Alms news

[Ackmann]

Following write up courtesy of WMUCarguy. To good not to share.

Whilst the economy has taken a large toll on the ALMS, the series is doing a decent job of weathering the storm.

The class structure has changed for 2010 with LMP1 and LMP2 have been combined into 1 class (except for at Sebring and Petit Le Mans). There's also a new LMP Challenge (LMPC) class featuring spec Courage LMPs which makes entering the LMP ranks more affordable than ever.

In the GT classes, GT1 is gone, with GT2 becoming "GT" with an all Porsche GT Challenge (GTC) class bringing up the rear.

Here's a prospective look at what we can expect on the grids in 2010.

LMP
1 - Patron Highcroft Racing - Brabham/Pagenaud
6 - Cytosport Porsche RS Spyder - Pickett/Graf
12 - Autocon Motorsports Lola B06/10 AER/Judd - Lewis/Willman/Burgess
16 - Dyson Racing Lola B09/86 Mazda - Dyson/Smith
37 - Intersport Racing Lola B06/10 AER - Field/Field
48 - Corsa Motorsports Zytek Hybrid - Johansson/Mowlem
88 - Drayson Racing Lola B09/60 Judd - Drayson/Cocker

LMPC
XX - Intersport Racing - Pagerey/TBA
XX - Comprent Motorsports - TBA/TBA
XX - Genoa Racing - TBA/TBA
XX - Gunnar Racing - TBA/TBA

GT
3 - Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R - Magnussen/O'Connell/Garcia
4 - Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R - Beretta/Gavin/Fassler
17 - Team Falken Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR - Sellers/TBA
40 - Robertson Racing Ford GT MK8 - Robertson/Robertson/Murray
44 - Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsches GT3 RSR - Nieman/Law
45 - Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR - Bergmeister/Long
62 - Risi Competizione - Ferrari 430 GT TBA/TBA
90 - Rahal Letterman Racing BMW M3 GT2 - Auberlen/Hand
92 - Rahal Letterman Racing BMW M3 GT2 - Milner/Mueller
XX - Extreme Speed Racing Ferrari 430 GT - Sharp/van Overbeek
XX - Extreme Speed Racing Ferrari 430 GT - Brown/Cosmo

GTC
Not a ton of concrete news on entries yet

Maybes/Rumored
7 - Peugeot Sport Total - Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (Sebring/Petit)
8 - Peugeot Sport Total - Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (Sebring/Petit)
18 - Vici Racing Porsche - 911 GT3 RSR
20 - Dyson Racing - Lola B09/86 Mazda
33 - Rocketsports Racing - Jaguar XKR
XX - Team Cytosport - Porsche RS Spyder - Dumas/Bernard (If funding allows)
XX - Oreca Matmut - Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (Sebring/Petit)
XX - Creation Autosportif - Creation CA07 (If funding allows)
XX - Eco Racing - Radical Nissan (Probably a full season announced, followed by 1 embarrassing race entry)
XX - Audi Sport Team Joest - Audi R15 TDI (Petit)
XX - Audi Sport Team Joest - Audi R15 TDI (Petit)
XX - Black Swan Racing - GT or GTC entries
XX - Other Intercontinental Cup Entrants???

[WMUCarGuy]

I'll keep this space updated with any news I come across.

[WMUCarGuy]

I'll update the list through this post.

I'm hearing we can move the Rocketsports Jaguar from a maybe to a confirmed. I doubt they'll be that competitive, but it'll be great to see them add some more diversity to the field.

I saw the car at Petit Le Mans last year, although they only did a few demo laps. Looks and sounds good, so I hope they can have a greay year.

