2015 FIA WEC/Le Mans

[hoffmeister_fan]

I haven't been following WEC for awhile now but saw a headline that stated that Porsche claimed the WEC championship. Congrats to them!

On a heavier note, I wonder what effects Diesel-gate will play in fielding 2 factory teams with Porsche and Audi in the future.

 

[Monster]

I haven't been following WEC for awhile now but saw a headline that stated that Porsche claimed the WEC championship. Congrats to them!

On a heavier note, I wonder what effects Diesel-gate will play in fielding 2 factory teams with Porsche and Audi in the future.

And Mark Webber finally won a world championship. I think the original plan was for Audi exit Le Mans and enter F1 in 2017 while Porsche continues on in Le Mans, that was before VW nuked itself.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

And Mark Webber finally won a world championship. I think the original plan was for Audi exit Le Mans and enter F1 in 2017 while Porsche continues on in Le Mans, that was before VW nuked itself.

I am not the biggest motorsports follower, but the limited view I have a Webber (i.e. Top Gear interview, etc.) he comes across a decent chap who has more than paid his dues, so definitely congrats to him and Porsche.

I do remember Christian Horner saying that Audi entering F1 is pretty much up in smoke now. I do wonder do they continue to pour money into these endurance endeavors as they are already established, or is too financially dear to continue with one or even two teams. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in 2016 for them and how the other teams react.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

So I guess that answers my question...

VW Will Not Cancel Its Uber-Expensive Motorsports Programs

VW Group to maintain motorsport activities after emissions scandal

VW Group to maintain motorsport activities after emissions scandal

The Volkswagen Group emissions scandal will not affect the automotive giant's motorsport activities, according to new boss Matthias Muller.

Muller, who moved over from chief executive officer at VW subsidiary Porsche to take the top job after the resignation of predecessor Martin Winterkorn, said the scandal would not result in the cancellation of any of the racing or rallying programmes at VW, Audi or Porsche.

"The motorsports programmes are not in danger of being dropped or significantly reduced because motorsports is very important for the group and the brands," he said on a visit to the World Endurance Championship finale at Bahrain last weekend.

"Basically we do not question our motorsport efforts."

Muller said that 2015 was "a tremendous season with incredible success and a huge effort of all teams".

Porsche is set to downscale its activities in the GTE Pro class of the WEC, however.

It is expected to announce in mid-December that the factory Manthey team will not defend its GT drivers' and manufacturers' crowns and that Porsche will instead focus on developing a new, facelifted 911 built to the GTE regulations that come into force next season.

It is possible that it will maintain a presence in GTE Pro division with one works-supported 911 RSR run by the Proton team, which under the Felbermayr-Proton banner fulfilled a similar role in the Le Mans Series in 2007-11 and then in the relaunch year of the WEC in 2012.

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

Nissan Fired Its Le Mans Team Over E-Mail

Part of me is disappointed that they threw in the towel so quickly.

 

[Sunny]

Can't really blame them, the silly FWD thing didn't stand a chance. The fact they fell for it and wasted millions is what amazes me.

 

[Monster]

Well that was a surprise, the project generated so much hope and hype, in the end the cars didn't even complete a single race. Maybe their idea will work if the planning isn't so poor and execution isn't so rushed.