Mazda returning to Le Mans...
#26
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Hmm, Id like to chime in on this:
In regards to Mazda and ALMS: There are no concrete reports right now but rumors are as follows. There may be a second team, Team Spencer is reported to have bought all of Miracle Motorsports gear, including their Courage C65 chassis, the same chassis BK ran this year. Spencer has also stopped builK, another hint they may run themselves. The BK team may also be switching to a Lola chassis. They are supposedly also going to be receiving more support from Mazda. Unless the teams use a 4 rotor, it is very unlikely that they will be competitive with Porsche. They have proven that they can go the distance of a 12hr race, they just dont have the performance to win. Maybe with the possible factory support that will increase.
Corvette vs. Aston: Contrary to most rumors, BOTH teams received weight, restrictor and fuel restrictions last season. By Laguna Seca, the cars were the same weight and fuel capacity. The restrictors were different simply because one team was using a V8 and the other a V12. The corvettes are are faster in the turns to do the torque advantage, being able to exit corners faster. The Astons are very much a top end car with the extra HP. Over the course of last season it was apparent that most times, once the Astons got around the Vettes, they would pull away, using the straights as an advantage with the better top end. The reason there are so little teams in GT1 is due to the regulations of the class. The parts required to run are very expensive. For example a certain transmission is required, and it is a very expensive unit. Break it and you need to buy a new one. GT1 is considered the second most expensive class to compete in second to P1. For this reason is why you see very little teams run GT1 in the US because of the ENORMOUS factory backing from GM. No privateer team wants to spend that much money to more than likely lose to Corvette. The fact that Aston has the ***** to go head to head with them, and win, is why I am a huge fan of theirs.
Diesels: Oh ****. Audi again has made a badass car, and in the nature of ALMS, balances of performance have been instituted. This has pissed off the head people at Audi. They got the fuel filling restriction do to that fact that diesel has different fluid properties allowing to flow faster through the refueling nozzles, allowing faster pit stops. They also increased their range, so they were hit with a fuel tank restriction, down to 80L from 90L I believe.
In regards to Mazda and ALMS: There are no concrete reports right now but rumors are as follows. There may be a second team, Team Spencer is reported to have bought all of Miracle Motorsports gear, including their Courage C65 chassis, the same chassis BK ran this year. Spencer has also stopped builK, another hint they may run themselves. The BK team may also be switching to a Lola chassis. They are supposedly also going to be receiving more support from Mazda. Unless the teams use a 4 rotor, it is very unlikely that they will be competitive with Porsche. They have proven that they can go the distance of a 12hr race, they just dont have the performance to win. Maybe with the possible factory support that will increase.
Corvette vs. Aston: Contrary to most rumors, BOTH teams received weight, restrictor and fuel restrictions last season. By Laguna Seca, the cars were the same weight and fuel capacity. The restrictors were different simply because one team was using a V8 and the other a V12. The corvettes are are faster in the turns to do the torque advantage, being able to exit corners faster. The Astons are very much a top end car with the extra HP. Over the course of last season it was apparent that most times, once the Astons got around the Vettes, they would pull away, using the straights as an advantage with the better top end. The reason there are so little teams in GT1 is due to the regulations of the class. The parts required to run are very expensive. For example a certain transmission is required, and it is a very expensive unit. Break it and you need to buy a new one. GT1 is considered the second most expensive class to compete in second to P1. For this reason is why you see very little teams run GT1 in the US because of the ENORMOUS factory backing from GM. No privateer team wants to spend that much money to more than likely lose to Corvette. The fact that Aston has the ***** to go head to head with them, and win, is why I am a huge fan of theirs.
Diesels: Oh ****. Audi again has made a badass car, and in the nature of ALMS, balances of performance have been instituted. This has pissed off the head people at Audi. They got the fuel filling restriction do to that fact that diesel has different fluid properties allowing to flow faster through the refueling nozzles, allowing faster pit stops. They also increased their range, so they were hit with a fuel tank restriction, down to 80L from 90L I believe.
#28
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Originally Posted by Mindspin311
Corvette vs. Aston: Contrary to most rumors, BOTH teams received weight, restrictor and fuel restrictions last season. By Laguna Seca, the cars were the same weight and fuel capacity.
#29
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Originally Posted by Mahjik
Yep, but that was after the Vettes took a real beating at Road Atlanta. ALMS had to do something or it was definite the Vettes wouldn't come back the next season.
