John H

Congo

Why was Mid-Ohio dropped for 2008? Or am I looking at the schedule wrong and they are running on the IRL car weekend again? That race weekend last year was by far the most well attended event I have ever been to at Mid-Ohio (except of course when word gets out I will be there for a DE).


edit:
My bad, I got a season ticket flyer and did not see the LeMans series on it. A quick check of the website says YES IT IS on the IRL weekend!

Congo

Audi R10 aerodynamist leaves for Courage-Oreca Judd

Vincent Bichon designed the aerodynamics for the Audi R10 TDi. He has now joined Courage-Oreca.

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=4598

Earlier interview with Vincent at Audi Motorsport

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=3945

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=3949

In review, Oreca's Chairman is Hughes de Chaunac (think Roger Penske).

http://www.courage-competition.com/

French video

http://www.oreca.fr/index.aspx?Rubrique=0&News=228

Vincent on the right



No more AER engines

Courage-Oreca will use Judd GV5.5 S2 motors for the revised LC70.

http://racing.oreca.fr/index.aspx?Rubrique=0&News=377

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=4600

Interview with Oreca's David Floury, chief technology officer - shown in bottom picture of post with Stéphane Ortelli

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=4604

I think the switch from AER's P32T V-8 might be because of packaging. I'm not sure if Courage Competition had used AER's new 4.0 liter twin-turbo V-8 like Team Cytosport and Intersport Racing.

http://www.aerltd.com/

more of Advanced Engine Research

http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newsoct07.html

Courage Competition had several tests throughout 2007 with their LC70 and LC75 (later the basis for AGR and Highcroft's P2 cars).

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3...-LC70-AER.html

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3...-LC75-AER.html

2007 changes for the LC70

Gone: normally aspirated Mugen V-8, Hewland gearbox, and Yokohama tires

In: twin-turbocharged AER P32 V-8, Xtrac gearbox, and Michelin tires

First announcement

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=3164

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=3165

revised cooling

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=3519

from this place

http://translate.google.com/translat.../IAT/index.htm

---

as a side note of Oreca's Saleen S7Rs...

Larbre Competition to race Oreca's Saleen S7Rs in 2008

switching from Prodrive-built Aston Martin DBR9s

(2001 and 2002 FIA GT team champions in GT1 class)

To race in Le Mans Series, FFSA French GT Championship, and perhaps the Total 24 Hours of Spa.

http://fiagt.com/newsitem.php?key=1441

http://www.total24hours.com/

http://www.larbre-competition.com/

David Floury

Congo

Dunlop LMP1 tire testing

Rollcentre Racing testing new aero for Pescarolo 01 Judd

http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newsnov07.html

http://www.rollcentre.co.uk/rollcentre/index.htm

Creation Autosportif has installed the new 90 degree AIM V-10

Dunlop testing at Magny-Cours in France

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=4577

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=4548

Congo

David Brabham to race with Scott Sharp for Highcroft Racing in 2008

IRL driver leaving for ALMS with sponsorship from Patrón tequila

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/indycar/42117/

http://www.davidbrabham.com/

http://www.indycar.com/drivers/driver.php?driver_id=39

http://www.patronspirits.com/indy/indy.html



Stefan Johansson out of a ride, but may race with Zytek in LMS

Interview with Johansson and Brabham

November 9, 2007

http://www.americanlemans.com/news/Article.aspx?ID=3833

Fittipaldi tests with AGR

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/alms/42165/

HPD to continue with Courage tub for 2008

LMP1 for 2009

- http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=4628

Robert Clarke to Step Down as HPD President

Clarke will be replaced by Erik Berkman, a 25-year veteran of Honda who currently serves as an executive engineer with Honda R&D Americas Inc.

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto...ndustry/41371/

http://racing.honda.com/press/detail.aspx?id=4334

http://www.hondanews.com/categories/800/photos/16428

Clarke: Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring the greatest win

http://www.americanlemans.com/news/Article.aspx?ID=3827

Video of # 9 Highcroft Racing Acura ARX-01a from 2007 Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0wKukn_FEs

http://www.americanlemans.com/driver...eam.aspx?ID=11

Congo

Autocon Motorsports may send CA06/H Judd to be rebuilt

(it needs to be rebuilt)

Racing Technology Norfolk and Creation Sport would be the ones to rebuild Autocon's Creation.

http://www.creationsport.co.uk/

Conflicting reports...

"Indeed the plans for 2008 are very aggressive. Autocon will be shipping the Creation back to the UK where it be fitted with a new tub to comply with 2008 ACO regulations, and will return basically as a new car. An aggressive testing program will follow and the team is considering the introduction of some new faces in the cockpit."

- http://www.autoconmotorsports.com/ne....php?NewsID=51

"We may end up using a Creation chassis that is already compliant and leave ours as is," Lewis said. "Or we may upgrade ours. It all comes down to timing and economics."

- Mike Lewis, owner of Autocon Motorsports

except for...

"We will be testing this off season with our first run on December 10-11 on the West Coast, and probably one other run prior to Sebring Winter Test (January 28-30)."

news from November 27, 2007

http://www.americanlemans.com/news/Article.aspx?ID=3844

p.s. team has a $1.2 million budget so props must be given.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniont...s19motors.html

Congo

Mazda blazing their own trail

An interview with John Doonan, Mazda's Manager of Motorsports Team Development

http://www.speedtv.com/articles/auto/alms/42110/

Another inside look

http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newsmarch07.html



B-K Motorsports and their Lola B07/40 Mazda

http://www.americanlemans.com/driver...Team.aspx?ID=5

Ben Devlin and Jamie Bach were joined at Sebring and Petit Le Mans by Raphael Matos who won the 2007 Champ Car Atlantic Championship.

http://www.rafamatos.com/

http://www.bendevlin.com/

Kumho's 2007 ALMS Review

http://www.kumhousa.com/pressrelease.do?newsId=194

Ben at the wheel



In other news, the 450 hp rotary Mazda Furai concept uses B-K Motorsports' Courage C65 chassis that was used in 2005 and 2006 along with Kumho tires.

