murphythebear.com

Whither LMS Prototypes?

Prototypes in LMS. Kruse now. Racing for Thailand? Good grief. What’s next…racing for Grand Fenwick?

If Cytosport is selected for a partial LMS season (doubtful) Murphy assumes it will be on the strength of their Charouz partner, not their own part-time-not-impressive ALMS effort. And one would think Charouz will need to commit to continue after Le Mans, since the Bear can’t see the LMS accepting part-timers when they’re oversubscribed. Unless some of the weird stuff Murphy’s hearing about entry fees and such happens and there’s a revolt. 1848 Europe all over again. (more…)

This week’s entry list for the American Le Mans Series’ Wheels Down Winter Test pre-season event threw a few more logs on the fire in determining the 2008 prototype field. Here’s what the Bear’s hearing around the paddock.

Audi will be back, but hasn’t said so. Unrelated to the North American program, Audi is waiting for a sixth LMS race to be confirmed (or not) before announcing the 2008 program. It’ll be two-continents this time, with Joest in Audi Sport (AG) colors in Europe, and Dave Maraj’s squad dressed in the silver of Audi Sport North America on this side of the Atlantic. (more…)

Murphy told you what he heard in the paddock in the warm fall of the 2007 season. Inevitably, once the leaves are off the trees the best laid plans go astray, so the Bear described the angst of mid December in Bad Nooz Bear. (more…)