Round 3: American Le Mans Series Monterey

[FstrthnU]

With Long Beach behind us, time for the buildup to round 3 at Laguna Seca! We may be more than half a month away, but we might as well have this thread ready for any new developments.

May 10: Test Sessions (First practices)
May 11: Practices and Qualifying
May 12: Race Day (Saturday) 1:30 PM - 7:30 PM PST

Live on ESPN3 4:15 PM EST May 12
Delayed broadcast on ESPN2 5:00 PM May 13

Track: Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca
Track length: 2.238 miles
Race length: 6 hours

2011 Winners: LMP1 Aston Martin Racing
LMP2: Level 5 Motorsports
LMPC: Genoa Racing
GT: Flying Lizard Motorsports
GTC: TRG

http://www.alms.com/races/american-le-mans-monterey-0

next post will have tentative entry list
****************************************

Schedule

Entry List

Timing & Scoring

ESPN3 Video

ALMS Video

Track Map

Weather

World Times

[FstrthnU]

Tentative Entry List

P1: #6 Muscle Milk Racing HPD ARX-03a
#16 Dyson Racing Lola-B12/60 Mazda

#20 Dyson car is only signed up for sprint races, so it will skip this round

P2: #37 Conquest Endurance Morgan-Nissan
#54 Black Swan Racing Lola B11/60 Honda
#95 Level 5 Motorsport HPD ARX-03b
#055 Level 5 Motorsport HPD ARX-03b
#?? Dempsey Racing Lola B12/80 Judd

as far as I know, Level 5 has not announced a withdrawal from this or any other future rounds yet

possible: #?? Libra Racing Radical-Ford
#?? Autocon Motorsports ??

PC: #5 Muscle Milk Racing
#7 Merchant Services Racing
#8 Merchant Services Racing
#9 RSR Racing
#25 Dempsey Racing
#52 PR1/Mathiasen Motorsports
#05 Core Autosports
#06 Core Autosports

status unknown: #18 Performance Tech Motorsports

all using the Oreca FLM09 of course.

GT: #3 Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
#4 Corvette Racing Chevrolet Corvette C6.R
#17 Falken Tire Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
#23 Alex Job Racing Lotus Evora
#44 Flying Lizard Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
#45 Flying Lizard Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
#48 Paul Miller Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
#55 BMW Team RLL BMW M3 GT
#56 BMW Team RLL BMW M3 GT
#01 Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferrari 458 GTC
#02 Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferrari 458 GTC
#007 Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin V8 Vantage GTE

GTC: #11 JDX Racing
#22 Alex Job Racing
#24 Competition Motorsports
#32 GMG Racing
#34 Green Hornet Racing
#66 TRG

status unknown: #30 NGT Motorsports
#31 NGT Motorsports

possibles: #?? TRG?
#77 Magnus Racing?

All using Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

respond quickly if it looks like I left anyone off the list. SRT Viper won't be showing up yet, maybe by Road America after Le Mans break.

[Articus]

Still no Risi?

[FstrthnU]

Originally Posted by Articus

Still no Risi?

Sadly I haven't seen ANY news about them since they decided to skip Sebring. I'm probably as frustrated as you are that they're not running in ALMS right now. I'm sure Melo and Vilander are having fun running in WEC and GT World right now, but I'd love to see them back!

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by FstrthnU

I'm sure Melo and Vilander are having fun running in WEC and GT World right now, but I'd love to see them back!

Even if Risi decided to return at some point, Melo would still be fired... and for a good reason

I assume that the recent ACO BoP adjustments (+15kg Corvette/Ferrari/Bimmer, -10kg Porsche) won't interfere with the IMSA cars? Haven't seen any bulletins yet, though somehow I do foresee yet another break for porkies...

[Fogelhund]

You won't see Risi back this season... maybe PLM, but no chance for other events.

[Dyson Mazda]

From John Dagy's most recent GT3 Speed article

One could argue that both series are faced with very different situations. While the ELMS struggles to reach a minimum of 20 cars across its five categories, the ALMS is booming, fresh off a capacity field at Long Beach and up to 38 cars expected for next month’s round at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...t3-in-america/

This is the way I got to that number. Also is there any chance the Deltawing makes its debut in a pre-Le Mans test scenario?

