GT Racing - GT1, GT3, Blancpain Endurance Series & National GT SeriesSports Cars

[TDZdave]

The parallels between 2007 GT3 and 2017 GT4 are fairly strong. '07 had a lot of skunk works GT3, with Vipers and Astons being modified for the spec, while Reiter, Callaway, Ascari, Morgan and others were competitive.

Then Audi showed up and the flood gates were opened.

GT4 does have the benefit of a slow burn and build over the last ten years, but I think it's only a matter of time before they get out of hand. Maybe be 2027.

I can see where GT4 will implode, with the 570s and abundance of Porsche Caymans in the line up, those should be pitched at GT3, the Mustang and Camaro should also be GT3, GT4 should be aimed at the lightweights of the GT car world, like the Alfa Romeo 4C, and the Toyota GT86,

 

[05XR8]

I can see where GT4 will implode, with the 570s and abundance of Porsche Caymans in the line up, those should be pitched at GT3, the Mustang and Camaro should also be GT3, GT4 should be aimed at the lightweights of the GT car world, like the Alfa Romeo 4C, and the Toyota GT86,

And the detuned AMG GT. However, the 911 & Vantage have been in GT4 from the start.
I still don't get why there aren't more GT86s in GT4.

True about the GT3 machines. How long will Bentley keep making a coupe and then want to race it? Will GT3 "Jump the shark" with hybrids?

 

[TDZdave]

And the detuned AMG GT. However, the 911 & Vantage have been in GT4 from the start.
I still don't get why there aren't more GT86s in GT4.

True about the GT3 machines. How long will Bentley keep making a coupe and then want to race it? Will GT3 "Jump the shark" with hybrids?

Hybrids will be the demise of GT3, the technology is still way to expensive to operate,

 

[Pete05]

Hybrids will be the demise of GT3, the technology is still way to expensive to operate,

And, it's the work of the devil

I'll begrudgingly accept hocus pocus in F1 as the pinnacle of the sport (and Formula E of which I have absolutely no interest) but that's it.
Call me a card-carrying dinosaur if you like. I plead guilty to the charge your honour

 

[TDZdave]

And, it's the work of the devil

I'll begrudgingly accept hocus pocus in F1 as the pinnacle of the sport (and Formula E of which I have absolutely no interest) but that's it.
Call me a card-carrying dinosaur if you like. I plead guilty to the charge your honour

Vacuums belong in the cupboard at home! Hybrid engines are the work of the devil! The only motorsport hybrid engineering has been made exciting is LMP1, where the dinosaur engine has powered the rear wheels and the hybrid engine powers the front, but that only appealed to 3 manufactures, with a 4th seriously failing,

Unless they do a GT class based on the 'holy trinity' for the WEC I'm not interested in hybrid racing cars, yet.

 

[DesertPenguin09]

Vacuums belong in the cupboard at home! Hybrid engines are the work of the devil! The only motorsport hybrid engineering has been made exciting is LMP1, where the dinosaur engine has powered the rear wheels and the hybrid engine powers the front, but that only appealed to 3 manufactures, with a 4th seriously failing,

Unless they do a GT class based on the 'holy trinity' for the WEC I'm not interested in hybrid racing cars, yet.

Bring in the Pagani Zonda R, Gumpert Apollo, and Aston Martin Vulcan. Any other hyper cars that can make a new GT1 class?

 

[05XR8]

GT1, GT3 & GT4 together?

 

[catamount39]

GT3 will never be hybrid, because the FIA knows its too expensive. Why else let in the Acura NSX to be run as a non-hybrid? GT4 will definitely never be hybrid either. Thank God.

Edit: Nissan is developing a new GT-R GT3 for 2018, obviously still an R35.
http://sportscar365.com/industry/nissan-to-develop-new-gt-r-nismo-gt3-for-2018/

 

[Snaeper]

Is it safe to say that GT Academy will have questionable relevancy going forward? The chance to drive in the Dubai 24 Hours isnt anything to scoff at but I feel like there are too many graduates not going anywhere. Piling more onto the pile each year isnt going to increase your chances.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Is it safe to say that GT Academy will have questionable relevancy going forward? The chance to drive in the Dubai 24 Hours isnt anything to scoff at but I feel like there are too many graduates not going anywhere. Piling more onto the pile each year isnt going to increase your chances.

