Club Arnage

OMG!

 http://www.lizardms.com/news/releases/2012/oct-26.html

What are they going to move on to?

In worst case, they might end up with a Ferrari. They will stick to racing is what I've read, and that is what counts.

All to do with Porsche stopping works involvement whilst they concentrate on the next generation 911

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103755

Lizards the American sports car race team. Corvettes?

Neither of those announcements say that Flying Lizards will not be running Porsche next year.
One says they will not be a Porsche development team and the other hedges where they will be racing.
While they may change horses or series.
With $$already in two cars they can still be competitive in ALMS if they hire good drivers $$$ or move over to GrandAm where they would also be competitive.
I suspect a lot of the support they have received from Porsche was in driver salary not just cutting edge refinements of the car.
The Lizards have been a good team for ALMS and carried the GT category for a number of years making it attractive for Corvette to stay and contest GT2 after GT1 died. There would not have been anywhere for Ferrari to come and play in North America without the Porsche  GT teams that soldiered on through the lean years at ALMS.

Phil

With Porsche putting motorsport resources into an LMP car for 2014, I can see why they are pulling works support for GT teams in 2013. As CP says, there is nothing that Flying Lizard have said that absolutely rules out running Porsche in 2013, but what it does do is open the door to alternatives.

P2 in the WEC could be possible, Starworks have shown the way for US teams, as could a Grand AM Porsche powered proto if they decide to step up and out of GT's. More likely I think is another year with the current car, its not as if it suddenly become a dog and to change to another make would mean a massive expensive in spares and training for personal.

Should know in a few weeks if I have read the release right.

What a shame.  They were part of the "furniture" and what a paint job.

As they've not thrown their toys out of the pram and called the Porsche factory a bunt of cunches, I'd guess they've been offered an LMP for 2014, so may be looking at something similar for 2013, perhaps LMP2.

RIP

Just getting caught up after being away for a few days.  My guess is that they will soldier on with Porsches next year, then wait & see what shape the new ALMS/Grand-AM merger takes.  As Phil said, they could very well go the Grand-Am route also.  They've particpated in the Rolex 24 with a Porsche powered DP, and were usually the fastest car on the track.  My guess is they'll still be racing something Posrche powered, just a matter of what series, with an eye toward the new 2014 regs.
Fax

I suspect that if spectator willpower helped a car go quicker they would have been up the results table even further, such is the respect and affection they garner - there's a soft spot for them for many because of what they represent and how they come across as a team.

The 911s in their livery (and the 2011 Le Mans liveries were outstanding) have been great.  No doubt what comes next will become clear in due course.

MG Mark   

Mark, as you very well point out, they are enormously respected, both in the paddock, and on the hillsides.  As punters, my wife & I have a closet full of Lizard gear, t-shirts, sweatshirts (I think you guys call 'em jumpers), she wears a Flying Lizard edition Bulova on her wrist.  Seth Nieman will do what's best for his merry band (and they are a fun lot).  They have a long association with Porsche, and I suspect it will continue, the big question is, where, and in what?
Fax

Had an email over night from Flying lizards; Fill your boots with their mega sale!!

http://www.lizardms.com/store/sale.htm

As a fellow Lizards fan I have also received this info. The prices are pretty good and in my experience the quality of the merchandise is excellent. Watch out for the shipping costs from the US to UK though. Best to buy lots of stuff to make it worthwhile :-)

Porsche stops the development program of the 997 RSR.  Not only Flying Lizard but also other teams like Felbermayer and Manthey won't have the factory support like they had in the past years.   Porsche will be testing the 991 next year and offer it to customers teams in 2014. 

I don't think teams like Flying Lizards, Felbermayer, Prospeed, Manthey ... will turn their back to Porsche.  They'll run the 997 RSR for another year and have the 991 in 2014.  The 991 will be tested in race conditions also, these teams will be first choice to Porsche to help them in the testing and development programme.

Good news for all us Flying Lizard followers:

Flying Lizard Announces ALMS GTC Racing Plan and Customer Program for 2013

November 15, 2012 – Sonoma, CA – Flying Lizard Motorsports announced today that the team will run the No. 44 Flying Lizard Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car in the American Le Mans Series GTC class in 2013 with drivers Seth Neiman and Spencer Pumpelly. In addition, for the first time in its history, Flying Lizard is introducing a customer program for Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars. Team manager Eric Ingraham explained, "We're excited to race in GTC in 2013. Moving to GTC also gives us the opportunity to share our Porsche experience with customers who want to race professionally in either the ALMS GTC or IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge series." Interested customers should email info@lizardms.com for more information.

Ingraham added, "In this production-based class all teams run a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car so there are no manufacturer differences and the GTC rules mandate more spec features than in GT. This offers a level playing field that is still extremely competitive: to succeed, teams must differentiate through driving performance, race strategy, pit stops, car setup and thorough preparation."

More:  http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-qa-with-flying-lizards-eric-ingraham/P2

Porsche works team announced with Manthey Racing with the new generation 911

http://www.crash.net/le+mans/news/186606/1/porsche_announces_factory_le_mans_entry.html

and

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/104675

It seems to be a kick in the teeth for Flying Lizards and Felbermyer teams

It does rather, after their long association as "factory-supported teams".  And Manthey racing, while having a long history with racing Porsches and at the Nurburgring, haven't got that background at Le Mans.  Makes one wonder if it is really all Manthey Racing, or perhaps a full-blown factory team under that banner practising for the LMP1 entry in 2014, given that the last factory outing at La Sarthe was the GT1 in 1998.....

MG Mark 

I interpreted it to mean: Porsche sharing the wealth. There were other teams before who also did a good job.
 The Flying  Lizard were given  a fair innings and will not be ignored in the future just not the golden boys for 2013.
IMHO
Phil

Didn't Porsche do the same in 2006 when Manthey raced the 997 RSR before other teams got their hands on it in 2007 ?
I was at the 2007 ALMS pre season test at Sebring, and Flying Lizard had their 997 RSR just delivered then, while Manthey won the Nürburgring 24h in a 997 the year before.  The Lizards, Prospeed, Felbermayer ... wil have their RSR in 2014.

Manthey has had factory support for years, and is known as one the best teams working together with Porsche in Europe.  During VLN and 24h of the Ring, they always had factory support, just like they had factory support during their season in the GT open this year.   Guess Mark will be right with this one, a full Porsche factory team, racing under the Manthey banner.

If I read this correctly It looks as though Manthey gets everything. Both GT and Prototype?
Can the same team be Factory and private in the same race with different cars?
http://www.racer.com/porsche-revives-factory-race-team/article/271865/

Phil

I can't see a reason, other than thinning of resources, that would preclude them from running their own cars, but I would imagine the potential privateer Manthey car or cars would have to be stand-alone with the same level of manufacturer  support as the rest of the privateer Porsche grid.

I thought Manthey will race as a works team in GT, but the LMP1 will be run with a genuine Porsche Factory Team (based in Weissach).  Manthey's base is Meuspath, next to the 'Ring.
Can't really see Manthey go racing in prototypes, they don't have any experience with those cars.

Hi Dottore, You have forced me to go back and read more carefully. I agree with your interpretation. The article starts out about LMP1 then switches to discuss  the GT program with Manthey.
Phil