BMW rumour for Le Mans 2017

[LC2guy]

Just seen this. Would be great.

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/n...mp1-programme/

[GT6]

It makes sense for them to try LMP1 rather than F1 has it likes to compete against the other german manufacturers and its products fall between Audi and porsche

[deggis]

Maybe deserves its own thread but was discussed earlier:

http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...88#post3538988

[GriffM3]

I hope this is true, it would be so awesome to BMW back with an LMP programme and might spur Mercedes to consider it as well with audi and BMW in the fray. How awesome would it be for Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Toyota and Nissan to be battling it out? Gives me chills thinking about the possibilities.

[Beetle]

If Audi does indeed drop out of LMP1 (sorry!), this would certainly be a good replacement. We'll see how this pans out.

[GT6]

i think it is more likely to make Audi stay

[Starfish Primer]

Fingers crossed in case someone drops.

[Simmi]

If this came off it would be incredible. As mentioned elsewhere a similar route to Nissan could be beneficial and if the ACO can get the rules right it could lure them in.

Balancing all that would be difficult, but adding BMW to what we've already got is beyond my wildest dreams.

[GT3.14]

With MB and Audi doing so well in motor racing BMW really should do something to get noticed and P1 is certainly the best option for them. Considering they actually make carbon tub hybrid road cars, they fit the model for P1 more than any of the other brands there.

Meanwhile Jaguar refuses to race a GT3 F-Type when there is a GT3 version of all of it's rivals. Putting a bunch of celebs in the Mille Miglia year after year is growing tiresome. Hard to watch a brand with such pedigree throwing everything away.

Having BMW in P1 would be amazing.

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by GT3.14

With MB and Audi doing so well in motor racing BMW really should do something to get noticed and P1 is certainly the best option for them. Considering they actually make carbon tub hybrid road cars, they fit the model for P1 more than any of the other brands there.

Meanwhile Jaguar refuses to race a GT3 F-Type when there is a GT3 version of all of it's rivals. Putting a bunch of celebs in the Mille Miglia year after year is growing tiresome. Hard to watch a brand with such pedigree throwing everything away.

Having BMW in P1 would be amazing.

It's the Tata Group's fault for not bringing Jaguar back to racing. But that's another story...

While I'm excited to see BMW return in LMP1, the question is how to make a competitive car? It's either going with the same (and boring) proven route or pursue a different approach like Nissan.

If BMW want to go for the latter, it'll have to make it distinctive from the rest of the pack!

[cokata]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

It's the Tata Group's fault for not bringing Jaguar back to racing. But that's another story...

While I'm excited to see BMW return in LMP1, the question is how to make a competitive car? It's either going with the same (and boring) proven route or pursue a different approach like Nissan.

If BMW want to go for the latter, it'll have to make it distinctive from the rest of the pack!

What?!? The cars are a lot more different compared to each other then in F1 for example. Also every cars has it's own unique engine and hybrid architecture.

[TF110]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

It's the Tata Group's fault for not bringing Jaguar back to racing. But that's another story...

While I'm excited to see BMW return in LMP1, the question is how to make a competitive car? It's either going with the same (and boring) proven route or pursue a different approach like Nissan.

If BMW want to go for the latter, it'll have to make it distinctive from the rest of the pack!

All 3 current factory cars are mid engine part-time 4wd, but far from boring. If they want to be different, going fwd or front engine would be following Nissan. So if there is something they wish to pioneer, they need the blessings from the rule makers. Thats probably what he meant in this quote

I don’t think we need to follow what everyone does. The WEC is still following and what we need to figure out is a new path that suits BMW, like with ‘i’.

Sounds like he wants rules to change so they could do something unique that would be recognizable to their 'i' brand.

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by cokata

What?!? The cars are a lot more different compared to each other then in F1 for example. Also every cars has it's own unique engine and hybrid architecture.

I know that they're different as far as the drive-train and hybrid technology goes. But for the untrained eye (barring the different-colored liveries), all 3 current manufacturers barring Nissan have fielded mid-engined LMP1 cars.

Like I said, I'll applaud BMW if they tackle Le Mans differently other than going conventional. If they want to put the engine (or a big electric motor/battery) beside the driver, I'm fine with that!

