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l'Equipe (French Sports Newspaper) saying Peugeot could place a 908 @ Highcroft or de Ferran for ALMS & LM in 2010
http://www.mariantic.co.uk/lmp/
One of the Lola Aston Martin LMP1s sold in USA
http://www.endurance-info.com/version2/actualite-endurance-2860.html
Rumor: Peugeot 908 and Lola AM in ALMS
Abnormal User
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If one were to show up I'd be surprised, if both were to see action in the ALMS next year I'd be ecstatic. Ideally De Ferran would get the Pug and that would be the trick to bring Gil back, i.e. Peugeot would be offer enough financial aid to get Gil to all nine rounds of the ALMS and the 24 Hours. One question does come to mind immediately, and it hurts me to ask this, but how would a soul 908 do in a nine race ALMS calendar against the unified 'P' field? Would it absolutely trounce everyone on the faster circuits?
Chris
Chris
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Why would de Ferran get a Peugeot when he can't find a sponsor to help run his current team?
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On account of Peugeot want him to run it.
Chris
Chris
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I think that you're refering to Fernandez, unless Panasonic/XM pulled out on Gil.
Fact of the matter is that Gil and Duncan could barely afford to run the Acuras even with Honda's money and their Patron and Panasonic/XM sponsorship.
And need I bring up Petit Le Mans, where Audi handed Peugeot their rears on a platter in the wet and dry until both R15's hydroplaned off at turn 10 before IMSA red flagged the race. The Pugs weren't built for the ALMS, the Acruas probably skewed an ALMS design bias too far, and the R15 would probably do an excellent job in the ALMS, but it's not know if Audi even has any plans aside from stated intent to return to the ALMS if Dr. Ullrich is able to convince the Audi board, but as of now, Audi doesn't have firm plans to do ALMS or LMS full time next year-and privateer teams are out of the question.
But back to the 908-it might do well at like Mosport, Sebring, Road Atlanta, Road America, or even MMP, but what about Long Beach, Lime Rock, or Mid Ohio-tracks that the 908 wasn't designed for. Or even the sandy and dirty surface at Laguan Seca? And don't even throw rain into the equation-at PLM the 908's were so twitchy and awkward in their handling that they made Bella Swan from the Twilight books look graceful by comparison, and made Kristen Stewart on Late Night with David Letterman last year look cool, calm, collected, open and talkative.
So I say no 908s in the ALMS, aside from the big races-the only team that's run the 908 in private hands was Pescarolo at Le Mans last year, and were the leading candiate, but even though Henri and his men are capable of running the 908(their car though scantly updated aside from rules complaince issues, ran as well as the factory cars until it DNF'ed), his team can't afford to run one 908, let alone two.
And Peugeot has nothing to gain-they don't sell cars, and although European fans follow the ALMS more than Americans do, I doubt that an ALMS championship will help with marketing-Audi has DTM and Le Mans for Europe, and Audi's ALMS program from 2000-now was to boost the sales for Audi in North America-their biggest market.
Why a 908 in the ALMS? Unless someont is desperate to beat Audi at least in the big races next year, I don't see the why. The Lola-Aston Martin may find a home, though, with Duncan Dayton and Highcroft-depends on what HPD do for next year.
Fact of the matter is that Gil and Duncan could barely afford to run the Acuras even with Honda's money and their Patron and Panasonic/XM sponsorship.
And need I bring up Petit Le Mans, where Audi handed Peugeot their rears on a platter in the wet and dry until both R15's hydroplaned off at turn 10 before IMSA red flagged the race. The Pugs weren't built for the ALMS, the Acruas probably skewed an ALMS design bias too far, and the R15 would probably do an excellent job in the ALMS, but it's not know if Audi even has any plans aside from stated intent to return to the ALMS if Dr. Ullrich is able to convince the Audi board, but as of now, Audi doesn't have firm plans to do ALMS or LMS full time next year-and privateer teams are out of the question.
But back to the 908-it might do well at like Mosport, Sebring, Road Atlanta, Road America, or even MMP, but what about Long Beach, Lime Rock, or Mid Ohio-tracks that the 908 wasn't designed for. Or even the sandy and dirty surface at Laguan Seca? And don't even throw rain into the equation-at PLM the 908's were so twitchy and awkward in their handling that they made Bella Swan from the Twilight books look graceful by comparison, and made Kristen Stewart on Late Night with David Letterman last year look cool, calm, collected, open and talkative.
