Flying Lizards to Daytona

Before Seth Neiman and Flying Lizard Motorsports leased a Daytona Prototype from Brumos, he talked to Penske about one of the Captain’s cars. Near term, it was decided a lease was more attractive than an outright purchase. Seth will be one of at least two ALMS stalwarts we’ll see at the Rolex 24; what happens after that is still unknown.

Chip to Ford

It’s possible that Chip Ganassi will go with Ford in NASCAR. If he does, it’s likely his DP’s will also be powered by Ford. (Edit: Murphy tweeted an update on November 2: At a team celebration this week, it was announced Ganassi will stay with GM motors. Presumably, that will mean the BMW power in Grand Am continues also.)

Peugeot Power

The test of Peugeot’s new prototype exclusively reported by Autosport was sans engine – the new one, that is. Bruno Famin, Peugeot Sport’s Technical Director, claims it hasn’t even made that decision yet. A hybrid power unit has been rumored, and one of the Bear’s correspondents was convinced of it by the new roof air intake. “A new-rules 2 liter turbo, with KERS,” he wrote. One of Murphy’s technical wizards acknowledged the air intake but pointed out the 90X also has the fender intakes used with the turbo diesel. “They’ll stick with the diesel,” he said. “It still makes better technical and marketing sense.” The Bear has decided it will be one or the other. (Edit: One of the Bear’s favorite tech gurus points out that a diesel/KERS combination remains in the mix, and might even be likely. Whoops! Murphy now believes it will be one of those three. Any other ideas?)

Television and Alternative Media

The American Le Mans Series still doesn’t have a “broadcast” (obsolete word, isn’t it?) package it can announce. What gives? The Bear heard at Petit that the “traditional broadcast” (and its on-air talent) would be history, that 2011 would be docudramas on Versus with live coverage via web streaming. Murphy knows some will cheer that, but he’s not one of them.

So do we get Hindy and crew? Probably, but the Bear hears sponsorship and contract issues remain. (If that is “unhelpful,” Radio Show Limited can issue a statement – again. Murphy’s not in the “helpful” business; plenty in the media have accepted that charter.) A SpeedTV deal is crippled – in terms of value, at least – by the ACO’s grab of the rights to Sebring and Petit. A professional sport needs the revenue that’s possible only with “big league” television coverage. It’s not certain that’s going to happen. Among teams and drivers in the paddock who race for a living, this is a topic of great concern.

Japan to Join GT Ranks?

That’s what the world’s leading sports car racing blog wrote, admitting it was a “rumour.”  (What’s with all the poaching on the Bear’s territory lately?) Two manufacturers mentioned – Toyota and Honda – have had on-again-off-again programs over the past couple of years; nothing new there.

Honda told the ALMS two years ago it would like to field an NSX-based GT1/2, but only after the then-planned new model was introduced – soon after, they cancelled the new car. That would seem to have ended the idea, except that Honda got special permission to race the not-to-be-produced design as the HSV-010 GT and promptly won the Super GT championship in the GT500 class. Since the ACO is similarly perfectly willing to wink at its rules when it suits (see, for reference, the magic homologation of the Abuzzi), don’t be surprised to see an “NSX-something” somewhere in ACO racing.

Toyota might be working on something with the LFA – then again they might not. Old story again.

There is nothing ACO-oriented going on at Nissan that either NISMO or NA knows anything about.

The 2011 ALMS Prototype GridMurphy summarizes what he is hearing around the paddock about the likely 2011 entry for races not part of the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup.

