Project Libra Radical LMP2 (formerly Ian Dawsons Nissan V8 LMP2)

[isynge]

Didn't know that about the BRM engine being descended from the Weslake. Remember enjoying reading about that motor in John Horsman's book, and in that light surprised (amazed even) that someone had another punt and making a successful sportscar engine out of it.

[gwyllion]

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...ance-4689.html

[joeb]

Originally Posted by gwyllion

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...ance-4689.html

So it looks like the car will make an ALMS debut this year. The unnamed test drivers with Formula Le Mans experience said the Radical is a bit nicer to drive than the FLM car, so if they make an ALMS race this year we may find out if they are faster than the LMPC.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by joeb

So it looks like the car will make an ALMS debut this year. The unnamed test drivers with Formula Le Mans experience said the Radical is a bit nicer to drive than the FLM car, so if they make an ALMS race this year we may find out if they are faster than the LMPC.

I'm afraid after years of watching this sport, I've become a sceptic. I think this reads, we are still around, trying to make some noise, in the hope that some driver with money comes forth, to pay for us to race in the ALMS, with a car that will be well off the pace.

Maybe they'll be lined up on the grid, and we can expect some great racing, with them, Creation and Corsa.

[broadrun96]

I've gotten to the point even big manufacturer involvement claims are suspicious to me anymore. I hope each time but have grown to not expect them until they make a track appearance.

[knighty]

I think you are both correct! yes I think a fair bit of those press releases are advertising for pay drivers and selling cars.........for sure Ian is running the team as a business, pay drivers are required to make it race, plain and simple, I dont think that makes it much different from the rest of the pit lane.

[skycafe]

You have to admire their pluck. I hope it works out somehow, but I don't see how they keep the wolf hanging around outside and not storming in.

[HORNDAWG]

Well it seems we will get a glimpe of it on the grid in a couple of weeks. Piece @ DSC.






L.P.

[TWK]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Well it seems we will get a glimpe of it on the grid in a couple of weeks. Piece @ DSC.

L.P.

Even if it shows up a Mid-Ohio, it's still a long way from there to the grid, as Ian Dawson has demonstrated many times.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by TWK

Even if it shows up a Mid-Ohio, it's still a long way from there to the grid, as Ian Dawson has demonstrated many times.

Such animus, to a privateer team that is so innovative in its approach, is really rather boring!




L.P.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Such animus, to a privateer team that is so innovative in its approach, is really rather boring!

Are you suggesting that it is innovative to make multiple pronouncements, and rarely carrying through with them? The times they did show up, the car was hopeless. Why do we suddenly expect different?

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Are you suggesting that it is innovative to make multiple pronouncements, and rarely carrying through with them? The times they did show up, the car was hopeless. Why do we suddenly expect different?

Why do some have to constantly break the teams balls for trying?! At least they are trying!! Yet someone who is not, can throw sh_te at them??





L.P.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Why do some have to constantly break the teams balls for trying?! At least they are trying!! Yet someone who is not, can throw sh_te at them??

Circular argument. Why do some constantly try and give them credit for having done nothing? It's a spectator sport, spectators get to commentate on the participants. Let me go one step further, I like the underdog, and those that try. I am not interested in watching an effort that is a net negative to the grid. Those two (?) times this effort has seen the track, they weren't worthy of being on the grid. Someone "trying" and ending up more than ten seconds off the pace, is not what I, as a spectator wish to see.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Circular argument. Why do some constantly try and give them credit for having done nothing. It's a spectator sport, spectators get to commentate on the participants.

Trying is doing something, or is it only the other opinion that is acceptable? Why is that? Without trying nothing would get done!! Or did EVERYTHING just pop into existence?

Edit to the edit: This is not the diesel effort, that has been shelved. This is a new effort! Oh thats right, they should not even try!
And just who did they keep from the grid to make it a deficit? Nobody!





L.P.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Trying is doing something, or is it only the other opinion that is acceptable? Why is that? Without trying nothing would get done!! Or did EVERYTHING just pop into existence?

Edit to the edit: This is not the diesel effort, that has been shelved. This is a new effort! Oh thats right, they should not even try!
And just who did they keep from the grid to make it a deficit? Nobody!

I wasn't the one criticizing people for having an opinion.

So the engine has changed... one part, out of everything that makes a program, makes it an all new effort? Right!!!

This is supposed to be "World Class" professional racing. A car that is over 20% off the leader in class, is neither world class, nor professional. That is in the only time they actually ran in a race, despite multiple announcements. If you think, a car that doesn't show most of the times it say it will, and then is a moving pylon when it does, makes this genre more professional, you are entitled to your opinion, I just disagree. People whose talents and budgets are appropriate for club racing, should be club racing, not making a mockery of professional racing, in my opinion.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

I wasn't the one criticizing people for having an opinion.

