Well this is getting alittle better isn’t it?

cool. i dont know if P1 was the best choice, as they certainly have p2 quality drivers… still good to see more new teams in racing!

on a side note, i wonder if this is the old BK Motorsports chasis? I mean, i know that was P2, but look at the paint and engine choice, its the same!

There is little doubt that this is the former BK chassis, B0540-HU09.

Entering it in LMP1 wouldn’t be a problem, given the fact that the first BK chassis (crashed in testing at Sebring) also returned to the track in 2009 as an LMP1 car (with Intersport – who then crashed it at Sebring this year)

The thing I’m worried about is that the team is using an AER/Mazda engine. RML and KSM had these four cylinder engines last year at Le Mans but failed to make it to the checkered flag. I know the engine is powerful, but what about the structural integrity of the engine and the type of fuel being used in Europe? Have these issues been dealt with?

I really don’t think P1 was the best choice for them. The open top chassis are pretty much no longer supported by Lola, as far as improvements and evolutions. They still make spare parts for it but no new performance enhancing bits.

The mazda engine was no match for anything. The only reason they must have chosen this package is that they probably got a very huge discount on the chassis and rebuilt engines, that Mazda or Dyson wanted to get rid off.

I would have settled for a rebuilt Zytek 3.4L or a judd 3.4L mill. I’m sure there are a few of those around as well. Maybe not at the cut rate price of the unreliable mazda/AERs but it will offer a bit more dignity when you’re not spending too much time int he pits.

I sincerely hope that this team does not get a 24hours entry. Very old fashion car, bad engine. W.Kaufmann? He must be 100 years old by now.

i would, sadly, have to agree with you Thomas. This is cool to have another team in LMS, but they shouldnt be at LM24. I know the ACO wants more small, underfunded teams at LM24, but there are plenty of those teams out there that actually deserve it and can produce good results (Pegasus, RLR, Race Performance… heck, even that new SBARTA Sport seems a more sound oporation than this!)

May have a thought that they will get hammered not only by most of LMP1 but most of top LMP2 cars. The car is ancient by today’s standards… And, why LMP1? Strakka showed the way where to go (they had much better car and DRIVERS in LMP1) and still decided the best thing is to move to LMP2.

Sure you are right Thomas, W. Kaufmann is no more 20… Maybe he´s older than 20 years but still very fast and often faster as much younger driver! He is very experienced, very reliable and beside all his driving skills a great racer and fighter with the heart on the right side! I know he is although very well known as a very fair and straight pilot with an extremely healthy backbone.
He and many other drivers shows that it’s possible to be a fast and perfect driver in there age area.
And I hope to see some “smaller “ teams like that new formed Guess Racing at 24h Le Mans – they should get the chance to show what these teams can achieve with less money.
I wish Guess Racing and the drivers team all best of luck and success!

I was really hoping that Mazda would step up to the plate in 2011, and I feel they should have for these reasons:

There engine is LMP1 legal and has three years of proper development behind it, Mazda’s PR image is of a sporting manufacturer, it has the accolade of being the only Japanese manufacturer to win at Le Mans, there is plenty of competition in LMP1 2011 like Audi, Peugeot, Aston Martin, Toyota and probably Honda, and they have supported the ALMS for so long that they could probably pull favors to insure that they would be competitive.

I expected Dyson or possibly Intersport to run two Lola coupes for the whole ALMS and possibly the ILMC. It could have been a wonderful way to show off the brand internationally and to give its young drivers 6 seats to aspire to.

However, good luck to this young team. I worry that the competition of 2011 will be so fierce that this out-dated car, potentially-temperamental engine and inexperienced team will find the going tough.

Also, does this have anything to do with the KSM team? Its a similar car from a neighboring country and both efforts have ties to Mazda

I also wonder if Mazda will go to Oak in 2011. They are supposed to be going to LMP1 in 2011 with a newly-designed chassis. They retained Mazda sponsorship last year despite not running Mazda engines, so lets hope Mazda doesn’t end its 2011 sports car campaign with this new team