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

[Tired Tyres]

Not to mention Jordan Tresson, Alex Buncombe and Christopher Ward winning the GT4 Cup for the series. 👍

 

[MatskiMonk]

Some pics from the Blancpain race... took about 500 mostly of the Alpina

The GT Academy car

Mclaren MP4 12C GT3

BMW Z4 GT3

BMW Alpina B6 GT3 .. I love this car

Ferrari 458

 

[Prince.M5]

BMW Alpina B6 GT3 .. I love this car

*Pic here*

It's been a long time since I last saw that car racing. I believe it was last year's FIA GT3 in Silverstone, couldn't remember which race, they were running well but then crashed... Hopefully we would be able to see more of that car.

 

[MatskiMonk]

It's been a long time since I last saw that car racing. I believe it was last year's FIA GT3 in Silverstone, couldn't remember which race, they were running well but then crashed... Hopefully we would be able to see more of that car.

Yup, FIA GT at Silverstone, BMWblog.com featured the photos I took:

http://www.bmwblog.com/2010/05/10/photos-bmw-z4-gt3-and-alpina-b6-gt3-at-silverstone/

and also of the previous year:

http://www.bmwblog.com/2009/05/05/breathtaking-photos-bmw-m3-gt4-and-alpina-b6-gt3-at-silverstone/

I wonder if Alpina will develop a GT3 version of the new B6 Coupe (when it's unveiled)? I hope so, that would look awesome.

 

[Hun200kmh]

Isn't Alpina - like RUF - a manufacturer? No time to look it up now but I think saying BMW Alpina is like saying Porsche RUF ...

 

[Prince.M5]

Isn't Alpina - like RUF - a manufacturer? No time to look it up now but I think saying BMW Alpina is like saying Porsche RUF ...

Yes, Alpina is a car manufacturer like RUF. To me, calling it a BMW Alpina isn't really that wrong because in the end it's based on a BMW and at least doesn't sound as awful as Porsche RUF

 

[Tired Tyres]

Yes, Alpina is a car manufacturer like RUF. To me, calling it a BMW Alpina isn't really that wrong because in the end it's based on a BMW and at least doesn't sound as awful as Porsche RUF

Could be worse. You could call it an Alpina BMW therefore it would be a RUF Porsche.

 

[MatskiMonk]

Isn't Alpina - like RUF - a manufacturer? No time to look it up now but I think saying BMW Alpina is like saying Porsche RUF ...

The cars still wear BMW badges, not sure if Ruf still have the Porsche shield?

Besides that Alpina refer to them as BMW Alpina's so I guess its okay.

 

[RPM_Online]

Some more pictures of Blancpain Silverstone







More on http://www.rpmvision.nl/features/400/feature-blancpain-endurance-series-r5

 

[Prince.M5]

The cars still wear BMW badges, not sure if Ruf still have the Porsche shield?

Besides that Alpina refer to them as BMW Alpina's so I guess its okay.

Just for some fun facts (?), Alpina cars are entitled to have all the benefits as to like owning a BMW. You will have the privellege to service at any BMW Dealership as like owning any BMW cars and also have 100% warranty from BMW including recalls.

But I'm not sure about RUF cars whether they have the same privellege as Alpina.

 

[RPM_Online]

Was present at the finals of the FIA GT3 championship at Circuit Park Zandvoort and had a blast . Some images here:







More on http://www.rpmvision.nl/en/features/409/feature-fia-gt3-circuit-park-zandvoort

 

[Diehardracer]

Hi. New to the site and loving it. My name suggests my big passion and my real sporting home and as well as tin tops I am a big fan of the GT1's.

I think it the new regs will benefit the series a lot in terms of being fair to everyone and we all know what they are and how the benefit especially the GT3 cars. But I am undecided on the rule that stipulates a manufacturer can provide a car to a privateer. This will increase the depth of involvement by the various manufacturers. Now, watching the GT1's last year I felt the teams who run the same make and model were strongly focussed on vying to engineer the strongest car and I think their could also be less inclination to indulge in one-upmanship between teams who run the same make and model in 2012. Just a thought but I would love to get everyone's opinion.

