[LM24] Le Mans 2022 Entry List News etc

[bella]

their week must start on monday not sunday

[CTD]

I believe big discussions are happening currently between different parties for what is to going happen.
HAAS' decision to cut all ties with Russia, could indicate that FIA is putting pressure on all parts of motorsport to exclude russian involvement. Therefore the entry list is probably being filtered to trim out any not wanted russian involvement.

[broadrun96]

Difference with Haas is DIRECT advertising as the primary sponsor on the car being a company owned by someone on the sanction list. I don't think many cars in ACO/WEC competition are still running SMP or others who were used previously on cars.

[Simmi]

I have no idea, but I wonder if they are trying to give Algarve time to see whether they can put together a Portuguese-flagged entry with different funding.

[Racing Harz]

we can likely scratch all G-Drive from the Entry List.
https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...ry-conditions/

[chernaudi]

It seems that G-Drive is done for, and that's without an ACO or FIA ban. Rusinov has claimed that the ACO's and FIA's practices for the WEC are discriminatory and he's unwilling to race under a neutral flag or not being able to hear the Russian national anthem on the podium.

IMO, well, better for him to make that decision than the ACO or FIA. And we've already seen individual national or regional bodies take actions beyond what the FIA have so far done. But, not to get political, what's the saying about getting in bed and getting fleas? This is down to the west having enough of Putin seemingly refusing to believe that the Cold War is over and that the Soviet Union and Warsaw Pact (ironically most of the countries that formed it are now members of NATO and/or the EU) ought to still exist.

[J Jay]

Rusinov chose to jump rather than be pushed. Likely the best course of action from his point of view, and I suspect the governing bodies are rather relieved too. Even with the team and drivers competing neutrally, having cars go round with a Russian state-owned enterprise emblazoned on either side probably wouldn't wash...

Originally Posted by Simmi

I have no idea, but I wonder if they are trying to give Algarve time to see whether they can put together a Portuguese-flagged entry with different funding.

Probably, but the time frame for the funding to replace a primary sponsor is remarkably short. Kudos to all involved if Algarve pull it off - the only thing I can think of in their favour is that they may have had some advance notice of the direction the FIA/ACO were going to take.

[Aysedasi]

What assumptions do we make about the G-Drive cars? Owned by Rusinov, his sponsors, or APR? Not the latter, I suspect. Whether APR have a chassis they (think they) can run without a significant injection of funds, I have no idea. I suspect they've been aware of the likely outcome of this for a little while now, so they've had some time to plan (even if it isn't much time in the grand scheme of things). If they can persuade the ACO to grant them an entry in the expectation of having the funds to run it, maybe we'll still see them....

[bella]

given the way sponsor lead entries are run and how common they are, i suspect the aco would be pretty chill with a name and nationality swap.

le mans would be the easy one to find drivers for.

[KA]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

What assumptions do we make about the G-Drive cars? Owned by Rusinov, his sponsors, or APR? Not the latter, I suspect. Whether APR have a chassis they (think they) can run without a significant injection of funds, I have no idea. I suspect they've been aware of the likely outcome of this for a little while now, so they've had some time to plan (even if it isn't much time in the grand scheme of things). If they can persuade the ACO to grant them an entry in the expectation of having the funds to run it, maybe we'll still see them....

There's an editorial piece on Dailysportscar.com this afternoon, which says they are aware that both APR and Eurointernational, who were running G-Drive's ELMS LMP3 car) have "immediately deliverable plans to continue with their published commitments, if they are permitted to do so"

I'd guess it would depend on what funding the other drivers were bringing to the table, and how the shortfall in both funding and drivers caused by the departure of G-Drive, Rusinov and Kvyat might be filled

[Graham Goodwin]

Originally Posted by Osella

Perhaps I’m imagining it but I thought AF Corse’s Spirit of Race branch was originally a way of getting around sanctions as it is Swiss-flagged

No - it is a separate brand within the company that allows them to enter more than two cars

In exactly the same way as Proton enters cars under Proton Competition and Dempsey Proton racing

[Graham Goodwin]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

What assumptions do we make about the G-Drive cars? Owned by Rusinov, his sponsors, or APR? Not the latter, I suspect. Whether APR have a chassis they (think they) can run without a significant injection of funds, I have no idea. I suspect they've been aware of the likely outcome of this for a little while now, so they've had some time to plan (even if it isn't much time in the grand scheme of things). If they can persuade the ACO to grant them an entry in the expectation of having the funds to run it, maybe we'll still see them....