The winner's prize is still and always has been a drive in the Dubai 24Hr. They are technically not entitled to keep anyone around after that.

 

[twitcher]

Re: GT86s in GT4 - perhaps it's a power issue? Not easy/cheap/reliable to get the kind of HP to be competative in the GT4 class? From what I gather, GT4 is supposed to be mostly stock right? A mostly stock GT86 would struggle with a mostly stock 911, V8 Vantage, Mustang, Camaro, Evora, etc. The underpowered lightweight cars you see in GT4 like the G55s, XBows, Sin R1, etc, are much lighter than even a stripped GT86, and are purpose built racecars with balance and handling at the core of the design.

I'd say it's the same reason you don't see any MX5 in GT4....they're just not Grand Touring cars.

 

[DesertPenguin09]

I'm curious how we even get the MX5 in IMSA racing. They are bumping that stock engine to ~300HP right?

 

[twitcher]

I'm curious how we even get the MX5 in IMSA racing. They are bumping that stock engine to ~300HP right?

For the ST class? I don't think its that high is it?

 

[catamount39]

Re: GT86s in GT4 - perhaps it's a power issue? Not easy/cheap/reliable to get the kind of HP to be competative in the GT4 class? From what I gather, GT4 is supposed to be mostly stock right? A mostly stock GT86 would struggle with a mostly stock 911, V8 Vantage, Mustang, Camaro, Evora, etc. The underpowered lightweight cars you see in GT4 like the G55s, XBows, Sin R1, etc, are much lighter than even a stripped GT86, and are purpose built racecars with balance and handling at the core of the design.

I'd say it's the same reason you don't see any MX5 in GT4....they're just not Grand Touring cars.

The Supra will 300bhp, and with a I6T shouldn't be hard to bump it up to 400bhp (besides the fact it weighs nothing). The Z5 will be a GTE/GT3 but I believe like the Z4 with a V8.

 

[DesertPenguin09]

For the ST class? I don't think its that high is it?

SOrry I took so long, I was trying to find info and my computer froze

 

[Tired Tyres]

Is it safe to say that GT Academy will have questionable relevancy going forward? The chance to drive in the Dubai 24 Hours isnt anything to scoff at but I feel like there are too many graduates not going anywhere. Piling more onto the pile each year isnt going to increase your chances.

Too many winners from too many regions. They should bring the regional winners together to find one actual winner. Then it becomes manageable.

 

[Snaeper]

Too many winners from too many regions. They should bring the regional winners together to find one actual winner. Then it becomes manageable.

As Turbo said above, they're not entitled to keep anyone past the Dubai 24 hours. So even if they all get narrowed down to one, it doesnt matter of you still have to fight with all of those that came before you plus the nromal Nissan factory drivers.

And so again I ask, where's the relevance? Because in this day and age, if you dont have funding or surreal talent, you dont drive. And if a major factory player in GT racing isnt willing to keep you around by your merits and skill, who will? (Excluding those who have signed, raced several seasons and then were cut).

 

[Tired Tyres]

As Turbo said above, they're not entitled to keep anyone past the Dubai 24 hours. So even if they all get narrowed down to one, it doesnt matter of you still have to fight with all of those that came before you plus the nromal Nissan factory drivers.

And so again I ask, where's the relevance? Because in this day and age, if you dont have funding or surreal talent, you dont drive. And if a major factory player in GT racing isnt willing to keep you around by your merits and skill, who will? (Excluding those who have signed, raced several seasons and then were cut).

That wasn't the case before. They got a season of Blancpain endurance as well. Indeed some of them have done multi seasons with Nissan. The "Relevance" was addressing YOUR point of too many winners.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Edit: Never mind...

