ILMC 2011 Discussion

[AndrewF31]

I think only a Manufacturers and Driver championship makes sense in GT.

As already mentioned, unless Ferrari and Porsche change their business model, you won't have Felbermayrs coming over to America taking away Flying Lizard and Falken Tire drivers, and vice versa.
Even for Corvette, with the rumours of European privateers driving Vettes next year, it makes sense.
GT is already quite expensive and 'forcing' teams to commit to 4 more races or whatever, could be a potential nail in a future coffin. Let's not get carried away without analyzing the long term effects.
For makers like Jaguar and Spyker it could pose a problem but, as already questioned before in the case of Spyker, if they have no US market, they don't lose much by continuing to focus on the LMS.
For Jaguar, the way their ALMS program is going, unless they improve that, it would just put more salt in their own wounds by bringing that car to Europe as well.

[carsten66]

Originally Posted by AndrewF31

I think only a Manufacturers and Driver championship makes sense in GT.

As already mentioned, unless Ferrari and Porsche change their business model, you won't have Felbermayrs coming over to America taking away Flying Lizard and Falken Tire drivers, and vice versa.
Even for Corvette, with the rumours of European privateers driving Vettes next year, it makes sense.
GT is already quite expensive and 'forcing' teams to commit to 4 more races or whatever, could be a potential nail in a future coffin. Let's not get carried away without analyzing the long term effects.
For makers like Jaguar and Spyker it could pose a problem but, as already questioned before in the case of Spyker, if they have no US market, they don't lose much by continuing to focus on the LMS.
For Jaguar, the way their ALMS program is going, unless they improve that, it would just put more salt in their own wounds by bringing that car to Europe as well.

Your aspects are only looking at the manufacturers view... and refering to the works teams or semi works teams but we also have a lot of independant teams on the grids with maybe different intentions of running their cars. Also keep in mind the sponsors with their targets on marketing... and they are paying the bills at least and have a say...

[JAG]

Joest Audi x2
Peugeot Sport x2
ORECA Peugeot x1
Prodrive Aston Martin x2
Drayson Racing Lola-? x1(2)
Oak Racing Pescarolo-? x2
Rebellion Lola-Toyota x2

[joeb]

Originally Posted by JAG

Joest Audi x2
Peugeot Sport x2
ORECA Peugeot x1
Prodrive Aston Martin x2
Drayson Racing Lola-? x1(2)
Oak Racing Pescarolo-? x2
Rebellion Lola-Toyota x2

that list looks like it could make a nice race!

[pablocomics]

On a recent interview Hugues de Chaunac said that their patrocinator isn´t interested on ILMC. Oreca would need a different patrocinator from Mamut assurance or thewon´t do the ILMC.

[CarolK]

Ferrari will be represented by Risi in the US races and by AF Corse in the European/other country races. BMW by RLR in the US races and by Schnitzer (sp) in the European races. Porsche probably by FLM in the US and Felbmeyer in the European ones.

[Graham Goodwin]

Originally Posted by CarolK

Ferrari will be represented by Risi in the US races and by AF Corse in the European/other country races.

Actually it's AF Corse and CRS

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by CarolK

Ferrari will be represented by Risi in the US races and by AF Corse in the European/other country races. BMW by RLR in the US races and by Schnitzer (sp) in the European races. Porsche probably by FLM in the US and Felbmeyer in the European ones.

I know that is the case for this year but next year is it still only a manufacturer cup? That wont really boost or change the types of entry lists we see for the ILMC races.

[JAG]

However, all of this will change next year, as the ACO will mandate that each team in the ILMC must compete in all six rounds, plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which will act as a double-points event. In theory, this could work out to the ALMS’ benefit, with the influx of ILMC-only entries appearing both at Sebring and Petit Le Mans next year

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...sday-notebook1

[Simmi]

Thanks for clearing that up JAG. That was my understanding. That should mean that Sebring will be the most stacked ALMS field in recent memory. The best of both worlds.

