What is Aston Martin up to?

[gwyllion]

The cilinder liners problems is supposed to be fixed today:

Originally Posted by JAG

The problem and it's solution was planned before the test day but the item was delayed until next Tuesday, they also plan other upgrades such as the injection system. Andy Meryck said they didn't have a large stock inventory because the car was under continuous development.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by JAG

No one really knows how quick the car is, they did 3.51 after a handful of cautious laps, a clean, meanigful run is needed.

Paul Ricard wasn't clean, meaningful running?

At least AMR won't have to worry about their precious fuel type equivalency, as they clearly can't even catch the leading petrol cars!

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Paul Ricard wasn't clean, meaningful running?

At least AMR won't have to worry about their precious fuel type equilevancy, as they clearly can't even catch the leading petrol cars!

They'll increase the restrictor on the Aston by about 150%, however... at that point the engine will match the power of the diesels, but only for about 5 seconds before exploding in a fireball.

[Deleted]

5 seconds of glory is still better than 24 hours of shame, right?

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by Chiana

Paul Ricard wasn't clean, meaningful running?

No, it was. Paul Ricard was all about nursing the engine, such that it would not explode

[JAG]

I'm not saying doubts haven't been put in my mind about this project but the reaction to their troubles strikes me as a touch premature. There's a lot riding on this for both Prodrive and Aston and people like Dave Richards usually get what they want.

[MulsanneMike]

Originally Posted by PascaLM

I think that some of you think the AMR is ugly because its shape is revolutionary
and it looks unusual.
I like this attempt of AMR to build something completely different.

Have to disagree strongly. I'd say quote the opposite, the car design is circa 2000, about 10 years behind times.

[Fogelhund]

For some reason, it reminds me of the Lister LMP... in many ways.

http://www.autocarzine.com/wp-conten...3-1024x683.jpg

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/pic/1...orm-LMP_1.html

Did Aston just take the Lister, and make some minor changes?

[TF110]

I see some lister in it- for their sake I just hope they get their act together and the car actually lasts.

[CTD]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

For some reason, it reminds me of the Lister LMP... in many ways.

http://www.autocarzine.com/wp-conten...3-1024x683.jpg

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/pic/1...orm-LMP_1.html

Did Aston just take the Lister, and make some minor changes?

If Aston just toke the Lister and continued on that, then they actually managed to make it worse .
As far as i remember, the Lister had "something", but just needed the budget to go all the way (fx. a purpose build LMP engine, or more development time).

I was out quickly to badge and doom the AMR One. But unfortunately it's seems to be correct, the AMR One and the AMR team just delivered something which is close to unprofessional.
AMR reminds me too much of WR (in the bad way).

[Splendid Cat]

Originally Posted by CTD

If Aston just toke the Lister and continued on that, then they actually managed to make it worse .
As far as i remember, the Lister had "something", but just needed the budget to go all the way (fx. a purpose build LMP engine, or more development time).
.

IIRC Laurence Pearce bemoaned the lack of grunt from the chevvy motor

[Le Vieux]

Originally Posted by CTD

If Aston just toke the Lister and continued on that, then they actually managed to make it worse .
As far as i remember, the Lister had "something", but just needed the budget to go all the way (fx. a purpose build LMP engine, or more development time).

I was out quickly to badge and doom the AMR One. But unfortunately it's seems to be correct, the AMR One and the AMR team just delivered something which is close to unprofessional.
AMR reminds me too much of WR (in the bad way).

Yes, but at least the WR (and the predecessor WMs) made me smile....

[Le Vieux]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

No, it was. Paul Ricard was all about nursing the engine, such that it would not explode

Doesn't it strike you as incompetence if they had to nurse a brand-new engine, fearing that it might explode?

Clearly they were right to take that view if the engine troubles last weekend are anything to go by, but it begs the question: how could they apparently get the engine design so wrong?

[gwyllion]

Originally Posted by Le Vieux

Clearly they were right to take that view if the engine troubles last weekend are anything to go by, but it begs the question: how could they apparently get the engine design so wrong?

The first AMR engine was built in February 2011. They are still solving the teehting problems. The whole project is just too late.

To put things into perspectives, the Peugeot V8 HDI did its first dyno tests on January 25, 2010 and Audi V6 TDI in the summer of 2010.

[Le Vieux]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

The first AMR engine was built in February 2011. They are still solving the teehting problems. The whole project is just too late.

To put things into perspectives, the Peugeot V8 HDI did its first dyno tests on January 25, 2010 and Audi V6 TDI in the summer of 2010.