 

[sgohsixthree]

So Nissan is officially pulling support for Always Evolving. I'm bummed to 🤬.

Does being a customer team now mean they may not retain Heitkotter (which they would be crazy not to)? And most likely their initial 3-car plan for this year is shot. I guess the upside is, if they participate in Sprint-X, they'll need more drivers, so Heitkotter could (hopefully) stick around. But they won't even make the start of the series with their new 2017 GT-Rs.

 

[catamount39]

So Nissan is officially pulling support for Always Evolving. I'm bummed to 🤬.

Does being a customer team now mean they may not retain Heitkotter (which they would be crazy not to)? And most likely their initial 3-car plan for this year is shot. I guess the upside is, if they participate in Sprint-X, they'll need more drivers, so Heitkotter could (hopefully) stick around. But they won't even make the start of the series with their new 2017 GT-Rs.

Its unfortunate but with the strange messages Nissan is sending about their feeling of being in motorsport in general its not surprising. Hopefully they give them support again when the new spec of the GT-R GT3 comes out.

 

[05XR8]

i just see it as Nissan saving a couple bucks until the new car debut.

 

[catamount39]

i just see it as Nissan saving a couple bucks until the new car debut.

All depends if they go back to Always Evolving. If they don't its a **** move on their part. Should be worth mentioning that they pulled an entry from Blancpain.

 

[CodeRedR51]

i just see it as Nissan saving a couple bucks until the new car debut.

Their focus right now is on selling SUV's, electric cars and catching up to Toyota in sales. Sad but true, their focus on motorsports has diminished over the years (a lot recently) and I don't see it getting any better anytime soon. I was actually surprised they continued support in V8's to be honest.

 

[catamount39]

Their focus right now is on selling SUV's, electric cars and catching up to Toyota in sales. Sad but true, their focus on motorsports has diminished over the years (a lot recently) and I don't see it getting any better anytime soon. I was actually surprised they continued support in V8's to be honest.

And that they're in the WSCC in DPi no less. And they're upping their investment with ESM at Sebring with a more GT-R like front clip aren't they? RLM mentioned something about that during the Rolex 24.

 

[CodeRedR51]

And that they're in the WSCC in DPi no less. And they're upping their investment with ESM at Sebring with a more GT-R like front clip aren't they? RLM mentioned something about that during the Rolex 24.

Still not a factory team though, and they did scale back on Blancpain this year.

 

[05XR8]

Their focus right now is on selling SUV's, electric cars and catching up to Toyota in sales. Sad but true, their focus on motorsports has diminished over the years (a lot recently) and I don't see it getting any better anytime soon. I was actually surprised they continued support in V8's to be honest.

Since living here, I see Australia big on Nissan off-road vehicles and GT-R. Pretty much any turbo Nissan.

Nissan really care about the GT-R. Wasn't the GT1 program only for the two cars? They'll use that car wherever they can. So, it's only a matter of time before they decide on using one in Supercars. They also left the GT3 car in Australia. I did mention that Cox and Emery want to see a field of Altimas in V8s. When other teams see how good the car is in S2, I think more teams will be knocking on the door at Braeside.

One more thing. Are Nissan still supplying engines to LMP? That's still a hefty investment.

 

[Northstar]

One more thing. Are Nissan still supplying engines to LMP? That's still a hefty investment.

Only ESM in IMSA (DPi) and ByKolles in WEC (LMP1-L), global spec LMP2's have Gibson engines now.

 

[catamount39]

Still not a factory team though, and they did scale back on Blancpain this year.

True, having ESM foot bill does save some cash.

 

[twitcher]

Only ESM in IMSA (DPi) and ByKolles in WEC (LMP1-L), global spec LMP2's have Gibson engines now.

I thought the ESM car was using the turbo V6 out of the GTR, and the new Kolles car will use the V6 from the failed NISMO GTR. Then there's others using the Gibson V8. And after that, there's another Nissan V8 being used in some of the LMP3 cars this year.