Grand Am making its move, is it time for ALMS to make its move? - Page 15

4porsche · 14 Oct 2010, 13:53 (Ref:2774875)

It looks like Grand-Am will allow the center lug. Not 100% certain at this time though. Guess we'll see how it pans out.

HJJ · 14 Oct 2010, 14:01 (Ref:2774879)

Earlier tweet from Murphy:

Quote:

According to Grand Am memo today, 2011 GT3 spec entries are allowed single wheel nuts, 2 guns over wall; 5 nuts, three guns allowed.

Speed-King · 14 Oct 2010, 16:23 (Ref:2774949)

Looks like Ford like what they see in Grand Am: A semi-factory Mustang programme next year, car built to "the next generation Prep 2 regulations."

Since Ford always hated the idea of a tubeframe Mustang and denied Blackforest any support, I am wondering what these next generation prep 2 regs will be... we've already heard that current Prep 2 doesn't necessarily have to be tubeframe, but can also be a unibody-car modified beyond the prep 1 regs...

Fogelhund · 14 Oct 2010, 16:52 (Ref:2774964)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Looks like Ford like what they see in Grand Am: A semi-factory Mustang programme next year, car built to "the next generation Prep 2 regulations."

Since Ford always hated the idea of a tubeframe Mustang and denied Blackforest any support, I am wondering what these next generation prep 2 regs will be... we've already heard that current Prep 2 doesn't necessarily have to be tubeframe, but can also be a unibody-car modified beyond the prep 1 regs...

If I am not mistaken, a Multimatic built Mustang ran GT3 within the last few years in Europe...

dj4monie · 14 Oct 2010, 18:19 (Ref:2775016)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

If I am not mistaken, a Multimatic built Mustang ran GT3 within the last few years in Europe...

Yep and Marc VDS took over that program from Matech. Due some spec issues at Jarama where it qualified on the front row for Race 1, it was pulled.

That car will be out at the season opener for 2011 European GT3.

Multimatic a Canadian company can easily build a car for Grand Am GT out of that car.

Speed-King · 14 Oct 2010, 18:24 (Ref:2775023)

Quote:

That car will be out at the season opener for 2011 European GT3.

In fact, it will be out this weekend in French GT....

Speed-King · 15 Oct 2010, 13:34 (Ref:2775364)

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87473

DTM-America to start in 2013, 6 races with Grand Am, 6 with NASCAR...

Jonerz · 15 Oct 2010, 13:58 (Ref:2775367)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87473

DTM-America to start in 2013, 6 races with Grand Am, 6 with NASCAR...

This is HUGE, very exciting news!! I hope it gets finalized.

Chris

JAG · 15 Oct 2010, 14:33 (Ref:2775377)

A US DTM sprint series is more interesting than GA taking on the ALMS in the endurance market.

Can't see much future for the DP's to be honest with them being squeezed by the ALMS and DTM, plus the requirement for new chassis by 2013.

**joeb** · 15 Oct 2010, 14:35 (Ref:2775379)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87473

DTM-America to start in 2013, 6 races with Grand Am, 6 with NASCAR...

I actually think the best part about that little article is that DTM is close to an agreement with the SuperGT folks to run the same rules starting in 2013.

I am wondering who is going to be running the cars in the american series. Will the existing DTM teams come over for the US series, or do they expect to get enough partners stateside to run the teams? There just doesn't seem like there will be enough teams/money to buy all new equipment and run a series here in the US. Maybe this is why there is a NASCAR affiliation, so that way maybe NASCAR teams will run some of the cars and be able to secure sponsorship.

Speed-King · 15 Oct 2010, 14:45 (Ref:2775388)

If the manufacturers involved in DTM want to get this off the ground, they'll have to pay for it - just like they pay for or subsidize every car on the current DTM-grid.
And I don't think they would propose this, if they weren't serious about going through with these plans.

The good thing is, that the next-gen. DTM-cars will be a lot cheaper to run than their current counterparts, but probably also GT2-cars.

I think it's actually part of NASCAR's/Grand Am's strategy here to shift the participation of the manufacturers involved in DTM away from IMSA and into the NASCAR ranks.

I wouldn't be all that surprised to see DTM-engines becoming elegible for DP-competition, either...

JAG · 15 Oct 2010, 15:05 (Ref:2775399)

You can save on purchase costs and rebuilds but when manufactuers compete with each other they always find a way to spend big.

When it's BMW, Audi and Mercedes they are going to throw everything at it, just as the GT500 manufactuers do in Japan.

Fogelhund · 15 Oct 2010, 15:17 (Ref:2775403)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/87473

DTM-America to start in 2013, 6 races with Grand Am, 6 with NASCAR...

As a stand alone idea, this is nothing short of stupid.