P1
6 Pickett Racing HPD ARX-03a Honda
16 Dyson Racing Lola B12/60 Mazda

P2
37 Conquest OAK/Morgan Nissan
54 Black Swan Racing Lola B11/80 Honda
055 Level 5 Motorsports HPD ARX 03b Honda
95 Level 5 Motorsports HPD ARX 03b Honda
# Dempsey Racing Lola B12/80 Judd
# Libra Racing Radical SR-10 Ford

PC
5 Muscle Milk Racing Oreca FLM09
05 Core Autosport Oreca FLM09
06 Core Autosport Oreca FLM09
7 Merchant Services Racing Oreca FLM09
8 Merchant Services Racing Oreca FLM09
9 RSR Oreca FLM09
18 Performance Tech Oreca FLM09
25 Dempsey Racing Oreca FLM09
52 PR1/Mathiasen Racing Oreca FLM09

GT
01 Extreme Motorsports Ferrari 458 Italia
02 Extreme Motorsports Ferrari 458 Italia
3 Corvette Racing Corvette C6R ZR1
4 Corvette Racing Corvette C6R ZR1
17 Falken Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
23 Alex Job Racing Lotus Evora GTE
44 Flying Lizards Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
45 Flying Lizards Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
48 Paul Miller Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
55 BMW RLL BMW M3 GT2
56 BMW RLL BMW M3 GT2
97 Aston Martin Racing Aston Martin Vantage V8

GTC
11 JDX Racing Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
22 Alex Job Racing Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
24 Competition Motorsports Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
30 NGT Motorsport Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
31 NGT Motorsport Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
32 GMG Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
34 Green Hornet Racing Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
66 The Racer's Group Porsche 997 GT3 Cup
67 The Racer's Group Porsche 997 GT3 Cup

P1: 2
P2: 6
PC: 9
GT: 12
GTC: 9
Totals: 38

Bold - Not a Long Beach

[cbbrit]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

You won't see Risi back this season... maybe PLM, but no chance for other events.

I can't tell you specifically which races Risi will compete in after the Le Mans break, but I've heard that it will be for several.

[HJJ]

Following the debut of Black Swan Racing and Conquest Endurance last month at Sebring, the American Le Mans Series P2 category continues to grow, with confirmation coming Thursday that Project Libra will be on the grid for next month's six-hour enduro at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on May 10-12.

As first reported by SPEED.com last month, the Ian Dawson-led operation, which made sporadic appearances in 2010, will see open-wheel standouts Andrew Prendeville and Rusty Mitchell share the wheel of the team's Ford-based, Roush Yates-powered Radical SR9. A third driver is yet-to-be-determined.

“After four days of testing covering 2,000 miles of trouble-free running following a joint development program with Roush Yates, I am happy to be going racing,” Dawson said. “We at long last can see that we can enter the balance of the 2012 American Le Mans Series season with a credible package to build on and with a new engine that we believe will be a strong contender from the outset.

“The Radical chassis has been fully upgraded and has given us a solid platform to work from. The package now represents a unique and varied option for the LMP2 class, which is now seeing welcome growth.”

Dawson said he intends to complete the remainder of the season with the Dunlop-shod prototype and a possibility exists for a second car later in the year, if additional sponsorship is found.

Prendeville, a former Indy Lights star who has been part of Libra's efforts since 2008, is looking forward to getting back to competition.

“The Radical has a significantly updated aero package, and although this is the first time this engine will be running in competition it was strong and put out a lot of power at our tests,” he said. “It’s quicker than anything we’ve had in the car yet."

Libra will become the first P2 team to employ the Ford-based, 3.2-liter V6 twin-turbo powerplant initially launched in late 2010. It's believed a second chassis, from a separate organization, is currently undergoing modifications to fit the Roush Yates unit, which could result in the possibility of another ALMS P2 entry later in the year.

Should Dempsey Racing's Lola B12/80 Judd, which recently completed build at Lola in England, also debut at Mazda Raceway, a total of six P2 cars could be on the grid, including the two championship-leading Level 5 Motorsports HPD ARX-03bs.

.

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by FalkenALMS

Hi Everyone! We thought it was about time that we decided to join in on the discussions!

Will any of you be attending Round Three at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca?

I was at Sebring and am running out of time to get wrangle being able to drive down to Laguna. Whether I am there or not, best of luck! Welcome to Ten-Tenths, glad to have some team representation around here!

Originally Posted by HJJ

(story about Libra)

Please, oh please, oh please, oh please, OH PLEASE make it to the finish and be within the ballpark speed-wise.

Chris

[KA]

Originally Posted by Jonerz

Please, oh please, oh please, oh please, OH PLEASE make it to the finish and be within the ballpark speed-wise.

