ALMS 2011 Discussion

[911targa]

i'm quite surprise BSR havent confirm their 2011 plan till now,they have both 2009 RSR and 2010 Cup,both car can be updated to the latest spec,so are they going to race in GT with the help of Porsche and Dunlop(or Michelin)?

anyway there's a tiny mistake on the poster,Lizard 911s should have 997 MK2 taillight

[rich07]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...gn-for-jaguar/

DaMatta and Junquiera are drivers.

Good to see them in ALMS, wish the car was better though. Hoping 2011 is a turning point in the programme, dont want to see those talents go to waste.

[Cuttlefish]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

DaMatta and Junquiera are drivers.

This is some sort of weird blast from the past. Echoing what rich07 said, really wish these two will be in a competitive car.

[Mal]

I received this newsletter email from ALMS and noticed that it is sponsored by Jaguar - Is that a sign that the factory is getting more involved?

http://editor.des07.com/he/vo.aspx?F...ailID=15194603

[The Badger]

There certainly doesnt seem to be short of wedge ..... hope 2011 works out for Jag , ne nice to see that car work properly , but it still doesnt really look sporty to me , kinda what Ayse thinks about Beemers .

[Mal]

Originally Posted by The Badger

There certainly doesnt seem to be short of wedge ..... hope 2011 works out for Jag , ne nice to see that car work properly , but it still doesnt really look sporty to me , kinda what Ayse thinks about Beemers .

I thinks its sporty enough - and Ayse argument about the BMW M3 is that it is part of a line of saloon (ie Touring) based cars that can be bought as a basic shopping car and is not a GT based car.

The Jag is certainly a proper GT but the RSR does look quite big and cumbersome on the track compared to its rivals. Lets hope there has been some proper development over the winter.

[Matt]

Honestly, I think the Jag is the best sounding GT car in the field.

[Simmi]

They can have all the money they want but if the car is fundamentally flawed then it is useless.

Like everyone else I hope they can make a real go of it this year. Cool driver announcement too.

[The Badger]

Originally Posted by Mal

but the RSR does look quite big and cumbersome on the track compared to its rivals. Lets hope there has been some proper development over the winter.

Thats exactly what I thought when I saw it briefly last June . But it does sound great .

[broadrun96]

It really did sound great roaring by at PLM, could tell it had come by from the smell too. Something about the exhaust just made a different, almost burning, smell as it came by almost every time. Guessing it had some connection with the exhaust seemingly always glowing red all the way out to the bodywork.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Mal

I received this newsletter email from ALMS and noticed that it is sponsored by Jaguar - Is that a sign that the factory is getting more involved?

http://editor.des07.com/he/vo.aspx?F...ailID=15194603

They were a sponsor at sebring last year as well, so I don't know if that signals anything. But the cars will be updated this year vs last year, so we will have to see what that means. Personally I think if they get a car to last for the entire 12 hours that would be a great achievement.


On another topic. It looks like Core Autosport will in fact be using both of the ORECA chassis they purchased from Level 5. 2nd car will have Gunnar Jeannette and Ricardo Gonzalez.

[WMUCarGuy]

Originally Posted by joeb

They were a sponsor at sebring last year as well, so I don't know if that signals anything. But the cars will be updated this year vs last year, so we will have to see what that means. Personally I think if they get a car to last for the entire 12 hours that would be a great achievement.


On another topic. It looks like Core Autosport will in fact be using both of the ORECA chassis they purchased from Level 5. 2nd car will have Gunnar Jeannette and Ricardo Gonzalez.

If I remember correctly, Jaguar is the official car of Sebring. It's just a bit sponsorship dollar deal. It doesn't hurt that there's a car on track that looks just like it too though.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/artic...gn-for-jaguar/

Gentilozzi is a team owner

DaMatta and Junquiera are drivers.

Robin Miller is writing about this series...

What series is this, and is this the kiss of doom?

---------------------

Good drivers though... wish/hope the car is up to the task..

Well you can't deny he putting top drawer talent behind the wheel. Good for Jaguar.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

Well you can't deny he putting top drawer talent behind the wheel. Good for Jaguar.

I can, and I will. They are second drawer down talent, but still very good. Hope the cars is better, more reliable and faster, so as not to waste these guys... though I guess it is a better job than Brazilian Stock Cars.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

I can, and I will. They are second drawer down talent, but still very good. Hope the cars is better, more reliable and faster, so as not to waste these guys... though I guess it is a better job than Brazilian Stock Cars.

These guys are a lot better than many of the sportscar talent out there, I mean just the other day weren't you grand am types belly aching about seth neiman driving?

Brazilian Stock Cars pays decent, but I'm sure having the chance to drive a Jag is a good opportunity.

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

These guys are a lot better than many of the sportscar talent out there, I mean just the other day weren't you grand am types belly aching about seth neiman driving?

Brazilian Stock Cars pays decent, but I'm sure having the chance to drive a Jag is a good opportunity.

