The future of Corvette - Page 49

NightStalk3r · 4 Oct 2009, 14:17 (Ref:2553864)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

Problem is they'll now start 6th or 7th instead.

And still win by 15 seconds

dxk1 · 4 Oct 2009, 16:17 (Ref:2553933)

Quote:

Originally Posted by NightStalk3r

And still win by 15 seconds

Bernoldi (for DKR) and Garcia (for Corvette Racing) have to be the most impressive new Corvette drivers of this year!

DK

dxk1 · 20 Oct 2009, 23:47 (Ref:2565842)

Interesting little article at CorvetteSports website about Luc Alphand and his team. Pictures show him looking pretty good and it says he's biking and hiking in order to get back in shape. He still says he's not completely recovered from his motor-cycle accident and isn't sure how much driving he will be able to do next year. Also, he says he has not decided on a car for next year as of early October because of the non-stability in GT1 rules. See here for the article:

http://www.corvette-motorsport.com/n...-lms-title-152

Anyway, here's hoping he goes to a GT2 Vette in LMS next year.

DK

**FIRE** · 21 Oct 2009, 08:12 (Ref:2566022)

There are rumors he switches to the BMW GT2s

dxk1 · 21 Oct 2009, 16:12 (Ref:2566430)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE

There are rumors he switches to the BMW GT2s

Yes there are such rumors and they are reiterated in the article, but it says he hasn't made a final decision yet, so there is still hope for a Corvette in GT2. Seems to me Corvette should make an effort to bring him into the fold for 2010 as he has been pretty loyal (and successful I might add) to them over the last few years.

DK

David · 29 Dec 2009, 22:31 (Ref:2606198)

December 22, 2009
Some interesting comments by Doug Fehan on the official Corvette Racing PR site

Q: What is the status of the GT-spec Corvette customer car program for 2010?

Fehan: "We currently have two customer cars under construction, but we don't yet have confirmed buyers for them. There has been tremendous interest in the GT-spec Corvette C6.Rs, and we think with continued improvement in the global economy, the interested parties will be able to make a commitment. We'd be delighted to see more Corvettes racing in the ALMS or overseas."

Q: While there will be a single GT class in the ALMS in 2010, GT1 will continue in the FIA series and at Le Mans. What's your perspective on the two classes?

Fehan: "A year ago, there was general agreement regarding a unified GT class, which we will see in the ALMS in 2010. The intention at that time was to base the FIA GT1 class on GT cars, with limited modifications to the engine and aerodynamics. Since then, however, Europe has encountered the same economic issues that we have faced in the U.S., and many members of the racing community understandably wish to retain their current cars for financial reasons. Consequently some of the older GT1 cars will now be converted to the new regulations, including several privately owned Corvette C6.Rs, and the ACO has invited these cars to participate at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As the economic climate improves, I hope that the decision makers will recognize the benefits of running one GT class at Le Mans and other venues."

Translation on the second answer, "We sure don't like the idea of getting beat by private GT1 Corvettes at LeMans."

WMUCarGuy · 29 Dec 2009, 23:27 (Ref:2606216)

I was at P&M about a week ago and saw 5 cars in various states of build. 2 were last years' cars, 1 is to be a display chassis, and the other 2 are customer cars. At the time I suspected we'd have 2 customer cars on the grid in Europe, but it appears as if they don't have homes yet.

MJ_N_09 · 30 Dec 2009, 05:16 (Ref:2606265)

Quote:

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

I was at P&M about a week ago and saw 5 cars in various states of build. 2 were last years' cars, 1 is to be a display chassis, and the other 2 are customer cars. At the time I suspected we'd have 2 customer cars on the grid in Europe, but it appears as if they don't have homes yet.

1 (or both) for DKR and 1 (or both) for LAA? May be someone new?

PorscheFanNo1 · 30 Dec 2009, 07:44 (Ref:2606278)

I'm assuming they are building 2 new GT1 spec cars, that have the modifications for the new GT1 regs? What about their GT2 cars, they will run the same 2 chassies in ALMS next season as they ran last season, and no customer GT2 cars?

WMUCarGuy · 30 Dec 2009, 08:25 (Ref:2606289)

Quote:

Originally Posted by PorscheFanNo1

I'm assuming they are building 2 new GT1 spec cars, that have the modifications for the new GT1 regs? What about their GT2 cars, they will run the same 2 chassies in ALMS next season as they ran last season, and no customer GT2 cars?

No, they're all GT2 cars. 2 team cars, 1 show car, and 2 customer cars (to which there doesn't appear to be an owner yet). No new GT1 cars will be made, there are plenty of available cars out there should people want to run them in GT1. And from what I've heard, P&M acted as a sort of "consultant" on upgrading the cars to the new GT1 spec, but aren't actually doing the work themselves. Who knows whether the factory will run the 2 new cars or the same ones as last year, I doubt we'll know til the week of Sebring.

WMUCarGuy · 30 Dec 2009, 08:27 (Ref:2606291)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MJ_N_09

1 (or both) for DKR and 1 (or both) for LAA? May be someone new?

DKR is rumored to be running GT1 cars in the FIA GT1 World Championship and LAA is rumored to be leaving GM for something German (although may still run the Corvette at Le Mans)

R4z3rw33n · 30 Dec 2009, 11:39 (Ref:2606359)

Quote:

Originally Posted by WMUCarGuy

DKR is rumored to be running GT1 cars in the FIA GT1 World Championship and LAA is rumored to be leaving GM for something German (although may still run the Corvette at Le Mans)

Don't think leaving GM would be a wise move for LAA. After all, LAA were (and could potentially be) the only team running GM hardware in the LMS.