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

I know that they're different as far as the drive-train and hybrid technology goes. But for the untrained eye (barring the different-colored liveries), all 3 current manufacturers barring Nissan have fielded mid-engined LMP1 cars.

In 1999, Mercedes, BMW, Toyota and Audi were all mid engined rear drive and nobody complained it was all the same and boring. We must have riduclously high standards if we're complaining that 4 different engine layouts, 2 different aspiration types, 2 different fuel types and 4 different hybrid system is boring.

[schmidder]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

In 1999, Mercedes, BMW, Toyota and Audi were all mid engined rear drive and nobody complained it was all the same and boring. We must have riduclously high standards if we're complaining that 4 different engine layouts, 2 different aspiration types, 2 different fuel types and 4 different hybrid system is boring.

+1

[hondafan37]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

In 1999, Mercedes, BMW, Toyota and Audi were all mid engined rear drive and nobody complained it was all the same and boring. We must have riduclously high standards if we're complaining that 4 different engine layouts, 2 different aspiration types, 2 different fuel types and 4 different hybrid system is boring.

In 1998 and 1999 there was more aerodynamic differences between all cars.
There were cars with larger cabin, like Porsche, Nissan and Mercedes and with an identity mark front like Mercedes, BMW and Porsche and of course there were spider cars like BMW and Nissan 1999.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by TF110

Sounds like he wants rules to change so they could do something unique that would be recognizable to their 'i' brand.

Like I said in the other thread, sounds like just hot air. Nissan kept saying similar things before finally going ahead... with zero changes in the regs (thankfully).

[deggis]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

I know that they're different as far as the drive-train and hybrid technology goes. But for the untrained eye (barring the different-colored liveries), all 3 current manufacturers barring Nissan have fielded mid-engined LMP1 cars.

Like I said, I'll applaud BMW if they tackle Le Mans differently other than going conventional. If they want to put the engine (or a big electric motor/battery) beside the driver, I'm fine with that!

Question: do you want WEC to be a car show or a professional sport/racing series where the best car wins because it is the best and not because it is the most different?

Funny how now after Nissan and their PR-propaganda "conventional" has such a negative tone, as if it was somehow an easy and lazy route. It is only logical and lets say Darwinistic to follow a concept that has been proven as a winner. Didn't see many complaints back in Peugeot years when they at times used even the exactly same engine configuration than Audi.

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by deggis

Question: do you want WEC to be a car show or a professional sport/racing series where the best car wins because it is the best and not because it is the most different?

I want a series where the best car wins, although having a bit of aesthetic feel might hook some new viewers!

[GT6]

Well i want good racing and interesting racing with new ideas and developments some of which will be successful other not but that is what makes things interesting rather than a boring one make/idea series

[YorkshireLad]

Can you have too much of a good thing..

[TF110]

Originally Posted by deggis

Like I said in the other thread, sounds like just hot air. Nissan kept saying similar things before finally going ahead... with zero changes in the regs (thankfully).

Nissan just wanted something that they felt was closer to a road gtr and could use the flow-through concept. BMW is not planning on entering until the new rules are made. What better way to try and influence the rule makers then expressing interest but saying the wec could still be more 'innovative'? I'm pretty sure bmw know theyre saying "if" with these comments.

[Artur]

Originally Posted by deggis

Funny how now after Nissan and their PR-propaganda "conventional" has such a negative tone, as if it was somehow an easy and lazy route. It is only logical and lets say Darwinistic to follow a concept that has been proven as a winner. Didn't see many complaints back in Peugeot years when they at times used even the exactly same engine configuration than Audi.

Well said! Nissan's media hype won't last much, though, if their concept prove to be a complete failure by 2016/17, or so.(as judging on the first year is way too harsh)

[GriffM3]

Does anyone know the target date for when the new LMP Regulations will be introduced?

[deggis]

Originally Posted by GriffM3

Does anyone know the target date for when the new LMP Regulations will be introduced?

Enforced or published? Enforced 2017 onwards, but the regs would have to be ready much earlier, lets say at latest in mid-2016 teams need to know what to design and even that is really late if the changes are big. Final ratification in late 2016 by FIA WMSC, but in this kind of cases that is mostly a rubber stamping process.

According to Neveu's comments in interviews sounds like they don't have yet clear idea what changes are even coming if any and obviously they want to see what happens in June.