Anybody out there following the Grand Am?

[Northstar]

Daytona testing tommrrow and Wednesday.

http://www.grand-am.com/News/GA_New...rway-next-week-in-daytona.aspx?cid=6383&sid=1

Doesn't say if any GX cars will be testing..

There will also be an LMP2 car there.

Big question though is what model will BMW's Bodykit take its looks from should this come to fruition?

I'm guessing it won't be based on any particular model, but I could imagine the 6 series being the starting point.

I could see BMW doing their own kit seeing how they will have 2 teams this year(Ganassi and Sahlens).

 

[cnd01]

Hey guys, any word on whether the Riley/Corvette DPs will have equal aerodynamics this season? I know last year the Riley bodywork produced less downforce than the Corvette model. It was pretty obvious watching the Rolex 24 that the Riley had the advantage on the high banks.

 

[Wilbur]

I don't see much changing but never know. All the changes in 2014 will be big so might just wait til then to work on things.

Now I'm getting exciting for Jan!

 

[cnd01]

I don't see much changing but never know. All the changes in 2014 will be big so might just wait til then to work on things.

Now I'm getting exciting for Jan!

This is kind of a filler year. Next year will be very exciting. I'm going to the Rolex 24 again this year. There were more people at the event than I have ever seen before in the Daytona prototype era. My first Rolex 24 came the first year the DP class was run there.

 

[Wilbur]

This is kind of a filler year. Next year will be very exciting. I'm going to the Rolex 24 again this year. There were more people at the event than I have ever seen before in the Daytona prototype era. My first Rolex 24 came the first year the DP class was run there.

I have never been to a road race or Daytona race so this will be a very fun. I'm coming in saturday morning for just 2 days and camping near turn oval turn 1.

 

[Mac K]

I have never been to a road race or Daytona race so this will be a very fun. I'm coming in saturday morning for just 2 days and camping near turn oval turn 1.

You should enjoy it, the atmosphere at any Grand-Am race is fantastic.

 

[Wilbur]

You should enjoy it, the atmosphere at any Grand-Am race is fantastic.

I really am looking forward to it. I've over last few years tried to visit a different series every year (couldnt afford ALMS at VIR last year). Just better pack some warm clothes and energy drinks!

Any advice on getting autographs along with say team stuff like shirts or.event merchandise while we are down there?

 

[cnd01]

I really am looking forward to it. I've over last few years tried to visit a different series every year (couldnt afford ALMS at VIR last year). Just better pack some warm clothes and energy drinks!

Any advice on getting autographs along with say team stuff like shirts or.event merchandise while we are down there?

Every year, both the Rolex and the Continental tire series have autograph sessions. I usually am too busy stalking the garages to go to the autograph sessions

 

[Wilbur]

Every year, both the Rolex and the Continental tire series have autograph sessions. I usually am too busy stalking the garages to go to the autograph sessions

I'll probably be doing that more than autograph sessions honestly as I'm more into the cars, paddocks and all that fun stuff.

 

[Mac K]

Most people will just go for Dempsey's autograph anyway..

 

[Northstar]

Most people will just go for Dempsey's autograph anyway..

He probably makes it much easier for guys to get to the races.

"Come on honey, you'll have fun, McDreamy will be there!".

 

[SKIDMARX]

I have never been to a road race or Daytona race so this will be a very fun. I'm coming in saturday morning for just 2 days and camping near turn oval turn 1.

Well I live in the UK and I was on holiday in Florida in January (Love the place, hate the spiders). I went to Daytona Speedway expecting to see Nascar practice however I forgot it was DP practice week. I was lucky enough to time it right and see the Corvette DP's that had only been unveiled a few weeks earlier (3 weeks I think). I just stood at the side of the final banking for about 3 hours watching the Suntrust, Gainsco and Spirit Of Daytona Corvette's going around there.

I must say even the practice was great, not much close racing but with the new chassis' they were trying to find the edge of what the cars could do. There was quite a few spins at the bus stop chicane and some very kind pit crews to chat with. Overall, it was a great time.

Hopefully next time I'll go a couple of weeks later to watch the full 24 hour race.

