ALMS 2010 Discussion

[tlongman]

I know it's only August but its not too early to start thinking about next year. Mainly the reason I'm starting this now though is that Autoweek is reporting a big announcement is coming on Sunday regarding the 2010 plans for the series. One of the rumored announcements is the restructuring of the classes to include only one LMP class. Here's the article. Enjoy!

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090814/ALMS/908149996

[Jonerz]

Murphy's twitter tells me broadcast TV (presumably ABC, NBC etc.) is out next year. ALMS finally got fed up of being featured with the worst coverage in the sport's history. I hope to see one prototype class regardless of Audi and Acura's plans. Run with an equivalency formula much like they had "2006-2008". Atherton said there will be no identifiable GT1 grid, does that mean GT1 cars are welcome, just expect weight and restrictor changes?

Chris

[dxk1]

Originally Posted by Jonerz

Atherton said there will be no identifiable GT1 grid, does that mean GT1 cars are welcome, just expect weight and restrictor changes?
Chris

Who might be in the GT1 class anyway if it did exist. Seems everyone has gone to GT2. The singe P class sounds like a good idea.

DK

[WMUCarGuy]

So can we expect the full schedule to be on Speed then? If so, I hope Speed makes a push to get more carriers to switch to HD for them. I think only Direct TV and a few cable providers have Speed HD now.

[porsche91722]

Originally Posted by Jonerz

Murphy's twitter tells me broadcast TV (presumably ABC, NBC etc.) is out next year. ALMS finally got fed up of being featured with the worst coverage in the sport's history.

Chris

Thats great news if it happens that way. SpeedTV would more than likely then have it and that means LIVE.

[Purist]

Sorry if I don't jump for joy at that, but I probably would not have known much, if anything really, about the ALMS until the fall of 2005 if not for the network broadcasts. As it stands, the first ALMS race I caught was Sears Point 1999 on NBC. And if this is the case for 2010, I can't watch any of next year's races here at home.

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by dxk1

Who might be in the GT1 class anyway if it did exist. Seems everyone has gone to GT2. The singe P class sounds like a good idea.

DK

I meant in the event there is a GT1 in the LMS or if FIA GT teams want to come over for Sebring and Petit.

Chris

[fieldodreams79]

don't like the idea of a single LMP class much; could work tho
thebear also speaks of a CourageFord V-8 class....
interesting these months as the classes have been virtually the same for years (not regarding name changes and standard tweeks to the rules)
as sportscars classes do, are we seeing the restructuring of it all or not????
time will tell

[R4z3rw33n]

Why am I not overly excited?
http://www.badboyvettes.com/429

[JHamilton]

Ugh.

Single LMP class = good
Spec LMP class = bad

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by JHamilton

Ugh.

Single LMP class = good
Spec LMP class = bad

Hmm,

Single.....LMP class = BAD
Formula...LMP class = Better than Challenge Class

and they will be Chevy 6.2 crate motors like the FLMS cars from Oreca.


L.P.

[Bob Riebe]

Instead of the IMSA returning to the base it was founded on, it is becoming GARRA/SCCA Nationals lite.

[AndrewF31]

Won't they have to make the P2 cars faster or P1 cars slower for this to work? Couldn't this be bad for a possible return of Audi? Last season when P2 was close to P1, we saw what happened..... Audi got kicked around by the RS Spyders.
And how is this going to mesh with ACO and the 24 hours. At least one of the classes won't be in line with the ACO regulations.

[johntt]

Originally Posted by AndrewF31

Won't they have to make the P2 cars faster or P1 cars slower for this to work? Couldn't this be bad for a possible return of Audi? Last season when P2 was close to P1, we saw what happened..... Audi got kicked around by the RS Spyders.
And how is this going to mesh with ACO and the 24 hours. At least one of the classes won't be in line with the ACO regulations.

Given what worked from 2006-08 I suspect they'll give performance breaks to the P2s

The LMP Challenge class is effectvly a spec version of the 2011 P2 rules, could be a good way to manage the transition to the new rules for the ALMS.

[Jonerz]

Have the official announcements been made?