Balance of performance bulletins were released after Aston winning at Lime Rock, Mosport and Miller. The bulletins changed various things for both teams. Less weight for Corvette, smaller restrictor for Aston, etc...
The only difference between the two cars at Petit was a weight difference. The Corvettes weighed 110lb more than the Astons. Everything else; restrictors and fuel capacity were the same from when the new regulations were announced last January before Sebring.
#30
Mr. Links
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Originally Posted by Mindspin311
The only difference between the two cars at Petit was a weight difference. The Corvettes weighed 110lb more than the Astons. Everything else; restrictors and fuel capacity were the same from when the new regulations were announced last January before Sebring.
Corvette Racing was again handicapped with performance adjustments, spotting their rivals a 110-pound weight advantage and larger engine restrictors. The Corvettes were able to make it a race for the first seven hours, but extended pit stops to change the front brake rotors and calipers proved costly.
"When you combine the weight and the restrictor penalties that have been imposed on the Corvettes, we're at a 50 to 60-horsepower disadvantage," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "In order to compensate for that on a track like Road Atlanta you have to try to make up the difference. We tried to do that with brakes today - it was the only option we had.
"When you combine the weight and the restrictor penalties that have been imposed on the Corvettes, we're at a 50 to 60-horsepower disadvantage," said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. "In order to compensate for that on a track like Road Atlanta you have to try to make up the difference. We tried to do that with brakes today - it was the only option we had.
#31
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Originally Posted by Mahjik
Not according to many articles:
#32
Mr. Links
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Originally Posted by Mindspin311
Thats all Corvette propaganda.
Either way, they were handicapped from the previous season into this past season in two ways which has made the Astons clearly faster (when they aren't breaking).
#33
Rotors still spinning
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Dennis Spencer is not going to race in ALMS. He bought a team but that's the extent of it. He doesn't have the funds to race and has admitted it. There will still be only 1 team and that's BK.
That website has been under development for over a year now with no change.
Mazda will probably announce their new program with a new car being a Lola. Reports have confirmed that they have had a car made although they have not publicly admitted it yet. The bad side is that there is a very high probability that when they do announce the new car, it won't be rotary powered. It is looking like they will run a 2.0L turbocharged DISI 4 cylinder. That's not set in stone but is very highly rumored. Mazda originally had 3 big goals in racing and that was to win the 3 biggest 24 hour races in the world. They've got 2 of them. Spa Francorchamp was the first and we all know of LeMans. The 3rd is Daytona and they are going to make a serious effort for it next year. Take a look at the new 3 rotor Speedsource car. The ALMS car will most likely be used as a PR base for their DISI direct injected engines in the MS3, MS6, and the CX7.
That website has been under development for over a year now with no change.
Mazda will probably announce their new program with a new car being a Lola. Reports have confirmed that they have had a car made although they have not publicly admitted it yet. The bad side is that there is a very high probability that when they do announce the new car, it won't be rotary powered. It is looking like they will run a 2.0L turbocharged DISI 4 cylinder. That's not set in stone but is very highly rumored. Mazda originally had 3 big goals in racing and that was to win the 3 biggest 24 hour races in the world. They've got 2 of them. Spa Francorchamp was the first and we all know of LeMans. The 3rd is Daytona and they are going to make a serious effort for it next year. Take a look at the new 3 rotor Speedsource car. The ALMS car will most likely be used as a PR base for their DISI direct injected engines in the MS3, MS6, and the CX7.
#34
"That website has been under development for over a year now with no change. "
You are half-correct. The B-K website has been under construction forever. The www.returntolemans.com website was added recently.
I love listening to everyone speculate and rehash rumors Too funny.
You are half-correct. The B-K website has been under construction forever. The www.returntolemans.com website was added recently.
I love listening to everyone speculate and rehash rumors Too funny.
#37
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At this point they are probably still examining many different possibilities and haven't directly settled on one yet which is why there has been no formal announcement. The piston engine is a possibility but that's not to say it will absolutely get used. Direct injection is probably out of the question at least on a rotary. If it's DI then it will be the direct injected 4 cylinder. I know who is working on DI for Mazda (they contract some design studies out to top rotary builders) and he is still facing many issues at higher rpms. That doesn't sound like something that would be applied to a race engine right now. He is very tight lipped about what he's trying and getting any information out of him is next to impossible other that just knowing it's not ready yet. I hope we'll still see a rotary next year but we may not. We'll see...
