Audi considering dropping out of ALMS?

[1931Chevy]

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/03/21/a...g-out-of-alms/


Despite racking up its eigth victory in a row at last weekend's 12 Hours of Sebring, Audi is reportedly considering dropping out of the American Le Mans Series. Rumors of Audi yanking its unbeatable R10s from competition in the U.S. have been swirling ever since last season when race organizers began changing rules to slow down the Audis and give their competition a hope in hell of winning. Those revisions didn't work and the Audis kept winning.

ALMS organizers also instituted "special" rules for the Audi in last weekend's running of the 12 Hours of Sebring, forcing the R10s to run with a smaller fuel cell that held 81 instead of 90 liters of diesel. Changes like this slow the Audi R10s enough to bring them within spitting distance of the LMP2 class that is incredibly competitive this year thanks to the arrival of Acura on the scene. From Audi's perspective, the temporary rule changes instituted at Sebring apparently were not in line with what it considers fair racing. As such, the German automaker is reviewing where it stands with the American Le Mans Series.

We would hate to see Audi pull out of ALMS, even though it dominates every single race it enters. Ideally, ALMS should be recruiting more competitive LMP1 contenders, or perhaps it could institute a new class of diesel-powered racers called LMD1. We hear the French might be interested.

[New_Mexico_Sunset_on_Rt66]

I know that R10 dominated last year. They added weight to the Corvette last year in GT1 to make it "competitve", as well.

I would like to see the ALMS grow. It would be nice to keep Audi in the fold.

[SJZ3]

Instead of hamstringing Audi, ALMS should be encouraging other teams to innovate.

[Butz]

Audi shouldn't drop out and Cadillac should return to Lemans.