Anybody out there following the Grand Am?

[David]

Seriously?? Isn't GS a straight production chassis class??

Thought it was too...

Grand-Am website seems to say so, althought who knows when they last updated the descriptions. I didn't try to find the actual rules.

The GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge features sports cars manufactured from around the world, brought straight from the showroom floor, that race side by side with only minor modifications in the area of safety. Like the GRAND-AM Rolex Series, the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge races two classes at the same time: Grand Sport (GS) and Street Tuner (ST).

...

The big-bore Grand Sport (GS) class features a rules package allowing exotic international machines like the Porsche 997 and Cayman, Nissan 350Z, BMW M3, Subaru WRX, Audi S4 and others to go head-to-head with American iron such as the Chevrolet Camaro, Ford Mustang GT and Dodge Challenger. The smaller Street Tuner (ST) class is GRAND-AM's offering to the import and compact car crowd, with the Honda Civic Si, MAZDASPEED3, Mazda RX-8, Mazda MX-5, Chevrolet Cobalt SS, Dodge SRT4, Mini Cooper S, BMW 328i, BMW 330i and other eligible models..

 

[cnd01]

Thought it was too...

Grand-Am website seems to say so, althought who knows when they last updated the descriptions. I didn't try to find the actual rules.

Considering the ST list has the Chevy Cobalt and Dodge SRT-4 on it, I'm sure that the descriptions are out of date on the website. The last time a Cobalt ran was either 2010 or 2011 at Barber if I'm not mistaken. It's been probably 5 years since a Dodge SRT-4 ran.

 

[David]

Considering the ST list has the Chevy Cobalt and Dodge SRT-4 on it, I'm sure that the descriptions are out of date on the website. The last time a Cobalt ran was either 2010 or 2011 at Barber if I'm not mistaken. It's been probably 5 years since a Dodge SRT-4 ran.

That's what I thought but I don't watch too many of the Continental races. Still was under the impression that they were supposed to be production cars with safety enhancements.

 

[Jav]

The GT camaro is tube frame, the GS car is not and the Cobalt/SRT4 might still be on their last homologation year for the class.

 

[Snaeper]

The Stevenson camaro is a tuber I believe.

It is not. All cars in the CTSCC are production based. The Camaro used in GS is also homologated for FIA GT4 use supposedly, although I don't know if it's used much.

http://www.rileytech.com/PDF/Camaro.pdf

 

[cnd01]

That's what I thought but I don't watch too many of the Continental races. Still was under the impression that they were supposed to be production cars with safety enhancements.

That's the intention of the series. I guess this was Grand-Am trying to get more cars on the track. The pictures on the website had the Mitchum Camaro on there. I guess all Camaro in GS are tube frame.

 

[Mac K]

 

[cnd01]

<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66hJmrfOkAE">YouTube Link</a>

I saw that too. Too bad the only laps it ran on track were without the turbo.

Also, the Brumos Porsche blew its engine in the dyno last weekend at the roar I would punch a hole in my wall if that happened to me.

 

[David]

I'd be pretty upset as well, but it's a million times better to happen now instead of taking a bad engine to the 24 and having to try to swap parts mid-race or call it quits.

 

[Jav]

I just realized I haven't seen any pictures of the GT Astons... Did any of those cars made it to the Roar??

 

[RACECAR]

I just realized I haven't seen any pictures of the GT Astons... Did any of those cars made it to the Roar??

From last I heard, those are still being worked on.

 

[Mr.Skyline09]

^^This I don't think they'll be ready until the race at COTA

 

[Jav]

From last I heard, those are still being worked on.

Yeah, that's what I'd figured...

^^This I don't think they'll be ready until the race at COTA

Whoa!! That's a hell of a long time!! Even for a white body!

 

[Mr.Skyline09]

I found the link here

" In the GRAND-AM Rolex Series and Pirelli World Challenge, the highly competitive Vantage GT3 is in its final homologation stages and will be ready to race for new customers after the Rolex 24 At Daytona."

 

[Diehardracer]

New team for the GX class. Bullet Racing will field a Cayman S for Darryl O'Young, Nelson Canache, Jim Norman and Nelson Clay. Will be racing with #22. Know all about Darryl. Not so much about the Venezualan and the two American drivers.

Any ideas on the Audi Spot Customer Racing drivers?

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

New team for the GX class. Bullet Racing will field a Cayman S for Darryl O'Young, Nelson Canache, Jim Norman and Nelson Clay. Will be racing with #22. Know all about Darryl. Not so much about the Venezualan and the two American drivers.

Any ideas on the Audi Spot Customer Racing drivers?

Audi Sport Customer team? Really? How many R8s are in now, then? I've only heard of APR and Audi Sport (Frank Biela??)

 

[hawkeye122]

Audi Sport Customer team? Really? How many R8s are in now, then? I've only heard of APR and Audi Sport (Frank Biela??)

Molina, and several others are going to be there

 

[RACECAR]

Audi Sport Customer team? Really? How many R8s are in now, then? I've only heard of APR and Audi Sport (Frank Biela??)

