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

[catamount39]

It was oddly worded, I was trying to say it should be by right (as it is), not insinuating it wasn't.

Dempsey is 100% devoted to his racing. He's extremely fit and focused, something that can't be said for a lot of GT3 drivers - they may do the odd workout, but they're just businessmen who like to toy with racing cars at the weekend.

Been a long day...bad wording made me think backwords.

Actually yeah Dempsey may be considered an Am but dang he's nearly a pro. Good to see him in a full time WEC effort.

Damax > Preci Spark.

Hey I meant the car not the team/livery. #AscariKZ1Rluv

 

[Bo]

Hey I meant the car not the team/livery.

Shh, I have a semi-hatred of Preci Spark, they almost ruined it for me.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

The costs rose but have stayed the same since 2010 roughly.

Any chance of firing over some figures for that considering I've known people who's budgets have more than doubled over that period of time to remain competitive.

 

[05XR8]

Car design has evolved. When it's time to go racing, how fast will the regulations and tracks allow?

The car on the left races at the same tracks as the car on the right. Difference being, the car on the right is pretty much a road car, race ready.

 

[CodeRedR51]

Car design has evolved. When it's time to go racing, how fast will the regulations and tracks allow?

The car on the left races at the same tracks as the car on the right. Difference being, the car on the right is pretty much a road car, race ready.

Road cars that are race ready are my favorite, bar none. I'm much more a fan of GT4 class racing than GT3 because of that. Sadly GT4 specs are hardly used and it's difficult to watch the races, if at all. This is also why I am a huge fan of the CTSCC GS/ST and Pirelli GTS/Touring classes.

 

[05XR8]

That's the way coupe/sedan racing should be. Super Taikyu lower classes even use aero pieces that are sold for street use. I prefer GT4. GT3 could do good to step it down some notches. Take for instance the 2012 N24 GTAcademy GT-R SP8T Class car. That's a road car with a roll cage and GT wing (imagine the GT-R NISMO in GT4 ). What better way to promote a manufacturer's product? It's got to cost less than a GT-R GT3. Race that in the GT4 class along with the RC-F, GT350R, etc.

Question is, would Bentley stay if GT3 were more production car based? GT3 does level the field by making room for big coupes to join the series. A Bentley and M6 might not seem to be nimble but, those cars are the same size as the Camaro. In GT4 class, I bet the racing would pick up. It is a shame the grip isnt as full and lively at its inception. 350Z, Lotus eleven, N24 AM, Ginetta, Mustang, M3, TT, Evora, Maserati, Cayman, 911. Add the Camaro, M6, Continental and RCF, McLaren, Jag, Lambo, etc from GT3 and I think it would be just as exciting as the current GT3 series. And this is with the cureent Pro drivers.

 

[trustjab]

Less talk, more RC F V8 Thunder!

 

[IforceV8]

 

[SK8RBOI]

Less talk, more RC F V8 Thunder!

It sounds like the Bentley. Which is wierd in a way as I thought the Bentley sound was unique.

 

[catamount39]

Less talk, more RC F V8 Thunder!

Road car is terribly ugly...but as a GT3 car...the RC-F GT3 is awesome!

 

[Snaeper]

GT3 has a questionable future, but not in the sense that phrase might mean. The formula for GT3 is un-explored at this point, because the key thing which has allowed GT3 to thrive such as it has is due to the customer-based method for which the cars are developed and used.

In the past, Touring and GT cars were pretty much fully-factory or fully-privateer setups (though not exclusively), which meant that you had those skyrocketing budgets seen in Super Touring and GT1. You also had huge disparity between the teams that could afford development, and those that couldn't. Love it or hate it, GT3's BOP has solved this, since no matter how much development they do on a car they all are ultimately balanced against each other for competitiveness. Sure this might cause some problems when they get it wrong, but all it takes is a few tweaks from the governing body and then the car is fast again the next race. Rather than the, "Oh, we're slow? Looks like we'll have to spend a few million more dollars..." mentality of yesteryear.