LMP
1 - Patron Highcroft Racing - Brabham/Pagenaud
6 - Cytosport Porsche RS Spyder - Pickett/Graf
12 - Autocon Motorsports Lola B06/10 AER/Judd - Lewis/Willman/Burgess
16 - Dyson Racing Lola B09/86 Mazda - Dyson/Smith
37 - Intersport Racing Lola B06/10 AER - Field/Field
48 - Corsa Motorsports Zytek Hybrid - Johansson/Mowlem
88 - Drayson Racing Lola B09/60 Judd - Drayson/Cocker

LMPC
XX - Intersport Racing - Pagerey/TBA
XX - Comprent Motorsports - TBA/TBA
XX - Genoa Racing - TBA/TBA
XX - Gunnar Racing - TBA/TBA

GT
3 - Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R - Magnussen/O'Connell/Garcia
4 - Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R - Beretta/Gavin/Fassler
17 - Team Falken Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR - Sellers/TBA
33 - Rocketsports Racing - Jaguar XKR - TBA/TBA
40 - Robertson Racing Ford GT MK8 - Robertson/Robertson/Murray
44 - Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsches GT3 RSR - Nieman/Law
45 - Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR - Bergmeister/Long
62 - Risi Competizione - Ferrari 430 GT TBA/TBA
90 - Rahal Letterman Racing BMW M3 GT2 - Auberlen/Hand
92 - Rahal Letterman Racing BMW M3 GT2 - Milner/Mueller
XX - Extreme Speed Racing Ferrari 430 GT - Sharp/van Overbeek
XX - Extreme Speed Racing Ferrari 430 GT - Brown/Cosmo

GTC
Not a ton of concrete news on entries yet

Maybes/Rumored
7 - Peugeot Sport Total - Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (Sebring/Petit)
8 - Peugeot Sport Total - Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (Sebring/Petit)
18 - Vici Racing Porsche - 911 GT3 RSR
20 - Dyson Racing - Lola B09/86 Mazda
XX - Team Cytosport - Porsche RS Spyder - Dumas/Bernard (If funding allows)
XX - Oreca Matmut - Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (Sebring/Petit)
XX - Creation Autosportif - Creation CA07 (If funding allows)
XX - Eco Racing - Radical Nissan (Probably a full season announced, followed by 1 embarrassing race entry)
XX - Audi Sport Team Joest - Audi R15 TDI (Petit)
XX - Audi Sport Team Joest - Audi R15 TDI (Petit)
XX - Black Swan Racing - GT or GTC entries
XX - Other Intercontinental Cup Entrants???

[PanozBob]

No Panoz in ALMS? Bummer, I didn't know this. Wont be the same. Hope to see them in 2011.

[WMUCarGuy]

No Panoz in ALMS? Bummer, I didn't know this. Wont be the same. Hope to see them in 2011.

Here's the "No Panoz in 2010" story: http://www.panozlife.com/forums/show...38&postcount=5

[WMUCarGuy]

A few updates:

- Marino Franchitti will be the 3rd driver for Patron Highcroft (Bad news for the chances of a 2nd Dyson car?)
- Pierre Ehret will be the 3rd driver in the Autocon Lola
- Primetime Race Group announced they'll field an LMPC car with Joel Feinberg and Kyle Marcelli driving
- There are strong rumors that there may be a factory Lola Aston Martin at Sebring

LMP
1 - Patron Highcroft Racing - Brabham/Pagenaud/Franchitti
6 - Cytosport Porsche RS Spyder - Pickett/Graf
12 - Autocon Motorsports Lola B06/10 AER/Judd - Willman/Burgess/Ehret
16 - Dyson Racing Lola B09/86 Mazda - Dyson/Smith
37 - Intersport Racing Lola B06/10 AER - Field/Field
48 - Corsa Motorsports Zytek Hybrid - Johansson/Mowlem
88 - Drayson Racing Lola B09/60 Judd - Drayson/Cocker/Bell

LMPC
XX - Intersport Racing - Pagerey/Wong
XX - Comprent Motorsports - TBA/TBA
XX - Genoa Racing - TBA/TBA
XX - Gunnar Racing - TBA/TBA
XX - O'Connell Racing - Konstant/TBA
XX - Primetime Race Group - Feinberg/Marcelli

GT
3 - Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R - Magnussen/O'Connell/Garcia
4 - Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R - Beretta/Gavin/Fassler
17 - Team Falken Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR - Sellers/TBA
33 - Rocketsports Racing Jaguar XKR - TBA/TBA
40 - Robertson Racing Ford GT MK8 - Robertson/Robertson/Murray
44 - Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsches GT3 RSR - Nieman/Law
45 - Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR - Bergmeister/Long
62 - Risi Competizione - Ferrari 430 GT TBA/TBA
90 - Rahal Letterman Racing BMW M3 GT2 - Auberlen/Hand
92 - Rahal Letterman Racing BMW M3 GT2 - Milner/Mueller
XX - Extreme Speed Racing Ferrari 430 GT - Sharp/van Overbeek/Farnbacher
XX - Extreme Speed Racing Ferrari 430 GT - Brown/Cosmo
XX - ACS Express Racing Ford GT MK8 - TBA/TBA/TBA

