The car is all gassed up and Murphy’s hitting the road for Las Vegas and Aspen tomorrow, but thought he should put out a bit of Paddock Poop before he left. Every time the Bear thinks things might have simmered down a bit, they all blow up.
First, others have weighed in on some things Murphy heard – and then wrote – in his last installment. For the most part the new stuff “improves the record,” so to speak. There won’t be a 997 RSR on an American Le Mans Series race track this season after all, in spite of mentions in this space to the contrary. There will be one “on show” at Petit Le Mans in conjunction with announcements by teams who have ordered the new racers for 2007. It seems that production – beyond the cars involved in the Spa outing – hasn’t started yet. Not only is the car not yet ACO homologated, but specifications are not yet “final.” Here’s some good news for ALMS fans, though – included amongst those who have purchased 997s for next season are teams new to the American Le Mans Series.
It seems Yves Courage has delivered a Courage LC75 (that’s LMP2) chassis to the US, and will deliver two more before the end of September. The first went to Highcroft in Connecticut, the second will go to Andretti-Green. Where’s the third going? A spare? Or not. Yves also told the French magazine, Maville, that he’s working on a deal for two LC70s (LMP1) for the American Le Mans Series. It’s hinted that they are to be Cosworth powered and that Cosworth itself will field the prototypes.
There was more on the Lexus story last week, most importantly a Jimmy Sykes article on Speed Arena that adds some light –and heat, too – from the perspective of Team Lexus. Elsewhere, Tom Milner put the kibosh on rumors that Prototype Technology Group was been tapped to take over Lexus program. According to PTG’s boss there has been no contact between his team and anyone representing Lexus. So, money spent, cars complete, and…nothing. Crazy.
Crazier still – proving once again that the Bear is but a pussycat in the speculation biz – was the report somewhere that there would be a customer RS Spyder fielded at Laguna Seca “on trial.” There won’t. In spite of several serious inquiries, there is not yet a closed sale of the Spyder. It seems both Penske and Porsche want to continue their relationship next season, but there is no agreement in place – yet. I went back and read my recent Porsche stuff; not much has changed, it appears. Some out there read it and thought the Bear said that customers were hesitating because of reliability questions. He didn’t. He still thinks Porsche just might want to work the car in Penske’s hands a bit longer before turning it loose, though. It still won’t surprise us if the first of the privateers doesn’t show until after Le Mans. Does that mean that Penske – or someone – will contest Le Mans with a Porsche RS Spyder? Not necessarily. Elsewhere in the paddock at Mosport, it was offered that an extension of Penske deal makes sense if for no other reason that it would take a team moving from GT2 a season or so to come to grips with the prototype, and meantime, there are Acuras to fend off.
In the middle of all this comes word from within ALMS at Mosport to “expect a number of announcements of new teams…”
Sinking Feeling Department. Speedtv was running Saturday’s Super Bike race from Road Atlanta before the Mosport coverage. They won’t “improve” Road Atlanta for the bikes, will they?
Given the lousy weekend weather, American Le Mans Series attendance at Mosport was quite good, though down a bit from 2005 on Sunday. The Toronto Star put the Sunday crowd at 40,000. Comparisons aren’t quite apples-to-apples, considering it was a first event, but the enduro at Utah on Saturday didn’t draw many. Having been there in July, Murphy thinks some of that can be laid to the track’s characteristics – sand and asphalt – stand or sit on aluminum bleachers, your choice. That’s hardly the description of creature comforts that would entice this Bear to a nine hour event.
Sinking Feeling Department, Part Deux. At Mosport, an important Aston Martin personage was heard saying they’ll not return next year, due to the “poor treatment” they have gotten. Perhaps this should be the “What Does it Take Department.”
Performance Balancing Department. Murphy wrote this in the heat of summer. “It was said at Laguna Seca in early May that it would be a cold day in hades before the Ruby Tuesday Porsche won again.” That was what was said to the Bear in the Grand Am paddock after the qualifying race, through which the Crawford Porsche had finished no worse than third (Daytona), and won three times in five races. In the nine races since, there have been no wins and only three podiums. Just circumstance. Or that bad luck every one keeps talking about.
Though he suffered a small setback at Mosport, where Johannes van Overbeek stretched his lead for the GT2 drivers title, it was a satisfying weekend for Jörg Bergmeister. He clinched the Grand Am Daytona Prototype driver’s championship at Miller Motorsport Park. That goes nicely with the American Le Mans title he shared with Pat Long last season. In between he got hitched. Regardless of the outcome in ALMS this season, it’s been a good time indeed since December 2004 for the former Porsche factory pilot.
Krohn Racing Confirms Rolex Series Comeback for 2007
Monday, 04 September 2006
Krohn Racing will continue their two-car Daytona Prototype program in the Rolex Sports Car Series for the 2007 season. The team behind 2006 DP Driver’s Champion Jorg Bergmeister has been in the rumor mill as to what they will be doing in the coming season. Their plans are to at least remain in the Rolex Series, with ambitions of becoming one of the best sports car teams in the country.
“After one season, we have exceeded our expectation for the first year. Our drivers and crew have put in a maximum effort this year,” said owner/driver Tracy Krohn. “Although we are pleased with this year’s results, we are not yet the best team in pit road or at the standard we want to be and one way to achieve those standards is continuity of the program. Therefore we have committed to continue a 2-car Daytona Prototype program as the foundation for our motorsports activities.”
“The fans can expect to see us at Daytona for the 24 Hours with a 2-car team. In due course we will announce the driver line-up for Daytona and the season,” added Krohn. “We recognize the Grand American series is growing. We expect to stand hand-in-hand with the series for years to come in the continued hope that the tremendous potential the series demonstrates will be realized and benefit all involved.”
Yup, the Bear saw that, the very day he finished this Poop. Murphy has always said he can do nothing more than pass on what he hears. Very interesting, because the talk in late June, in July, and in August was in two paddocks, not one. He thinks there is more to this story, and if so, he’ll pass that on, too.
“…their plans are at least to remain in the Rolex Series…” is an interesting turn of phrase isn’t it?