LMP1
Highcroft – Expect Duncan to continue with HPD for another season, but don’t take his dalliance with IRL too lightly.
Dyson – Not happy being let down by Mazda just weeks before the 2010 Sebring Winter Test, Dyson will start 2011 with “a foot in each camp.” Though they repeatedly say they want to be in the American Le Mans Series, where the team goes from here is largely funding-dependent.
Cytosport – If no good hardware option is found (Porsche is out of the picture), Cytosport could stay on the sidelines. For now, at least, they aren’t happy with the options.
Intersport – We don’t know why, but someone will come up with just enough cash for Intersport to run about half the season’s miles. In a tough 2010, they had to finish Petit to get near that magic “halfway.”
Drayson –  If the announced ILMC full schedule becomes certain in 2011, this team is much more likely to contest that than a full ALMS schedule.
Autocon – Zytek is likely not an option. If the only thing on the table is a return to the Lola AER, will Autocon race, take some time off, or drop to P2?
ARES (nee Corsa) – No activity on facebook, nor in a race shop, since April.

LMP2
CORE – More likely to be an LMPC entry.
HVM – Broke and looking for funded drivers.
Level 5 – ILMC is likely, ALMS less so.
Libra (nee Taurus, nee ECO) – Libra, Ian Dawson’s act 3, is on track to be as successful as acts 1 and 2.
Signature – The team’s own hope is only for the second half of 2011. This reality show won’t make prime time.

LMPC
Dick Barbour – Katherine Legge? Not likely.  Terri O’Connell (nee J.T. Hayes)? The Bear likes real girls. Too much hype, too little substance (or cash). Reminds Murphy of DBM in 2001: Elford, Panoz, Mugen, Holt, Duno, Graham, de Radigues. Sounded good, didn’t it?
Green Earth Team Gunnar – The real 2010 LMPC champs say they’ll be back.
Intersport – The Ohio team’s cash cow.
Performance Tech, Genoa, and Mathiasen – All possible
CORE – They’ll be here if anywhere.

Once again, the series will struggle to field a dozen prototypes in three classes outside of the two ILMC events.

For the third year, the Bear’s picking five entries likely to contend for the win in the Rolex 24 at Daytona. In 2008, his list of five captured 1, 2, and 3. Last year, they grabbed the top two steps.

Before he picked, Murphy gave away the five rools that will let his friends pick the Daytona Prototype winners, too. Not much has changed, so here they are again:

1. Riley only. The first non-Riley in 2008 was 15th. Last year, a Dallara snuck into 4th, a Crawford into 8th. That’s not enough to change the rool.
2. Teams you’ve heard of. Ganassi won its third in a row in 2008, another of Murphy’s teams,  Brumos won in 2009 – and took third, too. Ganassi was second and fifth, Penske sixth, GAINSCO seventh. The Bear didn’t mention SunTrust, which was fourth; they’ll replace the departed Penske among our picks. Murphy thinks “nicely turned out” counts for a lot. It’s a team that does that.
3. No oil billionaire drivers, no scrawny girls. No drivers with the same name as the team. No brain doctors or heart doctors. In other words, absent an LMS-type ‘gentleman driver rool’ DP is a “pro only need apply” class.

Rolex Favorites

The Bear had no trouble picking four, but his fifth turn out to be ‘a bear,’ so to speak. After Ganassi (2), GAINSCO, and Brumos, it came down to SunTrust Racing, a familiar (and successful) team (see rool 2.) but with a Dallara (rool 1.). It was the SunTrust Dallara that snuck into 4th last year, too. On the other hand, there’s Action Express Racing, a “rookie” team (that runs afoul of rool 2.), while meeting rool 3. (drivers), and rool 1. What to do? The elves told the Bear it was time to do a little research.

A little digging uncovered that Action Express is the ‘second Brumos entry,’ owned by long-time Brumos associate Bob Johnson, with a number Brumos staff and crew, and with drivers Barbosa and Borcheller. So, with good leadership, it might meet rool 2. after all. SunTrust’s 4th was a break-through for the non-Riley Dallara, three of four drivers return – Ricky Taylor (son of team owner Wayne) replaces veteran gentleman Brian Frisselle. Is that an improvement? Was last season’s Dallara break-through a trend or an aberration?

Here are Murphy’s by-the-rools five favorites for the 2010 Rolex. Last year we asked if this ‘Looked familiar?’ This year, it’s ‘Look familiar – again?’

