Author Topic: Endurance racing news (Read 17914 times)

Skaala · « **Reply #20 on:** 29-Dec-2008, 12:43:51 »

if Batman joins the Le Mans scene.....this will be his ride!

danidmas · « **Reply #21 on:** 13-Jan-2009, 16:26:43 »

Aston Martin to quite Le Mans, according to David Brabham:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72718

Seems that Astons prefers to focus on the LMP1 Charouz-Lola, so successful last year... but they need to sort some things out first, so apparently there won't be GT1 Aston this year, at least officially

Quote

"From what I understand, Aston Martin aren't going back to Le Mans as a factory team with the GT1," he said at the Autosport International Show today.

"They might do in LMP1 but I think they're still trying to get that organised.

"I've been fortunate to have Aston Martin Racing ask me for several years to be involved in their programme. They haven't rung me this year because there's probably no programme."

gucom · « **Reply #22 on:** 15-Jan-2009, 18:53:26 »

Fear not, dani-san... the rumours regarding Aston Martin's involvement are many, but according to David Richards they'll definitely be at Le Mans:

Quote

“We're not going to announce our programme until a little later in the year,” the 56-year-old told Crash.net Radio. “We've got a few things still to sort out yet, but take it from me that we will have a very strong presence in sportscar racing this year – and we'll definitely be seen at Le Mans.”

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/le_mans/news/173155-0/le_mans_strong_presence_for_aston_martin_despite_cuts.html

gucom · « **Reply #23 on:** 19-Jan-2009, 13:25:48 »

Good news

Colin Kolles, former team manager in Jordan / Midland / Spyker / Force India team, apparently also runs a few Audi's in the DTM, and now his team will buy 2 Audi R10's to compete in the LMS and at Le Mans!

http://www.planetlemans.com/2009/01/19/kolles-plans-le-mans-series-with-audi-r10-tdi/

This means at least some more nice competition in the Le Mans Series, while the Audi factory team concentrate on developing the new R15...

oh and just for fun, here's another picture of the Acura LMP1 car... indeed a proper batmobile in black

pic from http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newsjan09.html (if you're interested in the technology behind sportscars, this website is highly recommended!)

danidmas · « **Reply #24 on:** 19-Jan-2009, 14:54:21 »

^ that front end on the Acura looks very agressive!

And good to hear there're gonna be private teams running the Audis... this was not that strange back with the Audi R8, there were a lot of private teams running the car: Champion Racing, Oreca, Team Goh, Audi UK Team Veloqx...

danidmas · « **Reply #25 on:** 22-Jan-2009, 15:17:11 »

Peter Solberg to test with Oreca

http://www.planetlemans.com/2009/01/20/petter-solberg-to-test-with-oreca/

Quote

Peter Solberg will add his name to the long list of champions who have driven for ORECA. The Norwegian, among the most-gifted rally drivers of his generation, gave a resounding yes to Hugues de Chaunac’s invitation, and will be the first world champion to sit in the Courage-Oreca. This test will be a first for Solberg, who is more used to the WRC and having a co-driver at his side. His scorecard reads 13 victories in the world championship more the title in 2003, and he has filled the runner-up spot on three occasions (2002, 2004 and 2005). During his many seasons with the Subaru team one of his toughest rivals was none other than Sébastien Loeb. Peter is a master of the controlled slide, and in the Courage-Oreca he will discover the power and awesome cornering speeds of the Le Mans prototypes. Thrills guaranteed!

yeckmohr · « **Reply #26 on:** 22-Jan-2009, 15:39:52 »

Quote from: danidmas on 22-Jan-2009, 15:17:11

Peter Solberg to test with Oreca

http://www.planetlemans.com/2009/01/20/petter-solberg-to-test-with-oreca/

good to hear that he has something to do

gucom · « **Reply #27 on:** 26-Jan-2009, 18:33:57 »

first pic of the Acura with a paintjob:

the nose looks very blunt / heavy from this angle, but other than that it looks pretty good. The rear wing support looks very weird?

I think the Patrón Highcroft livery (the green / black one) doesn't suit the nose, but I'm awaiting more pics to see what the rest of the car looks like. Also when technical details come in I'll post them...