Swift Engineeering developed the car. They build the sole Champ Car Atlantic chassis.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/au...aiconcept.html

http://www.swiftengineering.com/

Congo

Dome begins development of all-new S102

The 2007 S101.5 has been modified to run the S102's new core systems. Dome has fitted the car with its own in house dampers and full data acquisition system. The S102 spec Xtrac gearbox and Zytek paddle shift are also being assessed. It has a long wheelbase.

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/n...dome-s102.html

Judd GV5.5 S2 (V-10) to be used in 2008

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=4554

Scale model pictures of S102

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=4607

Pictures from Sugo

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=4643

Jan Lammer's Racing for Holland team cuts LMS program.

http://www.janlammers.com/engels/Xml...tem.xsl&id=481

Dome LMPs

http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/car/3...01.5-Judd.html

http://www.racecar-engineering.com/a...dome-s101.html

The S102 will have Alcon calipers, Carbon Industrie discs, Kayaba electronic power assisted steering along with wheels from Rays.

http://www.alcon.co.uk/

http://www.tokaicarbon.co.jp/en/products/index.html

http://rayswheels.co.jp/indexe.html

http://www.kyb.co.jp/english/product...gory/auto.html

http://www.kayaba.co.uk/kayabaeurope/pr/2005-03.htm - used by Prodrive

Congo

ACO announces the 2008 technical regulations

GT1 and GT2 run the same rules as 2007.

LMP2:

50 more kilos for LMP2 and biodiesel now allowed for both LMP1 and LMP2.

Fuel tank capacity reduced to 80 litres (instead of 90 litres)

http://motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=277099

IMSA regs:

800 kilos for LMP2

http://www.imsaracing.net/2008/alms/...ms%2008-01.pdf

---

Interview with Alexander Frei from Switzerland

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=4659

http://www.alexanderfrei.ch/

Interview with Dindo Capello - 13 years with Audi Sport

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=4647

http://www.dindocapello.com/



Interview with Adrian Fernández

http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=4649

http://www.adrianfernandez.com.mx/

Congo

Warren Hughes to be joined by Jonny Kane and Joey Foster at Embassy Racing

(testing to begin in February)

http://www.embassyracing.com/LMS/Kan...or+Embassy.htm

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=4593

http://www.warrenhughes.co.uk/

http://www.jonnykane.com/

http://www.joeyfoster.co.uk/

(Embassy WF01 built by RTN)

Kane in blue with Foster in white and Hughes in the WF01 Zytek)

Congo

French LMP Zulltec plan LMP1 for 2009 with American V-8

(testing in 2008)

http://www.zulltec.com/

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=4691



Fall, 2006 news - Zulltec CZ-01

http://www.planetlemans.co.uk/cmsv2/...k=view&id=2193

Zulltec working with Aero Concept Engineering

http://www.aero-ce.com/

Aero

http://www.ensight.com/aero-concept-...alization.html

http://www.mcadonline.com/index.php?...sk=view&id=338

Congo

Patrick Long to replace Ryan Briscoe at Penske Racing

December 11, 2007

http://www.americanlemans.com/News/Article.aspx?ID=3855

http://www.penskeracing.com/

Interview with Patrick Long:

January 7, 2008

http://www.americanlemans.com/News/Article.aspx?ID=3872

More information on Patrick

http://www.americanlemans.com/driver...iver.aspx?ID=8



Interview with # 16 Butch Leitzinger

January 4, 2008

http://www.americanlemans.com/News/Article.aspx?ID=3871

More information on Butch Leitzinger

http://www.americanlemans.com/driver...ver.aspx?ID=29

Congo

Charouz Racing Systems to race B08/60 with Aston Martin V-12

(team based in Czech Republic)

http://racing.charouz.cz/index_en.html

http://motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=277522

full press release:

(go down for english)

http://www.endurance-info.com/article.php?sid=4713

Drivers: Tomáš Enge, Stefan Mücke, and Jan Charouz

http://www.tomas-enge.com/

http://www.stefan-muecke.jgsm.de/

http://www.jan-charouz.com/en

Tires: Michelin

http://www.michelinsport.com/

The first Lola T70 Aston Martin, the 1967 V8 powered car.



Speedy-Sebah Racing Team to race new LMP2 coupe

http://www.lolaheritage.co.uk/news/news251/251.htm

Partnership of Porsche and Spyker GT2 teams to race the new Lola B08/80?

http://www.sebah-racing.com/

http://www.speedygarage.ch/

Congo

Drivers for Team Oreca Matmut - Courage-Oreca LC70 Judd

Nicolas Lapierre, Olivier Panis, Stéphane Ortelli and Soheil Ayari

http://www.blogoreca.fr/

http://translate.google.com/translat...e.php?sid=4730

http://www.motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=277669

http://www.stephaneortelli.net/

http://www.ayari.com/

http://www.olivier-panis.com/

http://www.nicolaslapierre.com/

Congo

Speedy-Sebah going into LMP2 with a Lola-Judd coupe

http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/01/...la-judd-coupe/

schwank

How about Petersen/White Lightning racing dropping out of ALMS and moving to rally racing in preparation for a future Dakar bid?

http://motorsport.com/news/article.asp?ID=277865