ALMS Series

K

Kale

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Anyone watch the ALMS series? I can't seem to get a grasp of the cars, esp. the GTS and LMP675 cars. Why are the GTS cars finishing ahead of the LMP675s? I checked out their site and it implies the 675s are capable iof winning outright. Is it simply because of lack of participation in the 675 class?

Some awesome cars in that series!

Kale
 
RE: ALMS Series

Been a fan since Imsa. Lets see.

The 675 cars are lighter, typically more fuel efficient and faster around corners. A 675 car actually won outright once, at Sears Point earlier this year (I was there)

The 675 cars suffer because they are not run by factory teams, but privateers with smaller budgets (though they are very, very well prepared)

The GTS Cars have beaten the 675 cars because the 675 cars are pushing the limit. The only truly competitive ones are the Lola MGs which have a 2 liter turbo charged motor. The motor is very, very fragil as compared to the 6 liter ferrari (naturally aspirated) or the 7 liter vette (also NA)

It also seems that the GTS cars have had more development of late than the others. The Ferraris are really just reaching their prime, where as the LMP 900 cars are all older - the Panoz dates to 99, the Audi to 2000 and those are really the only competitive 900s. The Riley and Scott could be competitive, but the two teams running them are again privateers and also new to the car this year.

The 10 hour race at road atlanta is coming up. Ought to be a good one.

Scott
 
RE: ALMS Series

The 675 cars suffer because they are not run by factory teams, but privateers with smaller budgets (though they are very, very well prepared)
Click to expand...

Ohhh, now I see! Factory backing sure makes a difference.

I love the 550 Ferraris, sweet looking cars! The Audis don't seem to have much competition in the 900 class. I'd love to see them get into F1 where the level of competition is taken up a few (hundred) notches.

Kale
 
RE: ALMS Series

The ACO over in france really dictates the rules, these cars aren't built for ALMS, but rather to win LeMans and compete in the new LeMans Endurance Series.

There are some great competitors to the Audi.

BMW has the V12LMR, but they quit running it after they won LeMans in 98 or 99 to focus on the F1 project. The V12LMR though several years old would still be competitive. Its an incredible car.

Chrysler sponsored an effort in 2001 with Chassis maker Dallara. The Dallara is owned by a privateer and hardly run because it is expensive, but in the hands of a quality team, it would be competitive.

Two cars that mainly run in Europe, a Dome and a Courage are both competitive.

And the Bentley (I call it the green audi, because it was built by the same guys and run by the same crew) actually won LeMans last year.

Scott
 
RE: ALMS Series

Well the BMW F1 project seems to be working.

Those aren't cars that I see running in the ALMS though. I'm guessing you're talking about Le Mans Prototypes in general??? The only two cars that I really remember seeing in the Miami race were the Audi and the Panoz.

There's used to be a race in Portland, and I told myself I would try to get more acquainted with the series so I would enjoy going to the race more...but now the Portland race has been canned. I hope the series can pick up some momentum in the states. Maybe they'll come back to Portland...:)

Kale
 
RE: ALMS Series

All the cars I mentioned are ACO Legal and run over in Europe, either at LeMans or the FIA Sportscar series (Similar to ALMS, In Europe)

I kinda lost half my point though. The reason Audi has no competitors is that the ACO makes the rules, and car manufacturers don't want to build to a rule set that is in flux, as the ACO's has been for a few years. They went to the big open cockpit 900s, then seemed to be leaning to 675s, then closed cockpits, now it seems 900s, but with ground effects again.

Given the investment (It is rumored Audi spent $500M over 4 development years on their program) manufacturers don't want to commit except at the begining of a solid rules cycle.

Scott
 
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