never resurfaces, then what needs to be done to keep LMP1 and GT1 from being laughing stocks?

 

[Mt. Lynx]

Remember the 80's GTP Chevy Corvette Lolas?
*snip*

Yep! That works for me! At least it has some resemblence to the roadcars, and if that car should´ve done Le Mans, it would´ve had headlights aswell, wich would make it even more lookalike.

Thank you, MotoMinded! That's the best Corvette GTP picture I could ever find. And really, I hope we can see some kind of harking back to the mid-late 1990s GT1 cars. It probably seems best to come up with a hybrid of GT and prototype to help both causes. I haven't a problem with formula prototype cars (I often think of most formula cars as sportscars without the extra bodywork, but I would enjoy seeing these rather swoopy LMP1 Evo beasts race. Just any sort of trailer or something to showcase LMP1 Evo would be amazing.

Or maybe LMP1 Evo could be sacked and just come up with some other kind of class similar to LMP1 Evo. There still has to be some convincing to come up with a class of racing. Or look at this this way- do you showcase a brand better with an open-top prototype, or with a closed-top prototype with the design resembling certain road-going cars? Think of the Mercedes-Benz GT1 cars from the late 1990s (including the ones Peter Dumbreck wrecked in two days ). Something with a fluid and aggressive design works for me. Two Le Mans-winning cars from the 1990s come to mind as to making high-end LMP1 Evo machines- the McLaren F1 and the Porsche 911 GT1 have the bodywork styles to make LMP1 Evo-style cars.

If LMP1 Evo is dead and never resurfaces, then what needs to be done to keep LMP1 and GT1 from being laughing stocks?

There is actually a class in Le Mans that barely ever has any entrants. Noone since Bentley IIRC, and that is GTP. Now, the current LMP1 rules are very similar to GTP, since the allowance of closed top prototypes.
My tip would be to rewrite the GTP rules slightly, and practically make them to what GT1 was during the late 90´s.
Or even better, make them complete shadows of productioncars, like DTM or SuperGT. I´d like to see cars like Maserati GranTurismo, Aston Martin DBS, Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe, Porsche 911 GT2, Audi A5, Nissan GT-R, Ford Mustang GT, Chevy Corvette C6, Lamborghini Murcielago, Jaguar XK-R, BMW M6, Ferrari 599, Mercedes CL 65 AMG, Koenigsegg CCR, Lexus SC430, Alfa Romeo 8C, Bentley Continental GT and so on, made into racecars from the ground up!

 

[Motominded]

Yep! That works for me! At least it has some resemblence to the roadcars, and if that car should´ve done Le Mans, it would´ve had headlights aswell, wich would make it even more lookalike.

There is actually a class in Le Mans that barely ever has any entrants. Noone since Bentley IIRC, and that is GTP. Now, the current LMP1 rules are very similar to GTP, since the allowance of closed top prototypes.
My tip would be to rewrite the GTP rules slightly, and practically make them to what GT1 was during the late 90´s.
Or even better, make them complete shadows of productioncars, like DTM or SuperGT. I´d like to see cars like Maserati GranTurismo, Aston Martin DBS, Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe, Porsche 911 GT2, Audi A5, Nissan GT-R, Ford Mustang GT, Chevy Corvette C6, Lamborghini Murcielago, Jaguar XK-R, BMW M6, Ferrari 599, Mercedes CL 65 AMG, Koenigsegg CCR, Lexus SC430, Alfa Romeo 8C, Bentley Continental GT and so on, made into racecars from the ground up!

I guess that could make sense cause that's what a prototype is. But GT is always production based.

