BMW M3 (ALMS) and Team ORECA

[spaceviper]

Hey i dont know how many of you follow the ALMS and the LeMans race but as of now it looks like BMW's M3 monster of a race car maybe have some problems.
As you know they have that beautiful race modified V8 in the car. As you know there must be at least 100 cars of that type in production but now they are saying that they have to have at least 1000 of that engine in production cars. ouch.
If they dont fix this it could mean that ALMS will either add weight or reduce horsepower.

Also Team ORECA has cut their ties with Chrysler and moved to Judd V-10 instead.

 

[Talentless]

http://www.speedvision.com/pub/articles/racing/06Road/011209b.html

 

[spaceviper]

thanks for the link!

 

[Talentless]

'tis cool.

 

[Talentless]

they should do a four cyl. challenge and see who can make it the farthest up a hill.

 

[Fogelhund]

Hans Stuck is out from PTG this coming year...seems that BMW NA only wants American drivers...very sad...

 

[Talentless]

What precisely is their goal?

 

[Fogelhund]

Originally posted by Talentless
What precisely is their goal?

Beyond the obvious of having an All-American line up, who knows????

Stuck is a class act, fast as stink, knows how to bring the machinery home, and is one of the most popular drivers around. I can't figure this one out myself.

 

[Talentless]

I am American, I want American victories, I'm sure there are Brits that eat on British Racing Green plates, but pride aside, I feel sorry for these companies, because I doubt that road racing will ever have the draw that NASCAR does, and it is not only because of the small percentage of American drivers, it is a matter of taste. There is a sophistication outside of the U.S. The world can appreciate the line a race car takes, the technology, and so on, the beauty of motion. But this does not appear to be as high in the States. High speed, fences rushing past the "common man car," and, of course, the crashes. Of course there are elements shared, little doubt a guy in Brussels may let out profanity if his driver crashes in a race on tv, but the suttleties of the type of racing that BMW is in will never draw in the fan base they dream of. Whether the goal is mostly financial or them trying to give us our shot or whatever, can be inferred by the customer base. Just how many of the guys that can afford their cars are racing fans, and if high, do they make up a substantial portion of their profits? If they are small and of little benefit, than I assume the goal is the latter one, but if the former, I doubt they will get the impact they hope for. I've said nothing new, and my negative outlook will likely bother some, but how many really think that enough people in the States will ever get past how slow road racing appears on tv?

 

[Talentless]

Please assume that I meant North American, but I'd be glad for any countries success in sports. At least I like to think so.

 

[Avantissimo]

Originally posted by spaceviper
Hey i dont know how many of you follow the ALMS and the LeMans race but as of now it looks like BMW's M3 monster of a race car maybe have some problems.
As you know they have that beautiful race modified V8 in the car. As you know there must be at least 100 cars of that type in production but now they are saying that they have to have at least 1000 of that engine in production cars. ouch.
If they dont fix this it could mean that ALMS will either add weight or reduce horsepower.

Also Team ORECA has cut their ties with Chrysler and moved to Judd V-10 instead.

Have you nice pictures of the racing BMW M3 V8?
send them to svenpenninck@hotmail.com
Thanx

 

[KC]

As an American I can understand how it appears in the States. NASCAR is wildly popular and put on a great program. I prefer road racing, as do the over 100,000 Americans who attend Sebring every year. What it comes down to is that NASCAR has the eyes and ears of the casual fan who do not know the difference beytween a Monte Carlo and Taurus. They follow NASCAR because they are told to, it is popular in the mass media after all. Baseball, football and basketball all enjoy these same fans, they don't even know who plays for their team, they just like to wear the Starter jersey or ball cap because it is the latest style.

Road racing is far more popular in the US than it is given credit for, nowhere near as popular as NASCAR, but the races are packed with fans there to see the exotic cars and world class racers. Its just not the flavor of the month with the popular press. After all they decide what is important or popular to 99% of the lemmings out there. When was the last time ESPN covered the ALMS or the Grand Am other than in passing on RPM2Nite? Thats just preaching to the flock.

