The future of Grand Am?

[HJJ]

Originally Posted by joeb

The future of grand-am looks good JC France has be reinstated as a driver. it turns out that there was some "jurisdictional technicality" so the charges against him for cocaine possession were dropped

Yep. The Daytoner Mafia hands are all over this one.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by fjn356

I was gonna go to Barber but I read an earlier post on this thread that it is always sold out.

[Hugewally]

Originally Posted by HJJ

Yep. The Daytoner Mafia hands are all over this one.

Seems just like when Brian france spilled his soda in the car... Yeah right...

[Matador]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

If the GT class gets filled of silhouettes, the Grand-Am should consider adopting a more radical bodykit (see DTM, Japanese Super GT).

DTM is Joining technical regs with Super GT. Wasn't it reported that Grand Am wanted to tag along?

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by fjn356

I was gonna go to Barber but I read an earlier post on this thread that it is always sold out.

To be serious, if you like motorcycle racing at all, you should make a trip there, it is a fantastic motorcycle track, the museum, which has great historic motorcycles and autos (lots of Loti) is great, and worth the trip on its own.

It is a natural terrain road course and should be supported.

[skycafe]

Originally Posted by joeb

The future of grand-am looks good JC France has be reinstated as a driver. it turns out that there was some "jurisdictional technicality" so the charges against him for cocaine possession were dropped

I may have to wear glasses these days, but that was visible from another galaxy. I guess there wouldn't be concern about sponsor response, he is self-supporting.

[LTSmash]

Originally Posted by MatadorRacing_F1

DTM is Joining technical regs with Super GT. Wasn't it reported that Grand Am wanted to tag along?

You know this would seem like a somewhat logical solutions to fix that which is a confused Grand-Am GT class. I can't stand to watch the GT portion of Grand-Am because the cars are just not on a similar playing field.

What would it do to costs though?

[jondownunder]

Does anyone know if there's any UK coverage this year, Daytona 24H aside?

There used to be highlights on C5 but I haven't noticed them this year.

[chocmonster7]

No one seems to be showing the highlights but there are usually streams around to watch the races live. Speedtv's website coverage worked well for the middle portion of the Glen6hr race last Saturday.

[Andy77]

Originally Posted by chocmonster7

No one seems to be showing the highlights but there are usually streams around to watch the races live. Speedtv's website coverage worked well for the middle portion of the Glen6hr race last Saturday.

Yes it did indeed. And there was pretty good streaming of the first 2h too. Unfortunately, it didn`t work for me for the last 2h. Well, I gave up searching after about 30min after speed.com was finished

[jondownunder]

Thanks guys

[Speed-King]

The future is wild

[TWK]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

The future is wild

I'd say "bright." ALMS has dithered too long. Some are now speculating they can "turn on a dime" in response to well-advanced FIA/Grand Am moves. I do not believe they can.

The two Challenge classes were weak and late responses to market and racing industry changes. They were also "dead wrong." Indications are that ALMS has persisted in resisting Audi's R8 to this very day, clearly still entirely oblivious to the world around them. The seeds of this were already in place at their 2008 zenith, the last point at which they could have properly and effectively responded. This is a nadir from which they will not recover.

[Speed-King]

I'd say "bright."

Yeah, but that would have ruined my play on words.

[TWK]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Yeah, but that would have ruined my play on words.

I'm impressed, but as much as I like such things myself, I miss it right under my nose (it doesn't help in this case that I'm a colonist). Perhaps if you capitalized the phrase I'd have recognized it as a title? We old guys need such help as our cognitive powers slip.

[trahsub]

Originally Posted by TWK

I'd say "bright." ALMS has dithered too long. Some are now speculating they can "turn on a dime" in response to well-advanced FIA/Grand Am moves. I do not believe they can.

The two Challenge classes were weak and late responses to market and racing industry changes. They were also "dead wrong." Indications are that ALMS has persisted in resisting Audi's R8 to this very day, clearly still entirely oblivious to the world around them. The seeds of this were already in place at their 2008 zenith, the last point at which they could have properly and effectively responded. This is a nadir from which they will not recover.

