It’s been eerily quiet in the world of sports car racing lately. Poor Murphy really has to dig to find any poop at all. There’s always something, though. The Bear keeps hoping for rumors of new programs, new venues, new anything – but he’s had to settle for a silly looking kit car (see below).
Will Mid-Ohio be history?
The American Le Mans Series could lose its Mid-Ohio round next season. Murphy previously heard the sale of the track is possible – there have been discussions, and a price has been named – and recently when directly asked, the IRL’s boss was non-committal about a return. That might mean the Honda company picnic is headed for the dustbin. If so, will a Mid-Ohio management that’s paying close attention to its balance sheet and P&L risk the rather large ALMS sanction fee absent the open wheel guys and the built-in Honda crowd?
Grand Am goes to Indy
Meanwhile, it seems certain that Grand Am is going to Indianapolis Motor Speedway in 2011. So was the chatter around the Lime Rock paddock, anyway.
Corvette to get some love
In keeping with its “rolling rule revisions” policy (greasing the latest squeaky wheel), expect a bulletin giving a little love to the Corvettes as early as tomorrow (June 10). So far, the machinations of the Grand Am rule mill have left America’s sports car right where it started the season, while Porsche’s gotten major breaks, including a whole new motor. (That hasn’t brought the Porkers back, though, has it?) Mazda’s “support has been appreciated.”
Are the gnomes pissed off, or what?
The gnomes who inhabit the overstuffed chairs at de l’Automobile Club de l’Ouest seem to like Bavarians not better more than they did Count von Bismarck and Erich Ludendorff, and for sure Dietrich von Choltitz is a comparative favorite, especially in Paris. When the Bimmers showed up, the frogs hit them with a restrictor reduction. That seems to have put the designated German fall-guys 6 seconds off the GT2 pole (so far) instead of just 4. Our frog friends never have gotten over being jilted in 2001, have they? Besides, if you’re “appreciative of the support” of the other two Deutsche builders, national pride requires you beat up on ‘the other Boche”.
This morning the Bear woke up
To the end of GT1 (finally, it’s been “dead man walking” for years). Then there’s the much awaited ”other” GT class. The ACO has added a Used Car Class. Same as GT2, with one year old (and older) cars, and old drivers – well, amateur drivers who tend to be old, anyway, having made a pile of cash (too often in various ponze schemes, and in the the agricultural importing business). Great, another class that adds no new cars (without building a GT first, and waiting a year, a make can’t have a GT-amateur entry), and that’s entirely head-scratching for spectators (who cares about them anyway). Is IMSA going to follow this nonsense? Meanwhile, the market for GT1 cars is now exactly four.
How about an Excalibur? (Abruzzi II)
Well, now you’ve seen the Abruzzi. Murphy gave you the dirty little secret in Paddock Poop 167 – that it’s the ultimate (well, not really that good) kit car, built on an old Esperante GTLM chassis developed in Toronto, not Georgia. Throw on new body panels (bang on them ‘til they fit), and presto. The problem is, there’s nothing about this car that can be certified by US DOT, so make it “exclusive,” and maybe some sand box sheikdom with more oil money than good sense will buy a few. Well, at least Tom Milner (if he gets the race work) will recognize the chassis, won’t he? A prominent race engineer asked the Bear, “Can you imagine a wing on that thing?” Murphy would much rather have an Excalibur SS if he has to have a kit car – or maybe a faux 550 Spyder on a VW.
Farewell to the oil burners
There’s a good chance this is not just the end of the line for the 908 and the R15, but for diesel prototypes, and any prototypes from Peugeot or Audi. That rumble is so load it’s a roar.
Prognostications
A snake says anyone could do Murphy’s predictions in the ALMS. Probably true, but that’s a pretty sad commentary on the state of that series, isn’t it? Of course his point is that that LMPC and GT Challenge aren’t so predictable. That’s true, too…but neither is Nord Stern’s “Last Fling” at Brainerd. That doesn’t turn the Bear’s crank, either.
Here’s what Murphy thinks will happen at the little track in Le Sarthe:
A diesel will win LMP1.
Something with an HPD motor will win LMP2.
Murphy doesn’t care what wins GT1.
A Ferrari will win GT2.
Yearbook Awards, Class of 2010
Most likely to succeed: Peugeot, of course.
Most likely to be “first out”: Tie, JLOC Lambo and RSR Jag. (Dis)honorable Mention: Spyker Squadron
Fast Driver, LMP: Simon Pagenaud
Fast Driver, GT2: Jaime Melo
Slow Driver, LMP: Someone in a Norma (Shrek, you’re off the hook.)
Slow Driver, GT2: Way too many candidates, including at least one in a Ferrari, and a few in Porsches, a Spyker pilot. (This is a real contest!)
Worst Team Name (non-descriptive category): Young Driver AMR
Tags: 550 Spyder, Abuzzi, ACO, Audi, Corvette, Count von Bismarck, Dietrich von Choltitz, Erich Ludendorff, Esperante GTLM, Excalibur, Ferrari, Grand Am, HPD, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Jaime Melo, Mazda, Mid-Ohio, Nord Stern, Peugeot, Porsche, Shrek, Simon Pagenaud, Spyker Squadron, Young Driver AMR
pissed off gnomes…….
well i have predicted the aco would manage to piss off the mfg’ers in gt2 in the next few years. here is the first with the bimmers getting new restrictors. since renault does not have a gt2 car this is hard to figure out. the aco always manages to take the best class and present rules that make participation difficult.
alms MUST set a new set of rules to ensure their future IF they intend to continue of are they just interested in a buy-out?
diesels leaving? well good. there is no equivalency that has ever worked between n/a and turbo engines. irl will learn that in the next generation.
Some of you over 50 guys need to pipe down, some of your opinions not fact, your not entitled to your own facts stink like cat boo.
GT1 should have been killed this season, not sure why they allowed them in. I like the FIA GT1 World Championship and they are not allowing them back for 2011, that’s fine, this Championship will be fine without it and many of the drivers will find themselves at Le Mans regardless.
How loud is that roar Murphy? Last I saw its been officially denied by Audi that they would drop Prototypes for only GT cars. Peugeot, well mission accomplished if they win again, soundly beating Audi. Why would they stay? When was the last time a manufacture like GT/Prototype racing so much they just stayed? Peugeot doesn’t make a sports car, they just show up every couple of years to flex their engineering muscles. If what you say is true, they’ll likely be replaced by direct factory efforts by Toyota or Semi Works/factory supported effort like HPD/Highcroft. It would also make Dave Richards feel better as he’s still not quite happy about the 2011 rules.
There is a lot of anti-diesel rhetoric now, I can’t wait for the anti-hybrid Prius rhetoric…
Wasn’t there a rumor last year that we’d lose Mid-O this year? Its bad enough that our club probably isn’t getting a car corral this year and parading drivers around before the race….but losing the weekend entirely for 2011……ug