But now, these factory-supported customer cars are treated almost like the same cars these brands sell on the dealer's lot. And because the customers are required to buy them, and due to the tremendous amount of competition in the market, the brands are forced to keep the prices of the cars down (or at least temper their expectations on sales numbers) so they can continue selling machinery.

And due to the global popularity, the likes of which hasn't been seen since... Group A? there's no telling how doomed this brand of racing is since there's very little historical evidence to study and learn from, which SRO has no doubt been doing given the instability of GT racing in the past.

Lastly, with the advent of the internet and social media, traditional sponsorship is a holy grail. No longer do we see Budweiser, Jaegermeister, Mobil 1 and other Fortune 500 companies or "sexy" brands slapping their name on a car and calling it a season. Even the biggest and most popular forms of motorsport have been struggling with sponsorship. Thus we have the rise of the Gentleman driver, hate them though we may, but their money is becoming the life blood for a series that, frankly (and sadly), has a difficult time competing for the interest of the standard motorsport enthusiasts who typically enjoy the more wildly broadcast forms. GT3 cars and the method for which they're run by most of the series that run them is incredibly friendly to these types of drivers, which might give such series a better grade of health going forward than one might expect, as long as the customer-driven formula of the series is maintained.

I do agree I'd like to see a "new" GT3 formula cooked up that would slot under the current one but above GT4. Take all of the cup cars on the market and balance them against each other. Ferrari Challenge cars, Porsche Cup's, Lamborghini and Maserati Super Trofeo's, etc. Just like how the original GT3 was born.

 

[TDZdave]

I agree totally, GT3 is my favorite category of racing, I don't think the formula needs to be reinvented, just adjusted with a more strict rule set,

And the only time we see run away cars in GT3 racing is when the BoP is way out of whack,

 

[catamount39]

I agree totally, GT3 is my favorite category of racing, I don't think the formula needs to be reinvented, just adjusted with a more strict rule set,

And the only time we see run away cars in GT3 racing is when the BoP is way out of whack,

^This...I agree with this. 👍

 

[GTRacer22]

CBS Sports Network is airing the Moscow round of Blancpain right now, for anyone interested.

 

[05XR8]

http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/07/08/erebus-assessing-options-for-gt-expansion/

Well, we'll see if there are two less AMGs on the grid come the 12H.

 

[GTracer38]

http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/07/08/erebus-assessing-options-for-gt-expansion/

Well, we'll see if there are two less AMGs on the grid come the 12H.

Also might be a new one;
Spitze Liegen Rennsport are an 'Australian mororsport team making debut in 2016 with the all new AMG GT3 Race car'.

Link to their Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Spitze-Liegen-Rennsport-Australian-GT-AMG-GT3-Team/765478613564986

 

[05XR8]

This car needs to be in any color other than dark greys and black. I want to like it but, I need to "see" it.

 

[catamount39]

This car needs to be in any color other than dark greys and black. I want to like it but, I need to "see" it.

I want to see it in dark blue. I love this car so much.

 

[05XR8]

Watching taped Practice at Townsville. The GT cars look great. The Camaro, Erebus SLS, Ginetta, Ford GT, Quinn's 650S, the Lotus. Awesome circuit as well. Oh, and the silver and green Bentley.

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

Weather forecast for spa 24 is certainly looking interesting.

 

[MatskiMonk]

This time next week I'll be at Spa... thinking I should take my rain-coat and some sun-screen... haven't looked at the forecast yet though
:

 

[Bo]

In this week's Autosport, there's an article on British GT looking to switch to Pirelli. Thoughts?

 

[catamount39]

In this week's Autosport, there's an article on British GT looking to switch to Pirelli. Thoughts?

Well, Blancpain uses them (right?) and the PWC (title sponsor but still) uses them. It's not a bad tire. Decent choice I'd say. 👍

 

[Snaeper]

In this week's Autosport, there's an article on British GT looking to switch to Pirelli. Thoughts?

