The Le Mans General Discussion Thread

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I'm starting to wonder if the LMP1 guys will even bother next year. I mean, it's pretty certain that in 2014 there won't be an American LMP1 program. But...

-If Muscle Milk gets the Honda Works backing, they could move up to the WEC with the extra cash. Luhr/Graf is a pretty solid driver paring. And I bet if they were a works team, they'd have fewer issues. Remember, they WERE the fastest Non-Audis at Sebring. They had 3rd in the bag till the Fuel issues.

-If Muscle Milk DOESNT get the Honda Works backing (Quite likely), watch them pull their LMPC program and run 1 or 2 LMP2 HPD's.

-What the hell are Dyson gonna do? Lola won't be giving them an evolution anytime soon(besides, the Lola seems to be a total dog right now anyways), and I don't see the point in buying a HPD to only use for one season. I'd expect to see them run this LMP2 Mazda Diesel thing. Perhaps in conjunction with Dempsey racing?


But really- Conquest, Level 5, Dyson, Dempsey, and Muscle Milk in LMP2? Tell me that wouldn't be awesome.
 
hawkeye122
-If Muscle Milk gets the Honda Works backing, they could move up to the WEC with the extra cash. Luhr/Graf is a pretty solid driver paring. And I bet if they were a works team, they'd have fewer issues. Remember, they WERE the fastest Non-Audis at Sebring. They had 3rd in the bag till the Fuel issues.

-If Muscle Milk DOESNT get the Honda Works backing (Quite likely), watch them pull their LMPC program and run 1 or 2 LMP2 HPD's.
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I long for the return of THIS sound for the P2 car:



Currently, they are just horrible.

hawkeye122
But really- Conquest, Level 5, Dyson, Dempsey, and Muscle Milk in LMP2? Tell me that wouldn't be awesome.
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7 LMP2 cars would be far more entertaining then just 3.
 
RACECAR
I long for the return of THIS sound for the P2 car:

.
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This is onboard from De Ferran's LMP1 Acura ARX-02a.
But yes the cars basically use the same engine. but that sound won't be coming back anytime soon because there will not be an LMP1 class.
 
Blaze_409
This is onboard from De Ferran's LMP1 Acura ARX-02a.
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I know, it was about the only onboard with no talking I could find. I also know there isn't gonna be a P1, After all I did say:

RACECAR
I long for the return of THIS sound for the P2 car
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I think Audi has enough compacity to actually run two cars on each side so it might be possible, perhaps run a E-tron and Ultra over there while running another E-Tron and Ultra over here, or even two E-trons at Fuji and two Ultras at Petit. That or they might bring back out last year's car.
 
That's what I'm hoping for! Even if they send just 1 car would be enough, all I want is to see Muscle Milk wipe the floor with Rebelion again and prove they are the best candidate for that Honda Factory deal!
 
Jav
That's what I'm hoping for! Even if they send just 1 car would be enough, all I want is to see Muscle Milk wipe the floor with Rebelion again and prove they are the best candidate for that Honda Factory deal!
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They won against Rebellion's old car. 👍 And seeing as how the ALMS cars are running 880kg I bet Rebellion gets the same weight break. If that's the case they'll be tough to beat, even for MMilk. We can see how they've handled the other HPD's in the WEC, and those cars are the same as the MMilk. The only difference is MMilk may have a better handle on their machinery (and it's arguably down to better drivers).
 
Dyson lacks spare parts (the whole Lola issue), as evidenced in Baltimore with them using tape to quick-fix their damaged bodywork. I think they'll be trying to play it safe, but this being the season finale they may as well go for it.
 
Romain Dumas to race at Petit Le Mans with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing

Source: Motorsport.com

http://www.motorsport.com/alms/news...etit-le-mans-with-muscle-milk-pickett-racing/

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After shining at Pikes Peak, with a class victory and and second place overall in August, Romain Dumas will return to the United States for the American Le Mans Series finale. The French driver will compete at Petit Le Mans (October 20) with Muscle Milk Pickett Racing. For the 1000 mile event, he will be driving the HPD ARX-03a alongside two German drivers, Klaus Graf and Lucas Luhr, current leaders in the championship.
I've always said it's one of my favorite tracks.