GTC
Not a ton of concrete news on entries yet

Maybes/Rumored
007 - Aston Martin Racing Lola Aston Martin (Sebring)
7 - Peugeot Sport Total - Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (Sebring/Petit)
8 - Peugeot Sport Total - Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (Sebring/Petit)
18 - Vici Racing Porsche - 911 GT3 RSR
20 - Dyson Racing - Lola B09/86 Mazda
XX - Team Cytosport - Porsche RS Spyder - Dumas/Bernard (If funding allows)
XX - Oreca Matmut - Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (Sebring/Petit)
XX - Creation Autosportif - Creation CA07 (If funding allows)
XX - Eco Racing - Radical Nissan (Probably a full season announced, followed by 1 embarrassing race entry)
XX - Audi Sport Team Joest - Audi R15 TDI (Petit)
XX - Audi Sport Team Joest - Audi R15 TDI (Petit)
XX - A 2nd Patron Highcroft Acura
XX - Black Swan Racing - GT or GTC entries
XX - AF Corse - Ferrar 430 GT - Alesi/TBA/TBA (Sebring)
XX - Other Intercontinental Cup Entrants???

[WMUCarGuy]

Here's some great news! It's now been confirmed. ACS Express Racing will field a Ford GT in the ALMS next season! Great addition to an already solid GT2 field! The car will be the ex-Black Swan Racing car that ran with Falken colors in 2008 and will be updated to the same spec as the Robertson car is now.

No mention of drivers yet, but I'd guess Andrew Davis will be one.

[WMUCarGuy]

ALMS News de Jour:

- Porsche Factory Driver, Wolf Henzler has been assigned to drive for Team Falken Tire in the ALMS. He'll partner with Bryan Sellers in the blue and green 2010 Porsche. TFT has also said they'd consider running their 2008 car as well if IMSA gave them some kind of performance waiver to allow it to be more competitive with 2010 cars.
- Risi Competizione announced its full season lineup for 2010 today. Jaime Melo and Gianmaria Bruni will pilot Risi's 2010 Ferrari 430 GT. This is likely the strongest driver lineup Risi has had with the 430, which will be needed to combat the ever improving competition.
- Porsche Motorsport boss Hartmut Kristen mentioned in an interview that just 1 RS Spyder would be racing in 2010, but Team Cytosport in the ALMS. This effectively ends the rumor of them running a second car for factory drivers Romain Dumas & Timo Berhnard.

[Ackmann]

Here's some great news! It's now been confirmed. ACS Express Racing will field a Ford GT in the ALMS next season! Great addition to an already solid GT2 field! The car will be the ex-Black Swan Racing car that ran with Falken colors in 2008 and will be updated to the same spec as the Robertson car is now.

No mention of drivers yet, but I'd guess Andrew Davis will be one.

I love the Ford GT. A friend or at least good aquaintance owns one and it is always a big hit win he brings it out to C&C. Do you think this car will be able to run with the Porsche, Ferrari, Vette, BMW's or will they fall just slightly lacking as the Panoz did? Of course Panoz may have been stronger with better tires.

[Ackmann]

ALMS News de Jour:

- Porsche Factory Driver, Wolf Henzler has been assigned to drive for Team Falken Tire in the ALMS. He'll partner with Bryan Sellers in the blue and green 2010 Porsche. TFT has also said they'd consider running their 2008 car as well if IMSA gave them some kind of performance waiver to allow it to be more competitive with 2010 cars.
- Risi Competizione announced its full season lineup for 2010 today. Jaime Melo and Gianmaria Bruni will pilot Risi's 2010 Ferrari 430 GT. This is likely the strongest driver lineup Risi has had with the 430, which will be needed to combat the ever improving competition.
- Porsche Motorsport boss Hartmut Kristen mentioned in an interview that just 1 RS Spyder would be racing in 2010, but Team Cytosport in the ALMS. This effectively ends the rumor of them running a second car for factory drivers Romain Dumas & Timo Berhnard.