Makes perfect sense, especially if this World Cup for GT racing really takes off.

With ADAC GT Masters, Australian GT, PWC and Blancpain all using them, it will keep British GT teams that wish to race abroad competitive right out of the box.

 

[05XR8]

http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/07/17/hackett-seeks-trio-of-mercedes-amg-gt3s/

Two-time Australian GT champion Peter Hackett has lodged an expression of interest to purchase three of Mercedes’ new AMG GT3 race cars for competition in Australia.

Hackett has made the request following the factory’s disclosure of details for the SLS GT3 replacement as he moves to form a new team to tackle the Australian GT Championship next year.

The Mercedes-Benz Australia chief driving instructor is hopeful to run three AMG GT3s under the banner of his yet-to-be launched operation.

Hackett, who made his last full-time Australian GT appearance in 2012, filed his interest within an hour of Mercedes’ official call for customers.

The new AMG GT3 made its race debut in Germany’s VLN series earlier this month where it landed pole position before a wheel bearing issue saw it finish in 52nd position in a field 98 finishers.

“The factory has released all of the details of the car and expression of interest forms have been received by teams,” Hackett told Speedcafe.com.

“We have sent in expressions of interest for up to three cars.

“We are just waiting to hear back from the factory now about when they might be able to send us one as well as the delivery dates.

“The team is still coming together and the goal at this point is to be in the Australian GT Championship next year, but whether we can get cars is the issue that is unknown.

“Everything is absolutely in place. We can’t do any more than get the budgets in place and put a request in for cars.”

Another emerging new team, Spitze Liegen Rennsport, is also understood to be eyeing a Mercedes AMG GT3 for a possible 2016 AGT assault, although the squad is yet to officially confirm its plans.

The Australian GT Championship is set for an influx of new machinery from several manufacturers next year.

Melbourne Performance Centre is expected to run four new Audi R8 LMS GT3s, while Maranello Motorsport has ordered three of the yet-to-be released Ferrari 488 GT3s.

Speedcafe.com understands initial enquiries have also been made by competitors to bring the BMW M6, which has not been homologated to date, and the new Porsche 911 GT3 R to the championship.

 

[Furinkazen]

May have been this thread, but I recall a post about motorsport safety and the Spa pit lane. This is why it can't be modifed

 

[catamount39]

May have been this thread, but I recall a post about motorsport safety and the Spa pit lane. This is why it can't be modifed

Holy 🤬! I never knew it was like a straight drop off on the other side!

 

[Holdenhsvgtsr]

May have been this thread, but I recall a post about motorsport safety and the Spa pit lane. This is why it can't be modifed

You didn't know this?

 

[TDZdave]

I didn't know it was quite like that, but I knew that sort of ground was the reason eau rouge took ages to modify, the fast left hander leading up to the Karousel on the Nordschleife is like that,

 

[05XR8]

If it becomes a done deal, I hope Warburton isn't going to cut off the nose...

http://www.speedcafe.com/2015/07/18/ratel-keen-to-retain-b12h-link-amid-v8-takeover/

Ratel has earmarked the Bathurst 12 Hour as an event to be included in a new Asia Pacific GT3 Endurance series.

The Mount Panorama event would be linked with the Sepang 12 Hour, Macau and another yet-to-be announced endurance race.

Although plans for the series hinge on the success of SRO’s latest project, the Sepang 12 Hour (December 11-13), Ratel says a change of ownership may potentially alter his bid to include Bathurst in the series.

“It all depends on the intention of V8 Supercars,” Ratel added.

“If they have an interest in getting this race to develop the GT3 race then what was making sense for James (O’Brien) may make sense for them.

“If they get the event because they don’t want competition to V8 Supercars and they want to make it smaller, then it all depends on the intentions.

“Do they want to make it big or to turn it down?

“If they want grow it then to make it part of larger international Asia Pacific series makes sense in my opinion.