LMS Round 1 Barcelona - The Race Forums - A Social Network for Fans of the American Le Mans

HORNDAWG · 04-07-2008, 02:36 PM

What I gathered from this race was the gap between diesel and petrol P-1's is still there but closer than most everybody thinks (by rule). When a brand new semi-works/heavily backed privateer petrol team can be that close with the Peugeot's and Audi's (P#8 1:33:515 P#7 1:34:188 A#1 1:34:953 A#2 1:35:297 and the Lola/AM #10 1:35:531) then it seems that a lot of the gap is;big mfg vs boutique mfg/privateer. Also with the performance of the Spyders and the B08/80 Lola against all the other petrol cars it shows the performance of that group to be lacking. It would seem that the old guard are on notice.
Yes, maybe a small restrictor adjustment for the P-1 cars (amount varied open vs. coupe) might be in order until a "works" team comes along and, or if, disproves the need for it to be competitive.
In P-2, wow! Quifel with a 1:38:172 showed that it is possible for the "others" in the class to be close in pace with the Spyder and B08/80. Now the question becomes, can they? Will be an interesting year.

My question here is; does the LMS have the will (huevos) to adjust the rules to rectify these things or if it even has enough autonomy to do so?

Nick Koske · 04-07-2008, 03:22 PM

Another thing I found interesting is that the Horag Spyder qualified third. Yet at Sebring they started 8th on the grid. Seems to show the relative strengths of the ALMS LMP2 class and the LMS LMP2 class.

Monza should be interesting. Being a faster track...what will happen to the diesel/petrol gap.

porschefan · 04-07-2008, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Koske

Another thing I found interesting is that the Horag Spyder qualified third. Yet at Sebring they started 8th on the grid. Seems to show the relative strengths of the ALMS LMP2 class and the LMS LMP2 class.

Or, it could show they've had more time to sort the car out, and get used to it.

HORNDAWG · 04-07-2008, 03:53 PM

I think probably both, but more of the former than the latter.

Nick Koske · 04-07-2008, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porschefan

Or, it could show they've had more time to sort the car out, and get used to it.

But do you think the Horag Spyder would qualify differently today? Who would they beat Penske, Dyson, or the Acura Teams? Give them a year of experience and I doubt they'd beat any of the prior mentioned cars at least on pace.

porschefan · 04-07-2008, 07:55 PM

I don't know, they might. They might not. I was just suggesting an alternate possibilty. I think the level of competition is higher (to a degree) here, in P2. Look at the times mentioned above. Beating those other teams: anything can happen.Penske, probably not, the others... ya never know.

They seem to be mixing it up amongst themselves with some success. Horag might be able to mix it in there as well. I guess we won't know for a while, will we?
Like 'Dawg said, probably more the one than the other. But I guess I just try not to discount them so easily. You mention Acura, they (AGR) won the first time out, and how many since? Does it make them bad? No.

Nick Koske · 04-07-2008, 11:48 PM

I'm talking more based on speed...of course in an endurance race anything can happen.

HORNDAWG · 04-08-2008, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Koske

I'm talking more based on speed...of course in an endurance race anything can happen.

I would agree. The top 7 P-2's reside in the ALMS IMO, the 3 Acura teams, Penske and Dyson (who seem to be coming on this season), VM Motorsport may well be close in pace but it is hard to judge with just the one race so far and some rookie mistakes by them.