2014 United Sports Car Championship

[Sam48]

Pickett Racing to Expand to GTLM and Likely P2 for 2014

The most interesting bit is the fact that Pickett has been in contact with three manufactures for his GTLM car, and none of them are currently involved in either GA or ALMS. I'm going to take a guess and say McLaren, Nissan, and Mercedes.

 

[GOTMAXPOWER]

Pickett Racing to Expand to GTLM and Likely P2 for 2014

The most interesting bit is the fact that Pickett has been in contact with three manufactures for his GTLM car, and none of them are currently involved in either GA or ALMS. I'm going to take a guess and say McLaren, Nissan, and Mercedes.

Could be an Aston Martin Vantage.

 

[Sam48]

Could be an Aston Martin Vantage.

TRG ran a GT3 Vantage in Grand-Am for the remaining two races of the season, so it therefore can't be an Aston.

 

[cnd01]

Pickett Racing to Expand to GTLM and Likely P2 for 2014

The most interesting bit is the fact that Pickett has been in contact with three manufactures for his GTLM car, and none of them are currently involved in either GA or ALMS. I'm going to take a guess and say McLaren, Nissan, and Mercedes.

My money is on Acura NS-X

 

[RACECAR]

Could be an Aston Martin Vantage.

Except Aston are already announced to come for the NAEC Championship so no.

 

[Sam48]

My money is on Acura NS-X

They're making an NSX GT3?

 

[RACECAR]

It had been reported months ago that Acura were going to start their GT program with the NSX so its safe to assume its for GTLM.

 

[Sam48]

A Muscle Milk NSX would be pretty cool, and considering Pickett's relation with Honda, I suppose it's not as unlikely as I originally thought. However, are they a European based team, or is this operation based in Japan? I ask because according to Pickett, he was only in contact with "European based manufactures".

 

[RACECAR]

A Muscle Milk NSX would be pretty cool, and considering Pickett's relation with Honda, I suppose it's not as unlikely as I originally thought. However, are they a European based team, or is this operation based in Japan? I ask because according to Pickett, he was only in contact with "European based manufactures".

I'm thinking by automatic assumption this would be HPD's work, which makes it American. Yeah they're not European but if they indeed have a P2 effort with HPD, why not?

 

[Sam48]

BIG NEWS! 2014 USCC LMP2 and DP Regulations Released!

Now I know where those P2 cars sold in the states may have ended up.

 

[IforceV8]

The Radio Lemans guys were speculating during the Fuji rain fest that the DP changes are designed to make the DP cars full factory efforts.Also mentioned was the fallout of Ganassi and HPD about P2 cars which lead to the change to Chevy in Indycar from Honda.

 

[RACECAR]

The Radio Lemans guys were speculating during the Fuji rain fest that the DP changes are designed to make the DP cars full factory efforts.Also mentioned was the fallout of Ganassi and HPD about P2 cars which lead to the change to Chevy in Indycar from Honda.

Ganassi is switching to Chevy?

 

[IforceV8]

Ganassi is switching to Chevy?

It was mentioned and would make sense but thats just a rumor.They said he gets no money from BMW and will take all he can get from Chevy.

 

[hawkeye122]

TRG ran a GT3 Vantage in Grand-Am for the remaining two races of the season, so it therefore can't be an Aston.

How is that remotely logical? Aston WANTED to run the NAEC, but were turned away for car count reasons. I'm sure Greg Pickett has enough pull to get a GT entry if he wants. Who says he CANT run an Aston?

I'm waiting for cnd to come in, up in arms about the travesty that is the DP regs. They aren't exactly fair, but there's little other choice.

 

[Sam48]

How is that remotely logical?

SportsCar365 Exclusive
While he would not disclose which manufacturers, it’s understood all three brands are not currently represented in either ALMS or GRAND-AM

That's why

I'm waiting for cnd to come in, up in arms about the travesty that is the DP regs. They aren't exactly fair, but there's little other choice.

And this lends credibility to the claim that European P2 manufactures and teams were selling off new/used P2 cars in the states to undisclosed teams.

 

[Snaeper]

So going off of what Muscle Milk has let on, here are the list of manufacturer's he could potentially be talking to:

Mclaren
Bentley
Mercedes
Lamborghini

Of those four, the most logical would be Mclaren and Mercedes, as Bentley barely has a GT3 car, let alone a GTE car, and the Lamborghini really isn't supported that well inside of Europe compared to some of the other GT3 cars, so it's unlikely to make an expansion.

Still, without more information, it could be any of them.

 

[vetteman24]

I remember from a few weeks back on RLM's Midweek Motorsport, Marshall Pruett reported that Pickett/Muscle Milk was "working with a current GT3 Manufacturer with a Tri Point" aka Mercedes on a potential GTLM or GTD program for TUSCC

 

[Zuel]

So going off of what Muscle Milk has let on, here are the list of manufacturer's he could potentially be talking to:

Mclaren
Bentley
Mercedes
Lamborghini

Of those four, the most logical would be Mclaren and Mercedes, as Bentley barely has a GT3 car, let alone a GTE car, and the Lamborghini really isn't supported that well inside of Europe compared to some of the other GT3 cars, so it's unlikely to make an expansion.

Still, without more information, it could be any of them.

Bentley may push to have there car in the TUDOR, FIA, and other racing bodies that care to the GT3 class to better develop the car, Lamborghini as well as the performance bases have fallen within the last two years. I don't see them developing a solid foundation with Mclaren, Mercedes or Lambrghini, Bentley may offer more support, as well having them as their first works team.