Chris

After all the false starts and no-shows we've had with this one, I'll settle for them making the start and running respectable laptimes, even if the car breaks in the first hour of the race...

[Deleted]

So with potentially six P2s and two P1s (three when the second Dyson shows up again) were are already up to 8-9 proper prototypes. Not bad, almost on the ELMS P2 grid count which was their one and only healthy class.

Assuming that Level 5 stays of course...

[FalkenALMS]

Catingaround - Thank you! Her livery is pretty amazing, isn't it? Full credit goes to Falken Tire Corporate on that one!

Porsche917K - You should! It's always great to meet fans we chat with online!

Jonerz - Well, we hope you can make it out! If not, thanks for the well wishes! We'll do our best! Historically, Mazda Raceway has been a rough track for us, but we're (obviously) hoping for a good result on this one--Especially since it's in the home state of our Corporate Headquarters. (no pressure)

[JoeMaters]

I read on TwItter that the Viper was scheduled to debut in this coming round. Maybe someone fooling around.

Glad the see the Falken guys on the house!!!

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by JoeMaters

I read on TwItter that the Viper was scheduled to debut in this coming round. Maybe someone fooling around.

Proved to be a false rumour originally from Facebook. They will not debut at Laguna Seca.

[FalkenALMS]

Speaking of twitter, you can find us at @FalkenALMS and Bryan is on at @BryanSellers. That's where the majority of our updates will be for the weekend. We try to do at least one Falken swag giveaway each race weekend in addition to letting one fan and a friend have lunch with the drivers. If you guys have any suggestions of other things you'd like to see us do, just shoot me an email at kelly@walkerracing!

[The Badger]

2 P1's is just sad ..... not much of a race if something goes wrong with 1 of them . They should adopt ELMS rules and leave P1 for WEC .

Their (ALMS) Gt class is second to none . The varying quality in P2 isnt up to much either .....

[fanta4]

Ian Dawson again? I wish him luck, but I will believe it when I see it.

[Subaru_WRX_STi]

now something really strange, last year Scott Atherton clrearly said he regrets that Laguna Seca 2010 was scheudled earler in the season, calling that a mistake ! now it's the same

[fast cars]

For all those who did not belive that project libra was going to enter alms. Well you were wrong again. You should have some trust in people who have a major backround in racing as a team manager and factory driver. I am new to this web site but,I would not post advanced news if it were not fact. Hope they do well with there radical ford rousch partners.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by fast cars

For all those who did not belive that project libra was going to enter alms. Well you were wrong again. You should have some trust in people who have a major backround in racing as a team manager and factory driver. I am new to this web site but,I would not post advanced news if it were not fact. Hope they do well with there radical ford rousch partners.

Wrong again? Maybe wrong this time... but certainly right the last, what, two or three times that Dawson didn't show up. As far as wrong... well the car hasn't shown up on the track yet. We've been down this road with Dawson before, making announcements, entering and not running. I've said it a number of times before with Dawson, but I'll be happy if they put together a good entry, actually show up, and are competitive. Reputations are built upon the actions of people/teams... and this reputation and skepticism has been well earned. I think we'll all be happy if this turns out to be a full time entry, that is competitive.. but first get the car to the track and race before coming here to tell people they are wrong... an announcement doesn't make any doubter wrong...

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by fast cars

For all those who did not belive that project libra was going to enter alms. Well you were wrong again. You should have some trust in people who have a major backround in racing as a team manager and factory driver. I am new to this web site but,I would not post advanced news if it were not fact. Hope they do well with there radical ford rousch partners.

So nice of you to stop by, mr Dawson

[fast cars]

Actually my name is Rusty W_ _ _ _ _. I will let you figure out the rest! Best to you all! See you at the track and
enjoy the race!

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by fast cars

For all those who did not belive that project libra was going to enter alms. Well you were wrong again. You should have some trust in people who have a major backround in racing as a team manager and factory driver. I am new to this web site but,I would not post advanced news if it were not fact. Hope they do well with there radical ford rousch partners.

No entry submitted for Laguna? What's up?

[The Badger]

Hope you know something we dont . Very best of luck to the project , but as Fogelhund , we have heard cry wolf way too many times . And If you knew the history of the team , you wouldnt question our scepticism .

Anyway , I'll be delighted to cheer them on ..... when they apear .

W _ _ _ _ _ ..... just the correct number of letters for another name that happens to spring to mind !!!