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SurfaceUnits
12-04-08, 06:53 PM
Thursday, December 4th 2008, 11:35 GMT
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72314

Audi motorsport boss Wolfgang Ullrich has confirmed that the manufacturer will not attempt to defend its Le Mans Series title next season with the new R15 TDi.

Alexandre Premat and Mike Rockenfeller won the LMS title this year in an Audi R10, but Ullrich says in this week's Autosport that the decision not to return was made to save money.

"We will not participate in the LMS," he said. "We all have to face that the economy is moving and everyone has to put something into their pocket to save money.

"The LMS has grown quite significantly but you have to face the fact that to make the best out of less money, there is no choice but to cut parts of the programme."

The Le Mans 24 Hours is, so far, the only confirmed outing for the R15 beyond the American Le Mans Series season-opener, the Sebring 12 Hours, in March.

But Ullrich says a decision about a tenth consecutive full ALMS campaign is still to be made.

"We are still in discussion about the American programme," he said. "There has to be a board decision to do it, but we are all working on it very hard."

Audi stalwarts Emanuele Pirro and Frank Biela, who have five Le Mans wins each with the marque, are likely to race Audis again next year despite not having their contracts renewed this season. Both are expected to race the new R8 GT3 car for teams in Europe.

Methanolandbrats
12-05-08, 11:14 AM
Gone http://jalopnik.com/5102339/audi-pulls-out-of-2009-american-le-mans-series

Michaelhatesfans
12-05-08, 01:12 PM
Ouch. ALMS without Audi or Porsche. You have to think that the Corvette program isn't looking too good, either...

:(

chop456
12-05-08, 01:14 PM
^ Considering that the GT1 program has already been cancelled, I'd say you're right. :D

Supposedly the GT2 program is not on the chopping block.

Michaelhatesfans
12-05-08, 02:18 PM
[QUOTE=chop456;247132Supposedly the GT2 program is not on the chopping block.[/QUOTE]

No, but GM might be...

NismoZ
12-05-08, 02:54 PM
Sure, and just when Corvette finaly gets to face real competition from Team Rahal BMWs!;)

NismoZ
12-05-08, 02:57 PM
Uh...ALMS too.:shakehead

nissan gtp
12-05-08, 05:34 PM
Uh...ALMS too.:shakehead

damnit :thumdown:

Gnam
12-05-08, 06:25 PM
Not good. Wonder if Honda will bail too?

Methanolandbrats
12-05-08, 08:00 PM
How things change. During the summer it looked like ALMS was going to take with new teams and an exciting 2009. Now it's looking a bit grim :(

Michaelhatesfans
12-20-08, 02:14 PM
Autosport predicting Chevrolet will pull out of Le Mans...
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72530

Methanolandbrats
12-20-08, 04:39 PM
Autosport predicting Chevrolet will pull out of Le Mans...
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72530

I think this going to keep getting worse, it's months till racing season begins. :(

Gnam
12-20-08, 04:41 PM
According to the article, "It all hinges on what happens in Washington." Well, the Feds coughed up several $ billion for the Big 3. So does that mean the Corvettes can come out and play?

extramundane
12-20-08, 06:52 PM
Autosport predicting Chevrolet will pull out of Le Mans...
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/72530

Steve Wesoloski and others have already said the story is false.

SurfaceUnits
12-20-08, 11:20 PM
Volkswagen AG has applied for 10 billion euros ($14 billion) in credit guarantees from the German government to ensure the carmaker has access to cheap financing, Der Spiegel said, without saying where it got the information.

The guarantees would allow Volkswagen to offer customers cheap purchasing and leasing conditions, the magazine reported. Volkswagen’s move may prompt Daimler AG and Bayerische Motoren Werke AG to also apply for the funds, according to Der Spiegel.

Lux Interior
12-23-08, 07:38 AM
Looks like us sportscar fans are going to be stuck following GrandAm this season:yuck: I may actually not attend a race for the first time in years.

I suspect ALMS will recover, but it may take a few years. For the record, I think we are just seeing the beginning of the motorsport program axing. The forcast for the world economy in 2009 is not looking good, and motorsports is expensive. Also, automobile executives who may not really be into racing racing control some of the budgets, so saving money by chopping an expensive exercise is more likely than ever now.

SurfaceUnits
12-23-08, 03:01 PM
^^^Which is why you indycar fans are stuck with the beefarter and mufflers until your series dies in 2012 :cry:

Gnam
03-18-09, 05:23 PM
R10's and a Karthikeyan to the rescue. ;)

http://www.planetlemans.com/2009/03/18/kolles-confirms-more-le-mans-series-drivers/

Charles Zwolsman will also be driving for them. :thumbup: