Motorsports RumorCAN: Acura ARX-01c/d, New IndyCar Delayed, LMP3 Class?

A strange lack of submissions has slowed the production of Volume II of the Motorsports RumorCAN, but at long last we have three new, not overly-talked-about but intriguing rumors to discuss. So let's hop to it!

Acura ARX-01c/d?

With the withdrawal of Audi from significant ALMS activity for the foreseeable future, Acura is believed to be looknig for other methods to bolster it's sportscar program, and one interesting rumor puts focus back on their LMP2 entry.

It is believed that Acura are hard at work at an aerodynamic overhaul of the ARX-01b. The new version, the ARX-01c, is rumored to be a full customer chassis/engine package to be unveiled for the 2010 ALMS season. Supposedly the package will be cheap and appealing to privateer entries which could make for a very competitive LMP2 class.

In addition, it is believed here will also be an 01d version, designed to be old as a rolling chassis only, for teams who would like to experiment with other engines.

The only differences between the two would be that the 01d would be designed, much like a Lola chassis, to house a wide variety of LMP2-spec powerplants.

The 01c/01d is also believed to be the first chassis Acura will sell to teams comepeting in Europe in the Le Mans Series.

New IndyCar delayed?

For months we've been hearing talks about the negotiations for the new IRL powerplant to be deployed in 2011. It has always been expected to coincide with the debut of a new chassis much more suitable for a combined oval/road course schedule.

But with time running out on when Dallara could be reasonably expected to have time to develop a new chassis and construct enough for the 2011 IRL season, not a single detail has been granted to us as to what to expect from the new chassis.

Dallara could just be keeping a tight lid on things, but at the same time the sudden silence in news regarding the engine negotiations is making some folks worry that the economic crisis has caused the delay or even the cancellation of the new IRL car.

LMP3 Class?

In Europe, certain types of lower-tier sports racers that utilize LMP-style aerodynamics are often referred to as LMP3s. One such chassis—built by British manufacturer Chiron—is specifically named such. And it's quite a good little car—My boss has acquired one which I expect to be racing this summer.

But there is rumor that IMSA has plans to create an official LMP3 class to be run in the American Le Mans Series in order to bolster low participation numbers that, even at their highest, rarely hold a candle to European LMS grids.

Believed to based on the ACO's new Formula Le Mans series, the ALMS version will supposedly feature baby prototypes like my Chiron modified with slightly more powerful engines.

The new class is expected to be geared towards lap times close to those of the soon-to-be-defunct GT1 class, and will only run at short-distance races—IE, every aLMS race except for Sebring and the Petit Le Mans.

There is no word as to when exactly this class will supposedly debut.

There's our three rumors for today. What do we all think?