Porsche vuelve a la competicion

[Porschete]

Esta en giri, pero se entiende bien:

Porsche has confirmed that it is preparing to return to the prototype sportscar fold, using the second round of this year's American Le Mans Series to reveal a surprising tie-up with IndyCar operation Penske Motorsports.

ALMS president and CEO Scott Atherton hailed the announcement as 'one of the most significant - if not the most significant - in series' history", as Porsche Cars North America CEO Peter Schwarzenbauer, joined team boss Roger Penske and Porsche Motorsport North America Uwe Brettel enlivened the Road Atlanta paddock with their news.

"The announcement today of Porsche's return to prototype racing at the highest level of the sport is the culmination of a process in which we have been involved every step of the way," Atherton continued, "It is not possible to put into words what this means for the American Le Mans Series – the positive effect will be felt by all involved with the series."

The two Porsche organisations have commissioned parent company Porsche AG to design and construct a car that will be eligible to compete in the LMP2 prototype class. It will be the first purpose-built factory racecar since the 1998 911 GT1, which effectively spelt the end of prototype racing as an FIA series. Since the inception of the ALMS in 1999, Porsche's customer teams have competed in the GT2 class, where the venerable 911 - based on the road-going model - has won five manufacturer championships in the last six years. Porsche currently holds the all-time mark for race wins and poles with 49 and 50 respectively.

However, for more than 30 years, the highly-successful North American Porsche customer racing programmes featured famed Porsche models as the 934, 935 and 962, and there have been several calls for the marque to return to prototype racing.

"Our American racing customers have made it clear to us that they would like to move up several levels in the ALMS competition, as would we," said Schwarzenbauer, "The American Le Mans Series offers manufacturers such as Porsche the opportunity to showcase both their chassis and engine technology, and we believe this new Porsche prototype programme will provide the perfect means to do so, and will generate added enthusiasm for sportscar racing in America, especially with Penske Motorsports as our partner and initial entrant."

Penske Motorsports, part of the bigger Penske Racing Inc organisation, will have exclusive use of the new Porsche prototype in its first full season of competition in 2006. One of the world's most successful racing operations, Penske already has a rich racing history with Porsche, highlighted by Can-Am championships in 1972 and 1973, when it campaigned the legendary 917/10 and 917/30.

It is hoped that Penske will debut the new prototype at the final two races of this year's ALMS season, at Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca, using both races as test events before entering full-time in 2006.

"The fact that Porsche is returning with a racing program in the LMP2 class in 2006 was going to be a big announcement all by itself," Atherton admitted, "but to add Penske Motorsports' involvement beginning this year in Atlanta at Petit Le Mans makes this one of the most significant developments in the history of the American Le Mans Series.

"These announcements have the potential of causing a very positive paradigm shift for the ALMS and, potentially, for road racing in general. This sends a loud and clear message that the ALMS is a very strong and growing platform – worthy of attention, investment and participation by the best manufacturers and race teams in the world."

[Vitol]

será cierto? ¡ya era hora!

[porschistaviajero]

Estaban demasiado ocupados fabricando Cayennes.

[Finisterrae944]

A ver con que nos sorprenden ya estaba cansado de ver a Porsche solo en el DTM

[STRATOS_HF]

Ya era hora, me encantaria volver a ver a porsche ganando en le mans.