I don't think Fogelhund is a Grand-Am type.

Chris

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by mountainstar

These guys are a lot better than many of the sportscar talent out there, I mean just the other day weren't you grand am types belly aching about seth neiman driving?

Brazilian Stock Cars pays decent, but I'm sure having the chance to drive a Jag is a good opportunity.

Grand Am type?

Sure, they are better than a number of Sportscar drivers, but not as good as many others. Let's face it... in the numbers game of Open Wheel racing, they weren't good enough to continue to be employed, and no sportscar teams, including ALMS or Grand Am were interested enough at whatever they were asking to employee them.

I'm not certain driving the Jag would qualify as a good opportunity, unless the program has a remarkable turnaround.. But it's a job, and in North America, with more exposure than Brazilian Stockcars.

[wheelz22]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

I can, and I will. They are second drawer down talent, but still very good. Hope the cars is better, more reliable and faster, so as not to waste these guys... though I guess it is a better job than Brazilian Stock Cars.

I believe it was Ralph Kramden that said, "Norton, some people are never satisfied".

[wheelz22]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

It really did sound great roaring by at PLM, could tell it had come by from the smell too. Something about the exhaust just made a different, almost burning, smell as it came by almost every time. Guessing it had some connection with the exhaust seemingly always glowing red all the way out to the bodywork.

That's a really nice compliment...and many other GT2 teams have made a point of saying that as well...at every show all last year...it's all in those beautiful home made-headers and pipes....they're truly artwork. Plenty of things done over the winter....all to be shaken down next week.

[mountainstar]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Grand Am type?

Sure, they are better than a number of Sportscar drivers, but not as good as many others. Let's face it... in the numbers game of Open Wheel racing, they weren't good enough to continue to be employed, and no sportscar teams, including ALMS or Grand Am were interested enough at whatever they were asking to employee them.

I'm not certain driving the Jag would qualify as a good opportunity, unless the program has a remarkable turnaround.. But it's a job, and in North America, with more exposure than Brazilian Stockcars.

There are few paid seats anymore in the indycar, thanks to their decline, if this was the 1990's, I'm sure the current line up of indycar drivers would be very different.

I'd say these guys have a competitive record, which is more than most could say, regardless of recent employment.

[kurski]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

DaMatta and Junquiera are drivers.

I'm very happy that the duo da Matta/Junqueira returned to America and compete in a full season ALMS series.

[cmk]

Drivers with talent, but question marks about sportscar form for both. Da Matta did make his comeback drive in a sportscar (Bob Stallings DP), and showed that he was still quick after his accident, but that's a long way from being familiar with a GT2. All else being equal, I think some GT2 free agents who know the series, car type and tracks (not all ALMS tracks are on the open-wheel map) would have been better bets. Just my take!

Remember some of the Risi musical chairs drivers showed that being quick in open-wheelers does not a GT2 driver make, and that was in a car that drivers said was more open-wheel-like than most GTs.

[dj4monie]

Actually I think they'll be fine, seems like a wholesale change over.

PJ has been fine if you give him a car he can be competitive with. That hasn't been the case much of his CART or NASCAR career however. For "The Boyz from Brazil" driving a DP is about the same speed as a GT2 car and I would argue a GT2 car is faster at this point.

Going from open wheelers to coupes/sedans as many of said during FIA World GT1, it takes slowing down what your doing. Once you understand that, you can pedal the car quite quickly. These cars won't turn and stop like a lighter open wheel car. PJ has been driving stock cars, something with a ton of power that won't turn or stop, so for him it should be an easy adjustment.

The question should actually be will the Jags year number 2 be able to challenge for podiums at the least. I won't be expecting victories just yet, but fighting for the Top 5 should be a given in year 2.

This is the deepest GT2 field in the world. That includes ILMC, International GT Open (formerly Spanish GT) and LMS. I count 11 cars including what should be a Pro pedaled Ford GT from the Robertson's.

The entire season is going to be RIGHT HERE, I don't care what anybody else says, especially in the non-ILMC races. Only GTC will be of any real interest and that depends on driver line ups, I'm guessing TRG will be in GTC along with Alex Job so I expect good driver (co-drivers anyway).

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

But it's a job, and in North America, with more exposure than Brazilian Stockcars.

Actually, the Stock Car Brasil is broadcasted live to all Brazil on the most viewed channel, so...

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Grand Am type?

Sure, they are better than a number of Sportscar drivers, but not as good as many others. Let's face it... in the numbers game of Open Wheel racing, they weren't good enough to continue to be employed, and no sportscar teams, including ALMS or Grand Am were interested enough at whatever they were asking to employee them.

I'm not certain driving the Jag would qualify as a good opportunity, unless the program has a remarkable turnaround.. But it's a job, and in North America, with more exposure than Brazilian Stockcars.

Da Matta was CART champion. Granted, he's probably no longer on that level.

Chris