micro

http://corvetteracing.com

There will be no factory Le Mans Series program. The French team Luc Alphand Adventures has purchased a C6.R (chassis No. 004) that won the GT1 class at Le Mans which was driven by Olivier Beretta, Oliver Gavin and Jan Magnussen in 2006.

http://www.the-paddock.net/content/view/240837/49/

http://www.valeo-motor-sports.com/le_mans_home.html

John Shiels

That sucks no factory team at Le Mans

parkerracing

Cheer up John, it's on the factory calander. I believe they meant no factory race team in the Le Mans racing series in Europe, /:\

Miaugi

Good news! Thanks!

joemoia

lmsr.net is reporting that neither Corvette Racing nor Audi will commit to participating in the 2007 ALMS series until after IMSA publishes the 2007 regs.

BrianCunningham

That make perfect sense.

Jeffvette

That was the last I heard as well. I thought AM was included as well though.

ALMS would be hit pretty hard with no Audi or Corvette.

AU N EGL

Called negotations.

trumper Z06

As I recall... info in Autoweek said both the Audi & Corvette teams were upset with ALMS making rule changes during 2006. Corvette was unhappy with rules being changed to help the Aston Martin team. Audi was also upset over rule changes that in effect penalized their team.

Both teams "threatened" not to run next year (2007) unless ALMS admended the rules and "locked them in place" for the full year.

Tom's got a point, Audi & Corvette... may be negotiating with the ALMS regulation board.

davidfarmer

oh if we all could force the officials to give us the rules we want (so we could win every race), guarantee not to change them.. Well that would be great if there was only one team.... which is basically how it has been until this year.

Grow up and race, or hand it over to the privateers!

trumper Z06

David, I'm sure you know that Corvette suffered because ALMS was changing the rules though-out the year attempting to keep Pro-Drive's Aston Martins competitive!!!

So that Pro-Drive would remain in the series !!!

IMO... David Richards is clever enough to compete without help from the rules commitee.

Same thing happened to Audi.. and they were the first team that threatened not to return. Audi wants the rules set prior to the beginning of the season. This seems reasonable at that level of investment. The cost to engineer their Diesel had to be astronomical. Audi design was within the rules at the beginning of the season.

I'm hoping ALMS is not becoming another NA$CAR.... "it IS what it IS" rules... printed in pencil on cocktail napkins.

boerio

I have to say that, while I think they changed the rules a few too many times this year, they may be pretty close to having it right in GT1 at this point. I'd like to see them let the two teams duke it out this year - no rules changes - and see who wins.

Some tracks, Corvette will be better. Some, AM. And some, "luck" will make the difference.

Jeff

davidfarmer

I know all about competition adjustments, and the smart and stupid decisions behind them. Aston's never dominated the Vettes, even with the adjustments, and certainly nothing that GM Racings' budget can't overcome. Aston Martins, Maserati's, and Saleens are all kicking the C6R's butt in Europe, and that's just racing.

Overcoming adjustments is what leads to improvment. Maybe it will even get the #3 back up to speed.

As for Audi, that's another story. They were give an advantage on purpose, to make it worth their while to develope the diesel. They knew there would be adjustments once they were up to speed.

If these teams aren't willing to lose once and again, then it isn't racing anymore. It took GM 2 years to catch the Vipers in the early C5R program, and I think they've gotten greedy since they've been on top. It's ashamed that finishing 3rd and 4th in this series basically means finishing LAST!

Jeffvette

You obviously did not see the race at SLC. Corvette did not even have a chance.

micro

Where did a Corvette Racing press release ever say that?

http://corvetteracing.com/history/2006_season.shtml

boerio

There didn't need to be a press release. Team officials made it pretty apparent at each race I attended (Portland, Laguna Seca). They were pretty open on their opinions when they spoke in the Corvette corrals.

Jeff

micro

Opinions aren't the same as official statements.

boerio

When someone like Doug Fehan says something in front of the general population, I hardly take that as an opinion. And just because it's not on a web page doesn't mean it doesn't exist

Jeff

Jeffvette

So what you're telling me is all those websites they say Jimi Hendrix and Jim Morrison are still alive aren't true

boerio

And neither is Elvis.

Jeff