Porsche and ALMS

[Trevor Myrus]

http://www.penskeracing.com/news.asp?chaid=81070

[Pete Millikin]

Trevor - Thanks for the post. Hope you are well.

It is fantastic that Porsche is getting back to prototype racing but the questions begs, why ALMS LMP2? Seems like an old strategy to compete in a class that you can dominate. Or move up to LMP 1 when Audi is dropping out. Or pull out and design a minivan?

As a Porsche fan I want to see them win against other competion to demonstrate their superiority. I realize jumping into the Rolex series is risky as a manufacturer but that is where the competition is. The DPs are ugly but winning ugly always works.

Maybe someone who follows this stuff closer than me can help explain Porsche's strategy.

[Trevor Myrus]

Hi Pete.
I'm well thanks. I have to agree with you, why not LMP1? Wish I knew there thinking. It should be an interesting season in 2006.

[RickK]

From what I read, Porsche is going LMP2 so that they sell customer cars to their existing GT3R/RS/RSR customers who want to move up. Apparently the cost of running an LMP1 car is much greater than an LMP2 car. From what I read, after Penske running the cars in 06 there will be customer cars for 07 and a factory backed LMP1 around 07 as well. Oddly enough, it seems as though the LMP1 car may bare little relationship to the LMP2 car.

Read more at: AUtoweek or straight from the horses mouth at Porsche

[David J Marguglio]

It is anticipated Penske Motorsports will debut the new Porsche prototype at the final two races of the 2005 ALMS season, the Oct. 1st Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta and the Oct. 16th season finale at Laguna Seca

Okay, I was already considering going to this event, but now I am DEFINATELY going!

[MVZ944T]

I heard some rational to Porsches decision to field cars in LMP2 vs P1. The P2 class cars are some 400lbs lighter than the P1 cars. If Porsche can field a P2 car and beat the P1's, well, so much better for them. I will be interesting to see how much if any of the Carrera GT technology winds up in the P2 car. Go gettem Porsche!

[MikeD]

It is anticipated Penske Motorsports will debut the new Porsche prototype at the final two races of the 2005 ALMS season, the Oct. 1st Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta and the Oct. 16th season finale at Laguna Seca

Okay, I was already considering going to this event, but now I am DEFINATELY going!

Me too!