I have no doubt the Bavarians (I'm guessing that's the 'something German' you speak of) can provide a decent support package, but ultimately they're going to play second fiddle to Schnitzer.
Whereas with GM...

Speed-King · 30 Dec 2009, 11:49 (Ref:2606365)

Quote:

Originally Posted by R4z3rw33n

Don't think leaving GM would be a wise move for LAA. After all, LAA were (and could potentially be) the only team running GM hardware in the LMS.

I have no doubt the Bavarians (I'm guessing that's the 'something German' you speak of) can provide a decent support package, but ultimately they're going to play second fiddle to Schnitzer.
Whereas with GM...

I guess money is an important part of their considerations as well. And while the BMW is suppossed to be wickedly expensive for a GT2-car, the Corvette is said to be even worse...

old man · 30 Dec 2009, 16:12 (Ref:2606435)

I agree with that, at $700,000 plus $200,000 for spares that is a lot of money and other manufacturers are willing to haggle I hear

WMUCarGuy · 30 Dec 2009, 16:48 (Ref:2606461)

Quote:

Originally Posted by R4z3rw33n

Don't think leaving GM would be a wise move for LAA. After all, LAA were (and could potentially be) the only team running GM hardware in the LMS.

I have no doubt the Bavarians (I'm guessing that's the 'something German' you speak of) can provide a decent support package, but ultimately they're going to play second fiddle to Schnitzer.
Whereas with GM...

LAA has said they don't want to run a car in which they compete against the team that produced their car. If they wanted to win Le Mans they'd always have to be competing against Corvette Racing and that makes success very difficult. I think this statement was made before the ACO announced that the FIA GT1 cars could run in the LMS/Le Mans though, so perhaps they might stay with Corvette in GT1. Strong rumor led to them interested in BMW though.

Acid09 · 31 Dec 2009, 02:36 (Ref:2606639)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

I guess money is an important part of their considerations as well. And while the BMW is suppossed to be wickedly expensive for a GT2-car, the Corvette is said to be even worse...

How does the GT2 E92 compare to the 997 GT3-RS or the F430 in terms of price, have they even disclosed a planned price yet?

Speed-King · 31 Dec 2009, 08:47 (Ref:2606679)

Just hearsay to the n-th degree from a VLN-themed forum, but from what I've read, the figure on the price tag starts with a "five"... (in €!!)
I don't know what would be included in that price and how much you'd have to shell out for a spares package.

PorscheFanNo1 · 31 Dec 2009, 14:12 (Ref:2606790)

So in other words, those newer GT2 cars costs the same as a new generation GT1 car, how nice.

Speed-King · 31 Dec 2009, 15:31 (Ref:2606814)

Considering the lower running costs of the new GT1 cars, these might be even cheaper to run in the long term.

Acid09 · 1 Jan 2010, 21:53 (Ref:2607166)

I´m not surprised that the BMW will be kind of costly, they´ve introduced quite a few technology tweaks with this car.

It's always the same, if a manufacturer enters a class that is dominated by other strong works outfits (in this case Ferrari and Porsche), they´re forced to step up their game to make an impact.

old man · 2 Jan 2010, 11:03 (Ref:2607296)

Persuading a top team to switch to a new car when they have been winning with the present marque must be difficult and making the new car a lot more expensive than the incumbent is not the way to do it IMO. This is especially true when there is a strong works team that you will struggle to beat.

You would think BMW, given what they save from not doing F1 would be in a position to "help" teams pick up their product. Pratt & Miller on the other hand have to stand alone but I still think they will struggle to get teams to buy those 2 cars unless they reduce the price from the one I have been told.

dxk1 · 5 Jan 2010, 20:57 (Ref:2608586)

I was just looking at the Corvette Racing web-site and they have a table of their racing schedule for 2010. They list Le Mans as one of their events. Now I'm assuming they will not accept their automatic entry for GT1 so I'm guessing they assume they will get their GT2 applications accepted. See here:

http://www.corvetteracing.com/

Just wondering, do we think they will get 2 entries accepted or just one?

DK

WMUCarGuy · 5 Jan 2010, 21:27 (Ref:2608603)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dxk1

I was just looking at the Corvette Racing web-site and they have a table of their racing schedule for 2010. They list Le Mans as one of their events. Now I'm assuming they will not accept their automatic entry for GT1 so I'm guessing they assume they will get their GT2 applications accepted. See here:

http://www.corvetteracing.com/

Just wondering, do we think they will get 2 entries accepted or just one?

DK

I'm sure a team with the experience and throw of P&M/CR will get two entries as they've always had.

HORNDAWG · 28 Jan 2010, 16:54 (Ref:2621118)

So with Fässler named to the Audi R15+ 'werks' roster for Le Mans, I wonder what that does to Corvette's line-up? I would not think that they would keep him, if he is not available for Le Mans!

L.P.

Mal · 28 Jan 2010, 17:33 (Ref:2621138)

Quote:

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

So with Fässler named to the Audi R15+ 'werks' roster for Le Mans, I wonder what that does to Corvette's line-up? I would not think that they would keep him, if he is not available for Le Mans!

L.P.

Remember he drove for Audi before - maybe he was under a temporary release to Corvette or Audi still had an option on him???

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