Re: 2014 Sportscar Thread

by **Matt** Thu 12 Dec 2013 - 21:22

Suprisingly some interesting changes on the Audi. Narrower steeper nose, new lights. Reprofiled front wheel arches, new venting behind. Aaaand have they gone back to full width rear wings again??

by AMR of the Apex Thu 12 Dec 2013 - 22:30

I'm guessing if they went so far with the wheelarch loophole they'd probably not need a rear wing.

by nickyf1 Fri 13 Dec 2013 - 0:28

Narrower track and bigger greenhouse as per '14 regs.

Full width rear wings have already been used in 2013.

by **Ax4x Mikey J** Fri 13 Dec 2013 - 2:35

XPR Roadrunner wrote:and probably never again will there ever be LMP1 and LMP2 battle for the overall lead....what a year

Too bad the ACO didn't like P2 battling for overall wins, and neutered them at the end of that season. I guess there is something about competition that doesn't fit well into French culture.

by **Ax4x Bandit** Fri 13 Dec 2013 - 2:57

Flyin Mikey J wrote:
XPR Roadrunner wrote:and probably never again will there ever be LMP1 and LMP2 battle for the overall lead....what a year

Too bad the ACO didn't like P2 battling for overall wins, and neutered them at the end of that season. I guess there is something about competition that doesn't fit well into French culture.

Probably the same reason why they haven't won a war by themselves.

by **Matt** Fri 13 Dec 2013 - 9:59

nickyf1 wrote:Narrower track and bigger greenhouse as per '14 regs.

Full width rear wings have already been used in 2013.

Ah, but weren't they technically shorter but extended through a loophole that Toyota picked up on?

by F4H Lotterer Tue 17 Dec 2013 - 12:12

A very Very sad day today Sad

by LMR Zakspeed Tue 17 Dec 2013 - 12:14

BG Trash McNish wrote:A very Very sad day today

Just read that too, McNish had one hell of a career. Sad

by **Ax4x Cowboy** Tue 17 Dec 2013 - 12:43

Absolute respect for someone who walks away when they are at the top. Cool

by ShrinkingSteven Tue 17 Dec 2013 - 12:48

Would have been nice for him to race against Webber. However respect to him for what he has already done.

by xVampirAx Tue 17 Dec 2013 - 12:51

a sad day indeed i dont think sportcar racing will be the same and he was part of the audi dream team of capello and kristensen.

by F4H Lotterer Tue 17 Dec 2013 - 13:30

Dindo now McNish im sure that TK must be tempted but who knows?

They found a great driver to join them in 2013 Loic Duval and i think he was a good fit to replace Dindo but now to replace McNish rumours are already circulating about DE Grassi or Jarvis ... well quite frankly i dont think either of them are good enough to step into those shoes.

by XPR Roadrunner Tue 17 Dec 2013 - 15:31

Very Sad, but very commendable. With a couple people dying this year and some others having to force retire from injuries, I think it may have dawned on him. He has a wonderful family, I'm sure he didn't make this decision lightly.

by nickyf1 Tue 17 Dec 2013 - 18:18

Sad to see Allan leave at such short notice, but it's great to see such a great driver leave on top. The ultimate mic drop.

With Dario and Allan retiring (both for totally different reasons, yes), there seems to be a big void to fill for drivers of ''northern British'' ancestry. For a country of only 5 million people, we produce some good peddling talent! If anything, Motorsport is the only thing we're actually good at, and it's a real shame that nobody realises this!

Best wishes to you Allan. You were the only one who made tartan look good! Razz

by **Ax4x Bandit** Tue 17 Dec 2013 - 20:05

At first, I almost had a major heart attack since the way Trash and Zakspeed wrote their posts made it seem like he died, but now I know that he only retired.

A real shame that he is retiring now. Definitely a top prototype driver in this age of racing. I will definitely miss seeing him at Le Mans next year.

by Duke of Bruno Tue 17 Dec 2013 - 20:30

nickyf1 wrote:... there seems to be a big void to fill for drivers of ''northern British'' ancestry. ...

