LMS Press Conference Notes

Green Caring?

Lunchtime on Monday at Paul Ricard saw the traditional LMS press conference, which was again well attended by media and team personnel; despite the not inconsiderable distraction of another magnificent lunch being served in the Mistral Centre.

There was little that was of great consequence on this occasion, but Patrick Peter was keen to stress the series’ ambitions and achievements in relation to promotion, cost-saving and environmental impact.

The main points from the conference can be summarised as follows:

Competitors

• The economic climate has stymied Dr Wolfgang Ullrich’s intention for Audi Motorsport to campaign a full season, but “the Kolles R10 TDIs will be receiving works-team-like support”
• “We can expect the presence of Peugeot in the series after Le Mans” 

Promotion

• TV production will be doubled this year. New agreement with Eurosport. Start and finish live plus other live broadcasts – 1.5 to 3 hours live per race.
• Confident of  crowd-levels similar to 2008 – 28,000 at Barcelona, 35,000 at Spa and 53,000 at Silverstone. Monza dropped as cannot attract spectators.
• Intention to create a ‘Le Mans ambience’ at Portimao
• Increased focus on extending links with car owners clubs – Aston Martin and Mazda will be at forefront
• Focus on educating spectators about classes, teams, drivers and cars. Each truck in the paddock will have a board featuring team and driver bios and technical information about the car

Support Races

• CER Historic series returns with 45 cars expected. Radicals also once more on the package.
• Formula Le Mans will begin at Spa with 15-18 cars expected
• Other local support races added to each round

Cost Cutting & Technical Initiatives

• With exception of Barcelona, all meetings will be three-day events; allowing teams to arrive at circuit later. Total practice time will not change. I.e. two 90 minute session, instead of three 60 minute sessions. Scrutineering will take place on Friday and Saturday morning, but cars will be allowed to practice before being scrutineered, subject to undertaking a safety check

Environmental Initiatives

• Series does not believe in paying lip-service to environmental issues; instead preferring to take real action - "Green Caring, not Green Washing".
• Energy Index concept brought back in partnership with Michelin     
• ACO sporting team working with tyre manufacturers to produce longest lasting tyres possible and to penalise tyre changes. Tyres responsible for 20% of energy consumption of car, so intention is to make more efficient.
• Solar-powered tyre heating system has been manufactured and is being trialled during 2009 – indeed, Oak Racing were heating their tyres using the prototype at the HTTT test. Intention is to heat tyres to 70 degrees Celsius in 40 minutes and, in the process, save 40,000 litres of fuel and 10 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year. Teams can also use surplus from solar panels (located on top of team truck) for other uses. Will become mandatory on successful completion of trial.
• ACO working to unilaterally cut noise emissions – issue affecting all European circuits – to prevent external enforcement. First stage is an intended 1db reduction – significant as exponential scale.

The press conference concluded with presentations by Oak Racing, Mazda and Hankook Tyres.

While the ‘green’ initiatives are to be applauded, DSC feels that the series opens itself up to the danger of accusations of gimmickry.

Saving ten tonnes of CO2 is certainly laudable, but the Q&A session at the end included a question about the Asian Le Mans Series races in Japan and China at the end of the year – it is perhaps worth noting that the carbon footprint arising from a flight from London to Okayama via Tokyo, then from Okayama to Shanghai, and finally from Shanghai to London, works out at 1.88 tonnes per person (source).

MH