The issue with BMW is that the car does not meet the rules. They are racing a protoype coupe in a production coupe class. If you have the money Porsche will sell you exactly what Alex Job Racing is running. You cannot buy a BMW M3GTR from BMW the same way. The car needs to be moved up to campaign against the Corvette and Saleen. The Porsche 911 GT3s are hamstrung against the Beemer V8. The Beemer ran all day with the 'Vette and Saleen at Portland last year, on narrower tires and with more curb weight.

 

[Schumy]

Originally posted by Talentless
I am American, I want American victories, I'm sure there are Brits that eat on British Racing Green plates, but pride aside, I feel sorry for these companies, because I doubt that road racing will ever have the draw that NASCAR does, and it is not only because of the small percentage of American drivers, it is a matter of taste. There is a sophistication outside of the U.S. The world can appreciate the line a race car takes, the technology, and so on, the beauty of motion. But this does not appear to be as high in the States. High speed, fences rushing past the "common man car," and, of course, the crashes. Of course there are elements shared, little doubt a guy in Brussels may let out profanity if his driver crashes in a race on tv, but the suttleties of the type of racing that BMW is in will never draw in the fan base they dream of. Whether the goal is mostly financial or them trying to give us our shot or whatever, can be inferred by the customer base. Just how many of the guys that can afford their cars are racing fans, and if high, do they make up a substantial portion of their profits? If they are small and of little benefit, than I assume the goal is the latter one, but if the former, I doubt they will get the impact they hope for. I've said nothing new, and my negative outlook will likely bother some, but how many really think that enough people in the States will ever get past how slow road racing appears on tv?

good insight ....i think it's pretty obvious why BMW would want an all-American line-up .....it promotes the sport in the States ......it will appeal to Americans and seem more exciting if they can see Americans winning races in BMW's ......F1 is not a big deal to most Americans because there are no American "heros" or even drivers for that matter .......most Americans can't see why such a great nation like theirs has no "hero" in the most elite form of motorsports (how can it be??) and as a result, disregard it as anything good .....i think this is pretty ignorant .....but i'll bet if there was an American in F1, the fanbase in the States would explode ......i just think most Americans haven't arrived at the realization that although very talented, their drivers just aren't good enough b/c if they did then F1 in the States would be much more popular than it currently is .....but i might not know what i'm talking about

 

[Schumy]

Originally posted by KC
As an American I can understand how it appears in the States. NASCAR is wildly popular and put on a great program. I prefer road racing, as do the over 100,000 Americans who attend Sebring every year. What it comes down to is that NASCAR has the eyes and ears of the casual fan who do not know the difference beytween a Monte Carlo and Taurus. They follow NASCAR because they are told to, it is popular in the mass media after all. Baseball, football and basketball all enjoy these same fans, they don't even know who plays for their team, they just like to wear the Starter jersey or ball cap because it is the latest style.

Road racing is far more popular in the US than it is given credit for, nowhere near as popular as NASCAR, but the races are packed with fans there to see the exotic cars and world class racers. Its just not the flavor of the month with the popular press. After all they decide what is important or popular to 99% of the lemmings out there. When was the last time ESPN covered the ALMS or the Grand Am other than in passing on RPM2Nite? Thats just preaching to the flock.

The issue with BMW is that the car does not meet the rules. They are racing a protoype coupe in a production coupe class. If you have the money Porsche will sell you exactly what Alex Job Racing is running. You cannot buy a BMW M3GTR from BMW the same way. The car needs to be moved up to campaign against the Corvette and Saleen. The Porsche 911 GT3s are hamstrung against the Beemer V8. The Beemer ran all day with the 'Vette and Saleen at Portland last year, on narrower tires and with more curb weight.

Welcome to GTPlanet KC! .....i know i would like to see the BMW run with the 'Vette and Saleen .....often times they had difficulties lapping the BMW .....shave off some weight and get wider rubber and like you said they could easily compete