ALMS - Teams departing the fray

[termietermite]

I have read today that Alex Job is definitely leaving the ALMS field in 2007 - and will not be at Sebring for the first time for 20 odd years.  There have also been rumours that P&M will not run the Corvettes next season either.  The basis for their possible/definite departure seems to be a frustration with the "moving goalposts" attitude to the regulations in the series, in its effort to level the playing field.  Job commented that at least in the European series the ACO fixes the regulations at the beginning of the year and sticks to them.  We may moan about those regs - as do the teams - but I guess at least one team owner sees a plus side.  Interesting.

[Snoring Rhino]

Would this imply a "Biggest Pot"  or a "Parochial" influence.

[termietermite]

More on the Alex Job departure here http://www.alexjobracing.com/06_news/1030.html

[Paddy_NL]

I read somewhere that Chevrolet might be aiming for LMP1, after winning all that is to win at GT1.
Can't remember where I read it though :-\

[Fran]

Can't remember where I read it though :-\

Alcohol been destroying the brain cells again Paddy?

8)

[Paddy_NL]

Where am I, what's my name again?

;D

[Fran]

Where am I, what's my name again?

;D

Umm - check the label...."Paddy_NL"...  ;)

[chop456]

I find the Corvette story hard to believe.  Aston Martin were the ones hinting at quitting and whining about the rules instability at Laguna Seca.  Corvette going to P1 would make about as much sense as Cadillac doing it.

Oh...wait...  ;)

[Boorish Grobian]

I suspect the P&M threat to pull may be in the interest of getting IMSA to stop screwing around with the regs.  They're getting a bit too NASCAR-ish with the "out of the blue" ballast and all.  Those of us old enough remember well the IMSA GTP Vette of the mid eighties.  That was then, this is now though, I don't see GM going the LMP route anytime soon.
Fax

[Lorry]

Lets hope this is just a threat to keep the handicappers under control.

GMs main problem is financial - finding the budget must be tough, but its race on Sunday sell on Monday.  Ford and AML aren't rolling in it either.

[Jay (Team Cannonball)]

The rumour about P&M leaving the ALMS has been doing the rounds for a while. Doug Fehan has actually stated that they are looking at the LMS for 2007. The ALMS loss could be our gain.

[termietermite]

Fax, I tend to agree, it has always seemed to me that ALMS without the Vettes wouldn't be the same and Fehan knows this.  When he talks about going, he hopes to scare the ballast out of those who dream up rules as they go along.

[chop456]

CORVETTE CONFIRMS GT1 CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENSE


Corvette Racing will defend its 2006 GT1 driver, team and manufacturer championships in 2007.
Corvette Racing officials have announced the perennial championship winning team will return to the American Le Mans Series in 2007 to defend its GT1 drivers, team and manufacturers crown in North America's leading sports car series. In addition, plans are underway for another assault on this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Corvette Racing is the most successful team in the history of the American Le Mans Series with 45 class wins, six consecutive GT1 team and manufacturer championships and the last five driver titles. The results at Le Mans paint a similar picture with five of the last six class championships.

"In order to gauge Corvette Racing's impact on the American Le Mans Series, all you need to do is observe the tremendously long lines at each of our driver autograph sessions," said Scott Atherton, Series President and CEO. "General Motors, Corvette Racing and Pratt & Miller each have been integral components of the American Le Mans Series since Corvette returned to world-class sports car racing in 1999. We look forward to continuing this relationship for many years to come."


Corvette Racing has won in GT1 at Le Mans five times in the last six years.
Corvette Racing will test in February in preparation for the season-opening round of the 12-race season: the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring on March 17. Corvette has won America's greatest sports car racing in four of the last five seasons.

Since its debut in 1999, Corvette Racing has competed in 77 races worldwide, scoring 51 victories and 34 one-two finishes (29 in the American Le Mans Series). Corvette Racing drivers Ron Fellows, Johnny O'Connell, Oliver Gavin and Olivier Beretta have combined to win the Series GT1 drivers championship five consecutive seasons.

"The Corvette C6.R race program continues Chevrolet's tradition of racing production-based vehicles to improve the breed," said GM Racing director Mark Kent. "The continuous exchange of information and the constant transfer of technology between the racing and production programs ensure that lessons learned on the track benefit every Corvette on the highway."

[termietermite]

Yup I saw this last night,  Chop, when I couldn't get on the site!  Good news.  Could not imagine coming to Sebring and no 'Vettes.  (Although, I think M. Alphand plans to bring his. :))

[Steve Pyro]

(Although, I think M. Alphand plans to bring his. :))

He's still running in second place in the Dakar as of this morning.