24hrs of LeMans

[kart racer]

If you wached Sebring, you all have a good idea of your favorites. Who do you think will win in all the classes.
LMP1: Audi (no brainer)
LMP2: ?
GTS: I favour the Vette
GT: toss up
Let's here from you.

 

[wee_man]

LMP1- Audi
LMP2-?
GTS- Ferrari
GT-Porsche

 

[Solid Lifters]

If Ferrari enters Le Mans with the same cars as Sebring, and so does Corvette, Ferrari doesn't stand a chance.

LMP 1 - Audi
LMP 2 - ?
GTS - Corvette
GT - Porsche

 

[JohnBM01]

I would like to see some old school. Check this:

(1) How about Dodge challenge Le Mans with a compeition-grade Viper GTS-R? And I mean, why not? The latest Viper has more grunt than the last one. Plus, I think the GTS-R (while losing a little bit in style from the last GTS) will continue the rivalry of Viper/Corvette apart from the international rivalry (seperated by the Atlantic Ocean) of Corvette/Maranello.

Also, it was sad to see the Ferrari 333SP go. I don't think it ever won Le Mans, but came close several times. I think Ferrari should come up with a car as beautiful as the 333SP. Yeah, either a P1 (I want it to be an LMP1) or a P2 challenging Audi. In fact, do one better. Make an LMP. A Ferrari LMP car. A car as sexy as the Bentley that won Le Mans last year, but with a sweeter engine sound. I mean, I'd pay to see an LMP in the traditional Momo and Shell livery. All painted up in Ferrari Red. And cruising down Mulsanne and D'Arnage. Le Mans 2004 is going to be cool, but just take this as some future considerations.

 

[Scaff]

Originally posted by Solid Lifters
If Ferrari enters Le Mans with the same cars as Sebring, and so does Corvette, Ferrari doesn't stand a chance.

Sorry, can't agree with that. Le Mans and Sebring are very, very different circuits.

At Le Mans its going to be damn close, but never ever write off Ferrari at Le Mans. They remember the sixties to well; my personal opinion is that the 'vettes ae going to give them a good run (and about time). Well worth watching, I for one can't wait.

 

[The359]

Originally posted by JohnBM01
I would like to see some old school. Check this:

(1) How about Dodge challenge Le Mans with a compeition-grade Viper GTS-R? And I mean, why not? The latest Viper has more grunt than the last one. Plus, I think the GTS-R (while losing a little bit in style from the last GTS) will continue the rivalry of Viper/Corvette apart from the international rivalry (seperated by the Atlantic Ocean) of Corvette/Maranello.

The Viper GTS-R is too outdated to be able to fight factory Corvettes or Ferraris. The Viper Competition Coupe has an engine too large (the limit os 8000ccs, the CC has roughly 8300ccs).

 

[The359]

Originally posted by Solid Lifters
If Ferrari enters Le Mans with the same cars as Sebring, and so does Corvette, Ferrari doesn't stand a chance.

The Ferrari 575GTCs are Sebring were run by Barron Connor Racing. They will both be at LeMans. But so will 3 Prodrive cars, who won GTS class at LeMans last year.

 

[kart racer]

Ferrari in P1, I wish, and it would be great if Porche came back to P1 also. It's about time that they took back the crown. The new Viper looks great and I feel it has the lines to do well in GTS.
A Viper P1 car? I wounder what it could look like.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Originally posted by The359
The Ferrari 575GTCs are Sebring were run by Barron Connor Racing. They will both be at LeMans. But so will 3 Prodrive cars, who won GTS class at LeMans last year.

Yes, I know who one GTS last year, but because the Corvettes had a lot of problems. I think this year they will have less problems, therefor giving the "Flying Pizzas" a good run-for-the-money.

I think the Corvette team has improved, and the car, a lot, but the Ferrari Prodrives haven't, or at least as much. I could be wrong, since I don't follow the Le Mans, and the teams, that much.

 

[The359]

Then explain why the Prodrive Ferraris also beat the Corvettes at quite a few ALMS races after LeMans...

 

[GilesGuthrie]

I'd like to see some backing for the statement "Corvette will win". Since the Corvette hasn't won a straight fight with a Ferrari for about 9 months now...

I think one of the Prodrive Ferraris will with the class. Probably the Enge car.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Originally posted by GilesGuthrie
I'd like to see some backing for the statement "Corvette will win". Since the Corvette hasn't won a straight fight with a Ferrari for about 9 months now...

