2016 Australian GT Championship - Page 7

Reload · 8 Feb 2016, 03:33 (Ref:3612962)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowman.

Rod in the Skwirk Audi has decided to run again too now with Rod running it himself in the AM Class rather than with Nathan in Pro in 2016.

Good on him.

Reload · 8 Feb 2016, 03:42 (Ref:3612966)

19 hours ago
by PAUL GOVER
Source: FOX SPORTS

V8 SUPERCARS teams are racing to chase Team Red into the booming GT sports car competition in Australia.
Walkinshaw Racing, which fields the factory Commodores of the Holden Racing Team, has snared the prized scalp of Porsche as its GT partner.
With Tekno fielding McLarens and Erebus also involved with Mercedes-Benzes in the GT3 competition category which produced a classic Bathurst 12-Hour race at Mount Panorama on Sunday, there is also predictable interest from Brad Jones Racing, Prodrive and Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport.
“We’ve got three McLarens for the full season. It’s a good category and there is a lot of interest,” says Jonathon Webb, the Tekno Autosports boss who also shared the 12-hour winning car with Shane van Gisbergen.
REPORT: SVG, McLaren take emphatic Bathurst 12 Hour victory
FLAT OUT: Chiyo’s ‘scary’ charge almost comes off

“We’re an international team. I had my GT cars before my V8s,” says Erebus owner, Betty Klimenko.
But not everyone is a GT fan.
“I think it’s totally inappropriate that Walkinshaws are racing in that championship. It’s not their core business. It’s outrageous,” says Roland Dane, head of the title winning Triple Eight Race Engineering operation.
“There is no enough money to make it stack up. And I don’t think it’s healthy for Australian GT racing.”
Yet, ironically, Dane was deep in discussions with Ferrari about next year’s 12-hour race and admits he would like to make two visits to Mount Panorama each year, one for the V8 Supercars 1000 and one for the GT3 battle.
“I think the V8 teams have things to bring to the 12-hour. Even if it’s just supporting the overseas teams. And I hope we see that roll out,” says Dane.
“So, have I got an interest in helping a team in the 12-hour next year? Yes, I have. Yes, there is a definite opportunity.”
But Walkinshaw is already running with its program, which will see it field a single Porsche 911 RSR in both the sprint and endurance events in the Australian GT championship. There is no detail yet on drivers for the car, but Porsche confirms that — just as Steven Richards owns the BMW M6 GT3 he will race in GTs this year — the car is not owned by the factory.
“We’re just spreading our wings a little bit. We’ve been talking to Porsche since last year,” says Adrian Burgess, head of Walkinshaw Racing in Australia.
“They are so professional. You can see why they are the most renowned brand in endurance racing. You couldn’t ask for better.”
Burgess refuses to discuss the chances of HRT’s lead drivers, James Courtney and Garth Tander, racing the Porsche and says instead that he is looking at a range of drivers beyond the V8 Supercars pool.
“There will be internationals. It won’t just be an Australian team. But it’s slowly, slowly, learning as we go along.”
Rusty French, the Prodrive principal, refuses to discuss GT racing despite visiting the Erebus Mercedes garage, and Brad Jones is also surprisingly quiet despite spending time with Mercedes-Benz.
“I’m just here for the love of motorsport,” Jones jokes.
“This racing is extremely different to what we do. I don’t know that I could fit it in alongside the V8 Supercars program, but I’m certainly interested.”

KSM86 · 8 Feb 2016, 03:48 (Ref:3612972)

Times be changing! its coming.... not just yet...but soon

Axeman444 · 8 Feb 2016, 05:13 (Ref:3612994)

Was Rusty French getting one of the Customer AMG's from Erebus, which would indicate why he was in the Erebus Garage?

BSchneiderFan · 8 Feb 2016, 13:15 (Ref:3613074)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE

With the new rules SC allows other engines than big V8 engines.

Perhaps they could adopt Class 1.

rich07 · 8 Feb 2016, 15:07 (Ref:3613092)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Axeman444

Was Rusty French getting one of the Customer AMG's from Erebus, which would indicate why he was in the Erebus Garage?

That and the Skye Sands sponsorship on the Erebus cars at B12.

Juarez Jed · 9 Feb 2016, 08:49 (Ref:3613313)

I thought it was Eggleston x 2, Scotty Taylor x1 and Mark Griffith x1.

Juarez Jed · 9 Feb 2016, 09:00 (Ref:3613316)

As an aside, it was interesting to see Hollywood Hackett showing Malcolm Wilson & co his new steed and the Bentley Boys pointing out perceived illegalities in its design, such as alterations to the rear quarter window.

rich07 · 9 Feb 2016, 10:29 (Ref:3613330)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Juarez Jed

As an aside, it was interesting to see Hollywood Hackett showing Malcolm Wilson & co his new steed and the Bentley Boys pointing out perceived illegalities in its design, such as alterations to the rear quarter window.

Wouldve loved to been there to see that. The alterations-were they from factory or the doing of the team themselves?

**FIRE** · 9 Feb 2016, 17:54 (Ref:3613439)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Perhaps they could adopt Class 1.

I don't believe in Class 1. Recently DTM announced new engine (2L turbo) delayed until 2019.

It's hypocrite from mr Liebchen to call for rule change. If he's honest he should say the same about DTM.

Speed-King · 9 Feb 2016, 18:00 (Ref:3613443)

Quote:

Originally Posted by FIRE

If he's honest he should say the same about DTM.

Well, as the head of Audi customer sports DTM (being an official factory effort) is literally none of his business.