01 Ganassi  Papis, Wilson, Pruett, Rojas – BMW / Riley
02 Ganassi  Dixon, Franchitti, Montoya, McMurray  – BMW / Riley
  9 Action Express Barbosa, Borcheller, Dalziel, Rockenfeller – Porsche / Riley
59 Brumos Donohue, Haywood, Law, Leitzinger, Matos – Porsche / Riley
99 GAINSCO   Fogarty, Gurney, Johnson, Vasser – Chevrolet / Riley

If anything, Ganassi is fielding even better driver lineups. Brumos returns without the drug felon, and with Leitzinger and Matos – a huge upgrade in talent (and sense) if a Bear ever saw one. Two-time Grand Am champion GAINSCO returns with drivers as good as anyone – intent on capturing the prize that’s eluded them. Action Express – as we’ve explained – is ‘Brumos Lite’ with a better roster of pilots.

Murphy makes SunTrust his “dark horse.” Level 5 having morphed into NPN Racing might have made the Bear’s favorites list, until Tucker, the designated rich guy, listed himself in both cars, diluting otherwise stellar driving lineups. If you can figure out which car will not get Tucker’s driving help, pick the other one.

Taking a Flyer on GT with the Bear

The Bear decided it’s time to pay some attention to the GT field. Just in time for the faux Mazdas to drop from contention, now having fallen to second tier teams and too many otherwise-employed drivers out for a weekend fling. That doesn’t rule out other bodies on the tubers – the odd BMW and Corvette look-alike.

So, what are Murphy’s GT rools?

1. At least 3 pros to carry a weekender. If so, doctors and CEOs are O.K. here.
2. Teams with experience and talent. Some of these are easy to pick out: TRG and Turner Motorsports, for instance. Others aren’t so obvious.
3. Current or former ‘factory’ drivers. They don’t go – or aren’t sent – where they have no chance.

23 Alex Job Baldwin, Burtis, Farnbacher, Pagerey, Ragginger – Porsche GT3
44 Magnus Bleekemolen, Lietz, Potter, Stanton  – Porsche GT3
67 TRG Bergmeister, Long, Neiman, van Overbeek – Porsche GT3
71 TRG Bernhard, Dumas, George, Labonte, Pumpelly – Porsche GT3
94 Turner Auberlen, Dalla Lana, Hand, Said – BMW M6

07 Godstone Ranch Corvette is the Bear’s GT dark horse. Young up-and-comer to watch is Thomas Merrill, Salinas California, Corsa Team PR1 BMW.

Murphy’s Predictions

A smaller field gets less opportunities to hit the favorites, so the good ones will mostly be there at the end. If it rains – and it seems it might – all such bets are off.

Matt Connolly Motorsports will be relevant in Matt Connolly’s mind and among the cogs.

We’ll see more of McDreamy than we do on Grey’s Anatomy.

No one will mention that Krohn Racing is in a dust-up with Lola. Krohn, who shouldn’t want to bend the Lola with few spares (and none in the pipeline) will drive anyway, and bend the Lola.

Sebring and Le Mans will disappear into a parallel universe for the duration of the coverage.

Jack Baldwin and Hurley Haywood, separated at birth in May 1948, will insist senior discounts at Hooters on International Speedway Boulevard. Well, Jack will, anyway.

With only six NASCAR drivers on hand, that story line should be a bit more subdued in this year’s telecast. Those seats are filled by current and former German factory pilots.

Kia Goes Grand Am Racing

When it came time to pick a ‘platform,’ the fast-growing manufacturer ‘passed’ on the Global Leader Green Racing to field a new factory team. It’s particularly interesting that a manufacturer intent on building a new ‘luxury’ image would consider, then reject, the American Le Mans Series.  Wouldn’t it’s market strategy have fit ALMS’ ‘World Class’ image?  Too bad it was abandoned to chase a green strategy.

Perhaps the Braselburger boss has been too busy with alternative energy mucky-mucks to waste time with automobile manufacturers. After leaving Phoenix, he went hobnobbing in Toronto chatting up “alternative fuels” this past weekend.

