Photos of Petite LeMans, no rain.

Looks like rain for the race and cool temps, but I am still looking forward to being there. My friend owns the #10 DP team, so watching from the pits and cheering his kids on....should be a great race. Thanks for posting the pics.

 

While the team is based in Indy, the families live in central Florida.

 

how many entries in total for the feature race?

 

it was 37, but we've lost the Performance Tech PC car due to crash damage this morning and possibly the Shank P2 to damage in night practice.

 

actually a decent size field under the circumstances. how many are those turd dp's?

 

5, although the rest of the Prototype field are the two Mazdas, the DW, and the Shank car which may or may not make the race.

sad that Prototype racing has gone to hell in a hand basket with IMSA. I miss ALMS

 

to that point, DW is almost certainly not returning next year in P (possibly in a GTD car with a different Panoz chassis), I'm assuming the Ganassi DP is gone with the new GTLM cars, and I'm not sure what Mazda is doing. so we could see a 5-6 car P field next year, and it's possible they'll all be DPs.

 

sad state of affairs.

 

Will the last prototype team please turn out the lights when leaving?

 

Read yesterday where the series is going to be re-re-re-branded as IMSA Sports Cars for 2016
and they're tinkering once again with the P2 class, creating "DPi" (or Daytonner Prototype
International) for 2017.

Do we actually see this continuing on until '17?

IMSA launches new frontrunning DPi class for 2016 season - United SportsCar news - AUTOSPORT.com

BHW

 

believe it or not, I actually like this plan....it uses the approved FIA/WEC P2 chassis (so no more tube frame prototurtles), but allows for engine/manufacturer identity and support (to keep Chevy in the game )

it actually solves my big gripe with the new P2 standard, the spec engine. Only problem I see is that with different engines and potentially bodywork, it will be difficult and expensive to cross over from IMSA to WEC especially on a one race basis.

 

Wait.....Falken is not racing next year? When was that announced?

I, too, am puzzled about Patrick Long's whereabouts......heard he had a baby early in August/late July.

 

nope, no Falken it was announced fairly early this season. not sure what happens to Walker Racing and/or that RSR.

Pat and his wife did have a boy in late July! he's been contracted to Dempsey/Proton for the full WEC series (with some success, including a GTE-Am podium at LM24) and doing the NAEC for Falken. will be interesting to see where he ends up next year, I'd love to see him back in the factory NA team.

 

I know. They have been friends for a few years. Truly wonderful family.

 

Okay, as long as you understand it.

I've read and re-re-read the press release and completely lost the plot.

Is this all in keeping with ACO rules or what?

BHW

 

the press release and naming could have been better, yes.

it's ACO rules in terms of chassis-the P2 cars have to be approved by the FIA/WEC (i.e. the 4 chosen manufacturers, Dallara, OnRoak, Oreca and Riley/Multimatic), but there will be engine and bodywork differences for IMSA, and of course tires and BoP. so the cars will effectively be very different.

 

IIRC, the Walker/Falken team is moving over two PWC.

So, effectively, Falken is out. Too bad because the paint scheme on those
cars is beautiful.

BHW

 

I don't think the team is moving to PWC, but Walker might replace Scott Bove.

Walker: ?I?ve Been Trying to Catch Up and Work to Put a Program Together? - Sportscar365

 

btw, BMW and Rahal will be back next year with a GTLM spec M6.

great to see that program staying together.