[FIA GT] So who will the "Other Three" be in GT1 WC?

[pitviper]

So if we understand things correctly, there will be six manufacturers in the GT1 WC in 2010 (provided they reach the max). We already know of three of these: Lamborghini Murcielago, Nissan GT-R, and the Ford GT1.

So A, who do you think will be joining them, and B, who would you LIKE to see join them. What would your ideal GT1 WC grid look like? Keep in mind that it could be a private firm/tuner that produces the car, which I think is a great thing, as it really opens up the possibilities for a more diverse lineup.

Here are some of my thoughts/wishes... I would like to see the remaining three come from the selections below...

1. Pagani Zonda-The Zonda F or R is my hands down "money-no-object" car. And my short-lived experience helping with the GTS Zonda GR project only makes me long to see it back on the track even more. The development of the very track-focused Zonda R could be an easy springboard if the right resources were there.

2. Viper-This should be obvious, lol. Seeing a Viper GT3 fleshed out and done as a "proper" GT1 would be absolutely gorgeous, and quite welcome on the grid.

3. Maserati Gran Turismo-similar to above, seeing the new Gran Turismo MC as a fully outfitted GT1 car would be sexy and spectacular.

4. Ferrari 599-Because it's a Ferrari... and it's beautiful. Although an Enzo successor would be nice, too.

5. Audi R8-I would love to see a GT1 version of this. Simply gorgeous.

6. Aston Martin One-77 -Sweet looking car that could have an even sweeter looking name: GT1-77...

7. Koenigsegg CCGT- it would be nice to see this car able to run at all. Hopefully they could develop one to run to the new regulations.

So what are your thoughts? Let's try to keep this fun and imaginative, rather than a "shoot down the idea because it's completely implausible" fest. not that anyone would do that... ;-)

I'll suggest more as I think of them...

pit

[Speed-King]

1. RUF CTR3

2. Ascari A10

3. Callaway C16

All getting supported by Porsche, BMW and Corvette in the way the McLaren's were supported by BMW in the 90s.

[pitviper]

lol, I also thought about the CTR3; forgot about the Ascari though, good suggestion!

pit

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

1. RUF CTR3

2. Ascari A10

3. Callaway C16

All getting supported by Porsche, BMW and Corvette in the way the McLaren's were supported by BMW in the 90s.

Hmm, if Callaway does pony up with the C16, I doubt very seriously that Corvette would support it at all! And as a majority of Callaway's business is tied to Corvette, I am not so sure that would be a very wise move to snubb Corvette.

Same goes for RUF, kinda silly to bite the hand that feeds you.

IMO of course!!


L.P.

[joeb]

I like that original list pitviper. I think the cars for the GT1 class need to be a bit more exotic than the plethora of GT2's running around. I would love to see:
1) Aston One-77
2) RUF CTR3
3) Maserati GT

[Bob Riebe]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Hmm, if Callaway does pony up with the C16, I doubt very seriously that Corvette would support it at all! And as a majority of Callaway's business is tied to Corvette, I am not so sure that would be a very wise move to snubb Corvette.

Same goes for RUF, kinda silly to bite the hand that feeds you.

IMO of course!!


L.P.

GM could/would do NOTHING. Failing to sell cars for ANY reason would NOT do down well in Washington, or ANYWHERE in the U.S.

[pitviper]

You mentioned RUF; I wouldn't mind Porsche being there themselves, with either a Turbo GT1, or maybe even something from their LMP-borne V10 found in the Carrera GT. That RUF CTR3 is slick though. As is the Gemballa MirageGT, which is basically like a Carrera GT1 anyway!

How about Alfa with the 8C Competizione? Now THAT is a piece of work as well!

pit

[joeb]

Originally Posted by pitviper

How about Alfa with the 8C Competizione? Now THAT is a piece of work as well!

pit

Agreed, that would be nice. I think we are all kind of hoping for some super exotic car to show up (like the Ruf), but I will be interested in whatever gets put forth if it looks as good as the Matech Ford!