Follow Murphy’s tweets at http://twitter.com/Murphythebear

As soon as the Bear posted his expectations for the Sebring grid, a chorus of “wait-a-minutes” came in.
As a result, he’s going to downgrade the Salt Lake City prototype from “probable” to “possible,” and upgrade the “No Name Team” Ferrari from “possible” to “possible plus.” (Ok, that’s a new rating – live with it.)
Regardless of his reduced confidence, he hopes that the Zytek makes it to the grid, since he’ll win a Jameson (and his assistant will treated to some fine Dutch brew) at Chicanes if it does. For now, those changes will cut his likely P1 starters to seven. Murphy’s going to keep his expected GT starters at 17, making Sebring’s total grid 29.

Murphy’s Rolex Punting Rools

Last year, the Bear picked five favorites for the Daytona win, and went 1-2-3. Suddenly all the punters are clamoring to know how Murphy does it. Well here’s the Poop, five rules for picking the Rolex (the other two are Bear secrets):

1. Riley only. Are you kidding? The first non-Riley was 15th, eight in class. Domination, baby.
2. Teams you’ve heard of, even if you’ve been in a cave. Ganassi (that’s three in a row), Penske, GAINSCO, Brumos. They have guys who know how to screw down lug nuts.
3. No oil billionaire drivers, no scrawny girls. No drivers with the same name as the team.

Rolex Favorites

Here are Murphy’s by-the-rools five favorites for the 2009 Rolex. Look familiar?
01 Ganassi  Dixon, Montoya, Pruett, Rojas – Lexus / Riley
02 Ganassi  Dixon, Franchitti, Lloyd, Pruett – Lexus / Riley
16 Penske Racing Bernhard,Brisco, Dumas – Porsche / Riley
58 Brumos Racing Donohue, Garcia, Law, Rice – Porsche / Riley
99 GAINSCO   Fogarty, Gurney, Johnson, Vasser – Pontiac / Riley

Murphy’s Predictions

The Bear enjoyed AC’s and Katrina’s so much he made some of his own.

Baring unfixable practice disasters (or rubber checks) four classes will take the green flag: Riley Class – 13; ODP Class – 6; TF Class – 13; Porsche GT3 Cup Class – 17. (ODP = Other Daytona Prototypes; TF = Tube Frame)

With great fanfare, the infield will be closed on race morning after the 5,000 fans and 500 cars for which there is still room have been waved through the tunnel.

The NASCAR-driver storylines will disappear with the near-disappearance of NASCAR drivers. No longer singing “NASCAR über alles,” Grand Am will tout the “international flavor” of the driver field.

No entry with a “gentleman driver” will win overall.

Matt Connolly will win a close contest for the “Most Annoying Team Owner Award.”

The hot paddock rumor will be about JCF’s missing $12 million.

The only mentions of ALMS will be in Boris Said interviews.

Roger’s a throwback, ain’t he? Cigarettes and whiskey. Whatever. There’s a  bit of buzz in Daytona about Penske breaking cover with the same sponsor as the series. Roger’s boys looked a little tacky in the paddock with black hand-painted over yellow. What’s that all about, Alfie?

Brings back memories

Once upon a time, a team raced in the Braselton series. It had also raced at the World Center of Racing – and won, but those were “one-off” deals. The boss looked the part of the wrench in whose shop we’d hang around as kids, or a character from the eponymic musical (the hair, at least). Incongruously, he was a wine and cheese guy (the wine, at least).

The sponsors paid his bills and wrote checks for pole winners. They were all there at the big party. Awards were being handed out – interminably. The Finn finally won his championship. Anyway, in the middle of all that, the Brylcream boss made his way to the table at which the money lenders (sounds a bit biblical, doesn’t it?) sat. “Have I got a deal for you,” murmured our team boss, excitedly. “How’d you like to play with the big boys, get access to the big tracks, like Daytona?” Thereupon followed the pitch to take the money and flee to “where the big boys play,” delivered right there, over the top of Hindy’s, “The envelope please…and third place for tire manufacturers goes to….” So off they went to the World Center of Racing (before going belly up, of course). 

