Porsche to build sports prototype?

[t1grm]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/4449441.stm

bbc said:

Porsche ready to return to racing Porsche last won the Le Mans 24-hour race in 1998 Porsche are to return to top-level motorsport by entering next season's American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in conjunction with Penske Motorsports. It will be the first time since 1998 that the legendary German company has made a purpose-built racing car. Porsche's Peter Schwarzenbauer said the decision had been taken after pressure from their American racing customers. "They made it clear they would like to move up several levels in the ALMS competition, as would we," he said. ALMS chief Scott Atherton said: "The fact that Porsche is returning with a racing program in 2006 was going to be a big announcement all by itself. "But to add Penske Motorsports' involvement makes this one of the most significant developments in the history of the American Le Mans Series." The ALMS runs to Le Mans regulations, opening up the possibility of Porsche returning to the French classic next summer. Porsche have won the race 14 times and their last victory came in 1998 when Allan McNish, Stephane Ortelli and Laurent Aiello claimed victory.

OK so it doesn’t mention a prototype but since they say their customers would like to “move up several levels” and the already dominate the GT category then what else could it be? Wonder if we’ll see it in Europe. Good or bad for the LMES/ALMS?

[ccharlie6]

its going to be an LMP2 it was announced a couple of days ago on sportscar websites. not good news for lola and courage

[t1grm]

LMP2? That's odd. Why don't they just go for an LMP1? Surely they can't expect to challenge for overall honours with an LMP2? Or maybe this is just a customer prototype for a future factory LMP1?

[racefan_uk]

Because they would go head to head with Audi for P1 honours if they built a P1 car.

Besides, the P2 category is aimed at privateers, so after they've developed it for a year or so, it'll be a great customer car for sportscar racing.

[daydreamer]

Also, the article in Autosport a couple of weeks back pointed out that a lot of the development work for the P2 car, maybe including a fair proportion of the bits, could then be used for a P1 car in the future!

[Radical Mick]

It`s great news for us at Radical. The target for our new SR9 is to `Beat the Hun`. If TVR can do it. Why can`t we?

[The DJ 27]

Plus I'm sure they could just use the flat 6 from a 911 GT3-RSR without too much reworking. Saves them development costs. I'd imagine that'll be the engine anyway. Compact, light and powerful