[WMUCarGuy]

How about the upcoming McLaren P11 or the Mercedes AMC SLS or SLC or whatever they're calling it (the SLR replacement)? I think both are scheduled to be unveiled sometime this year, thats plenty of time to develop a racing version.

Maybe RML could build a new GT1 version of the upcoming Benz similar to how they did on the SLR (even though it wasn't a GT1 car).

[kingkai]

A CCGT would be nice, but I don't think it will come...
A Mercedes?... No way one will come out of the hands of Mercedes. They even cancelled the SLR-GT1 programe back in 2003/4 (half way through developing: SLR trofy as result) as the head of murc didn't seem fit for them to be in sports. DTM is a must for their selling. (Not that I don't want to see one...^^)

I think a AM would be a real chance of being one of the other 3.
Also corvette would be very likely entry. (After hearing that statement at st peter?, he said they could only justify the autosport program because it sold more cars. And with that about production cars and entering GT2 I don't think they will persue AM in P1 but more lickely stay in GT1 as in the form of the new GT1 (with GT2 now as a time filler and a good base for the new GT1)
I guess a lambo or audi (audi R8 more likely than a gallardo) would be the 3 one of the "other 3"

A Ferrari 599 would be lovely but I think they would go for the F430.

[WMUCarGuy]

I wonder if the FIA will look to get as wide a mix of cars as possible? We already have an American, Japanese and Italian car, maybe look for 3 more from 3 other countries? Something from Germany, England, and somewhere else?

Ferrari did just create that track only version of the 599 though (presumably as hte next step in the FXX program). Who knows, maybe something similar might end up in FIA GT1? I'm not gonna get my hopes up though...

[WMUCarGuy]

Originally Posted by kingkai

A CCGT would be nice, but I don't think it will come...
A Mercedes?... No way one will come out of the hands of Mercedes. They even cancelled the SLR-GT1 programe back in 2003/4 (half way through developing: SLR trofy as result) as the head of murc didn't seem fit for them to be in sports. DTM is a must for their selling. (Not that I don't want to see one...^^)

I think a AM would be a real chance of being one of the other 3.
Also corvette would be very likely entry. (After hearing that statement at st peter?, he said they could only justify the autosport program because it sold more cars. And with that about production cars and entering GT2 I don't think they will persue AM in P1 but more lickely stay in GT1 as in the form of the new GT1 (with GT2 now as a time filler and a good base for the new GT1)
I guess a lambo or audi (audi R8 more likely than a gallardo) would be the 3 one of the "other 3"

A Ferrari 599 would be lovely but I think they would go for the F430.

It won't be Corvette (or if it is, it won't be from Pratt & Miller). I spoke to several P&M guys about it at Long Beach and they assured me they were working on GT2 and only GT2. Most of the guys on the team didn't even know there was going to be this new FIA GT1 Championship... Besides, there'd only be 4 of them in the new FIA GT1, so it wouldn't be the best route to go if you're dependent on selling customer cars. GT2 would be a much safer route as GT2 cars can be raced in a large variety of series all over the world.

And we already know Lambo (Reiter) is building a Murc LP670SV competitor, so the Gallardo woudn't have any place in GT1.

[PorscheFanNo1]

I'd love to see factory backed Porsche ,Ferrari and Astons, how sweet wouldnt that be to add to the 3 we already have. Doubt it'll happend tho.

[EuropaBambaataa]

My votes are on a V12 Vantage RS from Aston Martin Racing/Prodrive and a Callaway Europe-designed Corvette ZR1.R (they already build the Z06.R GT3, so since new GT1 and GT2 are based on current GT3 it should be easy to follow Matech's route).

For the sixth manufacturer, since all other five entries are standard manufacturers, an exotic brand could be allowed to racer. The Pagani Zonda's replacement, the Saleen S5 or more likely the McLaren P8. Failing that, the Ferrari 599 XX to cover the Maserati MC12's retirement, the Lexus LF-A (important for Toyota to fight Nissan) or a Porsche 911 Turbo (no, I don't seriously believe it).