Romain Dumas knows Muscle Milk Pickett Racing after defending their colors on two previous occasions. Last year, he participated in an ALMS round, a year after winning the Grand Prix of Mosport with Klaus Graf. "I have good memories with Greg Pickett's team" explains Romain. "In 2010, we gave the last overall victory to the Porsche RS Spyder. Of course, that moment remains an important one for me. It was my first time with the team, and the weekend went perfectly. I'm very happy to rejoin Muscle Milk Pickett Racing. They are a team that impressed me with their professionalism, motivation and devotion. These are qualities that I appreciate."


The Alès-born driver will also be making his return to the American Le Mans Series, a championship he won on two occasions (2007, 2008), and to the Road Atlanta track in Georgia. "I've always said it's one of my favorite tracks." he admitted. "There are changes in elevation and fast corners that are really enjoyable in a prototype. It's a track where the driver can still make a difference and the atmosphere is always special. It's a race you don't want to miss and I'm overjoyed to have the chance to take the start in the top class."



For the 15th edition of the Petit Le Mans, Romain Dumas doesn't hide his ambitions. "This event has quickly become an endurance racing classic and I want to take overall spoils. I won there in GT in 2003, for my first race in ALMS, then in LMP2 in 2007, finishing less than a second off the overall win. Muscle Milk Pickett Racing has shown they are up to the task these past seasons, and the HPD ARX-03a, that I'll be driving for the first time, is very competitive. We have all the ingredients to shine."
The final round of the American Le Mans Series, the Petit Le Mans will be held on Saturday, October 20, with qualifying the day before.
 
Great to hear Dumas is getting a spot. Been my favorite driver for years. Great team mates as well. Should be an interesting race, especially if Toyota and audi enter a car or two :dopey:
 
Romain Dumas, thats a major score for Greg Pickett. 2 drivers with Factory Audi experience? The only team which is more stacked is Starworks.
 
hawkeye122
Romain Dumas, thats a major score for Greg Pickett. 2 drivers with Factor Porsche experience? The only team which is more stacked is Starworks.
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Fixed.
Sorry fanboyism kicked in there.

Road Atlanta is an awesome track. Remember going there in 2007 and seeing the Acuras coming around that double right hander. Coming OUT of it, their brakes would still be glowing in the dusk hours. Very cool to watch indeed.
Also remember a pretty fantastic Audi vs. Porsche battle but can't exactly remember the particulars of it other than I had a front row seat.
Excellent spectators track too with all the hills. Easy to see the action.
 
gogatrs
Fixed.
Sorry fanboyism kicked in there.

Road Atlanta is an awesome track. Remember going there in 2007 and seeing the Acuras coming around that double right hander. Coming OUT of it, their brakes would still be glowing in the dusk hours. Very cool to watch indeed.
Also remember a pretty fantastic Audi vs. Porsche battle but can't exactly remember the particulars of it other than I had a front row seat.
Excellent spectators track too with all the hills. Easy to see the action.
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Indeed. I went there for a motorcycle race last year. It's a great track to do photography because everything is within really short walking distance. I wish I had gone for the ILMC last year, being that it was my last chance to see a Peugeot 908 (Even though I didn't know at the time).
 
I think that Audi won't be fielding cars if they're letting Dumas drive for the only team with a shot at beating them.
 
I was at PLM last year and loved it! Me and the wife are going again this year... and probably every year as long as they're having it. :)

Who knows what the future holds, though?
 
I think I'm definitely going to Sebring next year, as it will be the last year ALMS runs autonomously. I wouldn't mind seeing P2 become the top class next year. There are some undeniably AMAZING drivers in that class, I'm especially a fan of that orange/silver Morgan :drool:

I wish instead of this merger ALMS would just go p2/pc/gt2/gtc. Or even cut the challenge classes (even though I personally like them) and go to pro/am classes. But I don't think that would be great to do next year since pc has committed to natural gas for their fuel source, and independent development would diminish that awesome effort in the spirit of ALMS technological advancement.

Meh, whatever. Petit will be epic. Hopefully so will Sao Paulo this weekend.
 
Didn't know that about the LMPC cars, that I feel would make them relevant instead of just moving roadblocks. It'll be a shame to loose that, hopefully the Green Challenge thing will be kept and the next series will embrace change and technology and no, the Delta Wing doesn't count!
 

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