I'm a little confused about the Audi/Porsche conflict in the GTC class of ALMS. Since Audi and Porsche are effectively under the same roof now, why the resistance to bringing in the R8. Doesn't it just promote VAG two fold?

[TWK]

Originally Posted by trahsub

I'm a little confused about the Audi/Porsche conflict in the GTC class of ALMS. Since Audi and Porsche are effectively under the same roof now, why the resistance to bringing in the R8. Doesn't it just promote VAG two fold?

I share your confusion, but it is what I hear. I'm not judging, just passing on.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by TWK

I share your confusion, but it is what I hear. I'm not judging, just passing on.

L.P.

[TWK]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

L.P.

So, HORNDAWG, can you explain why adding the R8 to GTC isn't a "slam dunk?" I'm hoping your laughter means you have it figured out. Please enlighten us if you do.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by TWK

So, HORNDAWG, can you explain why adding the R8 to GTC isn't a "slam dunk?" I'm hoping your laughter means you have it figured out. Please enlighten us if you do.

Oh, I was not clear enough, my bad. I found great humor in the second sentence!




L.P.

[6157]

I would say the ALMS is protecting the teams who have put up the initial investment to get the GTC class off the ground. I can't imagine those teams are psyched about an Audi coming in and probably handing them their ass right away.

You'll know when the car is approved because I'm sure there will be plenty of testing to performance balance the car before it ever hits the track.

[Speed-King]

Looks like Grand Am will indeed get a DTM-class:

Here:
- DTM-cars to be allowed to run in Grand Am races
- mid term goal is the creation of a DTM-only sprint series
- the goal is that teams from NASCAR and Grand Am run the cars in the sprint series

Very elegant, all of that, actually:
- Grand Am gives the DTM-manufacturers a platform in the US
- the DTM-manufacturers support Grand Am with GT3-cars and probably DP-engines (there was an Audi rumor a few months ago and BMW is already there).
- NASCAR appeaces the American manufacturers who are (according to autoextremist.com) clamoring for more road races and more relevant technology
- Opel is talking to Williams and others about a DTM-campaign with the Insignia... add a new grill and you can race it as a Buick Regal in the US.

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Looks like Grand Am will indeed get a DTM-class:

So, this means a DTM vehicle will be competing for overall wins in the GA series, eventually...I can't see a DP keeping pace with a DTM vehicle.

Probably just me, but it is all of this is a bit confusing right now.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

So, this means a DTM vehicle will be competing for overall wins in the GA series, eventually...I can't see a DP keeping pace with a DTM vehicle.

Not necessarily... Aufrecht talks in that interview about how there will be a performance balancing for DTM and Super GT cars in Japan, so we can assume that the same will happen in the US. And then, we are talking about the new-regs-DTM-cars and perhaps DP2.0s, which will be sleaker and a little more high tech... so I would be surprised to really see them outpace the DPs.

Probably just me, but it is all of this is a bit confusing right now.

It's confusing as hell right now, as the Aufrecht interview leaves a lot of open questions - I even bought the print version to get some more details, but that didn't really help either. The above is just my personal, but IMHO reasonable speculation.

[Fogelhund]

Essentially GT500 and DTM cars have been prototypes. It wouldn't take much to have all of them share a similar chassis rules set, allowing for different silhouette skins. They are afterall just a silhouette formula.

Making any assumption where it is a shared chassis platform (GT500, DTM and Grand AM), with performance at or above FIA GT1/DP levels, which is really where GT500 is, you can see the possibilities for branding. Forget the DP body, these things are going to be the IMSA silhouettes of the late 70's... just as DTM and SuperGT are currently.

So, the actual branding will be much stronger moving forward.

So, you will have a high performance silhouette formula GT as the lead class, and then FIA GT3 performance levels as the secondary class. Just my speculation, but if it becomes reality, I have to say I like it.