[NaBUru38]

I'd let teams skip one European and one North American race, so teams are encouraged not to leave Euro LMS or ALMS.

[deggis]

From this old notebook:

In what might be some good news for U.S. followers and for Le Mans fans worldwide, the ACO confirmed it’s working hard on providing a complete TV package for the ILMC next year. All possible formats are being looked at, including live coverage, highlights packages and online streaming.

I don't think many networks are eagerly looking to cover the six other rounds... they want the 24LM obviously but the other rounds are probably a burden (honestly, for understandable reasons too). If some day winning ILMC is almost as equally important as winning the 24LM, then it is a different situation, but that day is not now. Live streaming a la GT1 for the win.

[rich07]

Fingers crossed for online streaming..

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by rich07

Fingers crossed for <LIVE> online streaming..

Fixed that for you!





L.P.

[Fogelhund]

Keeping in mind that the ACO has all Marketing AND broadcasting rights for all ILMC races... not the series themselves.

[rich07]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Fixed that for you!





L.P.

Thankyou kind sir-I now see the error of my ways

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Keeping in mind that the ACO has all Marketing AND broadcasting rights for all ILMC races... not the series themselves.

That, I think is wrong!!!
It is bad enough that the ACO is poaching the premier races as theirs and giving the home series second billing. Petit got 5 cars that could be construed as ILMC cars, but probably 4 of those would of participated if there was not an ILMC.




L.P.

[JAG]

Very suprised to see Pescarolo plan to enter the ILMC rather than the LMS, finances dependant.

It increasingly looks like most of the major European prototype teams will be going the ILMC route.

I could well see the LMS introducing a GTC class of their own.

[JAG]

Joest Audi R18 x2

Peugeot Sport 90X x2

ORECA Peugeot 90X x1

Prodrive Aston Martin x2

Drayson Racing Lola-? x1 (2)

Oak Racing Pescarolo-Judd x2

Rebellion Lola-Toyota x2

Pescarolo-Judd x2

[Canada ALMS fan]

Even with Drayson uncertain and Henri and Hugues looking for sponsorship to do the ILMC, that is an impressive list of LMP's already considering the season is so far away. The fact that the ACO will require them to do the full season makes the prospect of the ILMC very exciting for me at this point as we will get to see those cars twice in North America next year.
Plus Audi, Aston, and Peugeot will all be debuting new hardware so it will be very unpredictable.

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by JAG

I could well see the LMS introducing a GTC class of their own.

But that would step over SRO's new GT Endurance championship, which will surely attract endurance-looking GT3 entries.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

But that would step over SRO's new GT Endurance championship, which will surely attract endurance-looking GT3 entries.

Since SRO and ACO seem to finally be at war anyway, that does hardly matter, I think.

[I Rosputnik]

Yeah, I can see GT2 taking over the old solt that GT1 had, and GT3 moving into ACO racing.

Personally I wish that the main class in GT racing is GT2 regs with GT1 engines and the lower class featured more common sports cars like the Chevrolet Camaro and Nissan 370Z.

[JAG]

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

Even with Drayson uncertain and Henri and Hugues looking for sponsorship to do the ILMC, that is an impressive list of LMP's already considering the season is so far away. The fact that the ACO will require them to do the full season makes the prospect of the ILMC very exciting for me at this point as we will get to see those cars twice in North America next year.
Plus Audi, Aston, and Peugeot will all be debuting new hardware so it will be very unpredictable.

For US teams an ILMC entry is a major upheaval given the size of the ALMS calendar and quite possibly not feasible unless they branch out. Euro teams competed for 10-15 years in the WSC so the ILMC is a logical extension/replacement for a compact LMS program.

It willl be more costly but the major Euro races, plus Sebring, PLM, Fuji and Zhuhai is an attractive package.

Peter was already talking of banning factory entries from the LMS and going back to the seies privateer routes.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

Personally I wish that the main class in GT racing is GT2 regs with GT1 engines and the lower class featured more common sports cars like the Chevrolet Camaro and Nissan 370Z.

Isn't that what is probably going to happen over the next couple of years?