So where is Farnbacher ending up driving for if not Risi?

[Panozguy]

Here's some great news! It's now been confirmed. ACS Express Racing will field a Ford GT in the ALMS next season! Great addition to an already solid GT2 field! The car will be the ex-Black Swan Racing car that ran with Falken colors in 2008 and will be updated to the same spec as the Robertson car is now.

No mention of drivers yet, but I'd guess Andrew Davis will be one.

Me Likey!

[Ackmann]

So where is Farnbacher ending up driving for if not Risi?

Actually just found out he is racing with the Patron Ferrari at Sebring and Road Atlanta only and then racing Daytona with Alex Jobs #23 Porsche.

Always one of my favorite drivers as well as, just a good guy.

[WMUCarGuy]

So where is Farnbacher ending up driving for if not Risi?

Farnbacher will be at Sebring, Laguna Seca, and Petit in an Extreme Speed Motorsports Ferrari. Bruni is a MUCH better driver than Farnbacher though. I'd say this is the best lineup Risi has had in the 430 era.

[WMUCarGuy]

ALMS News de Jour:

- Rocketsports Racing confirmed their driver lineup today with Marc Goossens joining team owner Paul Gentilozzi behind the wheel of their new GT2 Jaguar. A 3rd driver will be added for the endurance races.
- I'm hearing that the hybrid program for Corsa Motorsports Zytek program may be over, but the team will continue on with their Zytek. The hybrid powerplant is just too much of a financial undertaking for the small team to deal with at this time.

Entry List as of 01/20/10:

LMP
1 - Patron Highcroft Racing - Brabham/Pagenaud/Franchitti
6 - Cytosport Porsche RS Spyder - Pickett/Graf
12 - Autocon Motorsports Lola B06/10 AER/Judd - Willman/Burgess/Ehret
16 - Dyson Racing Lola B09/86 Mazda - Dyson/Smith
37 - Intersport Racing Lola B06/10 AER - Field/Field
48 - Corsa Motorsports Zytek - Johansson/Mowlem
88 - Drayson Racing Lola B09/60 Judd - Drayson/Cocker/Bell

LMPC
XX - Intersport Racing - Pagerey/Wong
XX - Primetime Race Group - Feinberg/Marcelli
XX - Comprent Motorsports - TBA/TBA
XX - Genoa Racing - TBA/TBA
XX - Gunnar Racing - TBA/TBA
XX - O'Connell Racing - Konstant/TBA

GT
3 - Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R - Magnussen/O'Connell/Garcia
4 - Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R - Beretta/Gavin/Fassler
17 - Team Falken Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR - Sellers/Henzler
33 - Rocketsports Racing Jaguar XKR - Gentilozzi/Goossens
40 - Robertson Racing Ford GT MK8 - Robertson/Robertson/Murray
44 - Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsches GT3 RSR - Nieman/Law
45 - Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR - Bergmeister/Long
62 - Risi Competizione - Ferrari 430 GT - Melo/Bruni
90 - Rahal Letterman Racing BMW M3 GT2 - Auberlen/Hand
92 - Rahal Letterman Racing BMW M3 GT2 - Milner/Mueller
XX - Extreme Speed Racing Ferrari 430 GT - Sharp/van Overbeek/Farnbacher
XX - Extreme Speed Racing Ferrari 430 GT - Brown/Cosmo
XX - ACS Express Racing Ford GT MK8 - TBA/TBA/TBA

GTC
Not a ton of concrete news on entries yet

Maybes/Rumored
007 - Aston Martin Racing Lola Aston Martin (Sebring)
7 - Peugeot Sport Total - Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (Sebring/Petit)
8 - Peugeot Sport Total - Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (Sebring/Petit)
18 - Vici Racing Porsche - 911 GT3 RSR
20 - Dyson Racing - Lola B09/86 Mazda
XX - Oreca Matmut - Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (Sebring/Petit)
XX - Creation Autosportif - Creation CA07 (If funding allows)
XX - Eco Racing - Radical Nissan (Probably a full season announced, followed by 1 embarrassing race entry)
XX - Audi Sport Team Joest - Audi R15 TDI (Petit)
XX - Audi Sport Team Joest - Audi R15 TDI (Petit)
XX - A 2nd Patron Highcroft Acura
XX - Black Swan Racing - GT or GTC entries
XX - AF Corse - Ferrar 430 GT - Alesi/TBA/TBA (Sebring)
XX - Other Intercontinental Cup Entrants???

