Wednesday 25th July 2007

Porsche RS Spyder to compete in Europe

Dutch team to race Porsche at Le Mans

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Team principal Frans Verschuur

A Dutch team will become the first customer entrant of a Porsche RS Spyder in Europe. The Penske-run ‘works’ cars have proved very successful in the ALMS series in the US over the past couple of seasons, but this announcement will see Porsche returning once again to the sharp end of the grid at le Mans.

VM Motorsport by Equipe Verschuur will contest the full 2008 Le Mans series as well as the famous 24 hour race.

Team principal Frans Verschuur says about the Porsche project: “It is a logical next step in the development of our team. In the past few years, the Le Mans Series with its 1000-kilometre races at famous race tracks has developed itself to a professional race category and is a very attractive playing field. Additionally, we plan to enter the Le Mans 24 Hours, which is of course a major challenge for any team.”

The near-500bhp LMP2 car will be built at Weissach this autumn while drivers for the team are yet to be decided.

[//j17]

"...this announcement will see Porsche returning once again to the sharp end of the grid at le Mans."

Will it? The ACO run much more restrictive regs. for LMP2 vs those they run under in the ALMS.

OK, it should mean all the steps on the LMP2 podium actually get used at 5PM on Sunday - but can't see them worrying the LMP1 oil burners next year.

[Ravell]

About time the RS Spyder raced at Le Mans!

[Pawsher]

Its about time motorsport got interesting again and Lewis has led the change of winds

[flemke]

I think the problem with this car has been that it's too expensive to justify its competing in LMP2, and it has no chance of winning a 24 hr race outright.

[Ahonen]

Pawsher said:

Its about time motorsport got interesting again and Lewis has led the change of winds

Eh? Lewis Hamilton? How?

[dctvr]

I've been wanting to see the porsche rs spyders at le mans for 2 years; that said, le mans is a fast circuit and the spyders are best suited to slower twistier circuits. I doubt they will come anywhere near the LMP1 cars as the ACO have altered regulations over the last couple of years to suit diesel fueled cars also.

[Chris Patey]

Is there much difference from the way the LMP1 AND LMP2 cars are set up run between european and americian events, as the LMP2 cars in america seem alot more succesfull than the ones in the european le mans series???

[//j17]

Chris Patey said:

Is there much difference from the way the LMP1 AND LMP2 cars are set up run between european and americian events, as the LMP2 cars in america seem alot more succesfull than the ones in the european le mans series???

Few differences in setup - differences in the regs that define the classes. There are probably a thousand detailed differences (but that's just because motorsport bodies LOVE writing and randomly changing rules and specifications).

The key difference between ALMS regs. and the ACO regs. that the 24Hr and LMS is the size of the intake restrictors - the ALMS regs give LMP2 cars a much bigger intake/smaller restrition and brings power up to the same sort of level as LMP1 and you have lots of cars racing for outright victory. The ACO have actually reduced the intake size/increased the restriction to ensure a gap between classes and to try and improve reliability in LMP2 (as cars should be less stressed). Can't say it worked that well this year ^_^

Ahonen said:

Pawsher said:

Its about time motorsport got interesting again and Lewis has led the change of winds

Eh? Lewis Hamilton? How?

Didn't you know Lewis Hamilton's appearance in F1 this year is the reason for the resurgence of endurance racing over the last 5 or so years?

No, me either.

Edited by //j17 on Thursday 26th July 16:15

[Dr JonboyG]

//j17 said:

The key difference between ALMS regs. and the ACO regs. that the 24Hr and LMS is the size of the intake restrictors - the ALMS regs give LMP2 cars a much bigger intake/smaller restrition and brings power up to the same sort of level as LMP1 and you have lots of cars racing for outright victory. The ACO have actually reduced the intake size/increased the restriction to ensure a gap between classes and to try and improve reliability in LMP2 (as cars should be less stressed). Can't say it worked that well this year ^_^

The Audi guys I was talking to at Mid Ohio last weekend are all fuming about the fact that they're being hobbled in the ALMS compared to the P2 cars, so it's not just the P2s being fast, but also the fact that the R10 has a smaller fuel tank that's costing them wins.

The RS Spyders are stunning in the flesh though.

The Porsche motorsport people told me that the second Solaroli car is still in their workshop, and you could have it if you gave them $1.5 mil.

[//j17]

Dr JonboyG said:

The Porsche motorsport people told me that the second Solaroli car is still in their workshop, and you could have it if you gave them $1.5 mil.

Hold on, I'll just check down the back of the sofa...

[RetroCarsBoston]

Good to hear the RS Spyder is coming to Le Mans but why don't Porsche do a proper works effort? Especially for a european race and race series. Off the point a bit but What about Schumacher in a Ferrari at Le Mans?!?!? That would be good to see!!

[Bagman]

Here here. Can't wait to see an RS Spyder running in Europe. With regards to why there is no formal factory effort, perhaps there is better PR for Porsche in showing customers winning with their cars?