TUSC P2 Dwindling

I'm not optimistic because that's an actual budget number

included some testing. don't recall what their crash damage expense was that season.

Conti is going to price itself out of a market.

 

Is Oak next?

OAK Contemplates LMP2?s Future in FIA WEC - Sportscar365

 

from the article:

so it looks like my $5mm was not only realistic, but a bit high!

anyway I though OAK was originally only confirmed for IMSA during the NAEC races and decided to stick it out; I didn't expect them to do a full season, and don't expect to see them after LeMans other than Watkins Glen and Petit.

P2 is actually a good example of how cost contained, pro/am, manufacturer development unfriendly classes are a bad idea...as evidenced by that article, the only way to get them funded now is for gentlemen drivers to step up to the plate, with millions of dollars! now tell me how that makes more economic sense than a full pro team with sponsorship or even better, a factory effort.

 

I agree.

This reminds me so much of the IRL / Champ Car split, and how Tony George buddied up with NASCAR. NASCAR couldn't care less about open wheel, and I felt George was knowingly mislead to destroy the series.

Reminiscing back to 1993 - CART was on top of the world. Mansell was in the series, Senna tested a Penske car, and the series was rocking in ratings and participation.

This sucks.

 

Senna tested an IndyCar to tell Ecclestone and the FIA that they needed him more than he needed F1.

a few years prior, Ferrari built a damn Indycar as a threat to F1!!!

think about that! nobody in their right mind now would build an Indycar as a threat to F1!

and I don't think IMSA/TUSC is a threat to anyone in the WEC, at least on the manufacturer side. NASCAR is happy with a road racing version of Ford vs Chevy it seems.

 

it actually makes a bit of sense, in Europe BMW has a huge presence in DTM and other touring car series; and Corvette doesn't really sell cars outside North America, at least not to the point where they need to "race on Sunday to sell on Monday". so neither really has a commercial imperative to be in WEC. both have a commercial imperative to be in IMSA in the US, their largest market.

agree, I hope this year's LeMans isn't as tragic as last year's.

 

Hahaha! I remember that. Pretty car...

 

Rahal was pretty heavily involved. a shame it didn't happen.

Ferrari 637 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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So did Lotus - the 96T (although not as a threat to F1). Gerard Ducarouge designed.

Love the 637 too!
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It is a shame Indy cars don't still look like that!

 

Unfortunately - teams found ways to be faster than is safe for the tracks.

I agree though - I love the 80's/early 90's indies. The under body aero allowed for super-smooth simple clean wings.

 

For me, that was the pinnacle - the cars looked outstanding.

 

+1

open wheel cars were gorgeous in late 80s/early 90s, both Indy and F1.

 

....and now Pickett closes their doors.

 

can't tell you how bummed I am about this. it's like Penske leaving indycar or Ferrari leaving F1.

no Pickett, no Dyson, no bueno.

 

alms memories... I was gong through vids on youtube and accidently found myself in this one during that fateful weekend at Baltimore '12 when the initial rumors of 'something bad is about to happen'. In the white shirt after finishing up for the day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yR2pBFRSh44

 

nice socks

I was really hoping that this merger would work but increasingly...it's not. which is a low down dirty shame.

 

Thanks! ... that little extra to keep ankle hairs from getting burnt off while next to those bimmers !