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American LeMans
ALMS: Petit Le Mans Wednesday Notebook
Silly season in full swing; Gunnar RS Spyder for 2011?; LMPC upgrade kit and more...
John Dagys  |  Posted September 29, 2010   Braselton, GA
Many LMP teams have yet to confirm their programs for next year, but a return to the ALMS in some form is likely. (John Dagys)
Silly Season In Full Swing

There have been quite a few interesting tidbits of information sprouting up around the American Le Mans Series paddock regarding teams’ plans for 2011. Here are some of the most interesting bits we’ve heard throughout the past few days:

• Level 5 Motorsports has been one of the most talked about teams in the ALMS paddock on what their plans could entail for next year. Some have speculated a full-out assault in the LMP1 ranks with Peugeots or Audis, but that appears not to be the case. Team manager David Stone told SPEED.com that they’re evaluating options for next year, which could include a new 2011-spec LMP2 program in both ALMS and ILMC. Further details to come in our exclusive interview with Stone on Friday.
Where will Level 5 Motorsports end up in 2011? There's many possibilities, as team owner David Stone revealed. (John Dagys)

• Dyson Racing looks set to return to the LMP ranks, but the question is with which powerplant? The team’s contract with Mazda is up at the end of the year, but is in negotiations with Mazda to continue the program into next year.

• Saturday’s Petit Le Mans marks the final ALMS race for the mighty Ferrari F430 GT. What comes next? It’s Ferrari’s new 458 Italia. Expect to see both Risi Competizione and Extreme Speed Motorsports campaigning the new-generation model next year.

• Despite not visiting victory lane this year, Corvette Racing’s program appears to be solidly in place for next year. Look for a similar two-car effort for the Pratt & Miller squad in the ultra-competitive GT category.

•Highcroft Racing, which hopes to claim its second consecutive LMP title on Saturday, will return in 2011. The question is with what package? Team owner Duncan Dayton explains: “We have had an incredible four-year partnership with Honda Performance Development and the fact we have achieved so much success together is extremely rewarding. We’d love to continue that partnership in the future and we’ll have a clearer idea of what the future holds once the final ACO rules package is confirmed and we know how the ALMS will implement that package – whether LMP1 and LMP2 will be combined and how the balance between the new cars and the ‘grandfathered’ cars will be handled. Our focus will turn to 2011 after the checkered flag falls on Saturday night at Road Atlanta.”

• LMP championship rivals Muscle Milk Team CytoSport aims to return with its Porsche RS Spyder but is currently in negotiations with Porsche for continued customer support. If that doesn’t materialize, there could be an option with another grandfathered prototype. An all-new LMP car appears to be out of the question due to the tight time frame before Sebring.

• Drayson Racing has yet to finalize its 2011 program but could include any possibilities in the Le Mans arena (ALMS, LMS and/or ILMC). With the ILMC expanding to a seven-round Cup next year, it could become a logistical nightmare for a team to also do ALMS, especially with only one car currently in Drayson’s arsenal. While an expanded program could also be a budget concern, Drayson competed in all but one of the proposed ILMC races this year.

• After a trying debut season, Jaguar RSR’s program will continue into next year with at least one Jaguar XKR. A second full-season entry, seen here this weekend, is likely as the Paul Gentilozzi-led team ramps up its commitment for the future.
It's the end of the road for the Ferrari F430 GT in the ALMS competition. (John Dagys)

• Intersport Racing debuts its second LMPC car this weekend with the Downs brothers piloting the No. 73 Oreca FLM09. It could be a precursor for a two-car LMPC attack in 2011, along with the returning Lola B06/10 for Jon and Clint Field.

• Two Robertson Racing Ford GT-Rs will be at the Twelve Hours of Sebring, with at least one completing the nine-round season. A second full-season car for an all-pro lineup is also possible, depending on funding.

• Team Falken Tire will return to the grid in 2011 with its Porsche 911 GT3 RSR. There’s also an option for a second car, likely to be run under a different banner, but still managed by Rod Everett’s Landmark squad.

• Alex Job Racing could be stepping up to the GT ranks next year. As of Mosport, the veteran team owner was evaluating many options, which also included an entry into LMPC and/or a return to GTC with its Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car.

• On Tuesday, Cooper Tires Prototype Lites squad CORE Autosport revealed intentions to compete in the ALMS next year in the prototype ranks. The Jonathan Bennett-owned squad plans to announce further details of its plans by November 1st.

• Another Prototype Lites team is expected to firm up LMPC plans for 2011 soon. The formal announcement is likely to come this week for the former ALMS team that now runs under a new team name.

Gunnar RS Spyder For 2011?

There’s also another significant development coming from Green Earth Team Gunnar. When talking to Kevin Jeannette on what the future cold hold, the team owner revealed some mouthwatering possibilities. While a return to LMPC could be in the cards, potentially as a two-car team, Jeannette also said that he’s been in preliminary talks with Porsche about a possible RS Spyder program.

GETG car owner/driver Christian Zugel also owns the former Penske RS Spyder that Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas took to the 2007 and 2008 LMP2 championships. While currently running in HSR, Jeannette feels that there could be a possibility to have the car return to ALMS competition if the entire package comes together.

Porsche has not made any official decision on whether or not to continue its customer support of the RS Spyder into next year. Its initial deal with CytoSport was for one year but was extended into 2010.
Could the No. 7 Porsche RS Spyder make a return to ALMS competition next year? It's possible. (John Dagys)

“We’re in talks with Porsche and we’re in talks with the ALMS because of the grandfather rules,” Jeannette said. “CytoSport wants to bring their car back and we don’t want to hinder their effort. For us, our decision will have to be made after the overall decision has been made [from Porsche].”

