ben in lj

http://www.penskeracing.com/news.asp?chaid=81070

New Porsche Prototype Racing Program Announced for North America



Penske Motorsports to Partner in Campaigning New Factory-Built Porsche Racecars

ATLANTA, GA, April 15, 2005 – In response to increasing customer demand and to raise the excitement level in American sports cars racing, Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), and Porsche Motorsport North America (PMNA), today revealed they will embark on a new racing program created for customers in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). The two organizations have commissioned their parent company, Porsche AG, to design and construct a racecar that will be eligible to compete in the LMP2 (Le Mans Prototype 2) class of the ALMS. It will be the first purpose-built Porsche factory racecar since the 1998 Porsche 911 GT1.

Penske Motorsports, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Penske Racing, Inc., will field the new Porsche prototypes in their first full season of competition exclusively in 2006. One of the world’s most successful racing organizations, Penske Racing has a rich racing history with Porsche highlighted by winning championships in the 1972 and 1973 SCCA Can-Am series campaigning the legendary Porsche 917/10 and 917/30 race cars. It is anticipated Penske Motorsports will debut the new Porsche prototype at the final two races of the 2005 ALMS season, the Oct. 1st Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta and the Oct. 16th season finale at Laguna Seca, as test events before entering the entire 2006 season.

“Our American racing customers have made it clear to us that they would like to move up several levels in ALMS competition, as would we,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, PCNA President and CEO. “We believe this new Porsche prototype program will provide the perfect means to do so and will generate added enthusiasm for sports car racing in America, especially with Penske Motorsports as our partner and initial entrant.”

Porsche’s current ALMS customer program, administered by PMNA, is confined to the GT2 (formerly GT) Class, where Porsche customer teams have captured a record 47 victories resulting in Manufacturers Championships in five of the past six seasons primarily racing variants of the production-based Porsche 911 GT3. It is the latest in more than 30 years of highly successful North American Porsche customer racing programs that have featured such famed Porsche racecars as the 934, 935 and 962.

“PMNA is fully committed to provide the same level of customer support for this new ALMS prototype program once it reaches fruition,” commented PMNA President, Uwe Brettel. “Indications are there is real interest in a racecar such as this for the LMP2 class.”

Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga., and its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche 911, Boxster and Carrera GT sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles for the United States and Canada. A wholly owned, indirect subsidiary of Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche AG, PCNA employs approximately 250 people who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 205 U.S. and Canadian dealers. They, in turn, provide Porsche owners with best-in-class service.

doyle

Excellent news!!! Made my weekend!

Crazy Canuck

It's about time.

bhensarl

Wow. I'm speechless.
Brian

Ron_H

So now is it between Audi and Porsche? Audi has mostly had its way in the ALM series since Porsche left.

Cupcar

I wonder what: "Campaigning New Factory-Built Porsche Racecars" means in terms of what racecar.... anxious to see what Porsche has to put up against the Audi.

Nick

Read carefully. Porsche will be competing in LMP2 group. They have opted not to race with the big boys. Nevertheless, if this a sincere attempt to get back into racing and not a marketing ploy, it certainly is a step in the right direction.

NeverLift

Knowing Porsche and Penske look for the LMP2 class winning overalls against the R8. Porsche will test the new chassis while racing in LMP2 and then use the chassis with a larger engine for LMP1. Audi is building a new car for 2006, rumor has it a TT diesel V10. In any event, Penske wouldn't jump in with Porsche in LMP2 unless the car is very special and capable of talking overall wins at say Lemans!

Ted Brewer

I had a chance to discuss Porsche's P2 choice with Chris Dyson at Road Atlanta a week ago at the ALMS race. He believes that Porsche does not wish to go head-to-head with Audi because the management teams at the two companys collaborate on a friendly basis on many projects and P1 would risk damaging their relationship. He also believes that the regulations favor P1 cars to the point that it is unlikely that a P2 would take the overall.

Ted

Cupcar

I have always contended that one of the main reasons that Porsche pulled out of world class racing in 1999 was their relationship with Audi.

In 1999-the first year Audi went to Le Mans- the CEO of Audi was Ferdinand Piech, grandson of Ferdinand Porsche, a 10% shareholder in Porsche and the guy who used to be in charge of R&D at Porsche in the late 60's and early 70's. He was responsible for the 906,917 and 908 among other notable Porsche racing cars of the time.

Piech didn't want to compete with Porsche and Porsche knew they would be un-competitive against the planned Audi megadollar effort.....