Mulsanne's Corner NEWS
http://www.mulsannescorner.com/newsjan12.html



Yesterday the ACO released the entry list for both the 2012 World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans. Perhaps the biggest surprise was the singular Dome S102.5 entered by Henri Pescarolo's organization for the 2012 24 Hours of Le Mans. Dome's return, after their three year absence, is certainly welcome.

Though it is a bit puzzling. Recall back in August of 2010 Dome Chief Mr. Minoru Hayashi's pronouncement that Dome would withdraw from Le Mans competition and that their post-Le Mans "posthumous work" would begin? In his statement Mr. Hayashi did leave the door open for Dome by saying, "If an automobile manufacturer requests us to develop a Le Mans racing car in future, Dome will be happy to accept their request, and if Dome develops into a company large enough to pay all the expenses for participation in Le Mans, Dome may once more take up the challenge." But the final word seemed to have been, "But that will happen, if it eventuates, in the next generation, and I am sure that I will not be at the scene."

We've always been a bit puzzled by Mr. Hayashi's statement in that it was obviously from the heart, but that it was final. Dome was done.

But the timing was also very intriguing. Behind the scenes, and unbeknownst to most, around this time same time Toyota had green-lighted a LMP study program. The reality was that it was ultimately more than a study given the amount of resources and personnel dedicated and the only thing missing was an official sign-off from Toyota Corporate. This eventually occurred and the project was made public in December of 2011. What rolled out last month most certainly had been maturing for quite a long time.

Now what did any of this have to do with Dome? Officially, absolutely nothing. However, unofficially, there were very strong suggestions that Dome had involvement in Toyota's LMP. It is hard to deny the obvious visual resemblance. These suggestions became stronger, and then we had very specific details that, yes, indeed, there was a Dome-Toyota connection. Inquires along these lines brought up mentions of Non-Disclosure-Agreements and there was a distinct desire to avoid any suggestions.

Ultimately it's our supposition that yes, Dome was initially involved in Toyota's LMP effort. As to the specifics of that involvement, we will not say and we've also been told that it is, "...more complicated than that." We don't doubt it and surmise that it will take time for the actual story to shake out. Ultimately it's further our supposition that Dome anticipated a long-term involvement with Toyota and that when that contract wasn't signed Dome announced they were done (August 2010) out of frustration.

A second theory of ours is that even as the two entities parted ways a non-compete clause governing a set period of time was signed between the two parties. And the non-compete clause was related directly to the nature of the exchange between Dome and Toyota, whatever that was.

But then there were second thoughts, or, hints of second thoughts, and even perhaps a looming non-compete expiration. Because even as the S102 languished in the Dome factory's show room, presumably never to race again, pictures were released of the car's wind tunnel model with swan necks and, more importantly, the big honking fin. Dome was certainly making sure that a car that hadn't raced since 2008 was up-to-date with the latest thinking.

And in October of 2011 Mr. Hayashi Tweeted what sound like a lament that the, as yet still unannounced, Toyota LMP program wasn't using "domestic" chassis technology.

Then this past December, the same month that Toyota announced they were officially returning to Le Mans in 2012, Race Car Engineering magazine featured an article on the Dome S102 in which Dome's Hiroshi Yuchi said Le Mans was unfinished business and that, "..if someone came along with enough money we could go racing."

Direct inquires to Hiroshi Yuchi brought this similar response, "It depends on the customer. We still receive inquiries for the S102 and always discuss the details. Of course, if there is a team who can run S102 with a reasonable budget, our big boss, Minoru Hayashi, should be happy to send the car to Europe or USA."

Something had changed...

We suspect that Toyota's announcement had rekindled old feelings and spurred Dome to directly challenge Toyota on the track, if only to show them what they missed out on. And perhaps the practicality of the expired non-compete clause made their words official. Minoru Hayashi's press release states that Dome will be footing the 2012 program on their own dime but that, "We don’t have plenty of spare money, either." A far cry from returning when, "Dome develops into a company large enough to pay all the expenses for participation in Le Mans." And interestingly, Mr. Hayashi does hint to underlying reasons why the company withdrew, "Some of you could have got wondering why she (the S102) had not had any chance to come back to competition. I would disclose the reason in future, but the main point today is not about it ." Further more, Hayashi states, "Le Mans 24 Hours is an endurance race indeed, but what Dome aims is the speed in the qualifying sessions in which the true performance of the racecars is tested." Dome is coming to Le Mans in 2012 simply to show everyone how potentially fast their car is, they have something to prove.

Dome's 2012 Le Mans program is somewhat late in announcement and Hiroshi Yuchi admits that certain regulatory details (fender holes) haven't been defined yet. For now the intent is to race first at Spa, and then Le Mans. Nothing else has been decided beyond that. The S102.5, as it will be known, will have a 3.4 liter Judd V8 in place of the previous 5.5 liter V10. With the shorter, lighter V8 slotting into the rear of the car we can imagine a positive (forward) weight distribution benefit. And for now the car appears identical to the S102 but for rules differences since 2008.

So, is this a case of a jilted lover? Yes, we really believe so. Where's the actual proof? For now it's under wraps, and complicated. More so than we know or indicated here.

But regardless, Dome's return is certain to make Le Mans all the more interesting this year. Welcome back Dome!