Le Mans Intercontinental Cup (2011 calendar announced)

deggis · PostPosted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 1:26 am

In short: Silverstone + Petit + Asian race, expansion in 2011.

Quote:

The ACO launches the “2010 Le Mans Intercontinental Cup”

During its press conference at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours in June, the Automobile Club de l’Ouest confirmed its intention to link the various Le Mans Series, so in 2010, it will launch a cup reserved for entrants in the top endurance category, LM P1.

This cup will be held on 3 continents in 3 races that are already part of the different series run under the Le Mans label.

This American/European/Asian triple crown will kick off at Silverstone (13th September) in the Le Mans Series. The second round will be the Petit Le Mans (2nd October) in the American Le Mans Series, and the final one will take place on the Asian continent in an Asian Le Mans Series event in November.

A teams’/manufacturers’ classification for the “2010 Le Mans Intercontinental Cup” will be established on the basis of the overall results of these races.

The “2010 Le Mans Intercontinental Cup” prefigures the creation of a world trophy for the 2011 season, which will be run in compliance with the new ACO regulations: it will consist of 6 races minimum. A more detailed presentation of the world trophy will be made before the end of March 2010.

http://www.lemans.org/files/actu/2009-1 ... 69_gb.html

Quote:

Audi announcement:

Audi will contest the new Le Mans Intercontinental Cup in the 2010 season with two R15 TDI cars fielded by Audi Sport Team Joest. Three cars are planned for the 24-hour race at Le Mans on June 12/13. Audi Sport Team Joest plans also to contest the 1000-kilometer race at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), which Audi would like to use as a dress rehearsal for Le Mans, with three cars.

http://www.planetlemans.com/2009/12/08/ ... ng-series/

Gauthier · PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 2:10 pm

But they don't race at Sebring. Holy crap.

Brendan Kaczmarek · PostPosted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 2:56 pm

Gauthier wrote:

But they don't race at Sebring. Holy crap.

In fairness I think it's far too late an announcement to include Sebring. It's only about 3 months away and really would be set apart from the rest of the calendar. Besides, this is a 5-year plan to grow the series into what the ACO hopes will be "the world's second biggest racing series," like the old WSC days I figure. Next season the ACO has promised no fewer than 6 races, which will inevitably include Sebring.

ellis · PostPosted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:29 am

They should look into being an endurance race at Surfers, to go with the V8s.

deggis · PostPosted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:09 pm

Gauthier wrote:

But they don't race at Sebring. Holy crap.

Did you actually mean the calendar or that Audi doesn't race at Sebring? Because it looks that's true too... altough since the requirement is to race in five Le Mans banner (excluding the 24) races in total, according to Audi's announcement they have now selected four, so one race is missing...

Brendan Kaczmarek · PostPosted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:25 pm

deggis wrote:

Gauthier wrote:

But they don't race at Sebring. Holy crap.

Did you actually mean the calendar or that Audi doesn't race at Sebring? Because it looks that's true too... altough since the requirement is to race in five Le Mans banner (excluding the 24) races in total, according to Audi's announcement they have now selected four, so one race is missing...

I forget where I read this, but the way it sounds, Audi will be at Sebring the week after the 12 Hours to test, but will not race. It'd be a shame to not see them race and they do need one more race to fill their five, but I don't see that happening unless they have an opportunity to test the revised R15 handily first.

deggis · PostPosted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 2:35 pm

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/80714

Gauthier · PostPosted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 3:36 pm

For quesnel, if it's not a 12 Hours(minimum) race in China or Brazil, it's not interesting.:roll:

Brendan Kaczmarek · PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 2:22 am

In reality I guess it doesn't make much sense... It's the last run for the Peugeot 908 and they have little left to learn from the car as it will be nearly four years old by then. The rules package is changing for next year and I don't blame them for focusing their efforts there. I wouldn't be surprised to see them at Petit Le Mans anyway, as that is a huge race and they have a crown to defend - but I understand if they opt out.

Gauthier · PostPosted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 5:13 am

I understand too, but they also ignore the entire Le Mans Series, just because "it's only for little manufacters" or "1000 KM races is for sprinters, not for marathoners". Nice for Aston Martin, Pescarolo, Oreca but also for ACO who organised a championship which Peugeot wins in 2007 and try to defend a title in 2008 versus Audi. :yuk:

I'm a real fan of Pegeot Sport, and the venue of Quesnel is good thing, but some of his quotes have a lot of disrespect for others competitors, a liitle bit like Jean Todt.

But it's too bad, it would be some good battle with Audi before Le Mans. But i'm sure they would to come at Paul Ricard (try to got my tickets!) ans Spa-Francorchamps if Audi comes in.

deggis · PostPosted: Mon Jan 04, 2010 6:46 am

I remember some comments from Quesnel too. I think he is basically right. Outside the 24 hours race, there is little prestige and worldwide fame. That's why this new international cup (or will it be a series later?) is needed. But I was still surprised that they won't participate in the '10 edition of this cup. Then again maybe ACO knew that already. And the real target seems to be in 2011.

deggis · PostPosted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:22 pm

GT2 gets manufacturers' title too:

http://www.planetlemans.com/2010/03/19/ ... gt2-added/

For 2011 they're looking at six rounds.

2010 calendar:

Quote:

> 12th September 2010: The Silverstone 1000kms(Great Britain) in the Le Mans Series.

> 2nd October 2010: The Petit Le Mans 1000 Miles(USA)
in the American Le Mans Series.

> Early November 2010: In China (date and circuit to be confirmed by the end of April) in the Asian Le Mans Series.

http://www.lemans.org/24heuresdumans/ac ... 86_gb.html

Gauthier · PostPosted: Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:59 pm

Good Job ACO. :thumbsup:

deggis · PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 2:17 pm

And the 2011 calender is:

Quote:

12 Hours of Sebring
1000km of Spa
24 Hours of Le Mans
1000km of Silverstone
Petit Le Mans
1000km of Fuji
1000km of Zhuhai

Le Mans counts for double points. I am actually surprised they did include it. It was a logical thing to do though.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/84271

Andy · PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 3:46 pm

looks good to me :thumbsup:

EsbenT · PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 4:24 pm

Would have preferred Suzuka to Fuji, but other than that it looks like an awesome schedule!

ellis · PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 4:27 pm

Call it the World Sportscar Championship and people will care. The Le Mans Intercontinental Cup is a terrible name.

deggis · PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 4:48 pm

ellis wrote:

Call it the World Sportscar Championship and people will care. The Le Mans Intercontinental Cup is a terrible name.

Since FIA just set up the GT1 World Championship, I don't think that is possible even in theory... Le Mans World Series - that would be plausible.

ellis · PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 6:28 pm

Well the FIA doesn't own the rights to the words "World", "Sportscar" or "Championship", so of course they can. But this current name sucks. Marketing is important.

deggis · PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 6:49 pm

ellis wrote:

Well the FIA doesn't own the rights to the words "World", "Sportscar" or "Championship", so of course they can. But this current name sucks. Marketing is important.

International Sporting Code (like almost everybody, ACO has signed it too) has several requirements especially using the word "world" in the name. I imagine in reality "World Series" would be a lot easier than "World Championship" because the latter one has a clear status. If this wasn't so, it would end up like pro boxing - there would be several "world championships" for every category.

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Le Mans Intercontinental Cup (2011 calendar announced)

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