The Audi fallout
Discussion
The withdrawal of Audi has had a tremendous effect on the local economy, with a reported loss of £5 million at least. Temporary jobs gone, rental of the camping places, a reported loss to the Audi dealership of 66 rental cars for the period, the aerodrome loss of 400 VIPs being flown in and the use of part of the aerodrome for R8 "track expériences", the Audi temporary hotel in the Expo centre, the hotel near the circuit in the Rue du Panorama empty because all 61 rooms were taken by Audi for the VIPs, the two designated garages that fuelled the team and rental cars - the list goes on and on. No one has talked about the loss to the ACO themselves either. Will the pace cars and all those lovely company cars go too?
But, for those of you getting older, this might be an opportunity to snap up a hotel room cheap if your bones, like mine, are creaking. There may be some opportunities out there.
But, for those of you getting older, this might be an opportunity to snap up a hotel room cheap if your bones, like mine, are creaking. There may be some opportunities out there.
These should fill the void... unless audi are honouring a 'contracted' period they may have agreed on previously.
Cayenne Turbo extraction/medical cars.
Panamera Turbo course cars.
991 Turbo S safety cars.
But I can quite imagine there will be a knock on effect to local businesses which supported their race attendance. It is a big void to fill for LMP1, but I hope it a.survives and b.grows.
Cayenne Turbo extraction/medical cars.
Panamera Turbo course cars.
991 Turbo S safety cars.
But I can quite imagine there will be a knock on effect to local businesses which supported their race attendance. It is a big void to fill for LMP1, but I hope it a.survives and b.grows.
Aye, loss of 5m. It'll be made up from elsewhere though.
Audi pulling out doesn't mean no-one will hire that hotel. Every hotel is full for miles. VIPs are still I (at least in their own spheres). If they can't go with Audi, they'll go with others. If they were only I because of Audi, others will replace them with differently I people.
Course cars may not be from the local Audi dealership, hopefully they'll be from another different local dealership. I'd love to see the safety car be an Ovlov, or the "VIP Shuttles" to be Teslas or something more interesting than another monochrome A5.
Audi leaving is a big thing temporarily, but LM will go on, just like the "porsche aren't here?" years. Every campsite looks sold out other than BSJ, and I'm confident 2017 is going to be just as epic as recent years =)
Audi pulling out doesn't mean no-one will hire that hotel. Every hotel is full for miles. VIPs are still I (at least in their own spheres). If they can't go with Audi, they'll go with others. If they were only I because of Audi, others will replace them with differently I people.
Course cars may not be from the local Audi dealership, hopefully they'll be from another different local dealership. I'd love to see the safety car be an Ovlov, or the "VIP Shuttles" to be Teslas or something more interesting than another monochrome A5.
Audi leaving is a big thing temporarily, but LM will go on, just like the "porsche aren't here?" years. Every campsite looks sold out other than BSJ, and I'm confident 2017 is going to be just as epic as recent years =)
This is part of the danger of relying on the big manufacturers supporting racing.
The same effect would result from Mercedes pulling the plug from it's F1 programme.
It is great that they want to be part of WEC but the sport must not become too reliant on the big manufacturer. As said above, their change of advertising budget can see a major effect on other businesses.
The same effect would result from Mercedes pulling the plug from it's F1 programme.
It is great that they want to be part of WEC but the sport must not become too reliant on the big manufacturer. As said above, their change of advertising budget can see a major effect on other businesses.
Just reading one of the other topics... other knock on effect I didn't think about will be 6 top line drivers suddenly don't have a Le Mans drive.
Either off to new series or drivers in Toyota and Porsche suddenly looking over their shoulders.
Toyota and Porsche going back to 3 cars would help this out and provide useful numbers in LMP1 class.
Either off to new series or drivers in Toyota and Porsche suddenly looking over their shoulders.
Toyota and Porsche going back to 3 cars would help this out and provide useful numbers in LMP1 class.
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