And then, DTM (for all its weaknesses) isn't losing its very base in the same way V8SC will soon do with the demise of the Falcon and the Commodore.

Matt · 9 Feb 2016, 19:02 (Ref:3613460)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Perhaps they could adopt Class 1.

Have you found the magical tree that grows all the money that would cost?

BSchneiderFan · 9 Feb 2016, 20:37 (Ref:3613480)

They have to do something, since the Ford/Holden rivalry will die soon. Having the same regs as Germany and Japan would offer some possibilities.

Bcarr6 · 9 Feb 2016, 20:45 (Ref:3613481)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

They have to do something, since the Ford/Holden rivalry will die soon. Having the same regs as Germany and Japan would offer some possibilities.

The BTCC regs surely would be a decent option

Matt · 9 Feb 2016, 21:56 (Ref:3613491)

MARC carsssssss.

Speed-King · 9 Feb 2016, 22:09 (Ref:3613494)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

MARC carsssssss.

We'll see how that works out in South Africa this year. For my liking they are just a tad too spec.

What I would really like to see is the return to a system with two or three different classes of cars on track at the same time. That way you can make your top-cars relatively expensive and exciting but you can get away with only having a dozen or so of them rather than a full-grid since they are backed up by lower class vehicles. (Which also tends to create more exciting racing, cf. Super GT vs DTM)

So here's my plan:

Div 1: Sports Coupe-Type GT3 cars (BMW, Nissan, Bentley, Lexus) + Nationally homologated/engine swapped RWD versions of the Holden Insignia and Ford Mondeo/Focus (can be based on MARC or COTF chassis)
Div 2: TCR 2.0 litre turbo cars
Div 3: 1.6 litre turbo cars as seen in the CTM cup at Macao or German DTC.

As in most modern multiclass series there will be no overall title. Classes will be scored strictly separately so as to not have someone from Div.3 win an overall title.

For reference: Wellington Nissan Mobil 500 1992.

Miguel · 10 Feb 2016, 20:39 (Ref:3613795)

Is it fair to say that AGT is the fourth most important championship that races GT3 in its top class this year? After ADAC GT, VLN and British GT. If only a two-way plane ticket to Australia wouldn't cost 1000 euro...

Speed-King · 10 Feb 2016, 21:15 (Ref:3613805)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miguel

Is it fair to say that AGT is the fourth most important championship that races GT3 in its top class this year? After ADAC GT, VLN and British GT. If only a two-way plane ticket to Australia wouldn't cost 1000 euro...

Well, there's Pirelli World Challenge as well and of course BES and BSS. I'd rate AGT behind those two at least.

Reload · 11 Feb 2016, 02:39 (Ref:3613871)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

So, confirmed so far:

- Tekno Autosports McLaren 650s GT3
- Tekno Autosports McLaren 650s GT3
- Tekno Autosports McLaren 650s GT3
- Eggleston Mercedes Benz AMG GT GT3
- Eggleston Mercedes Benz AMG GT GT3
- Erebus Mercedes Benz AMG GT GT3
- Erebus Mercedes Benz AMG GT GT3
- Walkinshaw Porsche 911 GT3R
- M Motorsport Lamborghini Extenso R-EX GT3
- Craig Baird Mercedes Benz AMG GT GT3
- Melbourne Performance Audi R8 LMS GT3
- Melbourne Performance Audi R8 LMS GT3
- Steve Richards Motorsport BMW M6 GT3
- Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 488 GT3
- Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 488 GT3
- Maranello Motorsport Ferrari 488 GT3
- Ricky Capo BMW Z4 GT3

those are only confirmed entries (confirmed via press release) that I know of, I know there's a lot of the usual suspects missing, and organisers suggesting well over the cap of 32 entries have been received.

What else am I missing?

Vicious rumour have a new 488, but are they participating in the Championship ?

Bcarr6 · 11 Feb 2016, 09:09 (Ref:3613911)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reload

Vicious rumour have a new 488, but are they participating in the Championship ?

Haven't seen a proper confirmation of a full season from them

Miguel · 11 Feb 2016, 22:21 (Ref:3614076)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Well, there's Pirelli World Challenge as well and of course BES and BSS. I'd rate AGT behind those two at least.

Not sure where "national" got lost in my post LOL (I should proofread). Of course Blancpain GT is well ahead of any of those championships. Not sure about the PWC, though. Is there any serious support by GT3 manufacturers other than McLaren?

Speed-King · 11 Feb 2016, 22:35 (Ref:3614081)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miguel

Not sure about the PWC, though. Is there any serious support by GT3 manufacturers other than McLaren?

Well, there's Cadillac and Acura with their factory programs, though the GT3-ness of their cars might be somewhat questionable. Also, Porsche are sending Patrick Long this year, IIRC. So that seems rather serious to me.

Much more so than the still strictly Pro/Am Aussie GT-series.

Miguel · 12 Feb 2016, 15:20 (Ref:3614225)

Right, I forgot about Cadillac, for obvious reasons

I guess you're right, PWC is taken pretty seriously by two manufacturers and Porsche somewhat.

Hingo · 13 Feb 2016, 03:14 (Ref:3614353)

May be a dumb question but does this series have a proper telecast yet or is the only time we can view it as a support to the V8s on Fox? I thought the GT races at Townsville were far better than the V8s. I'm not a fan of the pit handicap system but it did make for interesting races.

Reload · 13 Feb 2016, 21:04 (Ref:3614468)

Walkinshaw aiming for Perth Aus GT debut

14 February 2016
- GT

Walkinshaw Racing is set to debut its Australian GT program at the Perth sprint series round in May Read More