OldGuy

Is Penske going to take the Spyders to LeMans? or another chicken out? I am hoping that if Penske chickens out again that one of the other teams from USA or a Euro team takes the Spyders over there.
Any Ideas?

roberga

they are not going. I saw an interview in which Penske said he was hoping for 2009. Said that contracting was an issue.

OldGuy

WTF how can there be a contracting issue? he runs the FREAKING (I am not yelling at you Rob but Penske) ALMS SERIES How can he not go to LeMans??

Spyderidol

Porsche will not go "officially" to Le Mans unless they can compete for an overall win.
As the current LMP1 rules heavily favor diesel engined cars, Porsche has limited itself to building and selling LMP2 cars.
As LMP2 cars are not able to compete at Le Mans with the LMP1 cars (due to the nature of the track and ACO rules), the RS Spyders don't stand any chance of overall victory.
As Penske is currently Porsche's "semi-official" works team, they will only go to Le Mans with a car that stands a chance of winning overall.
Also- Penske's contract with Porsche is for racing in N. America, and it will also run out at the end of this year.
As for the European team: Both Horag and Van Merksteijn will be entering their RS Spyders (as private entries).
Also- Porsche is working on a Le Mans aero-package that will "radically" alter the looks of the RS Spyder for Le Mans.
As soon as I find a picture of it, I'll be sure to post it.

Spyderidol

Just a small correction: It will be ESSEX and Van Merkseijn RS Spyder at Le Mans.

Erik

^ what spyder said. Jan Lammers will be there, and hopefully Jos the Boss who just won Spa last week in the Spyder. Hup Holland

Spyderidol

31 Team Essex Porsche RS Sypder Elgaard/Nielsen/TBC
34 Van Merksteijn Motorsport Porsche RS Sypder van Merksteijn/Bleekemolen/Verstappen

I don't think the Horag car is going to Le Mans (its not included in the race calendar), so Jan Lammers will not be at Le Mans (as a driver)

SpeedGeek

Nah, they're scared someone may enter a GT-R.

OldGuy

It pisses me off that Porsche wont go unless they can win LMP1. Why would they then build a LMP2 car???
that doesnt make sense to me but I dont have knowledge of such things.

Crazy Canuck

'cause they own Audi.

I wish they'd get back into LMP1 racing as well to compete for overalls at Le Mans.

It's sad they don't and a bitter disappointment to me.

Spyderidol

There are some rumors that a LMP1 is under review at Porsche.
There are are currently discussions being held between the manufacturers and the ACO in order to establish the rules for 2010.
Until then, nothing is certain.

///Mous3

It is the other way around.
And for F1 (per Racecar Engieering Vol.18 No.6 June 2008):
thanks to Max....you @#$!%;

Erik

Thanks for the correction Spyderidol. I thought I had read in the Dutch newspapers a few months ago that Jan Lammers was planning to go. Either way, Van Merkesteijn should be really, really fast. Jos can still really hustle a car around, and anyone who has watched the Cup car races during the end of last year knows how fast Bleekemolen is.

Spyderidol

How so?

The turbo diesel cars are allowed 5.5L capacity engine
A Gasoline powered turbo car is allowed 4.0L engine (That's 37,5% bigger capacity for a diesel engine)

NA petrol engines can go to 6L , but must be production based

Also - why do you think there are no factory LMP1 effort to this day?
Yes Acura keeps threatening, but we will see.

Porsche never had a serious interest in F1

///Mous3

Diesel motors are heavier and revs less. Heavier from just the need to have the larger radiators because of more heat generated by diesel engines. Besides diesel is heavier than gasoline by ~10%. Then they all are on same tire.

I am wondering how can the larger tank on Diesel powered LMP1 gain adventage in the current rule?