Taken for a Ride

It seems Grand Am has its own “Mini Madoff,” as someone at the World Center called it yesterday. A “gentleman” driver (and car owner) gained the confidence of the paddock, and took millions in a Ponzi scheme, with the recently obligatory highly visible charity. After taking some big buck boat bozos, he got involved with racing to screw some rich racing rascals. JC is said to have been a particularly big loser. (No snickering, now.) A team owner wrote, “Holy cow…there are lawsuits, and all sorts of stories floating back and forth.” The alleged schemer says his “assets are frozen in a messy divorce.” Right.

Question of the Day from Daytona

Why would a Porsche factory driver be concerned about job security?

Wassachians

Yet another source said the team from the Wassach will not answer the bell. Yet another source has now said so.

Is the check in the mail? Or not?

With revenues diving, some say a check from the benefactor will “make it all better,” like mercurochrome on a skinned knee. Murphy hears that hasn’t happened lately, and won’t happen now. If so, significant revenue losses – from Audi, Porsche, and Michelin – will undoubtedly have impacts not yet recognized, won’t they? 1394 Broadway Avenue has denied there will be any change in the TV package.

Alpina Geneve

Murphy knows this is the age of disposable timepieces, but good grief, how many “official timekeepers” is that for the ALMS and its venues? Give up with the Rolex-chasing, already,

Deafening Silence

After comments from Braselton brass. About the return of a Spyder. About the advent of a manufacturer.

Moves

Banbury hoped to (re)place a Vantage program in North America, then abruptly may have gone after a piece of the Jaguar program. Regardless of declarations to the contrary, Subaru’s WRC withdrawal hurt. Robin Brundle is off to Lola. Why not? That may be where the Aston action is.

Prix Parted out

The Green Prix’s been “parted out.” Seems the old Reynards bought by Ben’s buffoonery are scattered all over Elan’s (very quiet) shops, and can’t be reassembled for want of hands (and heads) no longer on the rolls. A pay-to-play open wheel blog lays the collapse of EMT on the Green Prix’s collapse. That’s goofy. There’s logically far more to that story.

Leading Indicator

Cancellations at Four Points by Sheraton Chateau Elan overlooking the Safety Pin.

To the Bank

Jim Tafel, Esquire, will not race in 2009.

Not quite to the Bank

“ptgboss” says he’ll be back. Waiting for the announcement. Speaking of announcements, there haven’t been many, have there?

Obviously, if you’re Audi, Champion Racing (or ASNA – anyway, the guys from Pompano Beach), or Allan McNish, “great” is the right word. If you’re Acura, Duncan Dayton, or Scott Sharp, your descriptive language is something else.

This was a Petit not to miss, because Murphy thinks it was something of a “high water mark,” at least for a while.

The Bear was out googling the other day and just for laughs put himself in the search. One of a few hundred hits was an archived thread from the former Champ Car fan site, now called crapwagons or something. So, Murphy’s reading the names he was called in a thread about last season’s Road America Paddock Poop, in which he sounded the Champ Car death knell and was struck by the deja vu all over again he encountered at Petit Le Mans.

No, he doesn’t see the end of the road for the American Le Mans Series, but neither does he expect a “growth” year. Come on, fans, put down the sports section and pick up the business section. The Bear’s friend Tim couldn’t have been more clear when talking about schedule expansions, more than one of which was attractive, “next season is not the time.” Stability, baby. Weather the storm. Brazil can wait.

Betting the Black (Label)

Nope, the stuffed one is talking about being a pretty looped little bear the night before Petit in 2009. He made a couple of bets. If the NASCAR sports car series is alive and well then, he’ll be buying the scotch and the wine. If by then it’s been put out of its misery, he quaffs the good stuff for free. (He’ll want to throw a Jameson in there. Heck, the first Scots were Irish anyway.)

