GT3 Manufacturers...

[flatlandsman]

I am with the guy to be honest, a 911 is a proven package, the 296 came to the category pretty much on the pace as maybe the new Aston has. The Vette has won endlessly for decades and you would think that experience and the way P&M got the new layout working, the customer car should have been much, much better.

I know the customer Vette is a new car, but it is currently miles off the pace in that class, even teams with stacks of experience in WEC have so far got it nowhere near the pace, the Mustang has arguably hit the ground running quicker.

If I was spending that much money on a car that the works team can make win almost easily in the USA, I would have expected it to be considerably quicker than it was initially too. the M4 was, in fact most cars are, that new Vette is not, it really is that simple.

[PhilipR]

The issue that p&m is learning probably the hard way is being able to offer a product that is easy to maintain and service for customers. The early GT1 and GT2(E/LM) cars were full on factory efforts without the need to be easy to run by customers, easy to maintain and affordable. They also have to establish a customer base, distribution and support network which they never had.

I am sure they will get there eventually but it will take time! Other concerns is the high price of the car especially when other manufacturers have lower priced cars and an already established customer model

[v8supes]

Less than 2 years remaining of the V10 sound in motorsport. Really depressing news.

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2024/...t-in-2026.html

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by PhilipR

The issue that p&m is learning probably the hard way is being able to offer a product that is easy to maintain and service for customers. The early GT1 and GT2(E/LM) cars were full on factory efforts without the need to be easy to run by customers, easy to maintain and affordable. They also have to establish a customer base, distribution and support network which they never had.

I am sure they will get there eventually but it will take time! Other concerns is the high price of the car especially when other manufacturers have lower priced cars and an already established customer model

In reply to your latter point, that makes sense but to be able to offer a more keenly price product, it first needs to be available and established, and sorted?

The Bentley and Astons were/are never serious customer prospects. I guess it was similar with the Nissan, all expensive cars and only really run as works or quasi works efforts.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Astons were/are never serious customer prospects.

Huh, there were years when British GT was close to an open Aston Martin Challenge....

[Matador]

Possibly the street version of the Toyota/Lexus GT3 spied testing at Fuji


https://www.motor1.com/news/728774/l...upe-spy-video/

[v8supes]

The GT3 car was testing at Sebring https://youtube.com/shorts/PgCDf87fm...2lndRabVxwOD4a

[Mike E]

The 310th and final Audi R8 GT3 has been delivered. The end of an era...

https://sportscar365.com/industry/au...8-lms-gt3-car/

[flatlandsman]

It is staggering to think over 300 of those thigs have been built,m I know it has been being made for a long time, but that is lie R5 rally car level, and the things cost a bomb to buy too!!

[FIRE]

IMO it's a mistake to quit customer racing (GT3, GT4, TCR).

[TF110]

I agree. Possibly the single worst motorsport related decision I think Audi has made. I guess they wanna lose VW even more money by entering F1.

[chernaudi]

That was down to the previous Audi CEO (who came over from BMW and is no longer with Audi or VAG), and I think that the current Audi/Audi Sport administration feel that they've come too far to ditch the program now, or are at least looking at a way to at least a "soft" exit--Audi Sport and Sauber are looking at selling a significant stake in the team to I think UAE investors.


Also, Porsche were looking at doing an engine program for Red Bull until RBR hubris (same issue they had with Renault--RBR wanting to take most of the credit for success, while blaming their suppliers for any issues) became an issue.


Ironically, the Audi Sport Customer Racing program probably made Audi and Audi Sport a useful profit over the years, just as Porsche's did and currently does.

[flatlandsman]

Are they ditching TCR and touring car type stuff too?

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by flatlandsman

Are they ditching TCR and touring car type stuff too?

Yes, there was no Audi support this season.

[PhilipR]

A bit off topic - Rocky on the Diner with Racers podcast talked a little bit about the end of the LMDH programme - and detailed how everybody was shocked about Reinke being ousted from the role he had (no one understood the decision) and the new head never got in touch with any of the drivers (or not with Rocky at least - Rocky was guaranteed LMDH seat) and then after a while the LMDH and customer racing was shut down. Rocky believes the new guy was brought in just to shut everything down hence the disinterest and the ousting of Reinke (who was doing a great job) - all seems like a big mess.

[chernaudi]

Ironically the previous CEO before the current one came in from BMW...

[v8supes]

Century Motorsport have a BMW M4 GT3 available for sale and this line in the listing jumped out to me. What does it mean? You have to pay to use the traction control system? Or just that the software has been updated?

"New ECU Traction Tokens purchased and updated."

https://racecarsdirect.com/Advert/De...469/bmw-m4-gt3

[Adam43]

It’s like heated seats in BMWs, you have to subscribe.