 

[Mt. Lynx]

This is why there is a two cars per manufacturer rule. Hexis will run two McLaren MP4-12C GT3, and so these two Maccas will be the only ones on the grid. There will most likely be two Ferrari F458 GT3´s probably entered by AF Corse, Most likely two Audi R8 LMS by WRT, there is talk of two Porches by Prospeed. No word yet about JRM, young Driver AM, or Reiter. But possibly Nissan GT-R GT3 and Aston Martin V12 Vantage GT3 respectively. Reiter do have Gallardos, but they are also involved with development of a Chevy Camaro GT3. Other cars talked of is AMG Mercedes SLS (possibly by All-inkl.com) and BMW Z4, but nothing solid.

 

[Stavelot]

BoP fair? what rock have you been under?.... Never wonder why the Corvette dominated at Le Mans and ACO racing but for the last 2 years won only one or two races? BoP is just utter crap....

 

[Mt. Lynx]

BoP fair? what rock have you been under?.... Never wonder why the Corvette dominated at Le Mans and ACO racing but for the last 2 years won only one or two races? BoP is just utter crap....

And yet they weren´t touched for two years... They were given their restrictors at the beginning of the ´10 season and have had them since. No change. Then suddenly, they had a change of drivers, whom felt right at home in the car and presto! results! I think the Vette is just hard to drive. Those who say it´s easy to drive are biased, since it just suits their style of driving.

 

[Stavelot]

Check your sources...they got a break this year but Mike Hezemans (longtime Corvette driver since C5-R) and co. still couldn't get a win albiet they did improve...it was only the last race of the year when they got the win thanks to another break...

 

[Mt. Lynx]

They´ve had the same restrictors and weight since May this season, sorry. And because of their bad season, the´ve received very little success ballast aswell.
The application for increased restrictors and less weight issued in April and the results of the BoP in May
The last BoP made was in July, and was requested by the Ford teams, and only applied to their own vehicles.

 

[jeffgoddin]

Wow, they publish the phone number and email for Covette's Chief Racing Engineer on that application...

 

[Diehardracer]

Bringing the intellectual capacity required to understand the forum down to a more manageable level I would love to know where the new one manufacturer per team stipulation leaves Sumo Power and DKR?

JRM was chosen to represent Nissan and not Sumo, Young Driver AMR and not Hexis was chosen to run the Aston Martin DBR9 and the squad of DKR which ran the Lambo's will instead see Munich Motorsport run the Lambo's. And presumably Exim Bank Team China will represent the Chevy Corvette; though I have heard nothing about Chevrolet's involvement in 2012 which could rule out DKR again.

I am guessing one of the more logical switches is to Porsche who isn't a named manufacturer yet and that it would all depend on Porsche's decision to move to a GT1 spec 911 or to stay with a GT3 spec 911. Obviously if they don't nominate either DKR or Sumo Power to run a GT1 spec 911 then one of them would have to buy up some GT3 spec 911's and buy from Porsche a kit?

 

[Mt. Lynx]

There wont be any GT1 cars at all next season. GT3 spec.
Here comes the latest stuff from the World Motorsport Council, meeting held in New Dehli the other day:

FIA GT1 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

Following discussions between the promoter SRO, teams and manufacturers/tuners concerning the organisation of the 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship, the WMSC agreed a need to support series Promoter, SRO, in its efforts to secure the future of the Championships in a difficult economic climate. As a result, the WMSC accepted the Commission’s proposal to run the 2012 FIA GT1 World Championship with GT3 cars, as the existing field of GT1 cars is no longer sufficient. The World Championship will run side by side with the FIA GT3 European Championship on European events.

