Are BMW afraid of Audi R8

[Splatz]

BMW have decided against appearing in Adelaide for the LeMans series race on Dec 29-31. I started to think about why they wont come, and what if anything is stopping them.

I was immediately disappointed by they're non-attendance because I have pit straight tickets and wanted to see and HEAR them rrroooaaar past with that fat V12 sound.

Also I will miss their mechanics repairing extensive mid-race body damage normally aquired by crashing into Porsche GTs or driving McNish of the road (Laguna Seca.)

Even though the car is a bit long in the tooth compared to the Audi R8, or new Panoz, it is still speedy. Adelaide is a pretty flat circuit so cars havent flipped there for a while. The long straight is good for the big BMW engine, although it would lose time through the sharp bends. I can only think that if it was fast at Mosport, a technical track, surely it would be competitive in Adelaide, a much simpler track.

Financially, BMW is hardly a minnow in the sport. Although they are concentrating on F1 racing for next year, the 2000 season isnt over. So it looks very much like BMW have spat the dummy like a crying baby, or 'taken theyre bat and ball and gone home.' I think this is pathetic and they look silly for it, for at the same time, Panoz builds another car. Cadillac are still TRYING to build a fast car after a horrid year but most of all, in the entry list for the Adelaide LeMans race in Australia, is a PILBEAM run by the factory. It has Nissan power and makes the LMP675 category on its own.

Now I'm a BMW 5 series driver, so biased, but with due credit to Pilbeam, I still say; if Pilbeam can make it so can BMW. Stop sulking BMW, you like foolish.

[BMWRacerITS]

BMW is no longer running the LMR cars as a factory effort as far as I know. I believe Schnitzer is running the cars.

Besides, BMW implied when they began the F1 team that they would begin withdrawing from Sports Car racing. You must remember, BMW is still a fairly small company. Not as small as Ferrari, but not nearly as large as companies that are able to make strong efforts in all sorts of motor racing.

I will miss seeing the BMW's, but at least the M3's are still running.

I'm now pulling for the American team, GO PANOZ!

[Splatz]

BMWRacerITS thanksmate for the info, I must admit I was just having a bit of a winge. But I will genuinely miss them. Lets hope more people decide to race the 420hp M3 monsters

Tell me, is Scnitzer racing the LMR, is that what you meant?

[BMWRacerITS]

Splatz, as far as I understand, Schnitzer is running the LMR's independently of BMW.

On the other hand, I think the M3's are being run by PTG with factory backing.

Who knows? All I know is that I want to drive one of those M3's!

[Splatz]

Absolutely, those things are wicked. Yeah pretty sure myself that PTG are staying on for next year but I haven't been to their official site yet. Have they got one?

Latest news here in Oz is that Mark Noske is not driving for Panoz in Adelaide. The Ferrari 360 driver has had his own team withdraw support for the race due to over-commitment for that time. Jason Bright will take his place alongside kiwi Greg Murphy. They will be driving the 2000 spec Panoz as a third car.

This should be awesome

[KC]

Another issue concerning the BMW V12 LMR is that it has not undergone a lot of aerodynamic changes since it was debutted at Sebring. it was originally designed to run LeMans, thus the low profile rear wing, and relative lack of downforce maximizing front wing spoilers. For some reason the car does run well at low to medium downforce tracks, but struggles at high downforce circuits. BMW should have developed osme new front clips and a higher rear wing to add in some downforce so that races at places like Adelaide would be easier for them to be competitive at.

[BMWRacerITS]

http://www.speedvision.com/pub/artic...d/001213c.html

I just found this article, and as a BMW fan, it is rather exciting!

It sounds like Schnitzer will be running a factory team of M3's in the ALMS in a few years, while PTG continues plugging along with their privateer effort.

Sounds like the two have good relations, so information will be shared between the teams.

Add the info sharing to the V8 engine possibility, and those GT3 P-Car's better start shaking in their boots. Yee-haww! Go BMW.

I'd love to see Schnitzer/BMW get into the DTM too, as the article hints at.

The new M3 could return to the days of the old E30 M3 that dominated DTM and other series. I'd love to see BMW win the DTM and ALMS in one season. Maybe even LeMans GT class despite the aerodynamic advatage that the P-Cars have?

[KC]

John Milner's PTG Group already have an appointment with the aerodynamic engineers and a long wind tunnel session set up just after Christmas. I think this is one way that BMW is rewarding the boys at PTG for sticking with the M3 for all these years. I remember first seeing them in person at Dallas in '96.

