Ferrari back to LMP1 ? | FerrariChat

Ferrari back to LMP1 ?

Discussion in 'Other Racing' started by greyboxer, May 9, 2018.

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  1. greyboxer

    greyboxer F1 World Champ

    Dec 8, 2004
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  2. Turbopanzer

    Turbopanzer F1 World Champ

    Oct 2, 2011
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    Panzer
    Would be nice to see it happen. All manufacturers in one class would be ideal. Spend as much or as little as you would want. Keep it out of the smaller classes that independent team's run in.
     
  3. Devilsolsi

    Devilsolsi F1 Veteran
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    It isn't going to happen. They like to play this game to get people (FIA and ACO) all riled up and then nothing. I would just like to see them have more of a factory backed presence in GTE/GTLM. It was a bit disappointing not having a Ferrari in GTLM last week at Mid-Ohio to cheer for.
     
  4. David Lind

    David Lind Formula 3

    Nov 19, 2008
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    ... or at Long Beach a race or 2 ago. But, I started a thread about no Ferrari @ Long Beach, and I was pretty much ridiculed for even bringing it up!
     
  5. BMW.SauberF1Team

    BMW.SauberF1Team F1 World Champ

    Dec 4, 2004
    14,244
    They need to focus their resources on winning an F1 WDC/WCC given this decade long drought. No need to dilute their resources with LMP1 or other series imo.
     
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  6. stibbett

    stibbett Karting

    Mar 19, 2018
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    Simon Tibbett
    LMP1 is a joke right now, it seems a waste of money for a manufacturer to put money into it.
     
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  7. Simon^2

    Simon^2 F1 World Champ

    Oct 17, 2005
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  8. BartonWorkman

    BartonWorkman F1 Veteran
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    Ferrari is one among all the GTE manufacturers which are invited to attend the meetings as to what
    the next LMP1 will be.

    Putting Ferrari out there as "back to LMP1" is a misnomer as Ferrari has never entered LMP1
    opting instead to compete in the GT classes. Ferrari's last dalliance with top level sports car
    racing was with the 333-SPs of the mid to late 90s mainly in the IMSA WSC series.

    Now, Ferrari have made overtures towards looking at LMP1. At Le Mans a couple of years ago,
    Ferrari had made it known that there was going to be a big announcement made on the Friday
    before the 24 Hours to the gathered media.

    The intended effect was that Ferrari was going to announce a LMP1 program, making F1 nervous,
    and this forum lit up like a Walmart parking lot. But, as it turned out, the scheduled press conference
    was cancelled at the last minute and things returned to status quo.

    What ever rules package the ACO and FIA come up with, at least they're now consulting the
    manufacturers, their inclusion in the discussion is a good thing. Should the ACO and FIA come
    out in favor of a more silhouette formula a-la the FIA GT of the mid to late 90s, that may encourage
    some huge participation as it seems now nearly every manufacturer is producing a hybrid Hypercar
    and it would be great to see them racing against each other in genuine World Championship points
    paying races rather than on the covers of car magazines.

    BHW
     
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  9. Splitting hairs but (you know, my genetics...) Ferrari can't be "back to LMP1" as it never has run an LMP1 .

    Back to top level sportscar racing, yes. 'Would be nice, but 'not counting me chickens on this one.
     
    jgonzalesm6 likes this.
  10. BartonWorkman

    BartonWorkman F1 Veteran
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    I've been saying it since the early naughties, the ACO should adapt a "Supercar" formula such as
    the FIA GT had in the mid-90s.

    The manufacturers came to the FIA GT by the droves (McLaren BMW, Porsche GT1, Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR,
    some of the coolest racing machinery ever made) and yet the ACO flatly rejects the "Supercars" or "Hypercars"
    which is what people really want to see.

    Had the ACO switched to a "Supercar" formula, it would have saved GT1. Instead, the ACO put up such a fight
    against the entry of the Risi Competizione Maserati MC-12 that the ACO nearly pulled the plug on their licensing
    agreement with the ALMS. Poor Atherton had to fly back and forth to Paris to negotiate a deal wherein they'd
    allow the MC-12 in but only after being heavily restricted with extra ballast and not eligible for points
    rendering the car all but impotent.