Some say, “I heard from International Speedway Boulevard,” or “I heard from my brother-in-law’s cousin…” yadda, yadda, yadda. Murphy will even grant that the “insiders” over there remain true believers, but then they were that in CCWS right until January this year, weren’t they? I mean, Murphy’s friend didn’t name them the “cognoscenti” for nothing.

Even aside from the ongoing Grand Am coup d’état (some prefer “palace revolt”) the fissures are pretty clear. Sixteen DPs finished the season in Utah; after a bump at Daytona, about ten are now likely to continue. Alex Job Racing has proposals out for both series, but no guarantee of either. Could they end up on hiatus for 2009? SAMAX will most likely be taking the year off. Riley isn’t selling the transporter and golf cart because it wants to upgrade its race car. (No kidding, that was one bright idea the Bear ran across.) There was bad news around the paddock about Cheever Racing. Roger to the rescue? Read below.

Right in the middle of an ALMS awards banquet a few years ago, now-defunct Century Mortgage got a pitch to jump to Grand Am “where you’ll have access to the big boys.” How’s that worked out? Chickens headed back to the roost?

An Indianapolis-based team tried a jail break once before; this time they might just make it. The view on the street on SunTrust is mixed; some say the Florida mortgage exposure is too high, some disagree, but they’ve needed to add to capital twice in the past few months, and even if they’re hunky-dory, the Atlanta-based bank is widely believed to be a takeover target. Any way you look at it, easy access to motorsports financing is a thing of the past. Whether at SunTrust or elsewhere, that affects everyone – but some series are more affected than others.

Whatever one thinks in October, if by Christmas Sprint Cup and Nationwide sponsor funding is lean, how much money gets shoveled down hill just for ego?

Braselton Bits

Audi Sport North America program will continue for two more seasons. New car? It may not be ready in time for the first event of 2009. Other things still “up in the air” (and keep reading the business pages) include: Will Acura land a second LMP2 team? Will the Walker deal come through? Will Mazda increase its works support?

GT2 Hot, GT1 Not

We know that Corvette Racing will contest only Sebring and Long Beach in GT1. IMSA has heard that Bell will return. There hasn’t been a squeak of anyone else entering that class at anytime with anything. Murphy’s suggestion? Give it a decent (and quick) burial. It can only detract from the good stuff happening in GT2.

Though the Bear doesn’t count on any V8 Aston Martins (we’ll miss his Lordship and the kid ). Ferrari will return with its two 2008 teams, the Lizards should return with two cars, and Farnbacher Loles will be a full-on, two car, Porsche-supported assault. BMW could field two teams. Corvette may well adopt the “Porsche model,” with a pair of teams, including a former champion (in another racing series).

Comings and Goings

Martin Short’s Detroit business was historic racing related – a chassis swap – not about getting a chebby motor. Rob Dyson hasn’t been to Europe lately.

No Connection

More than one occupant of the Road Atlanta paddock employs a prominent Michigan sports attorney, which led to speculation the nearest cell phone tower was all jammed up on Thursday morning.

Roger Rumors Department

Yup, a  whole department, just for Roger. Is Penske going to Grand Am? Staying in ALMS? Penske with Porsches? Toyotas? Hell, how about Penske buying Grand Am? Or buying out the Don? Murphy doesn’t have enough ink to catalogue every Roger rumor and variation. (Actually, DSC did reasonably well with that). What the Bear can do here is cut to the quick. Are these predictions? Well, just kinda, sorta, because Murphy pretty much just reports what he hears around the paddock. Sometimes, though, the poop is flying so fast, he has to sort it out, add some things up, give the “good guys” (the ones most often right) a little weight, and “bottom line” it. So…here goes. Roger will race a DP or two at Daytona. There are a couple available. He may do another Grand Am race. Roger will likely (not 100%, but close) race a full ALMS schedule in 2009. It likely will not be with Porsche.

