[LM24] Le Mans 2005

[Garrett]

Well, Le Mans 2004 is finished with and I am already starting to think of 05'. During the broadcast of LM 04' on Speed, it was talked about of the future to be at LM. Corvette will return next year with the C6R, Lamborghini with a GTS, Aston Martin with a GTS, the new Ferrari 575 GTC to be more developed, and hopefuly some new P1 cars. Though, Audi seems to still be on top, I don't think the R8 will be back in 05'. I think 05' will be the debut year for the new "R9". Mazda officaly stated that they will be back and so did Porsche. Though, those projects are futher past 05' in the future. What cars do think will be a Le Mans in 2005?????

[the_royksopp]

Well, the R9 will prolly be there next year, as will a lot of R8's. They'll prolly be purchased by some the smaller LMP1 teams. At least i know the Essex Invest team will have one next year.

[JAG]

Lola LMP1/2, Lister LMP1 and a number of hybrid cars from Rollcentre, Zyteck etc. Its now clear a well run 2004 spec LMP1 car will have the beating of a 2003 spec car, particulalry if the 2003 cars are restricted further.

The ACO said Maserati will race in 2005 as well, in GTS.

With the joint ACO/FIA GTS regs expect more FIA GT runners to race next year.

[JAG]

Champion, Audi UK and Goh will run some type of Audi.

[FIRE]

Mazda LMP2
Konrad Saleen?
new Dome?

I am not shure Audi will sell the current R8s to privateers.

[slicktsax]

hopefully we'll see some saleen S7'rs in the GTS next year. now that they are up to full strength they should be very competative with the other GTS machinery. also i think spyker will be back too not usre with teh C8 gt car or a p1 car. unfortunately it looks like the pagoni project is dead, shame because it was a pretty car and it has potential if put in the hands of the right team with the right budget. could u imagine what larbre could do with that car or racing for holland?

[JAG]

Reading another forum, someone on there says Ulrich confirmed Audi will return next year with a new LMP1.

If true, I wonder how this will affect the 'privateers'.

Could Audi UK and Goh be given new chassis for LM and the LMES.

Champion may stay away from LM and run the current R8 in the ALMS without restrictions. Maybe some other teams could run the R8 in the ALMS for the next 2 years as well, if chassis become available?

[JAG]

http://www.lemans.org/univers_sport/..._gb_02_gb.html

The ACO expect a number of new manufactuers.

[klb]

Originally posted by JAG
http://www.lemans.org/univers_sport/..._gb_02_gb.html

The ACO expect a number of new manufactuers.

I hope to see some of them playing in the ALMS next year.

[JAG]

http://www.sportinglife.com/others/n...Mans_Audi.html

Audi info.

[BSchneiderFan]

I think we'll have to wait and see if the new Audi turns up in 2005. If no other major manufacturers commit, I suspect Audi will be happy for customers to race the R8 for another year - though I'd like to see more of them about if that's the case. Another American team running one in the ALMS, or Champion running two cars, plus Audi UK and Goh in Europe would be a good spectacle.

[bernard b]

Originally posted by FIRE
...I am not shure Audi will sell the current R8s to privateers.

I'm not sure much (real) privateers could afford buying and running one ...

[JAG]

The only way the R8s will race next year is if thereare are either no changes to the 2003 spec LMP1 regs, or if Audi build a hybrid R8.

[FIRE]

It would be great if there are no Audi's at LM 2005. Let fight Pescarolo, RfH, Rollcentre, Kondo and Zytek for victory!

[Gilles]

I don't think 2005 will be the first year for the R9, we'll probably have to wait '06.

[jhansen]

I concur, if no other manufacturers make a move next year, Audi will just sit and wait.

The R8 can still win races unless they severely restrict the 2003 spec cars. And this would hurt guys like Pescarolo, Kondo, RfH, Rollcentre, etc. That would force everyone to either buy a new car (not a lot of choices right now), or build a hybrid, which does cost money (not good for small teams). But if enough of the smaller guys built hybrids I wonder if Audi would follow suit and make a hybrid R8? That would be cool, especially if they made a few more available.

And I also do not see Audi handing out the R9 to Champion, Goh, or Veloqx. The only way any of these teams will get it is if Audi nominates one of them as the new factory team. Perhaps Champion would get one if the factory chose to not race in the ALMS.

[JAG]

The likes of Veloqux are a big budget operation. This is why they got the Audi UK contract ahead of many well established teams. They intend to have a long term relationship with Audi and so will want to go to LM in 2005 with a chance to win, which would require a hybrid, if the regs are changed.

Most of the smaller teams are at least considering running a hybrid next year, no doubt encourage by the performance of NASAMAX, so Audi would have to do something, or pull out the R8s.

Audi did make quite a few changes to the 2004 cars, so it is not out of the question.

[Fogelhund]

New potential cars for 2005.

GTS -
Aston Martin
Lambourghini
Maserati
Corvette C6R?

GT
Panoz
Nissan 350Z? Will the FIA GT car be ACO legal as well?

Then there is the Mazda suggestion, though which class is not a full certainly, though suggestions are LMP2 (If the class still exists )

Porsche doesn't seem likely until 06', IF.
Audi could appear with a new "R9", IF other manufacturers commit. Big "IF" though.

Champion's participation in LMP class in 05' is dependent on having real competition in the ALMS LMP class in 05'. They are on record as stating they'll switch to a GTS Lambo if there is no LMP comp.

[JAG]

There should be joint ACO/FIA GT regs for 2005, so that should open the GTS/GT entry up a bit.

[dretceterini]

I actually see more hope for 2005 in LMP2 than in LMP1, especially if there are a few minor rules changes to equalize the old SR2 cars with the newer cars.

[The Badger]

How about RfH running the new Spyker LMP-1 ? That would look cool in orange !!!

[E46]

Originally posted by The Badger
How about RfH running the new Spyker LMP-1 ? That would look cool in orange !!!

If I am not wrong this is for 2006.

[paulzinho]

Is there any chance of any roofed prototypes in the next few years, i really miss those Bentleys!

[Garrett]

I would like to see more roofed P1 cars in the future also. There was talks in an Autsport article about the Audi R9 being a roofed car. Hopefuly, the R9 will be closed as with a Porsche return to be with a roofed car as well, but I wouldn't mind to see the open LMP 2000. I wish that another "Group C" era could come back. Though, one thing that I think will make the cars look worse in the raised sid pods. It gives the false apperance that the cars sit higher. If anyone noticed the Nasamax car and how high it seemed the car sat. I don't know if I appeal to the new rules.

[Tim Northcutt]

I recall reading in a thread earlier this year (titled "Audi R9???" or something like that) that the director of racing for Audi said that the new specs car would be open-cockpit....

at least that's the way I remember it...

Please correct me if I'm wrong...