LMP1 for Aston Martin in 2008 ?

[Shadytree]

Just as I was leaving Houx yesterday, I heard a Radio Le Mans interview with Dave Richards.

Radio Le Mans: "So what's next for Aston Martin Dave?"
Dave Richards: "We want to win the whole thing"

So could AM be already developing a prototype LMP1 car for 2008?
This adds more weight to an interview earlier in the year where AM Boss Betz said "no comment" to the same question.

No that would be good ... roll on 2008!!!

[M3MTH]

Sounds good! lets hope so! but would surely have to be a diesel to stand up to audi and peugeot, cant see that happening though with a petrol right now!?

[Polarbert]

Don't say the D word, not in an Aston.

[2priestsferrari]

M3MTH said:

Sounds good! lets hope so! but would surely have to be a diesel to stand up to audi and peugeot, cant see that happening though with a petrol right now!?

I think a proper team with a properly developed petrol motor could win still but I can't see Prodrive doing a P1 car - they can't afford to run a year long GT1 program and with Prodrive supposed to be making the Subaru WRC car a winner in 2008 and entering Formula 1 where are all the people and money going to come from?

[johnph]

Polarbert said:

Don't say the D word, not in an Aston.

If one thing is assured then it won't be a diesel as aston don't have any diesel cars to promote (thank goodness)

[johnph]

2priestsferrari said:

M3MTH said:

Sounds good! lets hope so! but would surely have to be a diesel to stand up to audi and peugeot, cant see that happening though with a petrol right now!?

I think a proper team with a properly developed petrol motor could win still but I can't see Prodrive doing a P1 car - they can't afford to run a year long GT1 program and with Prodrive supposed to be making the Subaru WRC car a winner in 2008 and entering Formula 1 where are all the people and money going to come from?

I suspect that the GT1 cars would all become private like BMS or semi-works like AMR Larbre, while AMR themsleves would concentrate on the LMP.

[RichUK]

I can't see AM producing an LMP petrol car whilst the diesels are so much quicker than the petrol equivalents. Also think of the cost, AM only entered Le Mans this year because they couldn't find a sponsor for a whole season of ALMS racing.

[2priestsferrari]

johnph said:

2priestsferrari said:

M3MTH said:

Sounds good! lets hope so! but would surely have to be a diesel to stand up to audi and peugeot, cant see that happening though with a petrol right now!?

I think a proper team with a properly developed petrol motor could win still but I can't see Prodrive doing a P1 car - they can't afford to run a year long GT1 program and with Prodrive supposed to be making the Subaru WRC car a winner in 2008 and entering Formula 1 where are all the people and money going to come from?

I suspect that the GT1 cars would all become private like BMS or semi-works like AMR Larbre, while AMR themsleves would concentrate on the LMP.

Yeah but thats my point, Prodrive would still be responsible for a WRC, F1 and LMP program. I don't think so, they don't have anywhere near the resources to do that.

The WRC program is terrible right now, they have pressure to get their F1 shit together and they can't even afford a full season in GT1 with the DBR9. Its all very well for Larbe or BMS to race the cars but the spares and engines get done at Prodrive. It won't happen.