LMPC : American Formula Le Mans class - The Race Forums - A Social Network for Fans of the American Le Mans

HORNDAWG · 09-17-2008, 04:15 PM

Well for now I will put this here.
The first sale of a Formula Le Mans Cup chassis that I have heard of went to the 2008 British GT Championship team Brookspeed/Trimite. This series is expected/reportedly to be headed to this side of the pond in 2010 or 2011. I would assume that it will take the same format over here and run as a support series to the ALMS, as it will run as a support series to the LMS. Will it just be the Oreca spec chassis that we will see on this side or will someone like Panoz get the contract for the US series? Or possibly it will become an open series with several mfg's supplying chassis to series specs. Oreca,Panoz,Radical etc..

HORNDAWG · 10-22-2008, 05:01 PM

The series will run support races for several of the LMS races, Le Mans and a season ending 4hr contest, locale yet TBD. Info

HORNDAWG · 11-10-2008, 02:51 PM

Saturday November 8th a Formula Le Mans car turned its wheel for the first time.
Just as the design of the first 20 models that will race in the Formula Le Mans Cup commenced, the FLM09 began its shakedown on the Paul Ricard HTTT circuit in the hands of Stéphane Ortelli. The Monegasque driver was already enraptured after only a few laps! “I quickly discovered that it felt like a real prototype with top-notch cornering speeds. The engine (an American V8 developed by Oreca Magny-Cours) really took my breath away!”

The first rollout was conclusive. The Formula Le Mans car did not have any problems and showed true quality performance as Ortelli confirms: “On only its first outing the FLM09 is already very well balanced: it’s agile in the tight corners and stable in the fast ones. It handles well with responsive steering and powerful brakes. It should suit drivers coming from different categories like GTs or single-seaters.”

The Formula Le Mans prototype continued testing all day covering more than 100 laps under the watchful eye of Hugues de Chaunac (the ORECA Group CEO). “After this eagerly awaited session, we’re all feeling very impressed with this lovely prototype. A lot of people will be surprised by the car’s overall quality. All you had to do was to see the look on Stéphane’s face after a couple of laps to realise that the Formula Le Mans is a success. Both drivers underlined its characteristics (Michel Raffanelli also drove it), good overall balance, good engine, gearbox etc, which make a good racecar. So we’ve got every reason to be satisfied. The FLM09 is quick out of the box, and we’re all very proud of having designed this car in only four months!”

The official presentation will take place on the Le Mans circuit, in the next few weeks.

http://www.endurance-info.com/2009_F...own_FLM_01.jpg
http://www.endurance-info.com/2009_F...own_FLM_02.jpg
http://www.endurance-info.com/2009_F...own_FLM_03.jpg

Source : ORECA

HORNDAWG · 08-06-2009, 05:36 PM

Seems this might have some relevance to the ALMS in the near future!

HORNDAWG · 08-07-2009, 12:52 PM

Hmm, this seems to be gaining some weight! Probably gonna happen, the ALMS introducing a cum Formula Le Mans class to fill in between GT-2 and P-2. Built by Elan with Multi-matic, Lola and Haas involved in the process. Euro version of the car/class

fanta · 08-07-2009, 07:46 PM

Thanks for the updates.

HORNDAWG · 08-16-2009, 01:16 PM

We now have the 6.2L Chevy powered LMPC class for 2010. We will have a transitional prototype class where both P-1 & P-2 will race as one except for endurance rounds. Basically a melding period ahead of the ACO's 2011 P-1 rules where the P-2 becomes P-1. We will also see the GT challange carry on with other mfgs probably joining in the future. Here

HORNDAWG · 08-17-2009, 07:54 PM

Hmm, wonder if we won't see something like a parallel ALMS Racing School to the ACO Racing School? Which would also be able to give check rides and or schooling for the LMPC with the Pescarolo 2 seater (or a similar Panoz/Elan built chassis). Starting on Pg.3

HORNDAWG · 08-17-2009, 10:12 PM

Some pretty good videos of, what I am led to believe is, the new class of car.
Vidéos – Formula Le Mans

HORNDAWG · 08-25-2009, 01:41 PM

Well it seems that Ursa Minor believes the celestrial bodies have aligned with the Blue Oval for there orbiting needs. But how logical would that be? You change a pre existing car to accept a Ford engine when it was built around/for a GM LS3, thats logical? You use a product from a corp. that has put exactly $0 into the series vs. GM who has spent how many 100's of millions of dollar on the series, thats logical? I wonder just how GM and Corvette Racing feel about being dissed? I know it is a paultry sum in the big picture for GM. But in these economic times, and the support that GM has shown the series, sure seems to me that the ALMS/IMSA would be pissin' in GM's Wheaties!