Perhaps exciting from a fan perspective, but business... no.

Dyson Mazda · 15 Oct 2010, 15:37 (Ref:2775416)

Is NASCAR trying to turn Grand Am into a complete support series. Why would the GT/DP teams in the series stick around when they can step up to DTM and probably get a lot more bang for the buck along with factory support/drivers. I also wonder if BMW struck a deal with the devil and is going to cut the GT2 program. I hope not but BMW does not have the most rational motorsports division.

Speed-King · 15 Oct 2010, 15:48 (Ref:2775424)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dyson Mazda

Is NASCAR trying to turn Grand Am into a complete support series. Why would the GT/DP teams in the series stick around when they can step up to DTM and probably get a lot more bang for the buck along with factory support/drivers.

The Rolex series will suffer from it, no question. The question is: how much? The difference is, though, that one series will be single-driver/sprint/all-pro, whereas the other will be two-drivers/endurance/Pro-am.
The quality in the Rolex series will probably go down, numbers might actually go up if Ganassi/Gainsco/SunTrust move out of DP...

Quote:

I also wonder if BMW struck a deal with the devil and is going to cut the GT2 program. I hope not but BMW does not have the most rational motorsports division.

It's actually quite obvious: less money for Rahal, Z4 GT3 as the main weapon at the Ring next year, BMW being the main force behind the USA-plans... I think you get the picture.

JAG · 15 Oct 2010, 15:53 (Ref:2775427)

Seems more like DTM making it's move on Grand Am.

It makes you wonder if the DP refresher is a short term fix to see if the US DTM series can get off the ground.

TWK · 15 Oct 2010, 16:00 (Ref:2775431)

Did that damn bear get get another one, back on July 7? (Must be his "3%" for the year.)

**FIRE** · 15 Oct 2010, 20:30 (Ref:2775551)

Will be interesting to see what these plans will do with GrandAm and ALMS.

trahsub · 15 Oct 2010, 21:01 (Ref:2775563)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

I think it's actually part of NASCAR's/Grand Am's strategy here to shift the participation of the manufacturers involved in DTM away from IMSA and into the NASCAR ranks.

What? If one thinks there will be Sprint Cup M3s and Audi's down the road, well, that would be pretty silly considering close to 0% of the buyers market of those vehicles attend NASCAR races.

**joeb** · 15 Oct 2010, 21:08 (Ref:2775567)

Quote:

Originally Posted by trahsub

What? If one thinks there will be Sprint Cup M3s and Audi's down the road, well, that would be pretty silly considering close to 0% of the buyers market of those vehicles attend NASCAR races.

I don't think that was being implied. I think he was talking about the dtm us series taking entries from imsa.

TWK · 15 Oct 2010, 22:05 (Ref:2775582)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

The Rolex series will suffer from it, no question. The question is: how much? The difference is, though, that one series will be single-driver/sprint/all-pro, whereas the other will be two-drivers/endurance/Pro-am.
The quality in the Rolex series will probably go down, numbers might actually go up if Ganassi/Gainsco/SunTrust move out of DP...

It's actually quite obvious: less money for Rahal, Z4 GT3 as the main weapon at the Ring next year, BMW being the main force behind the USA-plans... I think you get the picture.

I disagree. In parallel, but on a faster schedule, Grand Am will embrace GT3 as its GT field base and upgrade the Daytona Prototypes, including a smaller greenhouse. When the DTM comes along it will provide a needed attendance spark. A Grand Am weekend will become a much better draw.

The net result will be increased sponsor interest. With its racing costs under control, teams will be in better financial shape than in ALMS, in which teams without a personal sugar daddy are badly upside-down.

carsten66 · 15 Oct 2010, 22:30 (Ref:2775591)

What the hell... What gives? Audi are not able to get the funding for just two LMP1 cars in the ALMS but now have tons of money to join in starting a brand new series in the US while suffering from economic crisis...?!?!

Indeed, will be interesting to see what these plans will do with ALMS. I really hope it will not hurt them.

rich07 · 16 Oct 2010, 04:51 (Ref:2775643)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JAG

You can save on purchase costs and rebuilds but when manufactuers compete with each other they always find a way to spend big.

When it's BMW, Audi and Mercedes they are going to throw everything at it, just as the GT500 manufactuers do in Japan.

Yep. The intent may be to contain costs but once they get underway costs will go up especially when there's manufacturers involved.

DTM in the US-Im still trying to wrap my head around it.

Mal · 16 Oct 2010, 09:27 (Ref:2775695)

This could become extremely popular if Ford or GM decide to join in.

Speed-King · 16 Oct 2010, 09:35 (Ref:2775701)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

This could become extremely popular if Ford or GM decide to join in.

With a little luck, the "Trans-Am"-name might even be available by 2013

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