[FIA GT] FIA GT3 2010 Season

[Belatti]

I guess there is no thread to talk about 2010 FIA GT3.

In the official page I could not find the 2010 entry list, but the calendar its already in place:

02/05/10Silverstone23/05/10Brno20/06/10Oschersleben04/07/10Paul Ricard HTTT19/09/10Algarve31/10/10ProvisionalEnna Pergusa

Does anybody knows when are the first season tests? Wich cars are going to race?

[Dauer 962]

There is no entry list yet as deadline for entries is beginning of March.

First balance of performance takes places Sunday/Monday at Paul Ricard.

Supposedly there will be Porsche, Ford, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Audi, BMW, BMW-Alpina, Corvette, Aston Martin and maybe Morgan.

[FIRE]

Schubert will enter 2 BMW Z4's. Source: www.racing1.de


This German team has close connections with the factory.

[Belatti]

So, we have got a couple of Schuberts BMW Z4:
http://www.racing1.de/home/news/news...t3/08eed8059a/


ARGO Racing will enter a pair of new Lamborghini Gallardo LP560s: http://www.motorstv.com/car/gt/gt3/0...lardos-in-2010

United Autosports will race 2 Audi R8 LMS:
http://www.motorstv.com/car/gt/gt3/0...utosports-line

Fischer Racing has confirmed that it will field a pair of Ford GTs: http://www.motorstv.com/car/gt/gt3/1...-gt3-programme

Muhlner Motorsport has confirmed it will enter a pair of new Porsche 911: http://www.motorstv.com/car/gt/gt3/0...ir-of-porsches

Team rhino’s Leipert is planning more outings, however it doesnt mention with what car: http://www.motorstv.com/car/gt/gt3/2...utings-in-2010




I havent found info about the Ferrari 430, the Corvette, the Aston and the BMW B6 Alpina yet

[airbusA346]

Originally Posted by Belatti

the Aston

Hexis, with Fred Makowiecki and Manuel Rodrigues.

http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...ance-3490.html



Tom.

[HORNDAWG]

Sure would/will be nice to have some of these GT-3s integrated into the ALMS GTC class. Good looking cars!







L.P.

[NaBUru38]

Only if they are cheap, Horndawg. The ALMS doesn't need another overpriced class.

[Phauto]

Here you have an updated list of confirmed teams, cars and drivers

[AndrewF31]

good variety if they can secure those cars every race. Over 20 entries and some interesting drivers.

[cmk]

That is hardly the final entry list, I am sure. 20 teams would be a big drop from previous seasons and we have had no indication to expect that.

[Belatti]

Can somebody help me to understand the FIA GT3 rules?

Basically you present a car and they do some tests to determine how much ballast and engine air restrictor you have to fit?

Am I right?

[mildura1963]

In an interview Ratel say's there will be two more marques joining sometime in 2010, any ideas who?

[TheNewBob]

Originally Posted by mildura1963

In an interview Ratel say's there will be two more marques joining sometime in 2010, any ideas who?

I believe he points to 2012, not 2010.

[mildura1963]

Sorry Bob, I miss read....any predictions?

[Rodger Davies]

Originally Posted by mildura1963

Sorry Bob, I miss read....any predictions?

well, it's Ratel speak so I'm guessing Lotus, Ferrari 458 and one other, possibly a new model upgrade like the Ferrari.

[Tim the Grey]

Belatti, pretty much, yes. They were supposed to 'benchmark' a 996 Cup S, and use that as the base time at Ricard, then trim the other cars to be within a bracket around that time. That way you have a wide variety of cars that COULD win at any race.

Look at National GT series in Europe, and Vipers do very well, but not in the European Championship? I like the idea, it gives HUGE fields, and close racing. I don't pretend it reflects unrestricted performance!

[Belatti]

OK, thanks Tim.

What I wonder is how and who does the benchmark. Can a team do sandbaggin´ and then improve the car after the benchmark is done?

In that case that a car has a clear advantage, does the FIA change tech regs in the middle of the championship?

And if they do the benchmark at Paul Ricard, can happen that in a track that is more twisty or another thats faster different cars have different advantages?


It would be interesting to have top speeds and a couple of apex speeds for key corners for each car of this GT3 series...

[Tim the Grey]

The car is presented at the GT3 equalisation test, and SRO's driver takes it for a drive. It is then slowed down, or allowed to speed up, or whatever.
I know the Jag team stated that there was no point building the 'ultimate' XKR, as it would only get hauled back...

The Morgan is a case in point. being VERY light, but not so powerful, compared to say the Audi R8 with plenty of power, but more weight...

[Belatti]

OK Tim, but still my question is not answered.

Imagine I send my cars to the equalization test with a couple to dampers that sucks, some spacers that make the suspension geometry or dampers motion ratio weird, an odd weight distribution and different brake pad compounds to make the things..... confusing.

My car sucks and they let me power up or lighten it.

Then I fine tune the whole package and go racing, to make 3 hat tricks in a row.

What do you think... It could happen?

[Speed-King]

I think there is some scrutineering of the cars at the Balancing-Tests to prevent that. And if they find out that you try something like this they'll probably be really P.O.d and might even take away all the points you have won so far.

[Belatti]

Of course.

I only hope the scrutineering is good enough to detect any of those things.

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by Speed-King

I think there is some scrutineering of the cars at the Balancing-Tests to prevent that. And if they find out that you try something like this they'll probably be really P.O.d and might even take away all the points you have won so far.

Not even necessarily scrutineering at the test, but scrutineering at the races. If you show up with a car like that at the test, that's the specification you have to race...

[Joe Taylor]

I believe they can be subjected to random equalisation tests at race meetings too.

[Mike Sweeney]

Couple of things: The original equalisation was based on the 997 GT3 Cup, not the 996.

The Balance of Performance test is fairly well tried and tested - the FIA appointed drivers (subject to opinion) aren't idiots and should recognise an intentionally ill-balanced car - equally, the FIA look at the data in great depth, and compare it with the homologation specs as presented by the manufacturer - further, the car is scrutineered immediately after its' runs.

Of course there is scope for sandbagging...but the process as a whole seems pretty ok and by the grids we've had in the last few years is a success story.

[Belatti]

A GT3 Mustang ? Didnt see that coming.

http://www.fiagt3.com/newsitem.php?key=513




It looks nice. Un-aerodynamic, but nice.