Zytek's John Manchester

[John Thawley]

Interesting quote from Zytek's John Manchester in Endurance-Info - full translated article can be found following this LINK

American Le Mans Series

American Le Mans Series must be the most competitive LMP2 championship, with Porsche RS Spyder, Acura... You were at the last two races with a factory car. So, what is your opinion on the performances of the Zytek 07S LMP2 at Petit Le Mans and Laguna Seca ? What is your opinion on this championship, with two constructors in LMP2 ?

"The result at PLM was excellent, when you consider we had not done any testing there with the 07S. But we were disappointed with the performance at Laguna, especially as the 07S is ideally suited to this circuit. There were various reasons for this, but the main one being the unavailability of a softer tyre compound. The 07S has always been very easy on tyres and with the cooler weather conditions at Laguna it made it impossible for us to get the tyres up to temperature, which obviously put us at a big performance disadvantage.

"I think that the ALMS is an extremely competitive and professional series and the constructors-manufactures involvement, especially in LMP2, only goes to strengthen this further."

[HORNDAWG]

And Zytek being a mfg. have nothing to gain by promoting mfg's. in P-2?

[HORNDAWG]

John Manchester today in an interview on RLM confirmed that Zytek has sold a Zytek/Zytek to a customer in the US to run in the ALMS, possibly this year. He also stated that they also had a second seriously prospective customer lined up for a second ALMS bound car.

Also in the mix here is the fact that Lawrence Tomlinson (LNT & Ginetta) is now an equal partner with Bill Gibson ( Zytek Engineering ) and has said that we will see (hopefully) two LNT Zyteks for the end of the season (PLM/Laguna).

“We want to race this year starting at Road Atlanta then Laguna Seca, then Sebring and Le Mans (in 2009) plus the whole 2009 Le Mans Series."

So will we have 4 Zyteks running in the ALMS at years end? In early April Zytek had 4 chassis in build, reportedly, so it's possible.

[HORNDAWG]

Well in another interview Manchester stated that the US team that the chassis was sold to is not Forsythe. But they have had "We have had very, very good contacts with them", so maybe the prospective sale is to Forsythe!?

[WMUCarGuy]

Any ideas who this first chassis will be run by???

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

Any ideas who this first chassis will be run by???

Originally Posted by dysonfan

Any thoughts on who the confirmed P1 Zytek car might be? Zytek confirmed the sale for ALMS racing on EI, but they also said it was NOT forsythe. Any thoughts?

I'm thinking this might be PWL?? As the Lola B08/80 coupe seems to be going to BK/Mazda.

[HORNDAWG]

Well with the announcement from LNT of their debut at Petit in a Ginetta/Zytek, which also confirms the new 50/50 partnership between Tomlinson (Ginetta & LNT) and Gibson (Zytek) it makes me wonder what is up at Zytek if anything? Will the chassis now become Ginetta's instead of Zytek's? Or is this in reference to the new 4.5L engine for P-1, or maybe nothing at all, as the team are just christening it as such?

[Canada ALMS fan]

I really hope they keep the Zytek name on the chassis, not just the engines.

[HORNDAWG]

Well, Graham says that

"All of the cars leaving the factory now will be branded Ginetta Zyteks"

, still rather ambiguous, but I have asked what exactly the nomenclature will be from here on.

[HORNDAWG]

Ginetta-Zytek to get assistance at Petit. LNT has sourced Conquest to provide the project with personnel, engineering and logistical support for Petit (Laguna?). Also in this article is a quote from Eric Bachelart, Conquest team owner, that this is in advance of probable participation by them in the ALMS in '09'. Is this a second Ginetta-Zytek for next year or possibly the Creation AIM that is to be left for testing after Laguna? Hmm!