    The FIA GT came to the U.S. in 1997 running at Sebring and Laguna Seca. Many still point to the FIA GT event
    at Sebring as the best event to ever take place there (despite the monsoon rain that hit the race) and it's hard
    to disagree.

    Now, imagine every "Hypercar" manufacturer had the opportunity to showcase their car against their direct competition
    on the world's biggest stage. Do we think Ferrari, Bugatti, Porsche, Pagani, Aston Martin, McLaren, Toyota/Lexus,
    Koenigsegg, Lamborghini, et.al. could ignore this?

    Lets see them race in a genuine World Championship points paying championship with Le Mans as the center piece
    instead of on the covers of Motor Trend, Road & Track, etc. and lets get on with life already.

    BHW
     
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  11. stibbett

    stibbett Karting

    Mar 19, 2018
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    You can say F1 is a joke, it has its issues as any series, but in terms of fans and attention F1 slaughters WEC. There's one real LMP1 car in WEC, GT is good, the rest is mediocre. The new prototype rules may change that but as of right now I would not say WEC is better than F1.
     
  12. william

    william Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Jun 3, 2006
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    If Marchione puts his threats to execution and leaves F1 at the end of 2020, there is a slim chance that Ferrari could switch its efforts to Le Mans and the WEC.
    Their kind of budget ($1/2M+ per year spent in F1) could surely insure some success in endurance.
    But the formula would have to suit Ferrari, and at the moment the LMP1 regulations don't look attractive.
     

  13. Yikes!!! Scary! We agree. :)

    (Don't fergit the FIA GT came back in'98...but, albeit 'soaked, it was good to see 'em at Sebring; not so good in Homestead)
     
  14. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

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    Yup.
     
  15. rdefabri

    rdefabri Three Time F1 World Champ

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    Yea I agree with this. And I would cut the green **** out - it's marketing, it will never be a big thing here.
     
  16. the_stig

    the_stig F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2005
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    babgh likes this.
  17. the_stig

    the_stig F1 Rookie

    Sep 19, 2005
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    If you were going to go to the trouble of flipping the image why didn't you start with a 488GTE? :eek::eek::eek:
     
  18. stibbett

    stibbett Karting

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    Honestly I would welcome a new GT1 type format to replace LMP1. The issue is though we need manufacturers, many, to make it worthwhile and will they sell customer cars?
     
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  19. Interceptor

    Interceptor Karting

    Apr 10, 2009
    88
    There is a chance Ferrari will start in the GTP category from 2020? The successor of 488 will be a hybrid, this could be a good GTP car base i think.
     
  20. David Lind

    David Lind Formula 3

    Nov 19, 2008
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    Hybrids in sports prototype racing is a lousy idea. Whether called GTP or LMP 1, upper echelon sports prototype cars always price themselves out of the competition. Initially, they draw in manufacturers who then want to beat each other's butts, and this creates a golden era that is fondly remembered. But one-by-one, as most manufacturers spend cubic boat loads of money yet fail to win, they bail out. Then you are left w/ one manufacturer which is subsequently legislated out of existence to make the racing more affordable. It happened with Porsche in Can Am, it happened with Dan Gurney's Eagle-Toyota GTP cars, and it just happened again w/ Le Mans P 1s. Most prototype racing fans could care less about hybrid technology in racing, and if it arrives the costs will sky rocket. What then will happen with the long-time stalwarts like Wayne Taylor Racing, Visit Florida Racing (aka Spirit of Daytona), The Whelen team, etc? POOF! Outta here!
     
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  21. With all due respect, what have the above to do with FIA/WEC/Le Mans? You don't really think NASCAR...errrr....'scuse me....IMSA's gonna' join high tech racing, do you?
    How long did it take to get rid of carbs? The dumbarse ugly DPs?
    I'm not in favor of hybrids but I sure as heck ain't got a worry about it over here. :)
     
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  22. David Lind

    David Lind Formula 3

    Nov 19, 2008
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    Lorenzo, did you read my post? It seems not.
     
  23. BartonWorkman

    BartonWorkman F1 Veteran
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    The best days of hybrids in sports car racing are well ahead of us.

    Like it or not, manufactures are moving in this direction in ever increasing rates, taking what
    they're learning from racing and passing it to their road-going divisions.

    Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid is a perfect case in point.

    BHW
     

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