2014 United Sports Car Championship

  • Thread starter Earth
  • 6,133 comments
  • 266,846 views
Snaeper
The Cup S has slightly more Aero and other chassis modifications over the GA GT Porsche, but it's overall power numbers don't tell the whole story. They may only be 10hp apart, (440hp for the Cup S, 450 for the GA), but the 4.0 in the GA supposedly has loads more torque (3.6L vs. 4.0L). Meanwhile the GT3 R has a similar 4.0 Engine and a massive aerodynamic advantage. The three cars would not compete on a similar performance level.
Click to expand...

Yeah I agree, the wouldn't the R looks more like the RSR than the S. I don't think they'd be running 3 different variations of years so far apart though who knows they'll be 991s next year so what does it matter now I guess. I hope USCR has a better set of rules for fans to read than the current ALMS.
 
Another question about this newly merged series is what will happen to the NAEC? Created to give a car-count boost to some of Grand-Am's bigger events, will it remain necessary? Obviously you couldn't do it and not include Sebring and Road Atlanta, but there's also the 4-6 hour race that the ALMS does at Laguna Seca.

Here's the current "Endurance" events run by both that would need to fit.

24 Hours of Daytona
12 Hours of Sebring
4-6 Hours of Monterey
6 Hours at the Glen
3 Hours at the Brickyard
Petit Le Mans

The obvious choice to go would be Indianapolis, as it being only 15 minutes longer than a normal race is kind of a joke. That would leave Laguna Seca and Watkins Glen with question marks. Both series have run shorter events at the tracks and it would help reduce costs on teams since they wouldn't have to run as many hours on their racecars... decisions. If they kept at the NAEC, a good answer would be to keep the longer races, but that would put strain on the teams running the full season.
 
Yeah, but I live by Laguna, and don't want to drive out there for a 2.75 hour race.

I don't think we need an NAEC. Just extra stuff to explain.
The USCR IS an endurance series, is it not?
 
hawkeye122
Yeah, but I live by Laguna, and don't want to drive out there for a 2.75 hour race.

I don't think we need an NAEC. Just extra stuff to explain.
The USCR IS an endurance series, is it not?
Click to expand...

That's what I thought it was as well, I don't see NAEC happening.
 
LMSCorvetteGT2
That's what I thought it was as well, I don't see NAEC happening.
Click to expand...

The NAEC is the most confusing part of grand am. I think literally 10 people in the world actually know what the hell it is. I'm fine with getting rid of it
 
cnd01
The NAEC is the most confusing part of grand am. I think literally 10 people in the world actually know what the hell it is. I'm fine with getting rid of it
Click to expand...

It's only as confusing as the separate Indy Road Course Champion trophy
 
hawkeye122
Yeah, but I live by Laguna, and don't want to drive out there for a 2.75 hour race.
Click to expand...

So you won't be going this year?


Another topic:

The NAEC was designed for close(r) competition.
"We wanted to come up with a point system that was different from the regular Rolex series," said Mark Raffauf, managing director of competition for Grand-Am. "We feel the new system will be fun for both fans and participants, while at the same time promoting close competition."
If I as a competitor have the incentive to push a bit harder during the longer events for those NAEC points and be awarded an extra $100,000, I would.
No extra prep for some extra cash, win win.


AMLS Green X Challenge is similar in the fact they are races within a race.
I would like to see the formula that is the ALMS green challenge, I know the criteria.
Now that is confusing.
It was created for an even playing field for all competitors, among others.
Be the car that goes the farthest, the fastest with the smallest carbon footprint and least
petroleum consumption.*
Create an equal playing field for a multi-fuel, multi-engine, multi-tire and multi-class series, including
development of rules, regulations and specifications for all LMP and GT entries
It was good to win and be invited to Le Mans, but that no longer happens.
It's useless without the invite and/or money.

It's a bit like NASACR's 1st car a lap down, another race within a race.
No racing back to the caution flag was why it was implemented but it is a great idea.

Remember this? I do, I was there.
 
Don't know if it's been put on here or not but I saw that Brumos is eyeing a late 2014 return to sports car racing.

Also, Starworks will have 2 DP and 2 PC next season in the USCR
 
And PC and DP aren't competing against each other, right?


I wonder if a team is going to run the LMP2 and DP, in an attempt to compare the two, gather data, and dominate at all types of tracks...


It may seem strange at first, and probably should, but I find it quite interesting to consider.
 
ITCC_Andrew
And PC and DP aren't competing against each other, right?

I wonder if a team is going to run the LMP2 and DP, in an attempt to compare the two, gather data, and dominate at all types of tracks...

It may seem strange at first, and probably should, but I find it quite interesting to consider.
Click to expand...

Well if they're technically the same class (P2 and DP) then surely it isnt any different than a team running 2 P2's or 2 DP's?
 
Anyone who follows John Dagys on twitter had their timeline blown up this morning..

