Ferrari open to LMP1 programme with Formula 1 turbo engine - Le Mans news - AUTOSPORT.com It would be about time.
Interesting, but I just can't see it happening. They're just stirring up the press again IMO. Isn't LdM on record as saying they don't have the resources to do both? OTOH, things can always change and it would give them an excuse for not winning in F1; "we've concentrated on the LMP program!"...... Cheers, Ian
As Alonso likes to say, polemics. Per the article: But Coletta stressed that there were no immediate plans for Ferrari to mount its first factory prototype campaign since 1973. "At the moment we are concentrated on F1, so it would not be possible to do something else," he explained. "That means that we cannot say Ferrari will be in LMP1, but we can also not say that Ferrari will not be in LMP1. We can also not say if our vision is for 2015, 2016 or beyond." It costs nothing to say they're interested and window shopping. BHW
And there are not many real viable teams in F1 outside of Red Bull, Mclaren, Ferrari or Mercedes. F1 is weakening.
This was talk about as soon as new rules came out . How many turn key cars snd engines could ferrari sell 5 or 6 teams this makes a lot of cents with new wind tunnel coming on line and ferrari has alot knowledge how to build high tech race cars. Arab sheiks what lined up around the corner to buy these vehicles then race them 24 hours good income stream . I'm no ldm fan but he has the the equipment already to build these vehicles
I just hope they don't do another half baked 333sp type of thing. Ferrari never really had their hearts in that thing, or at least the resources it deserved anyway.
This was pre micheal ferrari was broke . Ferrari was a midfielder in f1 hell the csrs wouldn't even start have the time
Were Ferrari to enter the 2014 WEC or Le Mans, their program would have to be well under way. Porsche has been testing their new hybrid entry for the past several months and so to say Ferrari will be entering in 2014 or even 2015 is not only a stretch, it's a near impossible task given the competition in the form of Audi, Toyota and Porsche which have well established programs. To enter WEC now, teams must not only have a turbo engine but hybrid technology of some sort. This is nothing more than posturing in the face of F-1. BHW
True it wasn't a factory effort, but I wouldn't call it half baked looking at the results it achieved. Unless you are solely pointing at the factory involvement, the car itself was a success.
Words are cheap. LMP1 cars are not! F1 cars are expensive too, but with sponsors and Bernie´s money, not so much. What do you have in Le Mans like that?
WEC is growing... Nissan will be in for 2015, rumors are that Honda is likely to enter too. That would form a pretty attractive lineup - Audi, Porsche, Toyota, Nissan, possibly Honda. The series will start to attract more viewers and sponsors. It is possible for Ferrari to enter in LMP1, but it's an expensive sport... Audi's budget is, from reliable sources, around that what a mid-tier F1 team spends(mind that in WEC there are only 8 races this year, so it's pretty expensive).
So anywhere from 70 to 120 mil? That sounds like *a lot*. Personally I would've guessed around 30 to 50 for Audi.
Back in the old days Ferrari engines would power Lancia prototypes. Of course, Lancia is pretty much dead now. At least its racing days are. Perhaps Alfa, then? Or Maserati?
I'm not sure if high-level competitive racing fits in with Maserati's image any more. Ferrari have essentially turned them into the softer, luxury GT variant rather than an equivalent supercar that would compete with the Ferrari line-up. They're still a high-performance sportscar marque, but it's relative. All the best, Andrew.
Agreed, the 333SP was quite successful. It won 56 times out of 144 races, not a bad percentage at all. They won quite a few championships and some big races (Sebring and Daytona), just couldn't win at LeMans. If Ferrari is to go into sportscar, I would tend to agree with the statements made in this thread - resources are tight. Why follow the 333SP model and contract the development of the chassis to a 3rd party (e.g., Dallara)?
It wouldn't be good for Maserati and Ferrari to compete heads-on in the same market sector. The 2 makes are rather completing each other now, with Maserati offering 4-door and 2+2 coupes cheaper than Ferrari which specialises in sporty and supercars. The Maserati MC12 did show that there is still room for Maserati in a sport car series, and it did very well there. With the demise of GT1, and Ferrari well represented in GT3/GTE, Maserati would fit well in LMP2 with a competition-client car. An outsourced chassis (Dallarra?) car with Ferrari engine, badged as a Maserati LMP2 would sell well I think.