- 3,207
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MR07nWC883o
They want to/need to slow down their "GT3" cars to not interfere with GTE.
2014 United Sports Car Championship
- Thread starter Earth
- 6,133 comments
- 265,948 views
They want to/need to slow down their "GT3" cars to not interfere with GTE.
- 3,587
It's going to be hard to convince ALMS fans that it's okay to turn an LMP machine into a spec car when the LMP is designed with innovation in mind. If you're more inclined to like Grand-AM style of racing, where the cars are already all on contis, then sure, this is no big deal. But if a tire choice can make a few seconds per lap difference, that is a tremendous deal when it comes to strategy, setup, whatever the case. Lap times/records at tracks will be dumbed down because P2 machines are not reaching their potential. As for going overseas, we do want our teams in Le Mans, there's a value to global outreach in racing. People in Europe do watch ALMS, and Corvette's wins at Sarthe for instance probably don't hurt. Delta Wing shows up, and even if it craps out it is still an attention-grabber. I think these things do matter in residual ways.
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- 9,387
- Pittsburgh
- polarbear345
Interesting article on how F1 makes money
So it should give us a pretty good idea of how these guys make their money too:
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/30/sport/motorsport/f1-money-billion-dollar-business/?hpt=hp_c5
So it should give us a pretty good idea of how these guys make their money too:
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/07/30/sport/motorsport/f1-money-billion-dollar-business/?hpt=hp_c5
- 9,387
- Pittsburgh
- polarbear345
- 3,915
- California
- gdwest1
LMP2 uses traction control too when DP doesn't
As I've said before, they don't have god controlling the TC for them. Actual work goes into setting up a traction control system.
I don't see why GT3 MUST be faster than GTE. As long as GTE is averaging .5 seconds a lap quicker, it should be fine. If they aren't winning over the GT3s, then they weren't trying hard enough.
On the subject of GT3-GTD, I can't help but think the only reason they aren't going full GT3 is to not marginalize the GTC guys right off the bat. I'm certain that in 2016 they will move to GT3, and the GTE cars will be faster by then anyway.
Continental claims that they will have a competitive tyre for P2 guys who want to go to Le Mans.
While I don't think P1 is the answer, I do think the ELMS is. Look at the current similarities.
freshseth83
(Banned)
- 8,246
- freshseth83
The ELMS has GT3 cars and GTE. GTE is faster. Partly because GT3 cars have gentleman drivers. They don't need spec tires. IMO GA is doing this so DPs are the only option for teams. P2 is useless because no team is going to want to run those brick tires. The only P2 teams are Level 5 and ESM. The latter will probably just drop to DP or PC anyway. That leaves L5. They're the only team that I think would bother in lmp2. But with this news and their LM ambitions, I doubt they'll stay. So basically this is GA 2.0 with GTE, a few neutered GT3s, spec PC and slightly faster DP. Not much has changed.
- 422
- Eastern MA
- Odin_Wednesday
They're already running a much different setup at Le Mans than they are anywhere else, because the big straights put such a premium on top speed.
- 9,387
- Pittsburgh
- polarbear345
- 3,587
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- 3,915
- California
- gdwest1
When was the last time Continental built a tyre for Le Mans?
- 35,332
- Addison,Texas
- GTP_RACECAR
I'm pretty sure it was...never.
- 3,915
- California
- gdwest1
ITCC_Andrew
(Banned)
- 18,532
- Kitchener
I've got Continental Tires on my personal car, never ever had a problem. Well, wait, I do have a problem; the tires offer more grip than the motor's power can overcome. 
basically, no matter how hard I apply the throttle, no wheelspin will ever happen. 170 hp + 4WD + Continental Tires = a lot of grip.
So, call me biased, or say that I'm comparing apples to oranges as much as you want, I'm quite happy with my Continental Tires.
basically, no matter how hard I apply the throttle, no wheelspin will ever happen. 170 hp + 4WD + Continental Tires = a lot of grip.So, call me biased, or say that I'm comparing apples to oranges as much as you want, I'm quite happy with my Continental Tires.
- 3,585
- Phoenix, AZ
- GTP_Snaeper
Well it was stated in the interview a few pages ago that they're changing the GT3 cars because they're almost as fast as the GTE cars, and they want a proper gap between them.
And ultimately, GT3 is almost too popular for USCR. With Blancpain entering 60-70 cars a race, restricting the teams who come to GTD is almost a good thing. Every track has a limit to how many cars it can hold after all, and there's Prototypes and GTE's to think about.
ITCC_Andrew
(Banned)
- 18,532
- Kitchener
Also, Furinkazen, don't say that this is the US "locking itself away," because Continental Tires are actually German. This is the Americans using German tires to ostracize the French. 
- 9,387
- Pittsburgh
- polarbear345
Sorry, just messing with him. Sometimes forget you guys don't see the other stuff.
Sorry.... Carry on!
OT-
I could be wrong, but aren't GT3 cars a bit faster than the GTE cars? Without the pro/am stuff, I could've sworn the gt3 cars were a little faster.
- 22,551
- Arizona
- HamiltonMP427
Supposedly they are equal in quickness, I think Radio LeMans has a few articles on the subject from this year. The rules seem to be the issue of why we have the two existing in the same world.
- 44,185
- Blackburn
- Furinkazen_54
- 22,551
- Arizona
- HamiltonMP427
Was waiting for someone to say this.
- 44,185
- Blackburn
- Furinkazen_54
Of course, I forgot yet again how this series is taking every element of successful categories worldwide and changing them so hardly anyone outside the US will be interested...
- 22,551
- Arizona
- HamiltonMP427
From this thread alone I don't see very many in the U.S. that are all that excited. And just like the "simplification" of GT racing in LMS groups this will probably be just as hated in the following years.
- 35,332
- Addison,Texas
- GTP_RACECAR
Not so sure I believe that since the last view years as two separate series, hardly anyone outside the US was interested in the first place.
- 9,387
- Pittsburgh
- polarbear345
- 44,185
- Blackburn
- Furinkazen_54
What's point in that? Hardly attractive from a point of teams who may already have to spend a lot of money to get there cars ready for this new series, and then have to spend more in two years.
ALMS as I wrote earlier in the thread did never have big international involvement. Having Sebring was pretty much the big draw. However, USCR has got Sebring and as a result that is essentially shut away from the rest of the field.
I'll ask you all a question. Who (apart from Grand-Am DP teams) is actually going to want to develop a car just for the one series where it cannot be used anywhere else? I see LMP2's not lasting long in this, it's essentially just going to turn into Grand-Am again surely?