Apparently both the WEC and USCR schedules have been printed in ink and could be announced at any time (Some suggesting it'll happen at COTA)

What I found rather interesting were Jacques Nicolet's (Owner of the Morgan LMP2 team in the WEC) comments...
"It's incredible that the first race is in Jan(uary) and we are in Sept(ember) & we don't even know the rules. Maybe they don't want us to come"

What? I was under the impression that the WEC teams gave zero frocks about the USCR calendar. But here we have a team owner (Who runs 3 cars) wanting in on Daytona at least.
Greaves was at Sebring, right? Currently they're having sponsorship issues, but I wouldnt put it past Dyson hooking up with them to get the car in also.

It sounds like if the USCR plays their cards right, and announces the regs in the next couple weeks, we'd at least see a handful of teams wanting to make the trip over. Perhaps Aston Martin would send a GTE car over?

They will likely give Full-Season entrants priority entry to Daytona, but how many pit stalls do they have? Would be very awesome to see a diverse, international field at Daytona. Everyone would win.
 
^^

A diverse, international field at Daytona would be great. It may not be possible due to money issues, but I would love to see Pescarolo bring a car there. Why is the LMP2 team so anxious? Last I checked its the DPs which are going to be changed greatly with new rules while the LMP2s will stay mostly the same.

I hope we see 75 cars at Daytona
 
During the WEC race, they talked about how some DP teams (8 Star in particular) are considering buying an LMP2 car so they can run either the DP or LMP2 depending on which one they feel preforms better at a given track.
 
ITCC_Andrew
And PC and DP aren't competing against each other, right?


I wonder if a team is going to run the LMP2 and DP, in an attempt to compare the two, gather data, and dominate at all types of tracks...


It may seem strange at first, and probably should, but I find it quite interesting to consider.
Click to expand...

Sam48
During the WEC race, they talked about how some DP teams (8 Star in particular) are considering buying an LMP2 car so they can run either the DP or LMP2 depending on which one they feel preforms better at a given track.
Click to expand...

Something to back my speculation, I like it! :lol:


I knew that there would be at least one team to try both. Question is, will they need to score the points separately, or can a DP score points for an LMP2 team? Or, are they actually, legitimately going to be considered "the same cars?"
 
There's been over 60 cars at the Rolex 24 in the last 10 years. There are over 100 garage stalls at Daytona, but they've got to fit the USCR, conti challenge, lambo trofeo, imsa lights, imsa Porsche, Ferrari challenge, and possibly more that will be there.
 
...Expansions possible?


I think there'll be like 200 cars this year. Mosport doesn't have "garage stalls." I've been to the events there, the cars are only worked on inside the trailers. :crazy:
 
ITCC_Andrew
...Expansions possible?

I think there'll be like 200 cars this year. Mosport doesn't have "garage stalls." I've been to the events there, the cars are only worked on inside the trailers. :crazy:
Click to expand...

Conti challenge(then Koni challenge) has had 100 cars back about 2005 along with about 60 for the Rolex 24, so there has been lots there before. I didn't go into the garage those years, so I don't know how they made it work
 
Most of the support races will just work by their trailer under a tent. That's how it was at Indy when NASCAR is there too.

Those places have it all planned out
 
polarbear345
Most of the support races will just work by their trailer under a tent. That's how it was at Indy when NASCAR is there too.

Those places have it all planned out
Click to expand...

Conti is supposed to have its own tech for 2014, so that's going to help things extremely
 
cnd01
There's been over 60 cars at the Rolex 24 in the last 10 years. There are over 100 garage stalls at Daytona, but they've got to fit the USCR, conti challenge, lambo trofeo, imsa lights, imsa Porsche, Ferrari challenge, and possibly more that will be there.
Click to expand...

Someone convert that to rfactor please :lol:
 
Furinkazen
Someone convert that to rfactor please :lol:
Click to expand...

I wish I had more time to go in 2014. Darn university classes have me tied up until Friday more than likely. I like the support series and especially the conti race just as much as the 24. This year I got to see 4 races with practice and qualifying. That was a lot of fun. The atmosphere is awesome too. I'm ready for 2014!
 

Similar threads

Jimlaad43
Formula 1 Pirelli United States Grand Prix 2024
2 3 4
Replies
108
Views
8K
sillybilly
S
ScottPuss20
2025 World Endurance Championship
Replies
6
Views
918
ScottPuss20
ScottPuss20
ScottPuss20
2024 World Endurance Championship
38 39 40
Replies
1K
Views
95K
Eqill5
Eqill5
Jimlaad43
Formula 1 Aramco United States Grand Prix 2022
8 9 10
Replies
271
Views
13K
Bosso
B
Famine
Mercedes-AMG Launches Multiplatform “Virtual Championship”, Starting Today
5 6 7
Replies
181
Views
18K
newmedia_dev
N

Latest Posts

Back