Dyson to Open Wheel Racing?
Written by DJ Samson · July 16, 2006
I had an interview with American Le Mans Series driver, Chris Dyson earlier this week. We talked about vague topics, but one of his answers really surprised me. It just goes to show you how bad a merger between IRL/CCWS is needed.
After the retirement of the Audi R8 this past weekend, do you think the Audi R10 will be as fast as the R8 in the future ALMS sprint races?
We hope not! The R10 was very fast at the Sebring race. The diesel engine is a new technology so they will have advantages in fuel economy over the R8, which was already very good.
Being a private team, how difficult is it to compete with top manufacturers such as Audi, Porsche and soon to be Acura?
We have never been shy about competing against the factories, as long as the regulations create an even footing. Factory teams often have tremendous resources advantages, but sometimes they don’t use them productively. There have been examples of high budget factory efforts that have not achieved much in sportscar racing. Audi and Porsche have done a very good job but we have been able to compete with them because we maximize our resources and we are in some ways more nimble and can react more quickly to situations. We haven’t seen the extent of a proper Acura program yet, so I can’t really speak to them. I’m sure they will do a good job.
ACO recently mandated a rule change that all LMP1 cars will have to become closed top coupes in 2010. Do you think this will hamper the budget that under funded teams hold?
Nobody really knows. By that point in time most of the existing equipment will have reached the end of its racing life, and as long as there continue to be viable customer options I see know reason why having a roof on the cars will create massive budget increases.
Dyson Racing is a sports car team at heart. But if Champ Car and Indy Car were to unify, does Dyson Racing plan to field an entry?
That’s an excellent question. We keep our eyes on all forms of racing, and although our heritage is primarily in sportscar racing, if there was a reunification and the future looked bright we would give open-wheel racing a serious look.
Will Dyson Racing add more races in 2007 for the Atlantic Series with Chris Dyson behind the wheel or perhaps a different driver?
At this point in time we don’t have any plans to return to Atlantic, but we thoroughly enjoyed our time in that series and it remains on our radar.
In Formula One racing, car manufacturers often pair up with teams for the exchange of engines for advertising space. If a car manufacturer were to propose something like this to the team, would Dyson Racing accept it?
We are very happy with our current engine partner AER’s twin-turbo V8, so any alternative would have to be very, very compelling for us to consider any change. AER is a wonderful company with massive initiative and capabilities, especially when you consider its size. At the moment, AER is going to remain our engine partner.
If you could choose any track to add to the ALMS schedule, what would it be and why?
Watkins Glen. No question whatsoever. A modern LMP-1 car whistling around there would be incredible.
Will we see Dyson Racing at Le Mans in 2007?
It’s a little too early to answer that!
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