While CytoSport has expressed intentions of continuing, there is concern over the amount of spares available. The California-based team purchased Porsche’s final RS Spyder tub, for instance, in August following its write-off at Mid-Ohio.

While it may still be a long-shot, Jeannette is not giving up hope just yet. As a long time supporter of Porsche, a return to the famed marquee in professional competition would be a logical choice. But the RS Spyder’s days could be numbered, especially considering how the new regulations and grandfather rules could play out for next year.

“The car is ready to go,” Jeannette said. “Porsche has already re-prepared the car [for HSR competition]. All we would have to do is leave the engine in it, there’s time left in it for testing, then bolt a new motor in it before Sebring.

“It’s silly season. What I’m talking about today... it could be a totally different program by [tomorrow]. I’m sure there’s a lot of guys out there that are thinking the same thing.”

LMPC Upgrade Kit?

With the success of the LMPC category this year, there had been talk of some teams considering a move up the prototype ladder next year. The most logical and cost-minded choice appeared to have been an upgrade kit, transforming its current Oreca FLM09 spec-prototype into a car eligible for competition in the ACO’s new low-cost LMP2 category. But that no longer appears to be an economical option.

“I think the costs are going to outweigh the benefits of trying to take an existing LMPC car and upgrading it to an LMP2,” said IMSA’s VP of Operations Scot Elkins. “The biggest thing you’re going to have to go through and do quite a bit of development and engineering is to get one of the new-specification LMP2 engines to fit the existing chassis. I also think there’s a fair bit of aero development.”
With its high costs, it wouldn't make much sense for LMPC teams to purchase an upgrade kit to LMP2. (John Dagys)

In fact, it’s believed a complete new aero package would have to be included in the upgrade kit. Oreca President Hugues de Chaunac told me earlier this month that the kit would cost upwards of $250,000, compared to a complete turn-key new P2 car for just $450,000.

For teams, it would make better financial sense to purchase an all-new P2 car, such as the recently announced ORECA 03, and keep its LMPC car for track days or rental rides in the ALMS. But for U.S.-based teams, the best option might just be to stay in LMPC for another season, as it’s still unclear where the new P2-spec cars will be slotted in the series.

“It’s still a big jump to go from LMPC to LMP2, but the biggest thing LMP2 has going for itself right now is the ability to go race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans,” Elkins said. “If that’s a goal for a team, then I think they have the opportunity to go to P2. If that’s not a goal, then LMPC is a great fit for them.”

Fewer European Teams Than Expected?

With all of the hype surrounding this year’s Petit Le Mans and it being part of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup, there was anticipation of seeing not only the top European teams from the LMP ranks, but also some powerhouse GT teams making the trip over, too.



It would have been a mouthwatering prospect seeing some of the top European GT squads such as AF Corse, Team Felbermayr-Proton and BMW Team Schnitzer compete head-to-head with the already massively competitive and deep field of ALMS teams.

But that unfortunately isn’t the case this year, and it all comes down to the rules. The ACO made a provision in the ILMC rulebook allowing manufacturers to nominate teams to score points in each of the three rounds. Teams and manufacturers wanting to fight for the overall Cup titles would have to enter at least two of the races.

With Porsche, Ferrari and BMW already well represented in the ALMS by Flying Lizard Motorsports, Risi Competizione and BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team, respectively, there was no real reason for their European counterparts to make the costly trip to the U.S.
Team Felbermayr-Proton, AF Corse and BMW Team Schnitzer are all teams that could end up Stateside for Sebeing next year, if they commit to the ILMC. (John Dagys)

Those teams will score points for the manufacturers’ Cup, while the European-based squads will take over for the third and final leg of the ILMC in Zhuhai, China in November. The only exception to that is Jaguar RSR, which will be one of only three ALMS teams that will make the trip to China.

However, all of this will change next year, as the ACO will mandate that each team in the ILMC must compete in all six rounds, plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which will act as a double-points event. In theory, this could work out to the ALMS’ benefit, with the influx of ILMC-only entries appearing both at Sebring and Petit Le Mans next year.

On the other hand, it will quite a challenge for any U.S.-based team to commit to the ILMC next year due to scheduling, meaning teams like Drayson Racing would likely have to make a choice at either running the full seven-round ILMC, competing full-time in the ALMS, or doing a mix of both.

News & Notes

• Porsche announced late last week that Jens Walther has been named Porsche Motorsport North America’s new president, effectively immediately. The 41-year-old Walther, who has been responsible for the management of Porsche’s ultra-successful Cup programs worldwide, replaces the outgoing Paul Ritchie, who has decided to retire from the motorsports business.

• Following last month’s trial run, IMSA will continue with its new pit lane procedures this weekend at Road Atlanta. During full-course cautions, only LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC cars will be allowed to pit on the first lap the pits are opened, with GT2, GTC and GTH machines making their stops the following lap. There are some notable exceptions, including if a car has mechanical problems, but ultimately will be up to Race Director Beaux Barfield’s discretion.

• The No. 17 Team Falken Tire Porsche 911 GT3 RSR is running with Cellulosic E85 Ethanol for the first time this weekend. The Rod Everett-led team spent the month-long break since Mosport to outfit its GT2 contender with the alternative fuel. The team, however, is without regular pilot Wolf Henzler as the German is recovering from back surgery to mend a broken disc.



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