 

[Diehardracer]

Don't know if it has already been mentioned like but Starworks have announced a very strong line-up in Ryan Dalziel, Stebastian Bourdais, Allan McNish and Alexander Popow and BGB Mortorsport will run a Porsche Cayman with a 3.8 Litre X51 911 Carrera GTS engine in the new GTX class for Ryan Eversley, Lee Davies, Eric Foss, John Tecce and Ron Yarab.

Other than that is it just Wayne Taylor Racing with Jordan Taylor and Max Angeleli and Spirit of Daytona with Ricky Taylor? Or is their more announcements on the 2013 season?

 

[Northstar]

Or is their more announcements on the 2013 season?

Speed did a whole article on the Grand-Am silly season.

Link.👍

 

[Mac K]

AIM Autosport is announcing their full driver line up for the two Ferraris on Monday..

 

[hawkeye122]

Anyone see the Enzo-Peugeot team yet? They bagged Stephane Sarrazin, Nicolas Minassian and Pedro Lamy. That's a team to watch.

Apparently Peter Baron said it is his "mission" to "Keep inviting Allan McNish back until he gets a Watch". Hopefully this is the last year he needs to do that.

 

[Mac K]

I have a feeling people will confuse Starworks Racing and Enzo's new team 8 Star Racing quite a lot next year...

 

[cnd01]

I have a feeling people will confuse Starworks Racing and Enzo's new team 8 Star Racing quite a lot next year...

Starworks is running Riley chassis next year while 8 Star is running a Corvette DP if I'm not mistaken.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

Starworks is running Riley chassis next year while 8 Star is running a Corvette DP if I'm not mistaken.

Winter Stars was here.


Go Spirit of Daytona!!

 

[SKIDMARX]

Winter Stars was here.


Go Spirit of Daytona!!

Finally somebody else that supports Spirit Of Daytona.

This may sound stupid but does anybody know their driver line up next year?
Are they keeping Westbrook, who frankly has drove well and saved the team from some terrible results this year.

 

[LongbowX]

They are keeping Westbrook, who will be joined by Ricky Taylor. Antonio Garcia will still be there for the endurance events.

They had terrible luck too during the year, it was a shame they couldn't have fought closer for the championship.

 

[cnd01]

Winter Stars was here.


Go Spirit of Daytona!!

Of the Corvette DP's, I think the Spirit of Daytona car looks the best. I'm not sure what the #10 car will look like next season. I think Toshiba will be the sponsor because SunTrust is scaling back its involvement.

 

[SKIDMARX]

They are keeping Westbrook, who will be joined by Ricky Taylor. Antonio Garcia will still be there for the endurance events.

They had terrible luck too during the year, it was a shame they couldn't have fought closer for the championship.

Any news on Oliver Gavin?

 

[LongbowX]

I haven't heard anything. I imagine he could join Spirit of Daytona in the longer events like Daytona....but he wasn't used this year very much! At least that's what he said when I got a word with him at Mosport this year. So other than possibly Daytona I'm not sure. Which is a shame, he's one of my favourites, if not my favourite GT driver.

 

[SKIDMARX]

I haven't heard anything. I imagine he could join Spirit of Daytona in the longer events like Daytona....but he wasn't used this year very much! At least that's what he said when I got a word with him at Mosport this year. So other than possibly Daytona I'm not sure. Which is a shame, he's one of my favourites, if not my favourite GT driver.

Same here, he did pretty well at Rolex 24 Hour.

 

[Mac K]

Not to mention he picked up an ALMS GT championship this year..

 

[SuperShouden]

Anyone participating in the "Name the Future" contest? ALMS/Grand-Am are gonna award and all-expense paid trip to either the 2014 12 hours of Sebring or the 2014 24 Hours of Daytona for one lucky winner. My question is though, what are some of the names you guys came up with. I think International Sports Car Series sounds good.

 

[Mr.Skyline09]

I chose AEC for American Endurance Championship

 

[cnd01]

My name of the future that I submitted is "Grand American Le Mans series"

 

[Wilbur]

My name of the future that I submitted is "Grand American Le Mans series"

I picked Best in the Amercas Sportscar Series based on this thought process. We had a great new track with COTA which was for not just the US but South/Central/North America and we have teams/drivers from all of those places. They are combining both series who fought to be the better series now we will have the best teams competing (to a degree). I did use the words Best in the from another series I follow which seemed logical.