[BobN]

Originally posted by BMWRacerITS
Splatz, as far as I understand, Schnitzer is running the LMR's independently of BMW.

On the other hand, I think the M3's are being run by PTG with factory backing.

Who knows? All I know is that I want to drive one of those M3's!

The LMRs were campaigned by Schnitzer this year but were retired after Las Vegas and won't be at Adelaide.

Bob

[BMWRacerITS]

Originally posted by BobN
The LMRs were campaigned by Schnitzer this year but were retired after Las Vegas and won't be at Adelaide.

Hmm, I wonder how much one of those would cost to take off of Schnitzer's hands??

I'd love to show up in a vintage race in a few years in one of those.

[BobN]

Originally posted by BMWRacerITS

Hmm, I wonder how much one of those would cost to take off of Schnitzer's hands??

I'd love to show up in a vintage race in a few years in one of those.

Maybe they will sell the one Auberlin flew at Road Atlanta.


Bob

[BMWRacerITS]

I was standing there as Auberlin went over backwards. Saw the car as it was coming down. It looked surprisingly graceful.

The next day, Auberlin stuck around for the BMW Club Race to drive a PTG car that he now co-drives on occasion in the Motorola Cup series. I got the chance to talk to him about the wreck and all the club racers gave him some general ribbing about it.

Needless to say, every few laps, the PTG car would fill my mirrors up as we cruised around Road Atlanta. I think he passed me twice in a 30 minute race. Amazing.

[Zep]

JJ Lehto has commented in Finnish media that car has been over second per lap slower than last year. That because of 00 rules. As I know they had to change rear wing a little bit. JJ commented in quite early of this season that they can't get Michelins working. Whole season Williams were working on suspension and Michelin their tyres, but it seems that they didn't find what was wrong.
V12 LMR had aged, and perhaps the only way to get quicker was to built a new car...

Any news about JJ? What is he going to do next season?

[BobN]

Originally posted by Zep
JJ Lehto has commented in Finnish media that car has been over second per lap slower than last year. That because of 00 rules. As I know they had to change rear wing a little bit. JJ commented in quite early of this season that they can't get Michelins working. Whole season Williams were working on suspension and Michelin their tyres, but it seems that they didn't find what was wrong.
V12 LMR had aged, and perhaps the only way to get quicker was to built a new car...

Any news about JJ? What is he going to do next season?

I have seen reported that Letho will run with Mueller in GT in ALMS and Le Mans in a M3 E46 (possibly with a V8) for Schnitzer then the team will move to DTM in 2002.

Another rumor has him joining Panoz in the second car with perhaps Beretta or Mark Blundell as a teammate.

The first senario probably has more credence, as it come for a report from BMWs awards dinner in Austria.

Bob

[Splatz]

Howdy Guys, hope youre all well. Couple of points I wanted to raise and address;

So can you confirm there will be no BMW LMR next year, as far as you know currently?

Secondly, I understand the LMR's are valued at 1 million US, because prototypes arent supposed to be more expensive than that. To buy one would cost a hell of a lot more I reckon, in reality.

KC; Adelaide is high downforce, so they would really struuggle there, if what you explained about their handling problems is correct. In fact, over six hours they would be crushed! Lapped twice I imagine, because all the overtaking requires close following of the car ahead, for some time, through a sequence of left rights. Usually followed by heavy braking. .......Still they LMR's do sound good even when they are a lap down

Finally wouldn't it be against GT regulations for BMW M3s to have an engine swap to the V8. I thought you have to keep the original configuration....

[BMWRacerITS]

Originally posted by Splatz
Finally wouldn't it be against GT regulations for BMW M3s to have an engine swap to the V8. I thought you have to keep the original configuration....

That's why I'm so excited. In order to get the V8 into ALMS, BMW will have to put the V8 in the street car.

It has been rumored as a possiblity for some time, but no one was taking it seriously. The aluminum V8 is actually lighter than the inline 6 anyway, so the car's handling should improve. The 400hp 5.0 liter V8 would make a hell of a street M3!!

[Splatz]

OH BABY!!

Man, I was a bit slow on the uptake there wasn't I. Now I see exactly what you mean, BMWRacerITS.

Woh that is awesome. That would be unreal.

I have to sit and think for a bit.

Too many nice thoughts at once.

So......there next James Bond car might be.....