So I say no 908s in the ALMS, aside from the big races-the only team that's run the 908 in private hands was Pescarolo at Le Mans last year, and were the leading candiate, but even though Henri and his men are capable of running the 908(their car though scantly updated aside from rules complaince issues, ran as well as the factory cars until it DNF'ed), his team can't afford to run one 908, let alone two.
And Peugeot has nothing to gain-they don't sell cars, and although European fans follow the ALMS more than Americans do, I doubt that an ALMS championship will help with marketing-Audi has DTM and Le Mans for Europe, and Audi's ALMS program from 2000-now was to boost the sales for Audi in North America-their biggest market.
Why a 908 in the ALMS? Unless someont is desperate to beat Audi at least in the big races next year, I don't see the why. The Lola-Aston Martin may find a home, though, with Duncan Dayton and Highcroft-depends on what HPD do for next year.
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I wasn't saying the 908 was the greatest thing since sliced bread. Merely wondering in the event of a Pug showing up at places like Mosport (questionable if it'd win there) or Road America if it would lay the paddle to the rest of the prototype field (which I am assuming will be Audi-free.)
Chris
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On account of Peugeot want him to run it.
Chris
Again, echoing HW, Peugeot "wanting him to run it" doesn't put the $$$ req'd on the table...
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jimclark
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doesn't put the $$$ req'd on the table...
Doesn't necessarilly put the $$$ required on the table. But I do agree. Hence my thinking if one of either cars shows I'd be surprised.
Chris
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As I mentioned, the Acuras cost a pretty penny, since Highcroft and de Ferran ran the cars as "privateers" under IMSA rules. However, the cars needed plenty of Honda money and sponsor money for those teams to run the cars full time.
Audi objected to offering the R10 to privateers for so long due to cost, and Peugeot didn't get serious offers for the 908 until Pescarolo rented one for LM this year because it cost so much.
If a team can barely afford to run a car that mechanically breaks little new ground, I doubt that they can afford a diesel.
Audi objected to offering the R10 to privateers for so long due to cost, and Peugeot didn't get serious offers for the 908 until Pescarolo rented one for LM this year because it cost so much.
If a team can barely afford to run a car that mechanically breaks little new ground, I doubt that they can afford a diesel.
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You do realize that de Ferran and Patron Highcroft are Privateers don't you?
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In IMSA's eyes, but we all know that they're defacto factory teams-in '04 and '05, Champion was Audi's defacto factory team in the ALMS, but they still won the IMSA Cup(privateer's award) in both of those years.
But where does IMSA draw the line-in '03, Joest and Champion ran with basically the exact same support from Audi, but IMSA classified Champion as a privateer, while Joest, with basically the same support from Audi, was a factory team.
And the same can be argued for Penske vs Dyson and the Acura teams-Penske was classified as a factory team, while the Acura guys and Dyson were privateers.
Fact of the matter is that Honda/Acura spent plenty of money on those teams, and they were no less a privateer effort than Champion was, especally from '04-early '06. And like Highcroft and de Ferran, I'll bet that Dave Maraj got just as much, if not more, money from Audi as he did from ADT, especally when Infineon pulled out(something about an anti-trust lawsuit and fines and fees in '04 that they settled for $160 million) and S-Line/quattro GmbH became a big sponsor in '05.
But where does IMSA draw the line-in '03, Joest and Champion ran with basically the exact same support from Audi, but IMSA classified Champion as a privateer, while Joest, with basically the same support from Audi, was a factory team.
And the same can be argued for Penske vs Dyson and the Acura teams-Penske was classified as a factory team, while the Acura guys and Dyson were privateers.
Fact of the matter is that Honda/Acura spent plenty of money on those teams, and they were no less a privateer effort than Champion was, especally from '04-early '06. And like Highcroft and de Ferran, I'll bet that Dave Maraj got just as much, if not more, money from Audi as he did from ADT, especally when Infineon pulled out(something about an anti-trust lawsuit and fines and fees in '04 that they settled for $160 million) and S-Line/quattro GmbH became a big sponsor in '05.
