2010 Schedule and other Relevant Stuff

Murphy wrote about schedule rumors in his last Poop. Did you connect the dots? Yes, the events purportedly on the bubble are linked by promoter Andretti Green and Honda/Acura. It should be clear what’s fueling this talk: AGR promoted Toronto’s return to urban open wheel racing; calling that a disaster is kind. St. Pete’s observed attendance hasn’t yet reached break-even numbers. Andretti and Green split last week, in part over difficulties in the promotion side of the business, which Kim Green and Kevin Savory will retain while Michael goes his own way with the racing. Meanwhile, you don’t need the Bear to tell you that absent the return of real competition in the ALMS, Acura’s return to the top class is generally seen as problematic. (Even if one or two teams do return as privateers, the issue here is Acura/Honda and the funding it brings to events like St. Pete.) Does that mean St. Pete is gone from the ALMS schedule,  and perhaps Mid-Ohio, too? Not necessarily, but it is enough to keep the tongues wagging in the paddock.

Private to Murphy’s friendly correspondent: The Bear’s anticipation of the next season’s schedule is hardly new – or news. In September 2005, Paddock Poop 5 headlined “The Bear Muses on…the 2006 Schedule…” and launched the “discussion” with this: “After the Miller Motorsports Park announcement, the Bear thought he’d better tell what he’s heard about the 2006 schedule, before Scott A. gets the jump on him.” Then he wrote to expect Edmonton (wrong), Houston (right), Long Beach (a season too soon, but there had been talks), and the departure of the Atlanta spring event (right), and Sonoma (right). Not bad, all things considered, but since the Bear doesn’t purport to know what will happen – he just reports what they’re saying around the paddock – he can’t take much credit.

They’re Baaak! (in prototypes the Porkers ain’t)

Audi finally announced it would contest Petit Le Mans. Not doing so after nine consecutive overall wins would have been something other than sporting, wouldn’t it? So, why not Laguna Seca? Murphy’s has no idea. It doesn’t have to make sense, does it? From multiple sources, it seems Audi is working on a new, 2011-rules prototype. Any assumption that Audi just parked the R15 after Le Mans and forgot about it would be off the mark. Still, even if Ingolstadt’s been working, it’s still the French team’s Petit to lose. So the beat goes on for Audi, and the recurring stories of a Porsche return to the top category are fading.

In fact, there’s more and more talk that Porsche will openly pursue a GT-only sports car racing course in the future. After dismal North American sales for the race-car-building operation this year (and last), Weissach is looking for substantial increases in sales of 911 GT3 Cup cars of various kinds to cover declining sales of its high-end (RSR) wares. The need to stoke those sales explains Porsche’s strong support for the ALMS Challenge class’ expansion, and according to some sources, those same “commercial considerations” are also behind the limitation (for now) of the new class to 911’s of any color you might want (delivery in white, but you can paint it to suit your taste). 

Sincerely Dead

A trusted source reports that the on-again, off-again Panoz LMP is finally dead…including a recent Frankenstein-like reincarnation of the original 01.  Undeniably and reliably dead. Not only merely dead. Really, most sincerely dead! (Murphy’s thanks to his friends the Munchkins.)

Hooray for Petit!

The way much of this season has unfolded, Murphy wasn’t very hopeful that Petit Le Mans would be much of an event. Finally, now it looks as if it will be as good as 2008’s classic. So he’s planning his trip. 2005 was the Bear’s first, though his administrative assistant has been heading to Georgia since 1999. Along the way, Murphy’s developed certain habits, including Thursday night in the woods above Turn 10, and Paddy’s at Chateau Élan after the race until the wee hours (and often before). This year he’s prepared to miss a close friend (to whom he owes a Black Label), but hoping that won’t be the case. The Bear often brings you bad nooz, but he loves the racing and the events.

MC12?

The Bear was surprised the other day at a mention of a future MC12 entry. Was that just a “flight of fancy?” Murphy has no idea how that car might fit into the 2010 rules. (Unless the contemplated IMSA “single GT class” is something more than a re-name of GT2.)

