Comments on: A.C.O. new rules – the next step for the 2009 Le Mans 24 Hours http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/ The latest Le Mans, Sportscar and GT racing news! Sun, 12 Feb 2012 02:17:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Kiki http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/comment-page-1/#comment-2372 Kiki Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:18:46 +0000 http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/#comment-2372 Sure, but given that Diesel prototypes will get a relative shunt in performance as well, the new rules will only create better parity - something the P1 class could use a little bit more of, in my opinion. This tire change rule though - somebody said that it might force teams into running harder compounds, but that in turn will force them to turn to aerodynamics as a more significant proponent of traction, which I think would counteract the ACO's safety-motivated intent to slow the cars down. Slowing the race down by forcing longer pit stops doesn't really make sense to me. If they want strategy to play a lesser role, this tire change limitation is going to have the opposite effect. Maybe they need to look into using the SuperGT mandatory pit stop window idea and even consider a milder application of FIA GT and SuperGT success ballast and parity regulations. But then again, if I wanted to watch a heavily regulated series, I'd just tune into F1. I think, however some of these rules might not make their way into ALMS, which are the only ones I get... and wasn't there something about regulation stability being good for the series? These ACO guys must get really bored sometimes. Sure, but given that Diesel prototypes will get a relative shunt in performance as well, the new rules will only create better parity – something the P1 class could use a little bit more of, in my opinion.

This tire change rule though – somebody said that it might force teams into running harder compounds, but that in turn will force them to turn to aerodynamics as a more significant proponent of traction, which I think would counteract the ACO’s safety-motivated intent to slow the cars down. Slowing the race down by forcing longer pit stops doesn’t really make sense to me.

If they want strategy to play a lesser role, this tire change limitation is going to have the opposite effect. Maybe they need to look into using the SuperGT mandatory pit stop window idea and even consider a milder application of FIA GT and SuperGT success ballast and parity regulations. But then again, if I wanted to watch a heavily regulated series, I’d just tune into F1.

I think, however some of these rules might not make their way into ALMS, which are the only ones I get… and wasn’t there something about regulation stability being good for the series? These ACO guys must get really bored sometimes.

]]> By: Aslak Vind http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/comment-page-1/#comment-2370 Aslak Vind Thu, 17 Jul 2008 08:32:17 +0000 http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/#comment-2370 Lets keep the Acura Honda chatter out of this thread, its concerning the ACO rules! The one thing I find the most disturbing, is this sentense: "* There will be a comparative investigation into the performance outputs of the petrol stock block engines and the petrol race block engines." I could fear that this is exactly to slow the Charouz Aston Martin car down. It was blistering fast out of the box, and I would not be surprised if that has raised some complaints from the other petrol LMP1 teams, like Pescarolo. Lets keep the Acura Honda chatter out of this thread, its concerning the ACO rules!

The one thing I find the most disturbing, is this sentense:

“* There will be a comparative investigation into the performance outputs of the petrol stock block engines and the petrol race block engines.”

I could fear that this is exactly to slow the Charouz Aston Martin car down. It was blistering fast out of the box, and I would not be surprised if that has raised some complaints from the other petrol LMP1 teams, like Pescarolo.

]]> By: Bamba http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/comment-page-1/#comment-2366 Bamba Thu, 17 Jul 2008 01:59:49 +0000 http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/#comment-2366 They're giving Porsche a run for their money in the ALMS, and if they can drive away GM and Toyota out of Indycar they must have some good racing knowledge. Remember the 80s when they gave Ferrari a good kick in the behind in F1. They’re giving Porsche a run for their money in the ALMS, and if they can drive away GM and Toyota out of Indycar they must have some good racing knowledge. Remember the 80s when they gave Ferrari a good kick in the behind in F1.

]]> By: Kiki http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/comment-page-1/#comment-2363 Kiki Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:47:00 +0000 http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/#comment-2363 Bamba, everything I've ever read or heard about an Acura sports car says FR V-10. But they haven't got one yet, so they can't sell it either. Bamba, everything I’ve ever read or heard about an Acura sports car says FR V-10. But they haven’t got one yet, so they can’t sell it either.