I think one of the Prodrive Ferraris will with the class. Probably the Enge car.

The Corvette team has made some improvements to the drivetrain and the setup of the car which will give the team a greater chance at beating the Ferrari's this year. Not only that, but there were improvements to the team itself, what they are I don't know, but I think this team is "more on the ball" according to reports, and plus I have a feeling there going to do it this year. Does my intuition count?

 

[The359]

You think Ferrari and Prodrive has just been sitting on their asses in the offseason? Corvette makes improvements at the same time Ferrari does.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Originally posted by The359
You think Ferrari and Prodrive has just been sitting on their asses in the offseason? Corvette makes improvements at the same time Ferrari does.

The Corvettes had more needs and areas for improvement than the Prodrive Ferraris, and I think they can beat Ferrari now. I wanted Ferrari to win the ALMS last year because I felt the Corvettes should have been updated and improved, but the team didn't feel the same way. I hated that, and that is why I felt the Ferraris had a good chance to win, but they didn't win. I know it was by one point only, but it lit a fire under Corvette Racing to improve their cars, which they have. Plus, Corvette racing won the Le Mans in 2001 and 2002, and Ferrari won it last year which I'm sure made CR want to improve even greater than the Prodrive team.

No, I don't think Ferrari has been sitting on their asses, but I haven't read about any changes they have made either. All I know is, CR has improved, and it's going to be a great GTS battle at this years Le Mans, and Corvette will be the victor.

 

[The359]

You seem to confuse the words "improve" with "changed". Seeing as how Corvette and Prodrive have not faced one another yet, you cannot judge if they have indeed improved or not.

I'd say that only 1 car finishing the first race of 2004 doesn't look like much improvement to me.

 

[milefile]

Originally posted by The359
You seem to confuse the words "improve" with "changed". Seeing as how Corvette and Prodrive have not faced one another yet, you cannot judge if they have indeed improved or not.

But right here you said "improvements", too.

You think Ferrari and Prodrive has just been sitting on their asses in the offseason? Corvette makes improvements at the same time Ferrari does.

 

[The359]

Yeah, because both cars try to improve. But you seem to think that Corvette seems to automatically be better this year just because they changed a lot of stuff on the car.

 

[Solid Lifters]

Originally posted by The359
Yeah, because both cars try to improve. But you seem to think that Corvette seems to automatically be better this year just because they changed a lot of stuff on the car.

You're wrong.

 

[kart racer]

Originally posted by The359
You seem to confuse the words "improve" with "changed". Seeing as how Corvette and Prodrive have not faced one another yet, you cannot judge if they have indeed improved or not.

I'd say that only 1 car finishing the first race of 2004 doesn't look like much improvement to me.

It seemed to me that the #4 corvette drove like it was the rabbit. Now they denied this but it seemed to me they wanted to find the weak link before Lemans. Just my opinion.

 

[The359]

The Corvettes were also going up against an aged Viper, a troubled Saleen, and two Ferraris that had barely even been run prior to Sebring. So of course they'd look like they were running like "rabbits".

 

[kart racer]

True, but what better time to find the weak link,since they had no real challange.(sorry viper lovers)

 

[GilesGuthrie]

Originally posted by Solid Lifters
The Corvette team has made some improvements to the drivetrain and the setup of the car which will give the team a greater chance at beating the Ferrari's this year. Not only that, but there were improvements to the team itself, what they are I don't know, but I think this team is "more on the ball" according to reports, and plus I have a feeling there going to do it this year. Does my intuition count?

Yeah, your clarification does help

I've been reading that due to Le Mans enty regulations, Prodrive are actually going to be running four 550s this year. I'm still tipping the Kox/Enge car for the class win.

 

[The359]

Prodrive is only running 3 cars. Two under the Prodrive Racing banner, and one under the Care Racing banner.

The Larbre car might have been built by Prodrive (they build most of the 550-GTSs used in racing), but is not run by Prodrive. The Barron Connor 575GTCs also are not run by Prodrive.

BMS Scuderia Italia's Ferrari has been withdrawn from the race already.

 

[Party for GT4]

Well at least the space will be filled by someone else. Basically, if people race in Le Mans I want them to give it everything, not just do a bit because they've got the place.