GTS pole at LM

[JAG]

So what do you think pole will be this year.

I reckon a 3.48 max for the Corvette. The 550s have supposedly made progress so it will be interesting to see how much they have closed the gap.

Looking at past races the Saleen did a 3.52 in 2001 (before restrictions) and the Prodrive 550 a 3.53 in 2003. The 550 actually managed a 3.52 in the 2002 Le Mans test day.

Can't wait for next year with the Maserati, Aston Marin, Lamborghini and a fully sorted Zonda. A 3.46 could be on the cards.

[SALEEN S7R]

Id say a low 3:48 or a high 3:47 is on the cards for this year. Next year however id say anything as low as a high 3:44 could be possible, the Maserati is going to move the goal posts, and the C6R should be right there too.

[Fab]

Originally posted by JAG
Can't wait for next year with the Maserati, Aston Marin, Lamborghini and a fully sorted Zonda. A 3.46 could be on the cards.

Things going their way, we could expect very fast GTS cars in the following months...

I won't be so optimistic for the Pagani, halas, which doesn't seem to be able to solve its basic problems.

The Lambo already showed its ability to be at the top.

Don't know for the Aston, but the Maserati will certainly be one of the main cars - including overall - in the years to come...

[JAG]

Don't know about overall for the Maserati, unless the GTS cars get some performance breaks which is not out of the question.

[Hooper]

It will probaboly be the case.
The aco has decided that the gts class won't race for the overall victory.We already know that they will keep the 2003 little restrictors in 2005.

[gsmith2424]

Originally posted by Hooper
It will probaboly be the case.
The aco has decided that the gts class won't race for the overall victory.We already know that they will keep the 2003 little restrictors in 2005.

GTS went back to the bigger 2002 restrictors for this year.

[Hooper]

No.
Have a look to the 2004 regulation chart on mulsannecorner.
you'll see that for example the 550 gts use 31.2 restrictors as last year.
in 2002, they used 32.9 restrictors......

[JAG]

The GTS cars seem to have been affected less by the smaller restrictors than the LMP1 cars. Maybe it has something to do with the big capacity V10/12s etc, that they tend to run.

They are already back to 630BHP+.

[Dani Filth]

so . with +600 bgp . would these engine be good for a LMP1 car ?? .. or is it too heavy .. i'm thinking of the 550/575 V12

[Fab]

Originally posted by Hooper
It will probaboly be the case.
The aco has decided that the gts class won't race for the overall victory.We already know that they will keep the 2003 little restrictors in 2005.

Did ACO take a decision for the "old" LMP900 specs for 2005 ? If the restrictors keep on narrow, the performances should decrease significantly...

Some say that there's still very few teams intending to build brand new LMP1s...

[Hooper]

The big capacity of the gts engine has nothing to do whith their power.
In 2003, the restrictor were slightly bigger than the lmp's.
For example, the 550 v12 in a lmp1 would have use 30.5 restrictors instead of 31.2....
But i've also red at lmsr.net (interview of mc Nich) that the r8 has already recover to 630 hp whith the help of the factory.

[JAG]

Originally posted by Fab
Did ACO take a decision for the "old" LMP900 specs for 2005 ? If the restrictors keep on narrow, the performances should decrease significantly...

Some say that there's still very few teams intending to build brand new LMP1s...

The LMP900 cars are likely to get a plank and extra weight, at least, maybe even a reduced restrictor, which would give them at least 100bhp+ less than an equivalent LMP1 car.

There may not be many totally new chassis in 2005 (Lister, Luchinni, Lola, Zytek (900kg LMP1) etc.), but from what I have heard from teams, in e-mails, the majority will be looking at the hybrid route. Nasamax have been a revelation and priduced there car in around 4-5 months.