 

[GTveteran]

My tip would be to rewrite the GTP rules slightly, and practically make them to what GT1 was during the late 90´s.
Or even better, make them complete shadows of productioncars, like DTM or SuperGT. I´d like to see cars like Maserati GranTurismo, Aston Martin DBS, Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe, Porsche 911 GT2, Audi A5, Nissan GT-R, Ford Mustang GT, Chevy Corvette C6, Lamborghini Murcielago, Jaguar XK-R, BMW M6, Ferrari 599, Mercedes CL 65 AMG, Koenigsegg CCR, Lexus SC430, Alfa Romeo 8C, Bentley Continental GT and so on, made into racecars from the ground up!

Yeh for some reason the Peugeot sometimes isn't being classed as a GTP class car when clearly it is. I would of liked to have seen Toyota carry on with the GT-One and gone up against the Bentley.

I would also like to see normal racing versions of all those cars listed. Even a GT championship with all those cars would be exciting to watch. Hmm... GT3??

 

[[empty space]]

i though lmgtp was droped when lmp900 and lmgtp were merged to make lmp1?

 

[GTveteran]

i though lmgtp was droped when lmp900 and lmgtp were merged to make lmp1?

Thats what I thought. But there is still a GTP class listed at the LMS websites.

 

[Mt. Lynx]

^I think you´re right though. I´ve been looking a bit deeper into the LMP900/GTP merge, and that seem to be the case. I just couldn´t remember ever hearing that GTP was scrapped.
Maybe time for a revival?

I guess that could make sense cause that's what a prototype is. But GT is always production based.

Not all GT´s are. The SuperGT cars are mere shadows of the productioncars, and AFAIK share no parts at all. Well, they do have a resemblence to the productioncars though, if that is what you meant.

 

[JohnBM01]

Something else I've read (mostly another message board) is that this EVO deal is NOT cancelled. I apologize for jumping to dead-alive-dead constantly. It's just that it's tough to really know just if these plans are still going as planned.



Now here is something I put together:

Maybe not a newer car, but I think something like the Mosler MT900R would be a lovely candidate to be fixated as a high-end LMP1 Evo with a wider body (the canopy may be slightly widened in width and height) and a bigger engine. I'm not sure if some of those Corvette-powered Moslers can be fitted with higher displacement versions of the engines. Basically, any sports car that's wide and low can be a candidates for LMP1 Evo treatment for those looking to make their own entries. Let's speculate a bit.

--- LMP1 Evo Speculation ---
(all inspired by my childish imagination)​

* The Audi R8 (road car) would look lovely as an LMP1 Evo car. I'll assume that Audi may take the engine from their Audi R10 TDI and drop it into a special-made LMP1E (if you will) Audi R8. Either that, or they could make a new-age Audi R8C.

* Sure to make blue oval fans happy, what if either the Ford GT or the Saleen S7 lineup was scheming towards a full-on race car to meet LMP1 Evo specifications? It would be the return of the Ford GT as a powerful car in the 21st Century, or it would be a grown-up Saleen S7. I do miss watching Saleen S7s run laps on courses unless it was maybe FIA GT (unless the Saleen S7 was no longer raced in the series). These would both be all-grown-up race cars ready and willing to show dominance on a world stage. That is... as long as GM doesn't continue their rivalry against Ford in sportscar racing.

* This is going to sound a bit crazy... what if Nissan planned to make an LMP1E version of the Nissan GT-R? The car would probably be embarassingly much lighter than the almost 3,900 lb. GT-R road car. Nismo power to the Nissan masses in sportscar racing with their first serious sportscar racer since the R390 GT1 of the late 1990s.



Thinking back to that Corvette GTP from Post #107, pay close attention to just how much this Corvette looks like a road-going Corvette of its time. Looks like a 1990 Corvette with its body style. A lot of it is highly indicative of the Corvette of its time. Whether or not such silhouettes can be made now is really anyone's guess and if people are willing to make super versions of cars as prototypes.

 

[Mt. Lynx]

Something else I've read (mostly another message board) is that this EVO deal is NOT cancelled. I apologize for jumping to dead-alive-dead constantly. It's just that it's tough to really know just if these plans are still going as planned.