Sportscarpros – it’s like Christmas morning

The Brooks-Morse online adventure sportscarpros.com is (putting it very kindly) infrequently updated. But when it is, there’s no better reading (and photography) anywhere in the sports car world. Today was one of those long awaited updates, with articles by Andrew and Michael Cotton, John Elwin, David Soares, Bill Oursler and others. The Bear killed a good part of his morning reading intelligent stuff, including David Soares‘ drive of the new Panamera and consternation at Porsche’s apparent dissing of its sports car heritage at an event in which it was honored (not for it’s sedan).

In particular, this sentence in an Andrew Cotton piece struck the Bear as an illustration of the depth and experience of the site’s writers and photographers (emphasis Murphy’s): “The 1960s and early 1970s are always regarded as the golden age of sports car racing. Michael, my father, remembers it differently, having to write an obituary almost every week, but the cars, the drivers and the events were all in place.”

The Prototype Challenge

The principal is – according to the Bear’s sources – not simply to import a few prototypes from Europe, but rather to build the cars in North America, to the benefit of Élan Motorsport Technologies and its racing industry friends. Though multiple sources say the motor will not be the Chebby LS3, but rather a Ford built by Élan Motorsport Technologies, it’s not unanimous. Some say a deal is in the works to retain the Chebby.

Those who generally know about such things tell the Bear that Xtrac will supply the gearbox, which is interesting, given that Hewland importer Haas will carry the car’s spares inventory. Wishbones and drive shafts will be subbed to Pankel in Austria. The tubs will be done in Canada under license or bought from Oreca, whichever is cheaper. (Multimatic has built Lola tubs in the past.) Body panels will be made by Comprent (Athens, GA). Molds will be done by PTI, a small Athens machining company.

Multimatic will supply shocks from its Dynamic division, then do final assembly of the cars and ship to final customers.

Acura at Petit

What should we expect from Acura at Road Atlanta? Isn’t this the test of whether (in the words of one americanlemansfans.com poster) they were “doing mushrooms at HPD” (with this design)? Perhaps that descriptor better applies to Nick Wirth’s company. Or both. Whatever, when the ARX-02a was designed, it certainly wasn’t anticipated that Audi’s diesel would be gone. It certainly can’t be believed that Road Atlanta wouldn’t have been a track on which the design was intended to be competitive. Acura has to have benefited long Peugeot – and even longer Audi – lay-offs, and whether we believe HPD put the car’s development “on hold,” there was reportedly enough activity (and interest) to develop “Le Mans” (aka low downforce) bodywork. Yet, it seems widely accepted that Acura will hardly be in the same zip code with the diesels at Petit Le Mans. That may be, but should it?

Gathering Storm

Following the Bear’s reporting of the Grand Am-purchase-of-ALMS rumors, at Lime Rock Scott Atherton pinned on a lapel button that read “We are Not for Sale.” Cute stuff. Series officials were adamant that no talks had taken place, and (not for attribution) some were pretty sure such rumors originated from somewhere south-of-Georgia, and often about the same time of the year (or whenever the American Le Mans Series might have good news). Interestingly, Murphy subsequently heard from another, third party, source that indeed, a member of “the family” was heard to say that “there had been talks.”

Disinformation? It seems likely, but whatever the details, the North American Sports Car Wars would appear to be heating up. Consider that the expansion of the GT Challenge class will now be aimed directly at Porsche Grand Am participants, and the Prototype Challenge seems designed to cut into the Daytona Prototype ranks. Add to that the rumblings about Porsche’s declining interest in the Grand Am model (reported by the Bear in Paddock Poop 136), and you can almost hear the black helicopters circling.  Veteran observer Bill Oursler wonders “Will there be War?” in a detailed (and more professional) look at France versus the Don in a piece titled “The Gathering Storm” just this morning over on sportscarpros.com.

Formula 1 In F1 – and the FIA, the two having become “joined at the hip” – teams are more preoccupied with the election of Max’s successor than you might think. The Bear’s excellent sources are adamant that Ari will prevail with another challenger’s campaign soon collapsing.

It was nice to see Rubens win. He’s driving for the sheer love of it this season, so expect a paying contract for him next year, then retirement in 2011. Retirement to what? Sports cars? Rubens is not Micheal, so a place on the Ferrari sports car roster is a possibility.

In North American open wheel, what Murphy hears from within the IRL is dire indeed; much worse than is generally reported. Are drastic changes in the offing for 2010? Will there be a 2010? Stay tuned.

Have fun at Mosport!

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