Aston Martin out of Hypercar

Aston Martin out of Hypercar

Author
Discussion

FredericRobinson

Original Poster:

3,667 posts

231 months

Tuesday 18th February 2020
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According to Racer.com

gt6

1,422 posts

184 months

Tuesday 18th February 2020
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i think there is a statement being released tomorrow but plenty of people are jumping the gun about what it will say. i hope they are wrong

hyper jay

668 posts

154 months

Tuesday 18th February 2020
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Their financial position does' really give me hope .

chasingracecars

1,696 posts

96 months

Tuesday 18th February 2020
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Think this has more to do with the ACO IMSA partnership and the probability of getting DPI class cars in the mix with the launch of the hyper car class. Aston we’re positioned well to be a strong contender in this but with the potential of the DPI cars maybe not soo much.

I would expect to hear more once the ACO has made its stance on DPi cars clear.

LawrieC

563 posts

103 months

Tuesday 18th February 2020
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With Aston's finances, having spent a lot on the Valkyrie, and Lawrence Stroll being involved, I suspect they'll be looking in the direction of F1, unless Stroll has a shedload of cash. Mind you, he's bought his boy a seat in F1 for a couple of years, and he still has enough left to support Aston, so perhaps he has a bigger shed than I thought

Tyre Smoke

23,018 posts

260 months

Wednesday 19th February 2020
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Official. Aston out of WEC. Concentration on being an F1 team next year.

Very sad news.

wsn03

1,923 posts

100 months

Wednesday 19th February 2020
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Is it not time they switched to GT Pro as the main class, but without the balance of performance stopping the best manufacturers actually showing off their cars?

FredericRobinson

Original Poster:

3,667 posts

231 months

Wednesday 19th February 2020
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The Toyota statement sounds like a precursor to them following suit

Tyre Smoke

23,018 posts

260 months

Wednesday 19th February 2020
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FredericRobinson said:
The Toyota statement sounds like a precursor to them following suit
Link?

FredericRobinson

Original Poster:

3,667 posts

231 months

Wednesday 19th February 2020
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williamp

19,213 posts

272 months

Wednesday 19th February 2020
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Does the ACO have its eyes elsewhere?? (The Daytona prototypes, as above et al). Aston were the first to confirm their entry, then the BoP for le mans 2019 made the Aston Gt cars uncompetitive. People need love, and if the new shareholder isnt feeling the love from the ACO but is from F1, it makes sense. A shame, but understandable

Welshbeef

49,633 posts

197 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
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FredericRobinson said:
Ouch bang bang two top contenders out of contention.

Who’s left as possible contenders now?

FredericRobinson

Original Poster:

3,667 posts

231 months

Thursday 20th February 2020
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Glickenhaus, who won't be ready for the start of the season, who for some reason the ACO/WEC ignore, and er, that's about it.

Toyota face the prospect that the reward for years of sticking with the ACO/WEC and, agreeing to Hypercar, is racing against themselves for a couple of years and then being BOP'd back against manufacturers who've spent far less than them, and in the case of Peugeot, are French

LawrieC

563 posts

103 months

Friday 21st February 2020
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and if Peugeot go the LMDP route, fudging the BoP would be simple. Wouldn't the Hypercars have to lose 300 bhp anyway

Can we have some racing please

MikeT66

2,680 posts

123 months

Friday 21st February 2020
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This is really disappointing news, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Toyota back out too. As has been said, what is the point of a manufacturer spending ££££s to build the best and fastest car they can, only to have it pegged back to a slower machine in BoP? It happened with the Ford GT and Ferrari getting pulled back to Aston Martin performance levels in GTLM, so is not unlikely in the top class.

Personally though I just don't want to see spec/off-the-shelf chassis/power systems racing at Le Mans - especially in the top category. It goes against the original idea of the race. Do away with the bloody prototypes, and give the GTE/GTLM cars more power (and aero, if need be) and leave it as a genuine sportscar race. Only my humble opinion, though.

Tyre Smoke

23,018 posts

260 months

Friday 21st February 2020
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Not more aero!

There will be winglets and scoops turning up all over the place. They're fine as they are.

MikeT66

2,680 posts

123 months

Friday 21st February 2020
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Tyre Smoke said:
Not more aero!

There will be winglets and scoops turning up all over the place. They're fine as they are.
I agree with you, actually, but I'd still rather see something like this racing...




...than this...




Tyre Smoke

23,018 posts

260 months

Friday 21st February 2020
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Then sir, WEC is not for you.

Could I interest sir in the Spa 6h or the LM Classic?

biggrin

FredericRobinson

Original Poster:

3,667 posts

231 months

Friday 21st February 2020
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I've not got a problem with LMDH, after all it's effectively what the Lola Aston Martin was and there was nothing wrong with that, it's BOP I don't like

MikeT66

2,680 posts

123 months

Friday 21st February 2020
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Tyre Smoke said:
Then sir, WEC is not for you.

Could I interest sir in the Spa 6h or the LM Classic?

biggrin
biggrin Not in it's current format, no!

I actually think the recent LMP1 years have (pun) driven it down a cul de sac with costs. All manufacturers want cost-effective racing that they can afford and gain publicity from, the fans want proper racing without too much BoP interference (I think, anyway). The hybrid prototypes have killed it in in those terms. Next class is LMP2 - not very soul-stirring. The recent years with Ferrari, Aston Martin, Corvette, Porsche and Ford have been the best - GTLM looked exciting and strong, cars/manufacturers that partisan fans could get behind.

Some of the manufacturers may see LMDh as a way forward (Ferrari don't seem keen) for cost reasons, but it's not really the ethos of Le Mans, IMHO. The other remaining issue is a lot of the manufacturers want (understandably) agreement from IMSA and WEC on regulations as it makes it viable to race one design in two series.

It's certainly a bit of a mess.