Please discuss here all your remarks and pose your questions about all racing series, except Formula One. Both technical and other questions about GP2, Touring cars, IRL, LMS, ...
Apparently US journalist Robin Miller stated on the Windtunnel programme that ACURA are about to end their ALMS LMP project. Dismayed at the thought of racing with no competition, and getting little or even negative publicity, they're pulling the plug, and suggesting to their teams that they do IRL instead.
More likely I'd have thought they come over to Europe for the LMS series and enjoy some good competition...
Or maybe Nick Wirth will do a Ross Brawn and buy the project out and race in LMS
I doubt they'd do LMS, the cars weren't designed for the European circuits, and it'll probably cost more money for redesign. Also, the project is funded pretty much out of North American Honda, with intention to promote Acura, which has 0 European presence, its not as if they can just rebrand it as the advertising dollars comes from different part of the the company.
I don't see why there is a cry for cutting the ALMS program. As with the LMP2 which Honda/Acura foots the bill for initial R&D and the teams are responsible for running the teams from week to week, with no competition the cost can't be that high to maintain 2 running cars that go out and slaughter the Lolas and needs no R&D because they aren't trying to beat the Audis or Peugeots....and for layman the lack of competition isn't going to be known that openly...
Let's hope it's just a rumour... the circuits suited for the ARX-02a are still to come in the ALMS calendar, although I realize they must have suffered a big blow when Audi announced they were leaving ALMS...
It was a big blow to Audi Sport too, because I think not even Dr. Ullrich saw that coming before the economy tanked....They designed R15 to be ALMS friendly too with ability to refuel from both side....
Obviously the ALMS is living it's darkest hours, and everybody admits Sebring only (partially) hid the real misery...
But I don't think Acura will withdraw now, although it depends of the technical verdict of Sebring.
I mean, if their main conclusion is that the car lacks fundamental pace (and you don't need a degree to find that), there's no reason to panick, since there is no real competition to beat (their biggest threat might actually be their very own LMP2), and also the ACO had warned they were going to boost the fuel powered cars if diesels still were too dominants. I guess there's no need to argue for hours about the current equivalency lol. For sure ACO will allow larger restrictors for the fuel cars, probably just after Barcelona. I don't see any reason why the IMSA wouldn't follow, as it is very likely that diesel protos will make a return in the US later this year, and they need to keep their only manufacturer on track...
The only real problem is if Sebing's verdict is that the car has a major design flaw, and redisign is not an option financially. But I doubt very much of the possibility of such a dramatic scenario. The car has done a lot of miles already, and has showed a very good pace compared to the fuel references.
Although I was impressed with the Acura LMP1 car when I watched the TV show about it, as soon as the race began I was not. The 4 diesels went past the Acura like it wasn't even there, and never looked back. In LMP horsepower is #1, because it makes passing the slower cars easier.
The Acura was built for faster corner speeds, which works good on an open track, and enables it to qualify well. But in the actual race, the ability to get through traffic quickly is what matters most, and 4 G cornering ability is worthless when stuck behind slower cars. During the Sebring race, Simon Pagenaud said exactly that in an interview. He also said that they were surprised to learn that the big front tires didn't work well when driven off line to make a pass, and that the extra junk they picked up was a problem.
I can't believe a big company like Honda could get it so wrong. But I guess that's what they did in F1.
Robin Miller reported that Honda/Acura will send the 2 LMP1 teams to the IRL, with Takuma Sato as a rumored driver. This sounds outrageous, but that's what he reported.
Didn't Audi, Toyota, Nissan, and others dominate ALMS when they had no competition? It seems like there's been little or no competition in LMP1 more often than not.
I am sure they can beat the 3 years old Lola with little or no effort from this point on, but would they gain anything from it if Audi were to return near the end of the season or next year? Probably not.
I don't think they got it "wrong" per se, the pace was there in the race but they are hedging too much on one thing. IMO the car will do a lot better(much like all the Judd-engined P1 cars), once they put a bigger engine to it. You don't necessarily get more power, but just gives you that flexibility that you need in this kind of racing. That way if you can't blow by slower car in the corner at 4G you can't at least be sure you can do that on any piece of straight....
Well, the Highcroft Acura LMP1 just won for the first time yesterday, in the hands of David Brabham & Scott Sharp. Admitedly the car had no opposition (bar the other Acura of De Ferran), and it was the poorest field ever in ALMS, with only 17 cars on the grid. So not a glorious victory obviously.
But the point is they are still there, the programm is still active, despite some apparent teething problems inherents to the design of the car. I wouldn' count them out for the second part of the year, especially if they can convince Michelin to focus on the development of a new structure / compound optimised for the 18 inches shed front train.
Well they won't be able to judge against anyone until Audi somehow decides to race in ALMS after Le Mans.....so it'll be tricky to develop....and harder to convince Michelin to do bespoke tires for them...
I don't see exactly why would they can it? These cars can have 2-3 year competitive life, so canning it now would not seem to help contribute to a good return on investment.
zac510 wrote:I don't see exactly why would they can it? These cars can have 2-3 year competitive life, so canning it now would not seem to help contribute to a good return on investment.
they ditched their f1 project after pumping 300M for a few yrs. now the team is successful and they lost all of their return on investment. seems to be the business model of Honda Racing.
I thought the car was named HPD ARX-01a as in Honda Performance Department.
Sucks that it´s closing down but what can you do, the LMP1 regulations is so F´d it´s not even funny.
you are reacting on a 2 year old topic. The spammer above your post makes you think different.
But to get back OT, anyone has an idea how the HPD(how it was officially rebranded as with the ARX01-c) program will continue? If i'm correct there were plans for an closed top LMP1. but since Highcroft doesnt run these anymore how does HPD continue?