Now here is something I put together:

Maybe not a newer car, but I think something like the Mosler MT900R would be a lovely candidate to be fixated as a high-end LMP1 Evo with a wider body (the canopy may be slightly widened in width and height) and a bigger engine. I'm not sure if some of those Corvette-powered Moslers can be fitted with higher displacement versions of the engines. Basically, any sports car that's wide and low can be a candidates for LMP1 Evo treatment for those looking to make their own entries. Let's speculate a bit.

--- LMP1 Evo Speculation ---
(all inspired by my childish imagination)​

* The Audi R8 (road car) would look lovely as an LMP1 Evo car. I'll assume that Audi may take the engine from their Audi R10 TDI and drop it into a special-made LMP1E (if you will) Audi R8. Either that, or they could make a new-age Audi R8C.

Audi already have the R8 V12 TDI prototype, wich would make a wonderful base for a racecar!

* Sure to make blue oval fans happy, what if either the Ford GT or the Saleen S7 lineup was scheming towards a full-on race car to meet LMP1 Evo specifications? It would be the return of the Ford GT as a powerful car in the 21st Century, or it would be a grown-up Saleen S7. I do miss watching Saleen S7s run laps on courses unless it was maybe FIA GT (unless the Saleen S7 was no longer raced in the series). These would both be all-grown-up race cars ready and willing to show dominance on a world stage. That is... as long as GM doesn't continue their rivalry against Ford in sportscar racing.

The Saleens do race in FIA GT this season, but their performance is no match for the Corvettes, Astons and Maseratis.

* This is going to sound a bit crazy... what if Nissan planned to make an LMP1E version of the Nissan GT-R? The car would probably be embarassingly much lighter than the almost 3,900 lb. GT-R road car. Nismo power to the Nissan masses in sportscar racing with their first serious sportscar racer since the R390 GT1 of the late 1990s.

Don´t forget the SuperGT GT-R! Won it´s first outing IIRC. Only thing against SuperGT´s in my book, is that they all run V8 power. I´d like to see that they´d run with the same engine configuration the roadcars have, IE twin turbo V6 for the GT-R. In fact, if there was to be an LMP1E class, I´d like to see that aswell. Have a limitation on horsepower instead.

Thinking back to that Corvette GTP from Post #107, pay close attention to just how much this Corvette looks like a road-going Corvette of its time. Looks like a 1990 Corvette with its body style. A lot of it is highly indicative of the Corvette of its time. Whether or not such silhouettes can be made now is really anyone's guess and if people are willing to make super versions of cars as prototypes.

I think there would be an interest in that. The manufacturers race to showcase their technical knowhow, and in the end to sell more cars. If the LMP1E cars were to be shadows, they would resemble roadcars, and the step to the roads would be a little shorter compared to the LMP1 cars of today, wich basically only share four wheels with the roadcars. This concept works very well with the stockcars of NASCAR.
And furthermore, if they could compete for the overall win at Le Mans, I think many manufacturers would jump on the idea!

 

[[empty space]]

As for the rest... Bentley were not allowed to race full programmes by parent company Audi. They didn't want to let the sub brand show them up by winning anywhere else until they let them.

i thought the parent company was VW.

 

[GTveteran]

Maybe not a newer car, but I think something like the Mosler MT900R would be a lovely candidate to be fixated as a high-end LMP1 Evo with a wider body (the canopy may be slightly widened in width and height) and a bigger engine. I'm not sure if some of those Corvette-powered Moslers can be fitted with higher displacement versions of the engines. Basically, any sports car that's wide and low can be a candidates for LMP1 Evo treatment for those looking to make their own entries. Let's speculate a bit.

The Mosler is available with a 5.7, a 6 or a 7 litre Chevy V8. I met the guys that build them over here in the UK. The problem is though the Mosler isn't even properly homologated to run in GT series. It has a lot of dispensations.