2014 United Sports Car Championship

[cnd01]

Link to that? Or is it just more speculation...

Oh and it was Honda that couldn't keep the Highcroft P1 alive. They stopped funding, not sure how he was suppose to run without support.

Marshall Pruett off the record.

The breakaway isn't going to happen. It would take every current and prospective LMP1 team to bring cars over here for the full season. As we have seen in ALMS, that's not what happens.

 

[MustangManiac]

Marshall Pruett off the record.

The breakaway isn't going to happen. It would take every current and prospective LMP1 team to bring cars over here for the full season. As we have seen in ALMS, that's not what happens.

What do you mean, you weren't on the edge of your seat wondering which Audi was going to win

 

[freshseth83]

Never say never. A threat by teams to leave the series and start anew is another way to get your point across. And splits do happen- IndyCar and Champcar one of the more recent.

 

[hawkeye122]

I really don't think a National or Regional LMP1 series will work. The cars are just too expensive, and they won't get any exposure unless they're directly connected to a major series.

Perhaps World Challenge will take them in?

If this movement gains any traction (and thus, more than 2 entries) I would expect USR to just allow LMP1.

Additionally, I don't see what Duncan Dayton's problem is. He doesn't currently own an LMP1 car. And that MM HPD is about to be outdated.

 

[Northstar]

Never say never. A threat by teams to leave the series and start anew is another way to get your point across. And splits do happen- IndyCar and Champcar one of the more recent.

What teams would leave though?

Unless they manage to get some insane TV deal none of the factory GT teams are going to jump ship, I also don't see any P2 teams leaving, Extreme Speed has more or less committed, Level 5 has ran DP's before so I doubt they're unhappy, Greaves is the only one I'm unsure about. Their may be some LMPC and GTC cars that split, but I doubt that would hurt the new series a whole lot.

 

[hawkeye122]

What teams would leave though?

Unless they manage to get some insane TV deal none of the factory GT teams are going to jump ship, I also don't see any P2 teams leaving, Extreme Speed has more or less committed, Level 5 has ran DP's before so I doubt they're unhappy, Greaves is the only one I'm unsure about. Their may be some LMPC and GTC cars that split, but I doubt that would hurt the new series a whole lot.

Greaves isn't an LMP2 team in the ALMS. They were guests like Audi and Aston Martin

 

[Northstar]

Greaves isn't an LMP2 team in the ALMS. They were guests like Audi and Aston Martin

Gotcha, I haven't followed ALMS all that closely in recent years as I can't watch any of the races.👍

 

[hawkeye122]

Gotcha, I haven't followed ALMS all that closely in recent years as I can't watch any of the races.👍

No worries.

In all honesty, this is a silly move. Neither team has a WEC-worthy LMP1 car, and it's not likely they would win anyways. They should sit down, be quiet, and just run LMP2 like everyone else.

Don't muscle milk have a PC program anyways?

 

[Snaeper]

No worries.

In all honesty, this is a silly move. Neither team has a WEC-worthy LMP1 car, and it's not likely they would win anyways. They should sit down, be quiet, and just run LMP2 like everyone else.

Don't muscle milk have a PC program anyways?

It seems that the PC program was a one-year deal that didn't continue.

 

[cnd01]

Never say never. A threat by teams to leave the series and start anew is another way to get your point across. And splits do happen- IndyCar and Champcar one of the more recent.

Yea a 2 car LMP1 race is definitely more exciting.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

USCR will be supported by the newly-formed Internationale Tourenwagen-Rennen, otherwise known as DTM America:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/106402

http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/03/27/dtm-confirms-next-stage-of-global-expansion/

The series will start some time in the next three years, and may move away from USCR to have standalone events depending on its success.

 

[cnd01]

USCR will be supported by the newly-formed Internationale Tourenwagen-Rennen, otherwise known as DTM America:

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/106402

http://www.speedcafe.com/2013/03/27/dtm-confirms-next-stage-of-global-expansion/

The series will start some time in the next three years, and may move away from USCR to have standalone events depending on its success.

Let's hope it actually works without taking away from the GTLM class in the USCR (and the other classes).

