|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
17 Jun 2003, 12:54 (Ref:634174) | #1 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,721
|
Now what?
Now that Bentley has won Le Mans, might they emulate BMW in 1999 and contest the balance of the ALMS? Kristensen/Capello and Smith/Brabham would be pretty handy pairings, and with strong points finishes at Sebring they might yet win the title. Oh, come on, please..?
|
||
__________________
Interviewer: "Will the McLaren F1 be your answer to the Ferrari F40?" Gordon Murray: "Hmm... I don't think we have anyone at McLaren who can weld that badly..." |
17 Jun 2003, 13:41 (Ref:634300) | #2 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,241
|
Good Question...
|
||
|
18 Jun 2003, 08:42 (Ref:635287) | #3 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,707
|
Money, money, money, If the Audi group have suceeded in getting Bentley to win and are 'apparently' working on a coupe for the Audi brand will they bother, i think Bentleys cash will be pulled, although, as Audi UK hgad its own budget which it used to run the R8s, wont Bentley have its own budget that it could use.
|
||
__________________
"If there's anything more important than my ego around, I want it caught and shot now" Douglas Adams. 1952-2001 |
18 Jun 2003, 10:40 (Ref:635372) | #4 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,702
|
From what Radio LM were saying that was the end of the Bentley race programme. They were going to look into further events, or finish at the top when they got back to base.
I would not expect to see any other racing programme apart from LM in 2004 if Audi brand go for the GT/GTS route. I would really like to know what Joest have planned as they are the key people. Simon |
||
|
19 Jun 2003, 16:05 (Ref:636749) | #5 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 76
|
A couple of our guys blagged their way into the Bentley enclosure after the race. The word in there was that after their great result they may well change plans and be back again next year.
I hope so. Bentley v Audi in the same class. That could be interesting |
||
|
19 Jun 2003, 17:29 (Ref:636834) | #6 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3,166
|
Admitedly very interesting, but always VAG. I hope others will come (Honda ?)
|
||
__________________
BoP = egalitarianism |
19 Jun 2003, 19:16 (Ref:636912) | #7 | |
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,868
|
I think they will not compete in ALMS because this market isn't important for Bentley.
|
|
|
19 Jun 2003, 19:52 (Ref:636931) | #8 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,799
|
I think Bentley might contest the petit le mans at the end of the year, I believe that was part of the plan for this year anyway wasn't it?
|
||
__________________
Nuts on the road! |
19 Jun 2003, 20:32 (Ref:636965) | #9 | ||
Take That Fan
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,124
|
Some how I think we have seen the last of Bentley - VAG are going to put all there money back in to Audi again, much as I would love to see them at PLM and Le Mans next year it isn't going to happen, sorry to disapoint folks......
|
||
__________________
There is only one way of life and thats your own ! ! ! |
19 Jun 2003, 20:56 (Ref:636997) | #10 | ||||
Veteran
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 5,147
|
Quote:
Quote:
Code:
Bentley 1999 2000 Americas 437 558 United Kingdom 337 437 Continental Europe 155 231 ROW 78 138 WORLD 1007 1364 A related page - http://www.audiworld.com/news/02/110402b/content.shtml shows that Audi has achieved some decent growth in sales despite the soft market of the last few years. How much of that can be attributed to the success and proper marketing use of the R8? Last edited by paul-collins; 19 Jun 2003 at 20:58. |
||||
__________________
... Since all men live in darkness, who believes something is not a test of whether it is true or false. I have spent years trying to get people to ask simple questions: What is the evidence, and what does it mean? -Bill James |
20 Jun 2003, 16:45 (Ref:637786) | #11 | ||
Race Official
Veteran
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 18,868
|
Quote:
Conclusion: Why not Bentley in ALMS? |
||
|
20 Jun 2003, 18:06 (Ref:637849) | #12 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 5,147
|
We're all scratching our heads on that one over here, too.
|
||
__________________
... Since all men live in darkness, who believes something is not a test of whether it is true or false. I have spent years trying to get people to ask simple questions: What is the evidence, and what does it mean? -Bill James |
20 Jun 2003, 20:34 (Ref:637973) | #13 | ||
Rookie
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 55
|
Audi sales are worth more than Bentley ones ?
Sell 500 Bentleys and net, say, $4,000,000. Sell 5,000 Audis and net, say, $8,000,000. (all figures are guesses by the way !! ) Now, consumers, especially American comsumers, are slightly bizarre and fickle creatures. They've clearly been won over by Audi's marketing based on the success of the R8 and are buying more Audis as a result. Now, if Bentley comes in and starts beating them then, while it may attract another, say, 50 Bentley sales it might knock Audi sales because they're now being beaten. Consumers were attracted by the success of the R8 but equally might be swayed when they stop winning.... Factor in the fact that your typical consumer probably doesn't make the connection between Bentley and VAG and you can see how it might work against them. Yes, this is all speculation, guesswork and, well, probable ****** but the world of marketing is a funny old one !! |
||
__________________
Expat Brit, stuck in the middle of a desert ! |
20 Jun 2003, 20:57 (Ref:638005) | #14 | ||
Veteran
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 5,147
|
Using your guessed figures, so long as Bentley gains more than one sale for every 5 lost by Audi, they come out ahead. The question is just how much.
Plus, if they were really cynical about it, they could kneecap the Bentleys to make it close. 12" wide wheels, anyone? |
||
__________________
... Since all men live in darkness, who believes something is not a test of whether it is true or false. I have spent years trying to get people to ask simple questions: What is the evidence, and what does it mean? -Bill James |