Chris

[prototype]

Yes. http://americanlemans.com/index_news.php?n=13593

[ger80]

Why FLM? Why not 2011 LMP2s?

[fiend540]

Originally Posted by ger80

Why FLM? Why not 2011 LMP2s?

$$$ is the main reason I would guess at. It has to be a lot cheaper to run a FLM car than an LMP2 car.

[mountainstar]

I think if you had a single prototype class and a single GT class it would make a hell of a lot of sense.

[ger80]

Originally Posted by fiend540

$$$ is the main reason I would guess at. It has to be a lot cheaper to run a FLM car than an LMP2 car.

But 2011 LMP2 should be cheaper than current LMP2 and it would be a good test for 2011. And its not spec ...

[italiastraps]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

I think if you had a single prototype class and a single GT class it would make a hell of a lot of sense.

I totally agree. They just made it more confusing for the casual fan. Maybe they don't want any similarity to Grand-Am?

[AndrewF31]

"LMP1 and LMP2 cars will compete as a single LMP class in 2010 with exception of the endurance classics - the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans Powered by MAZDA6 - that will continue to adhere to the ACO technical rules for LMP1 and LMP2. Among the LMP race cars eligible worldwide will be the Acura ARX-02a, Acura ARX-01b, Ginetta-Zytek 09HS (hybrid), Lola B09/86 Mazda, Lola B06/10, Radical SR9, Porsche RS Spyder, Audi R15 TDI, Peugeot 908, Aston Martin Lola and Pescarolo."

How is this gonna pan out? Imagine if an LMP2 from Europe wants to come race Sebring. We don't know how they're going to translate the single LMP class for ALMS but assuming, in this case, that the P2s receive an 'upgrade', would they have to remove the upgrades for Sebring and Petit Le Mans? Or else the P2 car coming from Europe will be at a disadvantage.

[italiastraps]

It seems like they had a chance to simplify things but went the other way. With the P1s and P2s equalized it seems like they would only be a few quality prototypes away from a very compelling (and easy to understand) 2 class series...especially with Audi looking like it will come back in 2010 and Acura adding another P car for next year.

[KA]

Originally Posted by AndrewF31

"How is this gonna pan out? Imagine if an LMP2 from Europe wants to come race Sebring. We don't know how they're going to translate the single LMP class for ALMS but assuming, in this case, that the P2s receive an 'upgrade', would they have to remove the upgrades for Sebring and Petit Le Mans? Or else the P2 car coming from Europe will be at a disadvantage.

Sounds to me as if LMP at Sebring and PLM will run to ACO rules- so basically 5 classes LMP1, LMP2, the LM Challenge cars, GT and the GT Challenge Porsches- presumably whatever breaks are given to the existing P2 cars for the rest of the season to bring them on par with the P1s will have to be undone for those two races.....Sounds messy...

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by AndrewF31

"LMP1 and LMP2 cars will compete as a single LMP class in 2010 with exception of the endurance classics - the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and Petit Le Mans Powered by MAZDA6 - that will continue to adhere to the ACO technical rules for LMP1 and LMP2. Among the LMP race cars eligible worldwide will be the Acura ARX-02a, Acura ARX-01b, Ginetta-Zytek 09HS (hybrid), Lola B09/86 Mazda, Lola B06/10, Radical SR9, Porsche RS Spyder, Audi R15 TDI, Peugeot 908, Aston Martin Lola and Pescarolo."

How is this gonna pan out? Imagine if an LMP2 from Europe wants to come race Sebring. We don't know how they're going to translate the single LMP class for ALMS but assuming, in this case, that the P2s receive an 'upgrade', would they have to remove the upgrades for Sebring and Petit Le Mans? Or else the P2 car coming from Europe will be at a disadvantage.

It is really not that difficult to understand, weight and restrictor adjustments. Not hard, nor overly expensive, especially as they have the mapping info etc.. to go back and forth from the last 2 years. Also everyone was all the rave last year when the 2 classes were equalized and Porsche was battling Audi for the overall. WTF is so different now?? Also it is being done ahead of the ACO's proposed 2011 P-1 rules which make P-2 > P-1 with the new engine regs!?



L.P.