[WEC] Porsche GTP / Hypercar: factory and customer

[Simmi]

You all have permission to get excited! Looks official to me.
If anyone can find anymore details that would be great.
Roll on 2014!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZhOsDzSJ0bk

[R4z3rw33n]

Just watched this. Very intriguing indeed.
Minimal detail, obviously. At least we'll (likely) finally have a fair basis for petrol-diesel comparison.

[Dead-Eye]

Great news, although the cynical thought I'm having about the 2014 date is that that way, the R18 can have a three year career before Audi is gone and replaced by Porsche as VAG's Le Mans project.

[MitchZ06]

So Audi to F1 in 2014 then? Makes sense as isn't that when the I4 is meant to become the spec powerplant?

I'll place my bet on it being a coupe with the hybrid system mated to a 3.0l flat 6.

[Acid09]

Originally Posted by Dead-Eye

Great news, although the cynical thought I'm having about the 2014 date is that that way, the R18 can have a three year career before Audi is gone and replaced by Porsche as VAG's Le Mans project.

That's most likely what will happen so we´re not gaining anything in terms of manufacturer numbers.

[MulsanneMike]

Originally Posted by Dead-Eye

Great news, although the cynical thought I'm having about the 2014 date is that that way, the R18 can have a three year career before Audi is gone and replaced by Porsche as VAG's Le Mans project.

There doesn't seem to be any ambiguity there...official Porsche channel and all...

Now, if only the WEC didn't kill any interest in the ALMS...hopefully Porsche will design the 962 of the current era?

[Simmi]

I'd love to think that they can both co-exist going for the win with differing technology. The Auidi guys didn't rule it out when we asked them. The regs for 2014 will be key. There could be any number of different ways to win. I'd hope that is the case anyway.

But setting their stall out like this is great and hopefully others will do the same. (I'm looking at you Ferrari).

[MitchZ06]

Wasn't Joest originally a Porsche team before Audi came along?

[Spyderman]

http://www.porsche.com/international...&id=2011-06-30


This is a great day!!!

[DS"]

I don't think that Audi will withdraw at Le Mans when Porsche returns. Endurance Racing with Sports Prototypes is vital to Audi's marketing strategy, while F1 isn't. F1 will also see V6-engines in 2014, and I doubt that Audi is willing to compete with a 1,5l-V6 turbo, as it simply doesn't fit to Audi (Who associates such an engine with an Audi?).

[Acid09]

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

Wasn't Joest originally a Porsche team before Audi came along?

Yes of course! Joest's efforts with Porsche go all the way back to the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft in the mid-70s, Joest has been far longer involved with Porsche than with Audi.

[Simmi]

Petrol Hybrid (Porsche) vs Diesel (Audi). That's what endurancesportscar reckon. It would be fantastic.

[Spyderman]

Right! I have already started packing!

[Acid09]

Originally Posted by Simmi

Petrol Hybrid (Porsche) vs Diesel (Audi). That's what endurancesportscar reckon. It would be fantastic.

Diesel in 2014? Unlikely, Peugeot already anticipates a switch to petrol because Diesel will not make any sense if there`s even more downsizing.

[DS"]

Originally Posted by Acid09

Diesel in 2014? Unlikely, Peugeot already anticipates a switch to petrol because Diesel will not make any sense if there`s even more downsizing.

Audi could use a turbo, while Porsche could stick to their naturally-aspirated boxer-6 engine.

[wewantourdarbyback]

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

So Audi to F1 in 2014 then? Makes sense as isn't that when the I4 is meant to become the spec powerplant?

.

Not anymore, V6 powerplants now from 2014, changed last week.

[Audi Racer]

Great day Indeed!!!!!!!!!So excited. I am going to the 2014 Lemans 24 hours if its the last thing i doo.

[Simmi]

They all seem to think sportscar racing is the place to be. Why not stick around if they possibly can...

[Audi Racer]

They must have came up with a sweet set of regulations in that manufacturers meeting.

[Audi Racer]

They said "works entry" right. Does Roger Penske qualify as a works entry? Surely theyll involve him right? Or at least let him run in american lemans series right?

[broadrun96]

And in an interview with Adrian Newey, I think linked in the V6 for 2014 thread, Audi was a driving force for the I4s and now that they have supposedly backed out the teams, including veto powered Ferrari, agreed to the V6 formula that they mostly preferred.
I more feel we could see both Audi and Porsche in the LMP ranks together but they probably won't be able to race anywhere but the WEC by the time the Porsche project comes out. Don't think we'd see Porsche drop the money making 911s to let Audi take the R8 GT racing, plus with Ferrari/Corvette and whoever else shows up already running Porsche leaving wouldn't do much.

[Audi Racer]

So First Porsche.....Who might be next?(Toyota of course). then Nissan/Renault? I'd prefer a nissan P1 because that would have the ability to run in america. Renault is unheard of in america. itd be like peugeot.

[MitchZ06]

In no particular order I'd like to see:

Aston P1
Nissan P1
Toyota P1
Honda P1
Peugeot P1
Porsche P1
McLaren P1

7 manufacturers (likely to be only 3 of those above...) competing at Le Mans for overall honors would be a wet dream...

[Audi Racer]

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

In no particular order I'd like to see:

Aston P1
Nissan P1
Toyota P1
Honda P1
Peugeot P1
Porsche P1
McLaren P1

7 manufacturers (likely to be only 3 of those above...) competing at Le Mans for overall honors would be a wet dream...

Interesting that you added Mclaren to this list. You might be on to something.

[Acid09]

Toyota is likely, Nissan at least maintains a steady presence among the LMP ranks but Honda is already on their way out in LMP2 - So not very likely.

Aston may be around in some form or another but competively? Not unless they throw major money at their effort..

Peugeot already talks about 2014 so they´r most likely still around then.

We´ll probably end up with at least 3 manufacturers in 2014 ( Porsche/Peugeot/Toyota).

I wonder if Porsche's plans were one of the factors that gave the ACO the confidence to launch the WEC... they must have some long-time planning going on to make sure it dosen't turn out to be a Ratel-like failure.