LM24 Dumfries will NOT contest Le Mans!

SALEEN S7R · 21 May 2003, 15:18 (Ref:605986)

According to this article http://www.crash.net/news_detail.asp...&language_id=1 he has decided to pull out because he is not able to give as much commitment as he would like to be able to do so. Feeling that he has too many obligations at the moment to give his best effort if he contested the race.

That really is a shame. Now the question is who will replace him?

FG1 · 21 May 2003, 15:41 (Ref:606011)

Quote:

Originally posted by SALEEN S7R

That really is a shame.

Indeed it is.

FG

BSchneiderFan · 21 May 2003, 16:01 (Ref:606033)

A pity; always good to see a Marquess at Le Mans...

It's very late notice for a decent replacement, though. Will it be a Danish driver, do you suppose (Thyrring? Thiim? Watt?)? Or a Japanese (Kato?)?

SALEEN S7R · 21 May 2003, 16:09 (Ref:606038)

How about another Japaneese driver? Maybe Satoshi Motoyama? Hes racing in Jap GT and is a 2 time Nippon champion and looks set for another title. Not sure how good hes doing in Jap GT though.

SALEEN S7R · 21 May 2003, 16:15 (Ref:606050)

Actually was just thinking. Jean Marc Gunon, Pedro Lamy, and Bobby Ver Done roe, Matteo Bobbi, Biaggi, Piccini, Deltraz, Frank Montangy, None of these guys have a ride at Le Mans. It is a setback for DBA, but how big of a set back Im not so sure. Dumfries is a great driver, but how long is it since he has competed in GT's at International level?

rdjones · 21 May 2003, 16:33 (Ref:606066)

If this news is confirmed, then it is a great shame. From what I understand Johnny was going to make his mine up after the test day, weather to drive or not. We shall see what happens.

chris24 · 21 May 2003, 16:45 (Ref:606075)

How about James Weaver. I can't believe that nobody has picked him up for a drive at Le Mans after Dyson pulled out.

**Aysedasi** · 21 May 2003, 18:49 (Ref:606169)

Damn shame. Would have been great to see all three winners from 1988 back at Le Mans again.

BSchneiderFan · 21 May 2003, 18:50 (Ref:606170)

Deletraz is driving the Lister prototype (I know, I know...). Weaver would be a good choice.

I'd prefer Jason Watt, but I suppose difficulties in setting the car up for hand controls would stymie that one.

**Aysedasi** · 21 May 2003, 18:52 (Ref:606172)

Quote:

Originally posted by BSchneiderFan

I'd prefer Jason Watt, but I suppose difficulties in setting the car up for hand controls would stymie that one.

It would be excellent, in many respects, particularly in terms of PR for the ACO, I suspect, but I doubt it will happen.

SALEEN S7R · 21 May 2003, 18:54 (Ref:606175)

I was just thinking, Jan Magnussen dosent have a drive for this year either, does he?

rdjones · 21 May 2003, 18:58 (Ref:606179)

Quote:

Originally posted by SALEEN S7R
I was just thinking, Jan Magnussen dosent have a drive for this year either, does he?

He is driving the Team Goh Audi R8

BSchneiderFan · 21 May 2003, 18:59 (Ref:606180)

I think Magnussen is pedalling Kazumichi Goh's Audi.

SALEEN S7R · 21 May 2003, 19:03 (Ref:606189)

Ah yes so he is. Hes keeping his head down at the moment isnt he. If anyone dosent or is intrested for that matter though offical entry list is here. http://www.lemans.org/2003/24auto/pa...gages_gb.shtml As I say most of us probably know this, but for those of u who dont u might find it useful.

paul-collins · 21 May 2003, 19:13 (Ref:606198)

Quote:

Originally posted by BSchneiderFan
Weaver would be a good choice.

James isn't on the list!

http://www.lemans.org/sport/pdf/2003...VERS_FR_GB.pdf

Hard to believe that running the race 14 times isn't enough...

