Rafanelli Out - MG In

[Graham Goodwin]

Rafanelli have pulled out of the LM 24 Hours with the result that the first reserve - MGs second factory car is now in the race.

[paulzinho]

Why have Rafanelli pulled out?

Nice to see MG get there 2nd car in though.

[TVRfan]

hooooooray! the more brits the better!

[Adam43]

I've just seen this on autosport.com

http://www.autosport.co.uk/newsitem....8374&series=15

A second works MG has made the entry for Le Mans

The factory MG sportscar team has been given the go-ahead from the organisers of the Le Mans 24 Hours to take a second car to the classic race on June 15/16.

The move is a reprieve for the marque, which was only given a single entry for the race when the full list was published last week.

A second Chamberlain Motorsport-run MG-Lola has made the cut following Olive Garden Rafanelli's decision to scratch its GTS-class Ferrari 550M from the race. As first reserve, the MG prototype inherited a place in the field.

Gabriele Rafanelli explained his decision to withdraw, saying that his team would concentrate on the American Le Mans Series instead. "It is our strong desire to be the principal independent challenger for the ALMS GTS crown this year," he said. "While all of us are thrilled at the honour of the invitation to Le Mans, we must focus on our primary goal which is to succeed in the 2002 ALMS GTS championship.

"Ours is a multi-year programme, so it is our dream to be invited to Le Mans in 2003 and to win the GTS catgeory there."

MG's chance is good news for the marque's six British drivers, three of whom would have been left on the sidelines had just one car been allowed in the race. The six are Mark Blundell, Anthony Reid, Warren Hughes, Jonny Kane, Julian Bailey and Kevin McGarrity.

The car's inclusion boosts the prototype numbers to 26, and adds a seventh entry to the 'baby' LMP675 class. In total, three MG-Lolas are now included, the other one being the privately-run KnightHawk Racing version.

[Adam43]

Great news for MG fans. Shame we've lost a 550 though.

I was, as I think most people here were, surprised that MG only got one entry anyway. It's the best 675 car out there and surely the AC0 want a quality field!

[Adam43]

Great news, but shame about the 550.

(oops I started another thread on this - I must have been blind not to notice this one! please delete it!)

Great news though! Any chance of another Bentley while they are at it?

[Muzza]

Hello, Adam,

Unfortunately there is no chance of having a second Bentley racing in Le Mans in 2002.

Already back in November 2001 Bentley annouced that it would not compete with more than one car this year.

Plans are said though to comeback with two cars and a new engine in 2003. Considering the likely return of Porsche to Sarthe nex year, I fear that this Bentley revival may not happen...

Or would the Volkswagen Group race three different brands in the main class in Le Mans? (Audi versus Bentley versus Porsche) As recently as four weeks ago VW insisted that they are not bound to F-1, so the especulations regarding Audi switch to F-1 have faded. So would Audi stick to protos? (I hope so)

Cheers,

Muzza

[SL]

With probably the best chance of winning Le Mans for the next few years at least with Audi and Bentley, why should Audi (VW) spend $millions's on F1 ?

Le Mans is one of the best known races in the world and they can win at fairly low cost compared with F1. So 3 years for Audi, then 3 for Bentley, then 3 for Skoda easy. And still probably less that Toyota spent last year on F1

SL

[Muzza]

Hello, SL,

I hope more "marketeers" would think like you!

Toyota and Nissan quit Le Mans at the wrongest moment - relatively weak opposition, and with no need of major additional investments to jump to the next level.

Nissan corporation was though in dire straits in 1998, and that - plus the disappointment with the beautiful but innefective R390 - made them pull the plug altogether.

But Nissan - now owned by Renault - is much better shape today... Who knows what may happen in 2004, with the new rules? Renault in F-1 and Nissan in Le Mans - it sounds tasty.

(well, me and my speculations)

Cheers,

Muzza

[Es Nes]

heh ... sl, 02 makes 4 years for audi at lemans. 99-02


i honestly cant remember a manufactor thats been at lemans recently that long with this much success at the top level. bmw and toyota had the potental to succede but left for f1. mclaren was there from 95-98 but only won once. ferraris 333sps never really had a chance without factory money. porsche was the last, right?

[paulzinho]

Originally posted by Muzza
. Considering the likely return of Porsche to Sarthe nex year,

Really I haven't heard about this one!!!

Any details?

[cybersdorf]

Originally posted by paulzinho
Why have Rafanelli pulled out?

Too much plumbing to do.
So, will Jonny Kane be in the KnightHawk car now, or the works car?

[SL]

heh ... sl, 02 makes 4 years for audi at lemans. 99-02

Audi ain't won 2002 yet. It only takes 1 Bentley to finish and finish first as proved before when the whole team crashed at the White House.

Bit concerned about those new boys in their MG's though, damm team don't even wear ties in the paddock They need to show a bit of respect and let the Bentley boys through.

Good though to see they have the two cars in plus the spare, will give a little interest in the early stages. Each MG will now have a Bentley equipped little Audi seeking missile designed within the bodywork. Once all 3 Audi's collapse the Bentley win will be real, if those MG lads move over that is.

Afternoon tea in the Morgan paddock anyone ?

SL

[Es Nes]

yeah, i was just refering to total years theyve been there

[SL]

Bentley and MG have more years than Audi.

SL

[Es Nes]

recently?

[SL]

Aaah,

That might be the snag

[SL]

You mean to say that the MG Midget and the Speed 6 are now outdated ????

[SL]

Thank God for the guys at Morgan who have reworked their newest 1930's designed car. Should whip those German Audi type cars don't you think

[racer69]

Originally posted by Muzza
Hello, Adam,

Unfortunately there is no chance of having a second Bentley racing in Le Mans in 2002.

Already back in November 2001 Bentley annouced that it would not compete with more than one car this year.

Plans are said though to comeback with two cars and a new engine in 2003. Considering the likely return of Porsche to Sarthe nex year, I fear that this Bentley revival may not happen...

Or would the Volkswagen Group race three different brands in the main class in Le Mans? (Audi versus Bentley versus Porsche) As recently as four weeks ago VW insisted that they are not bound to F-1, so the especulations regarding Audi switch to F-1 have faded. So would Audi stick to protos? (I hope so)

Cheers,

Muzza

What does Porsche have to do with the Volkswagon Audi Group

[Muzza]

In simple words, Porsche is owned by Volkswagen.

Porsche has some degree of autonomy, but ultimately it is owned by Volkswagen, which is the party that decides what is done and what is not.

There is nothing concrete about Porsche return to Le Mans in 2003, but a lot of people (including myself...) speculate and hope that they will come back in 2004, when the rules are to change.

[AllonFS]

Originally posted by SL
Thank God for the guys at Morgan who have reworked their newest 1930's designed car. Should whip those German Audi type cars don't you think

Morgan should be right at home, I doubt many of the facilities, (other than the ACO offices, grandstands and pits) have been updated since they were there last. Some people are still probably queueing for the shower from Morgan's last appearance!

[rdjones]

That news has just made my day ! ! !

Go MG Go ! ! !

[paulzinho]

So who else do VW own?

Volkswagen, Bentley, Audi, Skoda, Porsche.....

I really don't like the idea of one group owning so many brands though it may be necessary to make some types of cars production viable....

[rdjones]

....Seat, Bugatti, Lamborghini