Last I recall, about five with two from APR, one from AJR, one from Rum Bum (surprised there) and the All DTM driver car (with Mortara, Albuquerque and Jarvis)


Edit: Correction, its four. Turns out AJR is the one with the DTM driver combination.

 

[01GTP]

Related to the R8's, an R8 pace car as well.

 

[Mac K]

 

[Sam48]

What a sound

Anyway, looks like the #74 Oryx Racing Audi R8 has been added to the entry list giving Audi a grand total of five R8s for the 24.

 

[cnd01]

What a sound

Anyway, looks like the #74 Oryx Racing Audi R8 has been added to the entry list giving Audi a grand total of five R8s for the 24.

Actually, I don't think it's Oryx in the 74 this time. I heard its a different car altogether.

 

[Sam48]

Actually, I don't think it's Oryx in the 74 this time. I heard its a different car altogether.

Oh, I saw the #74 and just assumed it was Oryx. Any more info as to who it is?

 

[Snaeper]

New team for the GX class. Bullet Racing will field a Cayman S for Darryl O'Young, Nelson Canache, Jim Norman and Nelson Clay. Will be racing with #22. Know all about Darryl. Not so much about the Venezualan and the two American drivers.

Sounds like the same Jim Norman who was piloting the #51 APR Audi R8 last year. Nelson Canache was also an APR driver for the Daytona 24 Hours and then raced in APR's Audi S4 CTSCC GS entry the rest of the time.

Actually, I don't think it's Oryx in the 74 this time. I heard its a different car altogether.

Yeah, it looks like Oryx has their car up for sale. The AJR car is #24 and the Rum Bum Car was 13 if I'm not mistaken. This is interesting.

 

[cnd01]

Oh, I saw the #74 and just assumed it was Oryx. Any more info as to who it is?

I don't know who it is tbh. There aren't any drivers listed on the entry either.

 

[IceMan PJN]

Also, mid-engined is WRONG.

Not sure how you can argue that point. There are reasons why most production cars are front-engine, with one big one being conservation of interior space for passengers or cargo, and race cars based on production cars consequently tend to be front-engine because of the road cars they're based on. High-performance cars disinterested with passengers or luggage tend to be mid-engined, and proper race cars not at all modelled after production models also tend to be because mid-engine is best for general performance. Otherwise, cars like F1 cars would go back to where they were half a century ago - front-engine.

 

[cnd01]

Not sure how you can argue that point. There are reasons why most production cars are front-engine, with one big one being conservation of interior space for passengers or cargo, and race cars based on production cars consequently tend to be front-engine because of the road cars they're based on. High-performance cars disinterested with passengers or luggage tend to be mid-engined, and proper race cars not at all modelled after production models also tend to be because mid-engine is best for general performance. Otherwise, cars like F1 cars would go back to where they were half a century ago - front-engine.

Both platforms have advantages and disadvantages. Prototypes should be midengined imo. I like a front engine gt car better, but I like the mid/rear/front engine combo in Rolex gt.

 

[ITCC_Andrew]

I mean, I like the Audi and some purpose-built MR cars, but...


Generally, I prefer understeer. If my car is going to lose grip, I'd like to be able to maintain some amount of control. But, if I go through a chicane, and the car's mid-engined, the car will most likely spin. I don't deal well with that sudden weight transfer sending the weight (and, therefore, inertia) to the right-rear tire. It never seems to work well for me.


But, I can easily enjoy driving touring cars, and run pretty close to world-class speed/lap-times in some Touring cars. Believe me, I know that because I've planned to do touring cars for a while. I do karting and autocross now, but, I'm "conditioning" myself to be ready for FF and AWD type cars much more than MR. I'd be scared to drive a Porsche quickly. The RR platform is unpredictable, to me.


So, yes, it seems clear, to me, that MR/RR is not my preferred drivetrain.


So, I fully stand behind my comments as they match my personal thoughts towards MR and RR cars.

 

[Diehardracer]

Last I recall, about five with two from APR, one from AJR, one from Rum Bum (surprised there) and the All DTM driver car (with Mortara, Albuquerque and Jarvis)


Edit: Correction, its four. Turns out AJR is the one with the DTM driver combination.

Don't know how you come by four. I get the same five Audi's. You were right the first time. Alex Job will be running an Audi for Moltke, Jarvis, Mortata and Albeuquerque. Though it is six if you count the pace car.

 

[RACECAR]

Don't know how you come by four. I get the same five Audi's. You were right the first time. Alex Job will be running an Audi for Moltke, Jarvis, Mortata and Albeuquerque. Though it is six if you count the pace car.

Going off the results from the Roar here (because I can't find an entry list), its four.

Audi Sport customer racing/AJR

Audi Sport Customer Racing/Rum Bum Racing

Audi Sport Customer Racing/APR Motorsport

Audi Sport Customer Racing/APR Motorsport


Don't see a fifth one.