[WMUCarGuy]

I've got some good and bad news:

The bad:
- ACS Express will not be running their newly acquired Ford GT in the ALMS this year. Given the incredible work they did developing their Mustangs, I wouldn't be surprised to see them build their own and use the Doran car as a baseline, if you will.

The VERY good:
- Adrian Fernandez is in talks with Aston Martin Racing to run an LMP1 Lola Aston Martin DBR1/2 in select ALMS races and at Le Mans. This would be a HUGE addition to the entry list, especially if they could make it happen for most/all of the races!

Entry List as of 01/24/10:

LMP
1 - Patron Highcroft Racing - Brabham/Pagenaud/Franchitti
6 - Cytosport Porsche RS Spyder - Pickett/Graf
12 - Autocon Motorsports Lola B06/10 AER/Judd - Willman/Burgess/Ehret
16 - Dyson Racing Lola B09/86 Mazda - Dyson/Smith
37 - Intersport Racing Lola B06/10 AER - Field/Field
48 - Corsa Motorsports Zytek - Johansson/Mowlem
88 - Drayson Racing Lola B09/60 Judd - Drayson/Cocker/Bell

LMPC
XX - Intersport Racing - Pagerey/Wong
XX - Primetime Race Group - Feinberg/Marcelli
XX - Comprent Motorsports - TBA/TBA
XX - Genoa Racing - TBA/TBA
XX - Gunnar Racing - TBA/TBA
XX - O'Connell Racing - Konstant/TBA

GT
3 - Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R - Magnussen/O'Connell/Garcia
4 - Corvette Racing Corvette C6.R - Beretta/Gavin/Fassler
17 - Team Falken Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RSR - Sellers/Henzler
33 - Rocketsports Racing Jaguar XKR - Gentilozzi/Goossens
40 - Robertson Racing Ford GT MK8 - Robertson/Robertson/Murray
44 - Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsches GT3 RSR - Nieman/Law
45 - Flying Lizard Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3 RSR - Bergmeister/Long
62 - Risi Competizione - Ferrari 430 GT - Melo/Bruni
90 - Rahal Letterman Racing BMW M3 GT2 - Auberlen/Hand
92 - Rahal Letterman Racing BMW M3 GT2 - Milner/Mueller
XX - Extreme Speed Racing Ferrari 430 GT - Sharp/van Overbeek/Farnbacher
XX - Extreme Speed Racing Ferrari 430 GT - Brown/Cosmo

GTC
Not a ton of concrete news on entries yet

Maybes/Rumored
7 - Peugeot Sport Total - Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (Sebring/Petit)
8 - Peugeot Sport Total - Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (Sebring/Petit)
18 - Vici Racing Porsche - 911 GT3 RSR (Big T-Mobile sponsorship is supposed to begin in 2010, but still no announcement of a 2010 propgram)
20 - Dyson Racing - Lola B09/86 Mazda (Looking for funding)
XX - AMR/Fernandez - Lola Aston Martin DBR1/2 (Possible partial ALMS schedule)
XX - Oreca Matmut - Peugeot 908 HDI FAP (Sebring/Petit)
XX - Creation Autosportif - Creation CA07 (If funding allows)
XX - Eco Racing - Radical Nissan (Probably a full season announced, followed by 1 embarrassing race entry)
XX - Audi Sport Team Joest - Audi R15 TDI (Petit)
XX - Audi Sport Team Joest - Audi R15 TDI (Petit)
XX - A 2nd Patron Highcroft Acura (If funding allows)
XX - Black Swan Racing - GT or GTC entries (Team hasn't decided which class yet)
XX - AF Corse - Ferrar 430 GT - Alesi/TBA/TBA (Sebring)
XX - Other Intercontinental Cup Entrants???