All three cars are owned by APR

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Graham Goodwin

All three cars are owned by APR

Ah, good news. Thanks for that Graham.

Now that Roman has made his position clear, when do you think the ACO will go to 'print' with their entry list?

[Graham Goodwin]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Ah, good news. Thanks for that Graham.

Now that Roman has made his position clear, when do you think the ACO will go to 'print' with their entry list?

Yes - but the question now is, will APR be allowed to race - anywhere?

The answer, fundamentally, should be yes - they have three cars ready to go - but circumstances beyond their control have screwed them - In my mind this is the very definition of 'force majeure'

[Aysedasi]

Agreed.

[Kpy]

G-Drive Racing have withdrawn.

Rusinov said in a statement he would “not put my signature on this document” (seemingly the FIA new rules for the involvement of Russian and Belarus drivers, competitors and officials).

Currenly there are few, if any other international sports that allow Russian competitors at all.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Kpy

G-Drive Racing have withdrawn.

Rusinov said in a statement he would “not put my signature on this document” (seemingly the FIA new rules for the involvement of Russian and Belarus drivers, competitors and officials).

Currenly there are few, if any other international sports that allow Russian competitors at all.

Yep, but as Graham says Christopher, APR still have the cars.

[Kpy]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Yep, but as Graham says Christopher, APR still have the cars.

Yes I'd missed Graham's note that APR still own the cars.

[Simmi]

So it looks like the ACO has re-opened registrations for the entry.

https://twitter.com/radiolemans/stat...35459169140737

Very interesting. I genuinely assumed it would just be 2 cars impacted. Must be a lot more to make this step.

Glickenhaus are trying to drum up interest for a third car - https://twitter.com/Glickenhaus/stat...37736156123136

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by Simmi

So it looks like the ACO has re-opened registrations for the entry.

https://twitter.com/radiolemans/stat...35459169140737

Very interesting. I genuinely assumed it would just be 2 cars impacted. Must be a lot more to make this step.

Glickenhaus are trying to drum up interest for a third car - https://twitter.com/Glickenhaus/stat...37736156123136

Or maybe this gives APR the possibility of putting in an entry (or two), something which might not have been possible due to regulations. Sounds like common sense is prevailing - a much needed breath of fresh air in the world these days it seems!

[KA]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Or maybe this gives APR the possibility of putting in an entry (or two), something which might not have been possible due to regulations. Sounds like common sense is prevailing - a much needed breath of fresh air in the world these days it seems!

Dailysportscar's report is again saying that their understanding is that Algarve Pro have 'viable' plans to take up the G-Drive WEC and ELMS entries under their own name, so I reckon you're not far wide of the mark about it giving them the chance to do that- as well as opening the door for others, if for any reason APR can't pull together deals for all 3 cars.

[KA]

Originally Posted by Simmi

So it looks like the ACO has re-opened registrations for the entry.

https://twitter.com/radiolemans/stat...35459169140737

Very interesting. I genuinely assumed it would just be 2 cars impacted. Must be a lot more to make this step.

G-Drive originally had one WEC car and two ELMS- Had they maybe had both ELMS entries accepted for Le Mans before this all kicked off? The re-opening of lists obviously gives APR a window of opportunity to take those slots up under their own name, but could there be others at risk?

AFAIK G-Drive were the only obviously-Russian entries on the lists, but might there be other teams who've suddenly found a sanctions-related hole in their season's budget?

[GT6]

A third glickenhaus car would be good for the top class after the wthdrawl of the peugeot this year

[Mike E]

Anyone got 6m EUR they don't need?

https://www.motorsportmagazine.com/a...s-for-5million

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by GT6

A third glickenhaus car would be good for the top class after the wthdrawl of the peugeot this year

Is there a 3rd car? Other than any shrink wrapped in storage for investment?