**Aysedasi** · 22 May 2003, 07:10 (Ref:606512)

Quote:

Originally posted by SALEEN S7R
Ah yes so he is. Hes keeping his head down at the moment isnt he. If anyone dosent or is intrested for that matter though offical entry list is here. http://www.lemans.org/2003/24auto/pa...gages_gb.shtml As I say most of us probably know this, but for those of u who dont u might find it useful.

It's been "somewhere else" for ages..........

**Aysedasi** · 22 May 2003, 07:11 (Ref:606513)

Quote:

Originally posted by paul-collins
James isn't on the list!

http://www.lemans.org/sport/pdf/2003...VERS_FR_GB.pdf

Hard to believe that running the race 14 times isn't enough...

Question is, does he want to be?

SALEEN S7R · 22 May 2003, 11:37 (Ref:606703)

Quote:

Originally posted by Aysedasi
It's been "somewhere else" for ages..........

Oh I know that its been somewhere else for ages, I take it ur reffering to this? http://www.crash.net/news_detail.asp...&language_id=1

Its also been at lemans.org for ages - ever since the list was announced.

**Aysedasi** · 22 May 2003, 11:58 (Ref:606724)

Quote:

Originally posted by SALEEN S7R
Oh I know that its been somewhere else for ages, I take it ur reffering to this? http://www.crash.net/news_detail.asp...&language_id=1 Its also been at lemans.org for ages - ever since the list was announced.

I'm most certainly not!!!!

Forum rules prohibit me from putting up the link, but I've had the full list on my site since the day it was announced by the ACO.

So has rd.

So has Maison Blanche

(just to be fair!).

paul-collins · 22 May 2003, 12:46 (Ref:606793)

Quote:

Originally posted by Aysedasi
Question is, does he (James Weaver) want to be?

Not unless the car has a serious chance of winning. He's had two chances to look at the DBA, so I don't know how he'd feel about it, but I got the feeling that overall was really all he was interested in these days.

Dunlop Corner · 23 May 2003, 19:28 (Ref:608224)

I don't think we will see Jason Watt in the DBA. First, i think it would be too late to change the car to the configurations he need. Furthermore, he is soo fast that he will make John look bad...

Thyrring is not an option. He has shown absolutely nothing the last couple of year, and withdrew from John's team in 2001, because of "personal problems" (most likely because he was too slow).

I think the most likely replacement, is John's teammate in DTC, Casper Elgaard. Casper drove the DBA Dome in 2001, and did a very good job in those very difficult conditions, espacially for a rookie.
If indeed Dumfries won't participate, i think Elgaard is the most likely to take the 3rd spot, if it will be a dane.

rdjones · 23 May 2003, 19:40 (Ref:608237)

From what is say's on DSC - the replacement driver will be reaveled on the 7th June - when the team is launched in Denmark. It look like they are talking to 3 or 4 drivers........

BSchneiderFan · 25 May 2003, 21:00 (Ref:609885)

Does Elgaard have much LM experience? I can't remember if he raced with Big John in the Den Bla Avis Panoz... I think it probably will be Elgaard, but I'd rather see RN pick someone more solid. That car has so much potential.

**Aysedasi** · 26 May 2003, 07:54 (Ref:610169)

Elgaard has only made the one start, in 2001 with Nielsen and Kato in the Den Bla Avis/Team Goh Dome. As far as I recall he did oK, but, to be honest, looking at his pedigree, it's pretty limited, no major victories or championships to shout about.

Dunlop Corner · 26 May 2003, 17:27 (Ref:610650)

Quote:

Originally posted by Aysedasi
Elgaard has only made the one start, in 2001 with Nielsen and Kato in the Den Bla Avis/Team Goh Dome. As far as I recall he did oK, but, to be honest, looking at his pedigree, it's pretty limited, no major victories or championships to shout about.

He did very good in the Dome. The 2001 was not the easiest to debut in.

Maybe he doesn't have big wins yet, but he is a dominant driver in DTC. Faster than his teammate John Nielsen, and the biggest challenger to Jan Magnussen's Peugeot.

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