re: Carrera GT

Would I want one ? Hell yes, you can keep your ugly *** Enzo's... So why am I so pissed off ? Because it started life as this and could have kicked Audi's *** into the weeds...according to McNish (seen at the wheel). I feel like a kid who has had no Christmas in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 (i.e. no factory Porsche prototype at LeMans). I read in the new Panorama that next year's 911 GT3 RS 2004 edition is the single biggest improvement from year to year of the RS evolution but we're still talking about a Porsche SuperCup in the ALMS GT class. I want a prototype again, I won't go to LeSarthe until Herr Singer is set loose again.

 

Check out the cartoon from his fan club website:

(explained as follows)

The caption reads in English "Congratulations on your Birthday"

This cartoon was smuggled directly to Norbert Singer Fan Club reporters by unnamed sources at Weissach . The signature indicates it was drawn by Tony Hatter, a designer at Porsche, credited with the 993 and GT1 and with being a fun-loving guy.

It was presented at a party celebrating the birthdays of both Herr. Singer and Herr. Ampferer, whose birthdays are in the same week.

Tony explains that it is supposed to show the ever cunning H. Singer interpreting the FIA rule book by sawing off the roof of a GT1 98, which is what he always wanted to do as they were starting the project! Meanwhile, H. Ampferer is standing by wondering what to do with his huge sponsor stickers, the Warsteiner sticker in particular traditionally went on the roof.

 

I was talking to a Audi driver at a PDE last year, and he said Porsche is not going into serious prototype production as long as Audi does good.

 

I could see how with the family and business connections between VWAG and PAG that they wouldn't compete at the top prototype level. Perhaps since VWAG has the resources to build a top-level prototype and can succeed in the overwhelmingly dominant fashion that they have, that it makes sense to continue. I haven't read enough about the rules changes for 2004 from the Automobile Club de l'Ouest so I don't know what next year's Audi LMP-900 will look like, but I've read it will continue the open-top design as opposed to the 'green hardtop Audi' that won this year under the Bentley banner.

I know Porsche makes a lot of money selling GT3 Cup and GT3 RS customer race cars, and I'm sure they'll dominate the GT class again next year from everything I've read. I just wish Porsche had campaigned that prototype at least in 2000. I suspect Audi and VWAG said 'nein' to it in exchange for helping out with technology for the Cayenne....

oh well, c'est la vie...

 

I have heard something similar a while ago. I would hope that it would change soon as the Audi R8 prototypes are no longer being run by the factory but by private teams. However, they might now be afraid of stepping on Bentley's toes.

 

Bentley will not campaign a prototype this year. They accomplished their (VWAG group) goal of winning in the 3rd year of their 3-year program. Audi is returning with a factory effort based on the new ACO regulations for 2004, I would assume Audi will have Herr Joest run the team again, and I presume customers will continue to campaign the R8 both at LeMans and in the ALMS. I REALLY wish JJ Lehto had won the ALMS P900 class for Champion this year, amazing having two former Schumacher-*****es (JJ at Benetton in 94, Johnny Herbert at Benetton in 95) in the same team, both tremendous drivers in their own right who never had a fair shot at Benetton as long as it was Spoonface's team. I've had JJ sign a lot of stuff, and the only thing that brings a frown to his face is stuff like his 94 Benetton model or the 94 team poster showing him, Verstappen, and Spoonface and the frown was usually accompanied by 'they f*cked me over'.

 

i heard the same thing over there. is that the main reason CGT is born right?