LMP2 Manufacturers and Engine Suppliers

[TF110]

We need bridgestone! I thought Toyota would try them, but Pascal Vasselon used to work at Michelin anyway.

[MagVanisher]

While we're at it, Continental should bring it to Europe instead of letting themselves rot in America.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

While we're at it, Continental should bring it to Europe instead of letting themselves rot in America.

I don't think they care of competition, being spec tire is easier as they (or rather Hoosier) can do whatever they like and it gives as much of a publicity

Pirelli used to be very much involved in tire war competition too but are now pretty much just spec everywhere... not that their tires were ever up to the standards of others

[MagVanisher]

Yeah, but what about 2017... Will Continental Tires just stick with the status-quo when those Daytona Prototypes phased out in favor of LMP2, with or without manufacturer-specific bodywork?

In fact, Continental should improve their tires so that LMP2 cars can have a fighting chance against DPs.

[Deleted]

I don't think they care who wins and how (and issues can all be blamed on BoP til 17/18 just as they seem to be doing now anyway...) as long as they keep the title sponsorship with gigantic letters and occasionally someone on TV gives PR-speeches like "These Continental Tires just go so great with our Corvette DP/P2/whatever, I will be definitely buying them for my hatchback"

If IMSA/NASCAR truly cared about international relevance they wouldn't have force fed Conti-Hoosiers to P2s this year either, so of course Conti will be doing the same exact thing by the time DPs are phased out... their deal has been extended

[Pontlieue]

The Pilbeam project is still going. Didn't expect to hear from that car again, so it was a nice surprise. I always like some variety.

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/asian...king-progress/

[Deleted]

Interesting yes but believe when I see it... the garage shots we've seen of that project have been like from very cheap tuner workshop downtown Detroit. Also someone actually wants to complete in AsLMS?

There are only three more chances to take it to LM anyway before it becomes obsolete due to open top ban, ie 2015/2016/grandfathered-2017

Regardless, I do want to see it because it reminds me of the lovely yet rejected P2 Norma and it's Minardi-esque ambitions

[Mike E]

Here's hoping. And hopefully that 3 hour race at Killarney goes ahead too. The planned 3 hour race at Midrand in July was cancelled due to lack of entries.

[Danathar]

Originally Posted by Chiana

I don't think they care who wins and how (and issues can all be blamed on BoP til 17/18 just as they seem to be doing now anyway...) as long as they keep the title sponsorship with gigantic letters and occasionally someone on TV gives PR-speeches like "These Continental Tires just go so great with our Corvette DP/P2/whatever, I will be definitely buying them for my hatchback"

If IMSA/NASCAR truly cared about international relevance they wouldn't have force fed Conti-Hoosiers to P2s this year either, so of course Conti will be doing the same exact thing by the time DPs are phased out... their deal has been extended

It's got nothing to do with Conti-Hoosier. Conti has said on MANY occasions they could make a softer P2 spec tire if requested but the series said NO. They specifically have forced the P2 cars to use a tire designed for DP.

Blame IMSA, not Conti.

[Danathar]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

Yeah, but what about 2017... Will Continental Tires just stick with the status-quo when those Daytona Prototypes phased out in favor of LMP2, with or without manufacturer-specific bodywork?

In fact, Continental should improve their tires so that LMP2 cars can have a fighting chance against DPs.

If IMSA will let them, they said they could make a softer P2 tire. The question is...will IMSA let them, not if Continental wants to.

In an article some months back they vented rather publicly about the PR frustration they were experiencing as a result of being blamed for P2 underperformance with the DP spec tire. They've requested to make a better tire for P2 cars and IMSA said NO.

[TheMightyM]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Interesting yes but believe when I see it... the garage shots we've seen of that project have been like from very cheap tuner workshop downtown Detroit. Also someone actually wants to complete in AsLMS?