The 2012 calendar will be confirmed within one week and available on fia.com.

Here´s what I know so far: The only official entry so far is Hexis and their two McLarens. Speculation/rumor: AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia GT#, ProSpeed Porsche 911 GT3 RS, All-inkl.com AMG Mercedes SLS GT3, WRT Audi R8 LMS GT3.
Others wich are suspected: JRM Nissan GT-R GT3, YDAM Aston Martin V12 Vantage.
Other cars rumored to be on line for entrance: BMW Z4 GT3, Alpina B6 GT3. The Alpina seems almost certain. I don´t know wich team will be running it, but probably Alpina.
No Corvettes, no Lamborghinis. Reiter will go to Blancpain Endurance Series and ADAC. They are involved in a Camaro GT3 project though. We´ll see where that ends up.

 

[Mt. Lynx]

Sorry about the double post. I want to give this a bump though.

Heads up; So far, two official entries to the WC. Hexis with McLaren MP4-12C and WRT with Audi R8 LMS Ultra. All-inkl.com has a semi official entry with AMG Mercedes SLS. They haven´t announced it yet, but it´s a done deal.

Also, the calendar is official:
2012 FIA GT1 World Championship Schedule

April 8 - Nogaro (France)
April 22 - Zolder (Belgium)**
May 27 - Navarra (Spain)
July 8 - Algarve (Portugal)
Aug. 26 - Beijing (China)***
Sept. 2 - Ordos (China)***
Sept. 16 - Moscow (Russia)*
Oct. 7 - Zandvoort (Netherlands)
Nov. 25 - San Luis (Argentina)*
TBA - TBA

* Subject to ASN confirmation
** Subject to circuit homologation
*** Subject to ASN confirmation and contract with promoter

I would also like to post a picture of the Reiter developed Camaro GT3:

I don´t think we´ll see this in the WC this season though.

 

[Stavelot]

Reiter won't be in GT World, only BES and I think GT3.

 

[Mt. Lynx]

No, Reiter will be in ADAC and BES. And they´ll be running Lambos themselves. I think the Camaro will be operated by Yaco racing. No clue where though, but I think ADAC.

There is another Camaro project aswell, handled by FastForward. It has had a shakedown, but I can´t seem to find any info on it. Picture:

I do think it is an in-house Belcar project though.

 

[Stavelot]

I wasn't 100% sure on what the other series was, thanks for the correction.

 

[Diehardracer]

All-inkl.com has a semi official entry with AMG Mercedes SLS. They haven´t announced it yet, but it´s a done deal.

Any chance of Markus Winklehock and Nick Pastorelli staying in the team?

Also, regarding what I said in my post above about JRM being chosen to represent Nissan and not Sumo, I was right. Has just been confirmed. Also, news that I have also long known from other sources, Vita4One will run a Ferrari and what you really just repeated from other sources, Young Driver AMR will run the Vantage. Replacing the DBRS9.

 

[Mt. Lynx]

Are you sure about Vita4one? IIRC they have made an official statement saying they would only do BES, and not WC?

And Sumo Power and JRM are actually the same.

 

[Stavelot]

Yup...SumoPower is owned by JRM so no difference in who's running the program.
AF Corse are the likely Ferrari team for GTWC as Vita4One don't have the money to run in multiple series' anymore...

 

[Mt. Lynx]

That's what i've heard aswell.
If the info on JRM and YDAM is correct, my next question would be; where will they race? BES, euro GT3, or GTWC? My bet is BES only.

 

[Mt. Lynx]

Bump!
Out of the blue, it seems like Vita4one will enter two BMW Z4's in the world championship!

 

[prisonermonkeys]

They were already in the series. They were just going to run Ferraris, possibly 458 Italias. Marc VDS were going to enter BMWs, but they withdrew. Since manufacturers can only have one team each, Vita4one evidently found the Z4 more appealing, and so switched.