 

[LongbowX]

I don't think this is a great move. Sure, I'm all for more racing, and with the Super GT and DTM amalgamating their rules it also looks promising. But there is a high cost. These cars are quite expensive, and moreover, the racing is not that great. Granted, it has improved with the new cars. They still have too much aero, really. I wish they had instead created a true outlet for GT3 cars in North America. Sure we have them in World Challenge now, and the slower Rolex spec cars. But I feel like it would be a smaller investment than DTM, the cars exist (in Europe anyway, in relatively great numbers) and the racing could be quite good. I'm open to this though, I'll be interested to see what comes of it.

 

[cnd01]

I don't think this is a great move. Sure, I'm all for more racing, and with the Super GT and DTM amalgamating their rules it also looks promising. But there is a high cost. These cars are quite expensive, and moreover, the racing is not that great. Granted, it has improved with the new cars. They still have too much aero, really. I wish they had instead created a true outlet for GT3 cars in North America. Sure we have them in World Challenge now, and the slower Rolex spec cars. But I feel like it would be a smaller investment than DTM, the cars exist (in Europe anyway, in relatively great numbers) and the racing could be quite good. I'm open to this though, I'll be interested to see what comes of it.

I'll watch it...on tv. If they happen to be a support race at the Rolex 24 then I'll sit in the stands and watch.

Food for thought here: Germany is about the size of Missouri. Imagine a series that has the amount of money going into it as DTM does happening only in Missouri. That's what we're trying to do except make the series work across America. We have the tracks, but are German and Japanese manufacturers willing to ship their cars over to America for a factory effort? If not, will enough customers be willing to purchase said cars to run? Will any American manufacturers build a car? We'll have to wait and see.

 

[R0ssingt0n]

I'll watch it...on tv. If they happen to be a support race at the Rolex 24 then I'll sit in the stands and watch.

Food for thought here: Germany is about the size of Missouri. Imagine a series that has the amount of money going into it as DTM does happening only in Missouri. That's what we're trying to do except make the series work across America. We have the tracks, but are German and Japanese manufacturers willing to ship their cars over to America for a factory effort? If not, will enough customers be willing to purchase said cars to run? Will any American manufacturers build a car? We'll have to wait and see.

You're way too focused on the money aspect man, just wait for the racing to happen then form an opinion. For all we know it could be brilliant.

 

[cnd01]

You're way too focused on the money aspect man, just wait for the racing to happen then form an opinion. For all we know it could be brilliant.

I hope it is. I really do. I've watched some DTM full races on YouTube, and the quality of racing is very good. I want it to work, but I am a realist. I think the only series that will be immediately hurt is Pirelli World Challenge. It's one of those wait and see things like you said.

 

[Mt. Lynx]

I think the idea is that US mfg's will build their own cars. SuperGT GT500 will still be a Japanese only effort, just as DTM is German. There are talks of crossover races, but nothing solid.

 

[cnd01]

I think the idea is that US mfg's will build their own cars. SuperGT GT500 will still be a Japanese only effort, just as DTM is German. There are talks of crossover races, but nothing solid.

Gotcha. The idea of World DTM would be interesting.

 

[tbwhhs]

With Speed becoming Fox Sports 1 in August and there going to be less racing on the channel I'm not sure the American DTM will be on tv. Based on the story I think that the German manufacturers have made a comittment to run in the series.

 

[cnd01]

With Speed becoming Fox Sports 1 in August and there going to be less racing on the channel I'm not sure the American DTM will be on tv. Based on the story I think that the German manufacturers have made a comittment to run in the series.

Good point. Uscr might end up tape delay anyway. The continental tire series might not get any air time.

 

[tbwhhs]

Good point. Uscr might end up tape delay anyway. The continental tire series might not get any air time.

Or worse be condensed to 1 hour like how they show WTCC and DTM races.

 

[cnd01]

Or worse be condensed to 1 hour like how they show WTCC and DTM races.

They have condensed the Sahlen's 6 hours of the Glen to just 2 hours for a long time now as it is. Plus, it's tape delayed to boot. Sebring didn't get all 12 hours if I'm not mistaken either. The Rolex 24 got plenty of air time from what I heard. I was there in person for 18+ hours personally. The Grand-Am COTA race was tape delayed to the point where the unofficial results were already up before the actual race started on tv. I'm sure the ALMS has the same problems during the season.

 

[tbwhhs]

They have condensed the Sahlen's 6 hours of the Glen to just 2 hours for a long time now as it is. Plus, it's tape delayed to boot. Sebring didn't get all 12 hours if I'm not mistaken either. The Rolex 24 got plenty of air time from what I heard. I was there in person for 18+ hours personally. The Grand-Am COTA race was tape delayed to the point where the unofficial results were already up before the actual race started on tv. I'm sure the ALMS has the same problems during the season.