#38
Mr. Links
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Originally Posted by rotarygod
Take a look at the new 3 rotor Speedsource car.
#39
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[QUOTE=racerjasonI love listening to everyone speculate and rehash rumors Too funny.[/QUOTE]
yep. i know that i have nothing to do with any of it
yep. i know that i have nothing to do with any of it
#40
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Originally Posted by rotarygod
Mazda will probably announce their new program with a new car being a Lola. Reports have confirmed that they have had a car made although they have not publicly admitted it yet. The bad side is that there is a very high probability that when they do announce the new car, it won't be rotary powered. It is looking like they will run a 2.0L turbocharged DISI 4 cylinder.
Originally Posted by CMonakar
I was told by one source that they decided to use a turbo 4-cylinder made by a different company and re-badged as a Mazda motor. The same source said they were also considering using a rotary engine, but the requested hp/fuel economy improvements over last year's motor were unrealistic. I'm not sure how current that information is though . . .
#41
ill probably get a flaming for this but what the hell...
it may be simplistic, but im SICK of restrictions.
Give the manufacturers a maximum HP and TQ value and a minimum weight level. Forget these restrictors etc. Set them on the track and let them race.
The car that loses, loses because of either driver error, or poor engineering - its as simple as that.
Why bother trying to even the balance between a car that isnt as good and a car thats better by imposing penalties on the better car or lifting restrictions on the lesser car? Thats just dumb.
Ever since Group B rallying was banned and they started making these rules in motorsport its become pretty god damn boring. Bring back the days of the metro 6r4 and lancia integrale S4...the cosworth RS500 etc:
These were the cars that used to, and still do get me really excited. I love watching the BTCC (british touring car championship for you americans) races from the 80s. RS500's scrambling for traction out of corners to beat the other cars down the straight; riding over bumps and screaming the tyres for 100 feet down the road as the rears struggle to transmit that 500bhp to the ground.
Sure there is the argument of "its dangerous, motorsport is so much safer nowadays etc" But my question is always dangerous to who? The drivers? Of course. But any kind of driving is dangerous to the drivers. What about the spectators? well, its not dangerous if people a)dont act like ******* dumbasses and b) the event organisers take appropriate precautions.
Nowadays BTCC races are restricted to 300bhp in the car and 90% of the vehicles are front wheel drive! Where is the fun in that? Sure its good to watch a good race, but the fun has been taken out of it now i feel.
Sure the racing you guys are talking about is a little more exciting than our decidedly tame BTCC, but the argument still stands - if a car is better than another, then why penalise the better car for it?
thats just ******* dumb. Manufacturers race in order to gain notoriety for their brand for performance, reliability and desireability. If they are not allowed to exhibit their full potential on the track then why do it?
Now we are reduced to talking about how the astons gained 2 seconds a lap on the vettes (which is a very interesting point, dont get me wrong) but i feel that this makes racing somewhat exclusive. People who are not obsessively interested in motor vehicles now cannot sit down and watch a race and find it exciting. Its all too boring, too much regularion, too much red tape. You have to look real deep now before you see the beauty behind the racing that has always been there. All these rules do is take away from the sport not add to it.
I wish i could start my own racing league. My rules would be:
600Hp/Tq limit
900kg minimum dry weight limit
any drivetrain you like
That would make it more interesting. I cant be bothered to type any more, ive gone on enough - but i can tell you id much rather sit down and watch an 80s BTCC race that happened before i was born (1985) after seeing it 20 times than watch a modern BTCC race.
it may be simplistic, but im SICK of restrictions.
Give the manufacturers a maximum HP and TQ value and a minimum weight level. Forget these restrictors etc. Set them on the track and let them race.
The car that loses, loses because of either driver error, or poor engineering - its as simple as that.
Why bother trying to even the balance between a car that isnt as good and a car thats better by imposing penalties on the better car or lifting restrictions on the lesser car? Thats just dumb.
Ever since Group B rallying was banned and they started making these rules in motorsport its become pretty god damn boring. Bring back the days of the metro 6r4 and lancia integrale S4...the cosworth RS500 etc:
These were the cars that used to, and still do get me really excited. I love watching the BTCC (british touring car championship for you americans) races from the 80s. RS500's scrambling for traction out of corners to beat the other cars down the straight; riding over bumps and screaming the tyres for 100 feet down the road as the rears struggle to transmit that 500bhp to the ground.