So the engine has changed... one part, out of everything that makes a program, makes it an all new effort? Right!!!

This is supposed to be "World Class" professional racing. A car that is over 20% off the leader in class, is neither world class, nor professional. That is in the only time they actually ran in a race, despite multiple announcements. If you think, a car that doesn't show most of the times it say it will, and then is a moving pylon when it does, makes this genre more professional, you are entitled to your opinion, I just disagree. People whose talents and budgets are appropriate for club racing, should be club racing, not making a mockery of professional racing, in my opinion.

So there is no animus towards the team in the original post? Nor any of the subsequent ones?

As to the assertion that only uber teams have the provenance to try innovation, I just disagree! That is the spirit of Le Mans, reaching, and sometimes one meets the ground with their nose, oh well! I hope this NEW, yes new, project bears fruit.



L.P.

[isynge]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

So there is no animus towards the team in the original post? Nor any of the subsequent ones?

As to the assertion that only uber teams have the provenance to try innovation, I just disagree! That is the spirit of Le Mans, reaching, and sometimes one meets the ground with their nose, oh well! I hope this NEW, yes new, project bears fruit.



L.P.

As I've posted before, I'm delighted to see efforts like Libra. It's an effort towards innovation, it's something different, and so long as it's not actively hazardous then why not?

As far as it making sportscar racing less professional? I don't think I mind that very much. Look at grids through the majority of the sport's history and there's a lot of enthusiasts in there, over and above the factories and professional race teams - who almost always will win but aren't the be all and end all.

For me the diversity is one of the key reasons to watch sportscars. I liked seeing the likes of the Norma, the Lamborghini, and even the Jaguar circulating at Le Mans, and will welcome the Radical Nissan and hope to see it in the flesh at some point. I know others think differently, but I can't help wondering if their vision of the perfect season looks a little bit like 1992?

[trahsub]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Why do some have to constantly break the teams balls for trying?! At least they are trying!! Yet someone who is not, can throw sh_te at them??

L.P.

I agree. . . don't we all want larger grids at the end of the day. My buddy was cussing at the RSR Jag every time it went by us at Lime Rock and I was like WTF dude, are you an investor in the RSR program that lost money? Relax, give them some credit for actually finishing a race. Gotta start somewhere guys.

[chernaudi]

A no matter how good or bad a team is, even the greatest team can only go so far with junk(cough, cough, the VW V10 TDI stock block engine, cough, cough).

Hopefully the LMP2 package with the Nissan V8 will bear less bitter fruit.

[TWK]

TWK wrote: Even if it shows up a Mid-Ohio, it's still a long way from there to the grid, as Ian Dawson has demonstrated many times.

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Such animus, to a privateer team that is so innovative in its approach, is really rather boring!

L.P.

A mere statement of fact suggesting we all keep expectations properly in check. My, such animus at a statement based on no more that a team's history of participation and performance.

I don't think much of the Oakland Raiders, the Seattle Mariners, or Eddie the Eagle, either. I'd caution that fans restrain themselves in those cases from buying Super Bowl, World Series, and medal ceremony tickets.

[TWK]

"Innovative" in this context seems to be putting an old engine in an old car and looking for old drivers with old money.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by TWK

A mere statement of fact suggesting we all keep expectations properly in check. My, such animus at a statement based on no more that a team's history of participation and performance.

I don't think much of the Oakland Raiders, the Seattle Mariners, or Eddie the Eagle, either. I'd caution that fans restrain themselves in those cases from buying Super Bowl, World Series, and medal ceremony tickets.

And the 'statement' was made in a vacuum!? Not. Pull the other one, it plays Jingle Bells.

Putting a production diesel into one is innovative, as noone else has.
The new project is to bring a production petrol into the brand new P-2 rules class.
And once again the scorn towards the path less traveled shines through!




L.P.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

And the 'statement' was made in a vacuum!? Not. Pull the other one, it plays Jingle Bells.

Putting a production diesel into one is innovative, as noone else has.
The new project is to bring a production petrol into the brand new P-2 rules class.
And once again the scorn towards the path less traveled shines through!

A used Infiniti Pro engine is innovative?

[HORNDAWG]

Yes it is, as noone has done it yet! But we could evidently go round and round on this until the end of time!!!




L.P.

[knighty]

in an attempt to lighten up this thread........just seen a new image in todays autosport magazine, the car is now fitted with the honking great 2011 engine cover fin.......says they have been testing it at snetterton over the past month........I dare say it will act as a good advertising board too!!!!

last week it said they had signed Prendeville for the next 3 races.

just to cover a misunderstanding above, the engine is NOT an old infiniti pro-series engine, I feel quite qualified to make that call because a was a design engineer at TWR and worked on the pro-series design programme.........this LMP2 engine is a new design from Graham Dale-Jones at IES, and I think they have done a good job on face value, its already making high 400bhp so should be up to the job.