The project isn't too late. The racing is too early

[Tim the Grey]

I suspect the project has been early. The MONEY was late...

Prodrive aren't mugs. So there's something better than it looks. At least, I bloody well hope so! After all, they don't have all the ex Subaru guys back out on Mini duties yet...

[cdsvg]

Originally Posted by MulsanneMike

Have to disagree strongly. I'd say quote the opposite, the car design is circa 2000, about 10 years behind times.

Don't you at least consider the treatment of the front diffuser and the internal ducting a bit interesting and adventurous? While it might not work, from the technical fan's perspective, better that than the bog-standard, 'safe' approach of a open wheeler with detached front fenders that most LMPs seem to be converging upon in the last few years. With that said, from their point of view, and with their resources, they probably should have taken the 'safe' option

[Le Vieux]

There's probably not a single reader on this forum that doesn't want to see the AMR-One do well, but the evidence so far doesn't give cause for optimism. As has been stated earlier, Peugeot, for example only raced twelve months after the initial tests with the engine and Aston clearly need more time. I come to Le Mans to watch racing, not development work.

Wouldn't a strategic withdrawal for the rest of this season - or however long it takes - be a good move? Additionally, it would allow in a couple of reserves and thus avoid a repeat of the JLOC Lamborghini fiasco of a couple of years ago.

[MulsanneMike]

Originally Posted by cdsavage

Don't you at least consider the treatment of the front diffuser and the internal ducting a bit interesting and adventurous? While it might not work, from the technical fan's perspective, better that than the bog-standard, 'safe' approach of a open wheeler with detached front fenders that most LMPs seem to be converging upon in the last few years. With that said, from their point of view, and with their resources, they probably should have taken the 'safe' option

Adventurous? Not at all. Hardly "safe" going to the open wheeler route. Much more difficult to produce a car that doesn't end up too draggy. Aston has gone the safe route with a rather uninspired front end aero package, there's nothing revolutionary there and it harkens back to the early days of LMP900.

[ubrben]

Withdrawn from Spa...

Ben

[AGD]

Originally Posted by ubrben

Withdrawn from Spa...

Ben

Interesting. Is this confirmed? How will this impact their Le Mans entries given that they also missed the Sebring ILMC round?

[porsche91722]

Originally Posted by AGD

Interesting. Is this confirmed? How will this impact their Le Mans entries given that they also missed the Sebring ILMC round?

Looking good to be short priced favorite for first retirement at LM24 (if they get there). I'm an AMR fan, however I would rather see the Kronos Lola Aston Martin get a start over this shoddy effort.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by AGD

Interesting. Is this confirmed? How will this impact their Le Mans entries given that they also missed the Sebring ILMC round?

I'd rather think that a no-show at Spa will result in one of their cars getting booted off the LM entry list, if the ACO are consistent to their own words at the start of the season (i.e. full-season entries, like at least one of the Astons, can only miss one race at most).

If they make it into the race, I wouldn't expect any of them to last past 3 hours though.

[Acid09]

Originally Posted by AGD

Interesting. Is this confirmed? How will this impact their Le Mans entries given that they also missed the Sebring ILMC round?

Eurosport has confirmed, both cars have been withdrawn from Spa.

They should go ahead and withdraw from Le Mans too to spare them a serious embarrassment and focus on getting the car ready for next year or maybe a late-season race like Petit.

[Le Vieux]

Originally Posted by ubrben

Withdrawn from Spa...

Ben

From Astoin Martin Racing's own website:

"Gaydon, 28 April 2011. Aston Martin Racing has made the decision not to contest the 1000km of Spa Francorchamps on 7th May, but instead to focus on the ongoing AMR-One testing and development programme.

The ground up developed AMR-One, Aston Martin’s new LMP1 prototype racer which features a new turbo-charged direct injection 2.0 litre straight six petrol engine experienced difficulties at the Le Mans test with the engine plasma cylinder lining. The ambitious project which is still in its early stages of a three year plan began in September last year.

David Richards, Aston Martin Racing Chairman said: “We could go to the Spa 1000km race in May, but this race meeting will set an agenda for us that doesn’t allow us to achieve what we need to accomplish. We need to complete our testing at our own pace including engine, aero and long distance tests."

I think this is a sensible move by A-M. Let's hope it gives them time to overcome the engine difficulties.

Given that they are supposed to support the whole series, do the rules allow them to revert temporarily to the Lola Aston Martin - assuming they still have two of them?