JLMC Round 1 - Sportland SUGO (12-13 May)

[The359]

The official entry list and schedule for the first round of the second season of the Japan Le Mans Challenge has been published on http://www.lmchallenge.jp

Schedule

Entry List

Not much of an improvement over last year, although GT2 now has the brand new F430 and 997.

[The359]

The Ark Tech Boxster entered in GT1 is a GT300-class SuperGT machine. It almost bears no visual relation to a real Boxster except for its headlights.

I think it has a 911 Flat-6 in it as well.

[Mirage M6]

Seiji Ara drove for Mugen last year and won at Okayama with Korosawa. Where is he now?

[Zurbert82]

Only 11 entries so far, but those silly Oscar "LMP2" cars are still around. I guess that is their only choice for a growing series. I wonder if Honda will enter the JLMC in the coming years?

[The359]

I believe it's the 2008 JLMC season in which the ACO will start granting automatic entries to Le Mans, meaning next season we will likely see more legitimate cars instead of these "sort of"s.

An Acura could be possible, I believe the Acura brand recently launched in Japan.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by The359

I believe it's the 2008 JLMC season in which the ACO will start granting automatic entries to Le Mans, meaning next season we will likely see more legitimate cars instead of these "sort of"s.

An Acura could be possible, I believe the Acura brand recently launched in Japan.

One would think, hopefully, that we might soon see legitimate Nissan and Toyota "LM" class cars, if Acura is on the grid in Japan.

L.P.

[The359]

I imagine Mazda could join up as well, they don't really have any major motorsports presence in Japan that I can think of since they're barely involved in SuperGT.

[Mirage M6]

The great problem for JLMC is Super GT; you know this championship has a enormous success in Japan, will be difficult for JLMC to grow up with this ‘rival’ in the same country.

[dj4monie]

Well that basically the same problem with world over isn't it?

FIA - LMS

ALMS - GARRA

JLMS - JGTC

I mean, look at it.

I think you'll find all the major Japanese players in motorsports will be in the JLMS when you can get a "free" invite to the big dance. As I said before, when was the last time Honda competed in something and Toyota wasn't far behind?? You can also throw Nissan into the mix and to lesser extend Mazda.

Le Mans by 2010 could be quite INTERESTING to say the least.

[The359]

The problem is budget. I can't see manufacturers being capable of running both SuperGT and JLMC, nor do I see any manufacturer wanting to abandon SuperGT.

[Mal]

Toyota and lexus are doing a big worldwide push on Hydrid technology. I would lay a bet they will bring this to LeMans when they feel they can make it competitive.

[mirkob]

First Day Practices:

http://www.racingworld.it/fiagt/noti...?idtitolo=3378

[chemhead1]

Originally Posted by The359

The problem is budget. I can't see manufacturers being capable of running both SuperGT and JLMC, nor do I see any manufacturer wanting to abandon SuperGT.

Flashback to the former JGTC 1999 season. Not only were the Toyota and Nissan heavily involved in JGTC, but they also were able to focus on running sportscars, not domestically, but OVERSEAS. Nissan was running a championship-winning campaign with the Nismo GT-Rs, all in the meanwhile within the last 3 years they managed to complete projects on not 1, but 2 entirely different prototype programs for Le Mans (Nissan R390 and R391, and let's not forget the Courage that ran with the R391's, as well.).

This and Toyota, too was also running both a JGTC (Supra) and Le Mans (GT-One TS020) program.

Now they might not have run an entire season of any sportscar series at the time, but I don't think that the JLMC would really ask for too much time out of them.

[SALEEN S7R]

Yes but back in 1999 Toyota wasnt running a F1 team, as things are I would think their recources are pretty streched at the moment.

[jhansen]

Originally Posted by SALEEN S7R

Yes but back in 1999 Toyota wasnt running a F1 team, as things are I would think their recources are pretty streched at the moment.

Plus they're running a flippin NA$CAR program.

[The359]

Also I imagine JGTC costs in 1999 were smaller then SuperGT costs now.

[Mirage M6]

News from EI:

http://www.endurance-info.com/articl...&mode=&order=0

[bil588]

Toyota is in NASCAR to sell pickup trucks. An exec said it on autoweek.com this year.

Mazdaspeed wants to sell its Lola/Mazda package to customer teams for 2008.

[Mirage M6]

Kawamura Ferrari 430GT has been much faster than Porsches, and the gap between Porsches is very high (1, 24...1. 27...1. 32).
This is not like LMS or ALMS...

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by bil588

Toyota is in NASCAR to sell pickup trucks. An exec said it on autoweek.com this year.

Mazdaspeed wants to sell its Lola/Mazda package to customer teams for 2008.

Customer teams in alms and lms too ? They got a lotta work to do then . It would be great to see a brace of'em in the lms though .

[Mirage M6]

Qualifying results from EI. S. Nakano has taken Pole Position

http://www.endurance-info.com/articl...&mode=&order=0

[Mirage M6]

Hitotsuyama Zytek has won at Sugo! 10 laps more than Mugen Courage.

http://www.planetlemans.com/cmsv2/in...=2670&Itemid=2

[Bentley03]

Am I right in thinking that the AIM part of the AIM Sports GC-21 which finished fourth is the same AIM which has contracted Judd to build the AIM engine which will be mounted in the 2008 Creation's?

[The359]

Odd, i think my post got eaten.

Anyway, Dr. Don Panoz was in attendence for the JLMC race.

Nissan also brought out the NP35, R92CP, R390 GT1, and R391 for public display.

[The Real DMN]

Intresting Nissan should show up given they have no intrest on track.