Marino Franchitti
2014 Sportscar Thread - Page 4 M_Franchitti

I am thinking it is because of his proximity to sportscar racing, but, Marino has been my favorite Franchitti brother.

by Turbo Power 77 Tue 17 Dec 2013 - 20:43

Marino is really talented and definitely deserves a top drive in a prototype whether it's in USC or WEC.

by XPR Roadrunner Wed 18 Dec 2013 - 2:15

oh boy oh boy oh boy oh BOY

CAN'T WAIT

by nickyf1 Wed 18 Dec 2013 - 13:54

Duke of Bruno wrote:
nickyf1 wrote:... there seems to be a big void to fill for drivers of ''northern British'' ancestry. ...
Marino Franchitti

I am thinking it is because of his proximity to sportscar racing, but, Marino has been my favorite Franchitti brother.

I've always been a big fan of Marino. What's he doing these days? I'd very much like to see him in a factory P1 seat!

We've also got Ryan Dalziel and Stevan McAleer (who happens to be a friend of a friend) over in the USA too.

by XPR Roadrunner Wed 18 Dec 2013 - 20:37

Apparently the TBA entry in GTD is a Factory Nissan GT3

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/spied-nissan-gt-r-gtd-spec-testing/

2014 Sportscar Thread - Page 4 MG_6636

by Turbo Power 77 Thu 19 Dec 2013 - 19:02

Pickett Racing will run an LMP2 spec ORECA Nissan 03 for Klaus Graf and Luca Luhr.

http://www.imsa.com/articles/pickett-racing-turns-oreca-prototype-effort

by nickyf1 Thu 19 Dec 2013 - 22:59

XPR Roadrunner wrote:Apparently the TBA entry in GTD is a Factory Nissan GT3

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/spied-nissan-gt-r-gtd-spec-testing/

Nice!

I really can't wait for Daytona now that it has some actual relevance to the real world of motorsport again.

by **Ax4x Mikey J** Sun 22 Dec 2013 - 1:58

Montezemolo hints at Ferrari prototypes at Le Mans
By Steven De Groote on 15 Dec 2013, 21:52

In his traditional Christmas year ending speach, Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo hinted that after winning with the Ferrari 458 GTE, Ferrari may now be looking at competing in the prototype class at Le Mans.

The Italian underlined finishing second in both championships in Formula One while also securing many successes in GT racing.

“Once again this year, we have had great results in the world of GT racing. I wish to congratulate Amato Ferrari and his AF Corse team: Ferrari winning a championship with a Ferrari is a nice happenstance. I think everyone at Corse Cliente, the drivers and especially the new World Champion, Gimmi Bruni. Continued development in the GT world and the technology transfer to road cars has always been an integral part of our activity."

Ferrari's president also thanked both F1 drivers of the Scuderia in 2013, saving that Alonso has given his all this season, despite the frustration that sometimes arises due to lacking performance. Felipe Massa meanwhile was given a Ferrari F1 engine of 2008 while the Brazilian himself wanted Di Montezemolo to have his helmet from his final race for Ferrari, a special design dedicated to the team he was with for 8 years.

Building on the success of 2013, Di Montezemolo finally confirmed that he is interested in looking into prototype racing in the future.

"We have won with the 458 GTE, but I also quite like the idea of racing at Le Mans in the highest category: who knows, maybe one day we can return and win, say thanks and come home. Maybe we should give it some serious consideration…"

Rumours and suggestions exist for quite a while already now that Formula One is moving into an engine regulation that is not far off of the regulations that exist in endurance racing.

by nickyf1 Sun 22 Dec 2013 - 2:09

Makes perfect sense for Ferrari if they can run the same engines.

It all comes down to whether or not the cost capping for F1 comes in. If the costs are capped, they'll have the cash to fund an LMP1 programme, and if they have an LMP1 programme, they have a place to test all sorts of things F1 related in a different field. It also means they can give workers who would otherwise be layed off, a place to work.

If such stringent cost capping does come into F1, then I think Ferrari will seriously consider this move.

by AMR of the Apex Sun 22 Dec 2013 - 2:26

Things have not gone Ferrari's way in F1 before Wink

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrari_637

I dont mean to be Buzz Killington, I'd like to see a Ferrari LMP much like some people like to see a Joest Audi Diesel F1 car, but if they want to go for overall victory at Le Mans, they have got a mountain to climb [pilkington] and you can't climb a mountain by throwing money at it.[/pilkington]

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