[WMUCarGuy]

Originally Posted by EuropaBambaataa

My votes are on a V12 Vantage RS from Aston Martin Racing/Prodrive and a Callaway Europe-designed Corvette ZR1.R (they already build the Z06.R GT3, so since new GT1 and GT2 are based on current GT3 it should be easy to follow Matech's route).

For the sixth manufacturer, since all other five entries are standard manufacturers, an exotic brand could be allowed to racer. The Pagani Zonda's replacement, the Saleen S5 or more likely the McLaren P8. Failing that, the Ferrari 599 XX to cover the Maserati MC12's retirement, the Lexus LF-A (important for Toyota to fight Nissan) or a Porsche 911 Turbo (no, I don't seriously believe it).

I'm pretty sure a GT1 ZR1 Corvette couldn't happen for the same reasons Riley and GM are at each others throats right now. The FIA only allows 1 homologation of any particular car and Pratt & Miller looks to be doing it (much to the dismay of Riley). And if I remember correctly, certain cars could be homologated for GT1 or GT2 in the new FIA GT rules, but not both, and the new Corvette is obviously a GT2. I think thats why several people have mentioned Callaway using the C16 as a platform to build a GT1 car from.

[matherto]

I'd love to see basically aping the BPR series from the early 90s.

For that we need Ferrari and McLaren back in.

[Speed-King]

Guess we can chalk up Ascari as make number four.

Gravity Racing from Luxemburg will be responsible for the developement.

[ger80]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Guess we can chalk up Ascari as make number four.

Gravity Racing from Luxemburg will be responsible for the developement.

Will be interesting to see how Ratel gets rid of them when a "big one" like Porsche wants that 6th slot.

[pitviper]

Perhaps there could be a "football-style" relegation rule, where the last place manufacturer (if there is a manufacturer championship, which i assume there will be) is at risk of being switched out with another marquee waiting to get in. Then the following year they may be able to get back in themselves, by switching with the previous last placed Manufacturer. Perhaps that is silly, but just a thought. If the ACO is going to carry the same rules, it's not like those cars suddenly won't have anywhere to race...

pit

[joeb]

Originally Posted by ger80

Will be interesting to see how Ratel gets rid of them when a "big one" like Porsche wants that 6th slot.

I guess I am not sure why there is a limit to 6 manufacturers. I understand the need to keep the overall car counts to 24 for travel purposes, but why 6 Manufacturers? Would 8 manufacturers with 3 cars each really be worse?

[Speed-King]

I think 4 cars allows the constructors to somewhat recoup the developement costs better than 3. First of all it's one car to buy more, which also means more spare parts and more chances of a write off and them having to produce a new car.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

I think 4 cars allows the constructors to somewhat recoup the developement costs better than 3. First of all it's one car to buy more, which also means more spare parts and more chances of a write off and them having to produce a new car.

That makes sense, since this could be the only series the cars are eligible to race in. I think that if there are more races (outside the W.C.) to run in, then it would be possible to open up the 6 manu. limit because there could perceivably be more people to sell cars to.

[Graham Goodwin]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

Guess we can chalk up Ascari as make number four.

Gravity Racing from Luxemburg will be responsible for the developement.

Hmmm - So we now have a Ford GT - a car that hasn't been in production since 2006, an Ascari, a car that has production numbers larger for the GT3 race cars (7) than for road cars and a Nissan whose mechanical package bears no resemblance to the road car.

[Hugewally]

Originally Posted by Graham Goodwin

Hmmm - So we now have a Ford GT - a car that hasn't been in production since 2006, an Ascari, a car that has production numbers larger for the GT3 race cars (7) than for road cars and a Nissan whose mechanical package bears no resemblance to the road car.

I hear Pontiac is looking to run some cars in there too...

[pitviper]

G, the series has to start somewhere, wouldn't you say? And it could be worse, they could look like DP's...

pit