[edit]
pictures from www.endurance-info.com:

some more pics from www.endurance-info.com:

TNT · « **Reply #28 on:** 26-Jan-2009, 20:46:13 »

here is a great site to get up-to-date enduro new

http://www.motorsport.com or any other motorsport news

gucom · « **Reply #29 on:** 27-Jan-2009, 02:21:57 »

AWESOME news

Aston Martin are returning to Le Mans this year, and will seriously try to win it, with 2 new cars which were developed from the Lola they used last year:

I think it's an absolute beauty

I love how they integrated the Aston Martin grille into it! (Although there'll probably be a few changes to the car before it hits the track...)
The engine is still the same V12 based on the DB9's engine (also used in the DBR9 GT1 car)

There's a chance they'll even have 3 cars there. They will race at least 2 of these cars in the Le Mans series, beginning at the 1000km de Catalunya on april 5th (dani, you're on picture duty!

). These cars probably won't be racing again after 2009 but still, great news

More info here: http://www.planetlemans.com/2009/01/27/aston-martin-to-challenge-for-overall-le-mans-win/

goodduck · « **Reply #30 on:** 27-Jan-2009, 05:48:15 »

great news! lets see if it stands a chance against the new audi. even if it doesnt thats one hell of an LMP car.

danidmas · « **Reply #31 on:** 27-Jan-2009, 11:04:35 »

With so many team retirements and budget cuts... finally we hear something GOOD!

If they abandon the GT1 class for the LMP1 is because they believe they have a serious chance at winning... so we'll see if a petrol car can beat the diesel unbeatable Audis and Pugs

2009 Le Mans should be pretty interesting... let's see if I manage a way to attend both LM and the RR09

in 2 consecutive weekends...........

yeckmohr · « **Reply #32 on:** 27-Jan-2009, 13:30:45 »

good to hear with Aston Martin, but Tom Kristensen will win again with Audi !!!!!!! Go for it Tom !!!

gucom · « **Reply #33 on:** 27-Jan-2009, 14:03:00 »

I hope to finally see some1 else than Audi win, preferably Aston Martin, but Peugeot would be fine with me as well, just as long as it's not a darn Audi!! No offense but their dominance has lasted long enough now...

[edit] some other news: the BMW M3 GT2 has been officially approved for ACO regulations so it could also show up at Le Mans in the coming years

the GT2 battle will be awesome with Porsche, Ferrari, Aston Martin, Corvette, Panoz and BMW all competing

The engine for the Acura LMP1 is pretty much standard petrol LMP1, 4 litre V8 with 620hp and 370Nm. Looks like the car is made more for the twisty American circuits in the ALMS, than the long straights of Le Mans... Which would make sense because Acura doesn't sell cars in Europe...

[edit 2] and some more pics of the Aston

from the evo magazine website

gucom · « **Reply #34 on:** 12-Feb-2009, 00:41:34 »

First pic of the Audi R15! Very agressive aero, I like how the nose doesn't look like an F1 car's nose, more "solid" and car-like...

Like Acura, they seem to be going for lots of front-end grip, although Acura is taking another route (they put rear tyres on the front to increase the tyre contact surface, which causes the nose-heavy look, pretty innovative!)

danidmas · « **Reply #35 on:** 12-Feb-2009, 14:55:17 »

The R8 and R10 had a clean, soft design... this R15 on the other hand looks waaay more agressive! Looks cool... but the R10 looks better if you ask me

gucom · « **Reply #36 on:** 12-Feb-2009, 15:28:15 »

No I like this agression

The R8 was also beautiful, clean and soft-edged, but the R10 is somewhere in between, I'm no big fan of it...
Here's a (blurry) pic of the rear, some very unusual stuff going on... It seems there's just a big hole behind the engine to suck the hot air out, and the rear deck is made as low as possible. Also the sidepods have some intricate aero stuff...
I like how the rear lights are incorporated into the wing end plates

[edit] and here's one more pic, found at endurance-series.com:

from the side it looks relatively calm actually, it's especially the front and rear views that look radical...

gucom · « **Reply #37 on:** 13-Feb-2009, 18:38:13 »

And here's the first official pic

courtesy of racecar-engineering.com

I really like this car

and if a team like Audo go that far and radical, I have a feeling it'll blow everything else out of the water...

goodduck · « **Reply #38 on:** 13-Feb-2009, 20:54:38 »

not loving it yet...

TNT · « **Reply #39 on:** 14-Feb-2009, 05:59:34 »

yeah it isn't the best looking car but what are you going to do? You do know it will be fast.