The Rolex 24 had I think 15 or 16 hours shown live. I thought the 6 hours of the Glen was live last year, but maybe I'm wrong. The ALMS races are tape delayed and condensed to 2 hours, but ESPN streams them live. With all that Fox has said will be on FS1, its likely that if they get the tv rights all the races will be shown on Sunday. I don't have a problem with there being a condensed broadcast as long as there is a way to watch the race live, but hopefully not on Speed2.

 

[cnd01]

The Rolex 24 had I think 15 or 16 hours shown live. I thought the 6 hours of the Glen was live last year, but maybe I'm wrong. The ALMS races are tape delayed and condensed to 2 hours, but ESPN streams them live. With all that Fox has said will be on FS1, its likely that if they get the tv rights all the races will be shown on Sunday. I don't have a problem with there being a condensed broadcast as long as there is a way to watch the race live, but hopefully not on Speed2.

Yea. I don't get speed 2. That would be a major bummer. The series needs a good tv package in order to get better sponsorship.

 

[Snaeper]

The American-DTM (I like UTM: United Touring Masters) would need the support of American manufacturers if this is to work. From all of the rumors that have surrounded this project since it first broke, it sounds like BMW is definitely going to be a big promoter of this brand of racing, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Audi and Mercedes, either.

But I would really love to see GM bring Buick/Opel into the mix (Cadillac might make more sense, ultimately), since that would give a great shot in the arm for Opel, help increase youth enthusiasm for Buick in the U.S. (get rid of the old-man-car image), and potentially help expand the Super GT series into a Chinese event (assuming the Chinese aren't still mad at the Japanese over those useless little islands).

 

[cnd01]

The American-DTM (I like UTM: United Touring Masters) would need the support of American manufacturers if this is to work. From all of the rumors that have surrounded this project since it first broke, it sounds like BMW is definitely going to be a big promoter of this brand of racing, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Audi and Mercedes, either.

But I would really love to see GM bring Buick/Opel into the mix (Cadillac might make more sense, ultimately), since that would give a great shot in the arm for Opel, help increase youth enthusiasm for Buick in the U.S. (get rid of the old-man-car image), and potentially help expand the Super GT series into a Chinese event (assuming the Chinese aren't still mad at the Japanese over those useless little islands).

From listening to the press conference, it sounded more like a sales pitch than a plan ready to move forward actually. Again, I hope this series works out. The racing looks really good.

 

[Snaeper]

From listening to the press conference, it sounded more like a sales pitch than a plan ready to move forward actually. Again, I hope this series works out. The racing looks really good.

Do you really think they would've bothered making the announcement if there wasn't already some concrete plans laid down?

It's not like they just met a week ago, and figured "Hey lets do an American DTM series!" This has been in the works and discussion long before Grand-Am was even thinking about merging with ALMS (aside from some rogue business type who wants a good night's sleep).

That they incorporated one of their biggest competitors before introducing the series is only a bonus.

 

[cnd01]

Do you really think they would've bothered making the announcement if there wasn't already some concrete plans laid down?

It's not like they just met a week ago, and figured "Hey lets do an American DTM series!" This has been in the works and discussion long before Grand-Am was even thinking about merging with ALMS (aside from some rogue business type who wants a good night's sleep).

That they incorporated one of their biggest competitors before introducing the series is only a bonus.

I'm just interpreting what I heard from listening to the press conference. I'm hoping it works.

 

[freshseth83]

I think the idea is that US mfg's will build their own cars. SuperGT GT500 will still be a Japanese only effort, just as DTM is German. There are talks of crossover races, but nothing solid.

GT500 is moving to DTM style common regulations in 2014 👍 Six Manufacturers were mentioned. Audi and BMW have pushed for this. BMW entered DTM with the intent to be able to use their car OUTSIDE of DTM. Super GT and this series is their opportunity.

From listening to the press conference, it sounded more like a sales pitch than a plan ready to move forward actually. Again, I hope this series works out. The racing looks really good.

Sales pitch for what? A fantasy series backed by the top 3 from Germany and Japan? And DTM races OUTSIDE of Germany btw. 👍 Brands Hatch is in the U.K. just to name one race off the top of my head.

 

[GTPorsche]

DTM also races at Valencia (Ricardo Tormo Circuit, or did at one point), and Adria in Italy.