 

[hawkeye122]

I'm really not pumped about this trend of "Let's just buy a GT3 car and make it GTE-ish". Thats not the point. If I was Corvette or Ferrari I'd be annoyed- They build the cars the way they're supposed to e built, but BMW and (supposedly) Mercedes Benz get a free pass.

 

[aarror]

I'm really not pumped about this trend of "Let's just buy a GT3 car and make it GTE-ish". Thats not the point. If I was Corvette or Ferrari I'd be annoyed- They build the cars the way they're supposed to e built, but BMW and (supposedly) Mercedes Benz get a free pass.

Isn't BMW building a GTE M4 for next year? I thought the Z4 was just a placeholder car until the new one was ready.

Edit: Can't seem to find anything, must have just been a rumour.

 

[BROHAM]

Is nissan even interested in expanding racing in North america?

 

[Zuel]

Isn't BMW building a GTE M4 for next year? I thought the Z4 was just a placeholder car until the new one was ready.

Edit: Can't seem to find anything, must have just been a rumour.

It's not a rumor, the car that is in development for the GTE class in the BMW 6
series. BMW is keep a cap on on how far the car has come though I know that the car has already been in a number a races to better the chassis over all.

​

I forgot to add that the GT3 aerodynamic package for the car is almost complete though it's still in testing with the FIA.

 

[aarror]

It's not a rumor, the car that is in development for the GTE class in the BMW 6 series. BMW is keep a cap on on how far the car has come though I know that the car has already been in a number a races to better the chassis over all. http://s222.photobucket.com/user/Zu...r-photo-262696-s-429x262_zps8c3d271a.jpg.html I forgot to add that the GT3 aerodynamic package for the car is almost complete though it's still in testing with the FIA.

That's the Alpina B6 GT3 from 2010, not a new car. It was raced in FIA GT3 and ADAC in Germany. I think it even won the title in 2011.

I really hope BMW is making an M4 GTE, but couldn't find anything that said they were. If you have sources saying it's in testing could you post them, I'd like to read it.

 

[Zuel]

That's the Alpina B6 GT3 from 2010, not a new car. It was raced in FIA GT3 and ADAC in Germany. I think it even won the title in 2011.

I really hope BMW is making an M4 GTE, but couldn't find anything that said they were. If you have sources saying it's in testing could you post them, I'd like to read it.

I know of it being the Alpina B6 though BMW is in works in developing the 6 series into a GT3/GTE class car from what I've been told. The Z4 platform has done well for BMW in the GT3/GTE class though they're looking to better the performance. I don't have any photos of any of the recent 6s GT3 cars due to my friend will not send them to me until product is finished or they come to a finial chose of which car will be used for 2014. There should be a finial chose soon, I believe that BMW will show the new car at the 24hr of Daytona, if not before hand.

 

[hawkeye122]

So you have friends who are involved with BMW's new GTE contender? Colour me intrigued.

 

[phil bell]

Why use the heavier, older 6 series chassis as a base when the new 4 series chassis is smaller and far lighter.

And with the lighter car you can afford to do things like put weight lower down like what BMW and SRT did with their steel underbodies.

On top of that it would be good marketing for the new M4 when it debuts.

I see no sense in it.

And I totally agree with Hawkeye, if manufacturers go to lengths to develop a proper GTE car they should have priority IMO. Perhaps Pickett couldn't find factory support from them.

 

[Zuel]

So you have friends who are involved with BMW's new GTE contender? Colour me intrigued.

I have a friend that works within the BMW racing department.

Why use the heavier, older 6 series chassis as a base when the new 4 series chassis is smaller and far lighter.

And with the lighter car you can afford to do things like put weight lower down like what BMW and SRT did with their steel underbodies.

On top of that it would be good marketing for the new M4 when it debuts.

I see no sense in it.

And I totally agree with Hawkeye, if manufacturers go to lengths to develop a proper GTE car they should have priority IMO. Perhaps Pickett couldn't find factory support from them.

I was think the same, but with the changes that have been made in the FIA the M4 may not be able to compete as well they would like. The M4 is a great platform and it should stay, though with all of the changes that have been going on from budget, testing and etc. It may be easier and cheaper to go with a car that is close to the weight rather than adding weight. After a few races the SRT had changes done to the power planet in order to slow it down even with the added weight.

Why would some factories not give support to Pickett?

 

[Sam48]

Why would some factories not give support to Pickett?

I'm not sure that it's the factories who aren't interested in supporting Pickett, rather, Pickett went to Europe and asked three yet to be disclosed companies, who manufacture a GT3 version of one of their road cars, and the factories in question where not exactly expecting a visit. Now, of course, Pickett claims the car is nearly ready, therefore, I presume this Euro venture happened back in spring earlier this year.

 

[Zuel]

I'm not sure that it's the factories who aren't interested in supporting Pickett, rather, Pickett went to Europe and asked three yet to be disclosed companies, who manufacture a GT3 version of one of their road cars, and the factories in question where not exactly expecting a visit. Now, of course, Pickett claims the car is nearly ready, therefore, I presume this Euro venture happened back in spring earlier this year.

Pickett is almost on the same platform as Shelby, why would they not. It has to be Bently.

 

[Sam48]

Pickett is almost on the same platform as Shelby, why would they not. It has to be Bently.

Could you explain in more detail? I honestly don't see any of the connections you just made.