]]> By: Bamba http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/comment-page-1/#comment-2361 Bamba Wed, 16 Jul 2008 23:25:12 +0000 http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/#comment-2361 Actually Acura is planning a new production NSX. Which happens to be mid engined and rear wheel drive, and high-revving too. Since we're on the subject: in 1995 the NSX was the GT2 winner at LeMans and in 96 they were 3rd. They got experience. Fun stuff in other classes. Meanwhile my beloved Corvettes keep waiting for a worthy opponent in GT1. Actually Acura is planning a new production NSX. Which happens to be mid engined and rear wheel drive, and high-revving too.

Since we’re on the subject: in 1995 the NSX was the GT2 winner at LeMans and in 96 they were 3rd. They got experience.

Fun stuff in other classes. Meanwhile my beloved Corvettes keep waiting for a worthy opponent in GT1.

]]> By: Chris http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/comment-page-1/#comment-2360 Chris Wed, 16 Jul 2008 21:24:49 +0000 http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/#comment-2360 I believe the Acura brand is being launched in Europe in '09. Part of the plethora of reasons Acura wanted in on sports car racing. I believe the Acura brand is being launched in Europe in ‘09. Part of the plethora of reasons Acura wanted in on sports car racing.

]]> By: Kiki http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/comment-page-1/#comment-2359 Kiki Wed, 16 Jul 2008 14:40:12 +0000 http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/#comment-2359 And if Acura made a sports car, it would be a big deal. What are they selling, where are they attempting to place the racing halo? The RL? Don't get me wrong, those Acura/Courages are beautiful and make me wish I drove one every day. And there's nothing mid-engined OR rear-drive about my Honda. And if Acura made a sports car, it would be a big deal. What are they selling, where are they attempting to place the racing halo? The RL?

Don’t get me wrong, those Acura/Courages are beautiful and make me wish I drove one every day. And there’s nothing mid-engined OR rear-drive about my Honda.

]]> By: Bamba http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/comment-page-1/#comment-2357 Bamba Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:13:16 +0000 http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/#comment-2357 Acura P1 coming next year. De Ferran motosports is supposed to be the team runing it. But at this pace Highcroft should be at the forefront as well. The only thing is that in LeMans and international competition they might be known as Honda, since the Acura name is only used in the U.S Acura RL (US)=Honda Legend (everywhere else). Acura won't enter Le Mans unless they feel they will be competitive so that's perhaps one of the reasons the ACO is curbing the Diesels. I hope they don't limit that Charouz Aston Martin. It will be a good challenger to Acura in P1. Acura P1 coming next year. De Ferran motosports is supposed to be the team runing it. But at this pace Highcroft should be at the forefront as well.

The only thing is that in LeMans and international competition they might be known as Honda, since the Acura name is only used in the U.S Acura RL (US)=Honda Legend (everywhere else).

Acura won’t enter Le Mans unless they feel they will be competitive so that’s perhaps one of the reasons the ACO is curbing the Diesels.

I hope they don’t limit that Charouz Aston Martin. It will be a good challenger to Acura in P1.

]]> By: mattcat http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/comment-page-1/#comment-2355 mattcat Tue, 15 Jul 2008 11:10:33 +0000 http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/#comment-2355 I think that Kurt makes a good point about the tire change rules. Not only would it reduce costs, but running on a harder compound tire will reduce cornering speeds as well. Hopefully that means that we will see less LMPs attempting to take flight. I think that Kurt makes a good point about the tire change rules. Not only would it reduce costs, but running on a harder compound tire will reduce cornering speeds as well. Hopefully that means that we will see less LMPs attempting to take flight.

]]> By: Kurt http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/comment-page-1/#comment-2354 Kurt Tue, 15 Jul 2008 09:28:58 +0000 http://www.planetlemans.com/2008/07/14/aco-new-rules-the-next-step-for-the-2009-le-mans-24-hours/#comment-2354 The "one-gun-rule" will result in longer pit stops for sure. But it could also ecourage the teams to run on more durable tyre compounds, in an effort to reduce the time wasted in the pits. Running four or five stints on the same set of tyres would reduce costs and make everybody happy (except maybe for the nice people at Michelin and Dunlop). The “one-gun-rule” will result in longer pit stops for sure. But it could also ecourage the teams to run on more durable tyre compounds, in an effort to reduce the time wasted in the pits. Running four or five stints on the same set of tyres would reduce costs and make everybody happy (except maybe for the nice people at Michelin and Dunlop).

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