Club Arnage

It's been bugging me for a while, but looking again at the driver line-ups, I have to say that a lot of them seem to be pretty second rate, a lot of them are just bigheads with bigger pockets.

Obviously there are exceptions; it's very predictable that either Cappello, Tom K, Mc Nish or Biela, Pirro, Werner are odds on to win. All these guys are top flight and so is Joest. But what of the other teams?

Lister, a rubbish car from a rubbish designer (Andy Thorby, responsible for the big Panoz cock-up a few years ago), with a pretty dreary driver lineup.

Pescarolo, why do they all have to be French? They're not too bad an outfit but really Henri, broaden your horizons! The odd foreigner wouldn't water down the essential Frenchness of your team.

Swiss Spirit, waste of time showing up.

Creation, good bunch but how are they really expecting to match Audi with that driver line up?

DfH sorry RfH, it's all looking a bit tired, uncompetitive and out of date really.

Looking at LMP2, some okay drivers but no stars (except Wallace who is pushing it a bit on age) and most are just pay-to-drive hacks.

And finally, what really bugs me is that Aston Martin cannot find it in their hearts to find room for even one British driver out of the six in the team, even with a car numbered 007. And of the drivers chosen, well, just compare Picini or Tropinat to anybody in the Vette team and they simply don't stack up. In fact, I'd rather see Oliver Gavin and Corvette win than an Aston driven by three foreign blokes. I'm not a jingoistic or overly-patriotic person but is it too much to ask to dig out a hard racing Brit?

Just to clarify Mr Z the driver line up for Aston is Enge, Turner and Piccini in the 007 car and Sarrazin, Lamy and Ortelli in the 009 car. Last time I checked Darren Turner was British see planetlemans.com for details. Dunno who this Tropinat character you mentioned is. But I have a feeling the source is the same ACO list that had Johnny O'Connell replaced in the Corvette first by Harry Nuttall and then Jari Nurminen. How likely is that.

Seriously the ACO let a very bugged list slip out yesterday check out the forums on ten tenths or mariantic's web page for comments on whats been going on.

Morning all,
Andy you hit on something that has mystified me at times, the Aston team's reluctance to use British drivers.
For such a patriotic team they've always gone abroad for their jockey's.  Having said all that, the Corvette equipe employs a Canadian, a Brit, a Monocan?, a Dane, a Italian, and one Yank.  So our boys aren't terribly patriotic either when it comes to driver selection.
Fax

Monegasque actually Fax - finally I get a chance to show off!    ;D

RFH have a decent line-up this year, Johanssen en Yoong are good drivers and Lammers is a given. Problem for RFH is that it just does not have the budget to compete with the top contenders, read Audi. A shame really, cause Jan runs his team well and he is a straightforward honest guy and deserves more funds. A top 6 spot would be absolutely brilliant and a stunning performance al things considered.

What the......? You frickin' turncoat, Zarse. Jeeezus, talk about hedging your bets - the writing's on the wall - and old baldy switches allegiance. Adding insult to injury, he uses some cockamamy excuse about driver nationality - an odious and transarent ploy to fenagle his way into the winners circle. Shame on you!
I bet you're a Crawley based Man U fan aswell. Disgraceful. Look back at those pics of you sucking up to Mr Richards at S*bring and hang that shiny dome in shame. The vette faithful respectfully decline your support. Sinner.

Is that Steve Johnson the Brit then?? ;D

>Martini...

I definately don't think the writing is on the wall especially since they have switched back to Michelins from Pirellis (been using them in ALMS this year). The tyres they won at Sebring on and were so blindingly quick at Le Mans with. If they can just not drive into anything solid I think the Vette v Aston battle will be the highlight of the race. Don't forget the Russian Age Racing which is also on Michelins and has Garcia, Brabham and Piquet Jnr behind the wheel. If Bouchut had stayed in this car I think it would probably have been the quickest Aston there.

Knetter,
Agreed Jan and Stefan are good, but Alex Yoong?  He's a rent-a-stiff if there ever was one.  Got a truckload of Malaysian money but very little talent.  He's in RFH because he's bringing a big pile of loot to the team.
Fax

Swiss Spirit qualified on pole at Spa last month... Granted, the Pescarolo started from the pits, but that's surely something...

I think the RML line up is reasonable, yes Wallace is getting on but it ain't just about being fast and if anyone knows the circuit it should be him.

Tommy is always a top performer in the LMP2 category both Mike Newton and Tommy were driving this entry last year and won LMP2 with Warren Hughes.

Hope they can put in a good show again this year.

I've gone off Man Utd recently, I really prefer Chelsea these days. And I'm not backing England at the World Cup as I think Brazil and Germany are likely to do better, so they'll get my support this time.

What? What?  ???

Shame on you Mr.Zarse

I always thought you were a patriot........Brazil or Germany,I think not and I suppose you will sing the Star Spangled BGanner on the run up to the race!!!!!!! :'(

Nah, he'll save that for Sunday afternoon and the podium ceremonies ;D
Fax

That's not entirely true. His funds are important of course, but anyone who has seen him in A1GP last season would have to admit that he has made massive progress.

Well I guess one of the Yank GT2 Porsche's will win that category!!!  ;) ;D ;D