Sure there is the argument of "its dangerous, motorsport is so much safer nowadays etc" But my question is always dangerous to who? The drivers? Of course. But any kind of driving is dangerous to the drivers. What about the spectators? well, its not dangerous if people a)dont act like ******* dumbasses and b) the event organisers take appropriate precautions.
Nowadays BTCC races are restricted to 300bhp in the car and 90% of the vehicles are front wheel drive! Where is the fun in that? Sure its good to watch a good race, but the fun has been taken out of it now i feel.
Sure the racing you guys are talking about is a little more exciting than our decidedly tame BTCC, but the argument still stands - if a car is better than another, then why penalise the better car for it?
thats just ******* dumb. Manufacturers race in order to gain notoriety for their brand for performance, reliability and desireability. If they are not allowed to exhibit their full potential on the track then why do it?
Now we are reduced to talking about how the astons gained 2 seconds a lap on the vettes (which is a very interesting point, dont get me wrong) but i feel that this makes racing somewhat exclusive. People who are not obsessively interested in motor vehicles now cannot sit down and watch a race and find it exciting. Its all too boring, too much regularion, too much red tape. You have to look real deep now before you see the beauty behind the racing that has always been there. All these rules do is take away from the sport not add to it.
I wish i could start my own racing league. My rules would be:
600Hp/Tq limit
900kg minimum dry weight limit
any drivetrain you like
That would make it more interesting. I cant be bothered to type any more, ive gone on enough - but i can tell you id much rather sit down and watch an 80s BTCC race that happened before i was born (1985) after seeing it 20 times than watch a modern BTCC race.
#43
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http://www.mulsannescorner.com/ usually has pretty good info.
rotarygod, where did you hear that dennis spencer didn't have the funds to run ALMS? That's hard to believe...
rotarygod, where did you hear that dennis spencer didn't have the funds to run ALMS? That's hard to believe...
#44
Rotors still spinning
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He can probably afford it but he just can't justify doing it. Here's an interview with him on the subject. I also know certain people in Atlanta that are affiliated with him.
http://rotarynews.com/node/view/827
http://rotarynews.com/node/view/827
#45
1308ccs of awesome
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Originally Posted by bobfisH
rant rant rant
if you made that racing leage, I would race in it
or at least watch it with a pasion
EDIT:
I love the ford RS200
#46
Originally Posted by Mahjik
I doubt that will happen. They have all but ruined the GT1 division since there are only 2 teams in it now; and it doubtful both teams will be back next season. Its too bad they handicapped the Saleen so badly a few seasons back as thats one of my favorite cars to watch.
IMO, if they stop with their "on-the-fly" competition adjustments, they may attract more teams from the LeMans series to compete as well.
IMO, if they stop with their "on-the-fly" competition adjustments, they may attract more teams from the LeMans series to compete as well.
But I still love going to the races in person if only to hear the noises.
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jayk, your statement about alms not being intersting because they slow down cars....If you remember when cadillac showed up at sebring they sandbaged all weekend and then smoked the field durring the race, after that ALMS cut the **** out of that car. would you have prefered they didn't do anything to it??? The caddy would have won every race by laps how interesting would that have been.
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Without the balance of performance bulletins, the racing would be boring. This is the one reason P1 is so uneventful, Audi dominates and they have no competition. GT2 is exciting to watch since there are 20 cars that are basically all equal so they are dicing it up every lap. If there werent actual competition, racing would be boring if one team just showed up and ran over everyone.
#49
Mr. Links
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Originally Posted by Mindspin311
Without the balance of performance bulletins, the racing would be boring. This is the one reason P1 is so uneventful, Audi dominates and they have no competition. GT2 is exciting to watch since there are 20 cars that are basically all equal so they are dicing it up every lap. If there werent actual competition, racing would be boring if one team just showed up and ran over everyone.
#50
1308ccs of awesome
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Originally Posted by Mindspin311
Without the balance of performance bulletins, the racing would be boring. This is the one reason P1 is so uneventful, Audi dominates and they have no competition. GT2 is exciting to watch since there are 20 cars that are basically all equal so they are dicing it up every lap. If there werent actual competition, racing would be boring if one team just showed up and ran over everyone.
what a bizaire concept... deffinitly boring.