There are only three more chances to take it to LM anyway before it becomes obsolete due to open top ban, ie 2015/2016/grandfathered-2017

Regardless, I do want to see it because it reminds me of the lovely yet rejected P2 Norma and it's Minardi-esque ambitions

I hope it races, but I just find it difficult to believe it will. Why buy a new car that’s got three years to race when you can buy something new that will met the 2017-specs and have a longer productive life? And if you want to buy an open-topped P2 that’s only good through 2017, why not just buy a used Oreca etc. from one one of the teams moving to a new closed-top P2?

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by TheMightyM

I hope it races, but I just find it difficult to believe it will. Why buy a new car that’s got three years to race when you can buy something new that will met the 2017-specs and have a longer productive life? And if you want to buy an open-topped P2 that’s only good through 2017, why not just buy a used Oreca etc. from one one of the teams moving to a new closed-top P2?

I don't know, but if Zoo Racing wants to do it then let them The original plan seemed to have been to offer it to other customers but doubt there is much interest now.

Let's just say that while the whole project doesn't exactly have a lot of confidence around it, I trust more in Pillbeam than seeing Ian Dawson ever fielding the Radical again

[Mike E]

Following the sale of Zytek Automotive to Continental.

http://sportscar365.com/industry/zyt...on-technology/

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Mike E

Following the sale of Zytek Automotive to Continental.

http://sportscar365.com/industry/zyt...on-technology/

If this helps the P2 project see the light of day they can call it anything they want. But Gibson doesn't sound nearly as cool as Zytek.

[MagVanisher]

No kidding, Zytek was bought by Continental, as in the tire company?

Oh please, I have a feeling that it won't go well...

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

No kidding, Zytek was bought by Continental, as in the tire company?

Oh please, I have a feeling that it won't go well...

Sure, go ahead and judge one of the world's leading automotive suppliers by the actions of one of tiny sub division...

[BullMan]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Sure, go ahead and judge one of the world's leading automotive suppliers by the actions of one of tiny sub division...

I certainly won't ever buy Conti tires as a result of their crappiness in TUSC. Falken or Michelin, or even Pirelli for me.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

No kidding, Zytek was bought by Continental, as in the tire company?

Oh please, I have a feeling that it won't go well...

Continental AG, as in the HUGE German-based conglomerate that produces all kinds of things for cars, not just tires, so not Continental Tires USA.

[ger80]

Continental AG owned 50% of Zytek Automotive for a number of years and now they bought the remaining 50%.
Zytek Engineering, which was co-owned by Ginetta/Team LNT a few years back, is now renamed to Gibson Technology.
I guess they want to avoid confusion regarding the Zytek brand name and avoid it getting a second Dunlop brand

[Japanese Samurai]

Z11SN will rename to Les Paul 59.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Japanese Samurai

Z11SN will rename to Les Paul 59.

[MagVanisher]

Nah, call it the Flying V!

[FstrthnU]

http://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/c...sday-notebook/
It seems that the SMP LMP2 is legit after all, they are hoping to announce the project by next month.

[Deleted]

So another coupe rising from the ashes. Pilbeam P2 for Zoo Racing should be the last open top LMP2 ever - if it ever materializes

Meanwhile, looks like if mr Gentilozzi is still thinking of WEC P2 next year with possibly open top Oreca (maybe we could finally see if his RSR team can handle non-spec series better than the utter failure that was the Jag) but he has apparently expressed his concern over new coupes being overpowered. I wonder if ACO will start fiddling with the P2 chassis BoP for the first time in years particularly if the new Oak starts dominating too much.

[JoestForEver]

Originally Posted by Chiana

So another coupe rising from the ashes. Pilbeam P2 for Zoo Racing should be the last open top LMP2 ever - if it ever materializes

Meanwhile, looks like if mr Gentilozzi is still thinking of WEC P2 next year with possibly open top Oreca (maybe we could finally see if his RSR team can handle non-spec series better than the utter failure that was the Jag) but he has apparently expressed his concern over new coupes being overpowered. I wonder if ACO will start fiddling with the P2 chassis BoP for the first time in years particularly if the new Oak starts dominating too much.

Well one thing for sure is that the reliability of Ligier is far from satisfying, so basically if ACO wants to fiddle with them, it has to wait until JS P2 actually winning something. That's the only positive thing we can rest on.