Relax

Those worried the ACO float of LMP2 engines as the future of LMP1 will be happy to learn that the final rule will likely accommodate multiple configurations.

You know the big stuff. Corvette, as AutoWeek and Murphy wrote before Mosport, will return in 2009, in GT1 before Le Mans and in GT2 after. Then it’s on to a GT2 program in 2010. There was one item not included in the Corvette’s Tuesday press release teleconference transcript.

What about a Corvette engine based on the current GT1 powerplant in an LMP? Murphy said recently that GT plans for the GM “mainstream” road racing program don’t necessarily end all that. It seems that’s still true. Paraphrasing comments on Tuesday, “We continue to evaluate (a Corvette prototype engine), we’ve had inquiries, and there has been no decision.”

Penske Porsche Promethean?

Another place there has been no decision (until perhaps earlier this week) is in Stuttgart. The paddock has been lively with rumors of the demise of Penske’s program, with Porsche to shut down its factory program, end production of the RS Spyder, and simply support the few privateers left (about three world-wide, according to the rumors). The Bear’s been told all that may have been premature, and the Porsche management board had continuation of the Penske Porsche program on its agenda this week. That’s Promethean, isn’t it? There’s a whole other version of this story over in the Grand Am paddock. That would have Penske’s departure from ALMS and a Spyder program a ‘fait accompli’ and the Stuttgartian meeting all about a Grand Am entry of two Porsche Dallaras.

“What am I going to do with this?”

It’s been said recently that a Florida Spyder is one of the three now racing in Europe. It is not. It’s still in Florida, and, may even be beyond the legal reach – at least for now – of both its putative owner and Porsche AG.

The entry list for Petit Le Mans will be out soon, perhaps even later today. If not, then next week for sure. But the Bear hopes that there’s no one out there waiting to see it before deciding to attend. What we know already should be enough.

Petit P1

What’s happening with the Petit prototypes? It’s said Autocon will be there with the ex-Berridge Lola AER. Sorry Bryan, Mrs. Berridge would dress up the joint a lot more than does Shrek, but the Bear is still happy you have a new car. Intersport will show up with one Lola AER and the ex-Charouz Lola Judd – that’s what the paddock is saying anyway. Add the ex-Arena Zytek 07S (not the Corsa car) to what’s already been anounced. A while back, Murphy was told to expect Cytosport, and repeated that – but does Greg still have a car? Similarly, ECO will pass on Silverstone (what’s new), but say they’ll be at Petit. Some in Braselton still hope. Maybe, maybe not. There’s really no reason to believe it, but if they say so, well…we’ll see. So LMP1 is 11 entries, (including the two French diesels and two from Creation AIM) twelve if you count the salad oil burner.

In related news, the Luhr incident at Detroit cracked the R10’s tub. The Bear is certain it will be replaced, of course.

P2 LMS Champs?

In P2 there’ll be the “usual suspects, with B-K in a fancy new car (Murphy really likes that change). Add to that a topless Mazda from the LMS to make it a Mazda party. Barazi Epsilon will be there. And Team Sebah may be on hand to add to the coupe brigade – though that’s not certain. The last likely entry is another Spyder. Some say Penske, but you can’t run three car teams – the entry would have to be at least technically a different team (Flying Lizards have two teams in GT2, not one, for instance). One of Murphy’s correspondents asked (rhetorically) “Do you think the reigning P2 champions in LMS will want to prove themselves over here?” If they did, might they enlist some help? Count 13 LMP2 entries.

GT1 Languishes

There’s no help in sight for GT1 – Corvette, Corvette, Aston Martin, three entries.

One more GT2 Ferrari

In GT2 there will be no James Watt, but count on the Ben Aucott JMB Ferrari being on hand to help out Maranello. Make it 17 GT2 entries, though there’s been a hint of one more that Murphy couldn’t track down further.

That’s 44, and perhaps 46 for Petit Le Mans. Get your room, your tent, or your motorhome – and your ticket. This will be one you don’t want to miss.