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LeMans: ACO Welcomes The F1 Teams

Discussion in 'Other Racing' started by RP, Jun 11, 2009.

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  1. RP

    RP F1 World Champ

    Feb 9, 2005
    17,667
    Bocahuahua, Florxico
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    Tone Def
    #1 RP, Jun 11, 2009
    The organisers of the Le Mans 24 Hours have thrown the door open for any of Formula 1's manufacturers to compete in the French classic - and they have even been offered the chance to help shape future regulations.

    F1 teams are due to meet with FIA president Max Mosley today in an attempt to reach a last-minute agreement ahead of the publication of the entry list for 2010 tomorrow morning.

    Several of the manufacturers have been linked to sportscar programmes if they go through with their threats not to enter Formula 1 next year.

    Piero Ferrari, son of marque founder Enzo, has mentioned Le Mans as a potential avenue for the team, and Toyota is also believed to be interested in a return to the 24 Hours 10 years after its last appearance at the event with its GT-One car.

    ACO general manager Remy Brouard says Le Mans would welcome F1 manufacturers returning to sportscar racing and insists that Le Mans' governing body is open to suggestions from manufacturers on future regulations.

    When asked about the number of manufacturers involved in the 24 Hours, Brouard said: "There is no ideal figure, the more the better. They [the Formula 1 teams] are welcome here. If they want to make proposals, we will listen."

    Brouard would not comment on which manufacturers, if any, had been in contact with the ACO about possible entry to the event.

    Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo will be the official starter of this year's race on Saturday, and former double world champion Fernando Alonso is also due to attend after admitting his interest in competing in the event in the future.

    Renault and BMW have also had success as past winners of the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1978 and 1999 respectively.
     
  2. Modeler

    Modeler F1 Veteran

    May 19, 2008
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    a.n.other
    #2 Modeler, Jun 11, 2009
    Domencelli is there adding to Ferraris presence this weekend too.
    Making a point, I believe.
     
  3. GuyIncognito

    GuyIncognito Nine Time F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Jun 30, 2007
    99,912
    #3 GuyIncognito, Jun 11, 2009
    screw F1, I'd love to see a good ol' fashioned Porsche/Audi/BMW/Mercedes/Ferrari slug-fest at La Sarthe for a few years :D
     
  4. jknight

    jknight F1 Veteran

    Oct 30, 2004
    7,821
    Central Texas
    #4 jknight, Jun 11, 2009
    there has been lots of talk about Toyota over the past several months - old news about luca as starter, in fact <autosport reported it quite some time ago - excuse typos as this is european keyboard and keys are different

    they wont show up in sports car racing - pipe dreams as they will all be in F1 tomorrow

    carol
     
  5. thecheddar

    thecheddar Formula 3

    Jun 29, 2006
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    Santa Monica
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    Cheddar, The
    #5 thecheddar, Jun 11, 2009
    As much as I love F1, I have to agree. It would be SO exciting to see the rise of Prototype Sports Car racing again via the FOTA brands. Personally, I think that the resulting ultra high-tech cars with premier names would capture the American market's imagination as well (NASCAR is in fast decline). Can you imagine something akin to Ferrari F1 cars with bodies doing battle on the world's great tracks? Oh that's a good vision!

    F1's non-stop politics and greed has left itself vulnerable to competition from a different series (NOT an identical breakaway series). In my opinion, the F1 strife means Le Mans could welcome the mega-brand FOTA teams in and position itself for a huge re-emergence.
     
  6. Forexpreneur

    Forexpreneur Formula Junior

    May 11, 2009
    638
    Portland, OR
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    Alexander Everhart
    #6 Forexpreneur, Jun 13, 2009
    Amen to that. Remember Maserati also. I just think if Ferrari was to put that much effort into Le Mans, they would be very wise to really put it to work in ALMS also.
     

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