IMSA TUSC 2015 Entries, Schedule, and Rumors

[MitchZ06]

They're supposed to be 2 seconds faster under the 2016 GTP regs so add 2s to this years lap times.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

So far we know of....
CORE-Porsche NA
Risi Ferrari
Corvette
Ford

Maybe is BMW

That gives us as many cars on the grid as there are this year, GTLM to fold my backside.

Uh. I never said it would, and that comment was made well before we had a clue as to where the cars were going to fall.

[Coach Ep]

SC365 notes that

"***A World Challenge GT-A team is poised to make its TUDOR United SportsCar Championship debut next month at Circuit of The Americas, which would provide a boost to the GTD class."

from http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/vi...ay-notebook-2/

any guesses?

[MitchZ06]

Have GMG done Tudor?

[Coach Ep]

Not sure, maybe Long Beach this or last year?

I'm thinking Texan Stan Knox and his Lone Star Racing will run the 2nd Viper (with support from Riley), they haven't competed in the last 2 PWC events and according to their fb page they have something up their sleeve.

Edit: no GTD at LB of course but GMG competed in the 2014 edition of the Rolex 24.

[JHamilton]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

Part of me thinks that whatever GM does will be in direct relation to what Ford does. If Ford goes to the WEC, I'd expect GM to follow suit.

I don't understand why they would do that? The marketing strategies are completely different as Ford is a global brand. Chevy, and in particular, Corvette are not. While IMSA barely has a foothold in the US, the WEC has absolutely no penetration into this market at all. I would expect Corvette to race and spend activation dollars in the US and Le Mans or no where.

[ATLFalconsFAN]

I know of one GTD Audi team that will be calling it quits after COTA. Was told directly by one of the drivers, operating costs too high.

[Coach Ep]

Compass.

This is from the announcement earlier this year:

Plans for the team’s GTD effort currently include running four of the upcoming TUDOR “sprint” races: Lime Rock Park, Road America, Virginia International and Circuit of The Americas, with a strong likelihood of attending the two remaining North American Endurance Cup rounds at Watkins Glen and Road Atlanta.

“We’ve committed to the four sprint races, and are working on the final pieces of the puzzle for the endurance rounds,” remarked Thomson. “In the meanwhile, we’ve got an aggressive testing schedule put together prior to Watkins, starting in two weeks at Sonoma.”

Any word if they'll be back next year?

[ATLFalconsFAN]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Compass.

This is from the announcement earlier this year:


Any word if they'll be back next year?

Sounds highly unlikely.

[HJJ]

Originally Posted by MoMedic9019

Part of me thinks that whatever GM does will be in direct relation to what Ford does. If Ford goes to the WEC, I'd expect GM to follow suit.

Doug Fehan already stated after the Ford GT launch at Le Mans that it (Le Mans) gives them enough international exposure and was not interested in a WEC program.

But then again, you are connected.

[TF110]

Thought it was confirmed 2 Fords run wec and 2 tusc? That will definitely give needed variety after Viper dropped (or was forced to drop) out.

[Deleted]

Originally Posted by TF110

after Viper dropped (or was forced to drop) out.

What do you imply by that?

[TF110]

Originally Posted by Chiana

What do you imply by that?

Pushed by the FIAT merger maybe to drop programs like the GTE that dont make money.Ive seen it mentioned before that he merger was the reason, but different explanations. Spending, competition (with Ferrari) etc. Who knows.

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by HJJ

Doug Fehan already stated after the Ford GT launch at Le Mans that it (Le Mans) gives them enough international exposure and was not interested in a WEC program.

But then again, you are connected.

Probably worth checking the date on the post. Was made well before the ford announcement

[Coach Ep]

Here he goes again...

[Deleted]

Yes... they are not interested, period

[joeb]

Any word on the confiscated DP parts after last round?

[Accident]

Originally Posted by joeb

Any word on the confiscated DP parts after last round?

There was a mention of it in the "Friday Notebook" from VIR post on SC365:

No further action has been taken following IMSA’s impounding of the DP diffusers following the Road America race. Official results and points were released earlier this week, with no changes to either.

[joeb]

Thanks. I guess it was a routine check?

[Accident]

I don't think it was ever said why they impounded them, whether it was to check to see if any teams were using modified ones or breaking the rules somehow, or if it was to check for a quality thing or compare them to a revision or what...

It would be interesting to hear why they grabbed them all, even though it obviously didn't come to anything significant, but I doubt we will.

[Danske]

I was half expecting teams to get fined for improving the mounting or patching cracks as "illegal modifications".

[MaskedRacer]

I really hope there is no rain on qualifying day at COTA. Always fun to compare lap times between the divisions and series. Last year the order in speed seemed to be 1) WEC LMP1 2) WEC LMP2 3) IMSA Prototype 4) IMSA LMPC 5)IMSA GTLM 6)WEC GTE 7) IMSA GTD

[joeb]

Originally Posted by MaskedRacer

I really hope there is no rain on qualifying day at COTA. Always fun to compare lap times between the divisions and series. Last year the order in speed seemed to be 1) WEC LMP1 2) WEC LMP2 3) IMSA Prototype 4) IMSA LMPC 5)IMSA GTLM 6)WEC GTE 7) IMSA GTD

I like to see these comparisons as well. After the rain last year I'm sure the WEC teams would appreciate a dry event.

[Coach Ep]

What happened to GB Autosport's GTD effort with Michel Avenatti and sponsoring from Tully's Coffee? They retired from Sebring with engine failure, did LM in conjunction with JMW and hasn't been seen since (?).

[MoMedic9019]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

What happened to GB Autosport's GTD effort with Michel Avenatti and sponsoring from Tully's Coffee? They retired from Sebring with engine failure, did LM in conjunction with JMW and hasn't been seen since (?).

Money.