Production Car Racing (GT4, CTSCC, PWC GTS/TC, MX-5 Cup, etc)Touring Cars

[Pete05]

This all we have so far.
View attachment 1413746

That is one very sad looking entry list.

The Pro Arise Racing Ferrari had its drivers announced yesterday, and I know there's a lot more to come.
I would've expected most of the local championship runners to be entered, just to be sure of a place in the race.

For me the thing that scares me the most, not only for this year's race, but for the future of the event going forward, is the silence from the overseas entries.
Again, the date has been known for long enough, it's part of the SRO endurance series, and although they may not know who the organic elements will be, surely the team/car owners know whether they want to be in the race or not.
I'm not expecting to see any factory Audis for obvious reasons, but what are the other factory backed teams doing?

If the date is wrong and unattractive to overseas entries, then maybe it needs to fill the hole recently vacated by the Bathurst International and try a slot later in the calendar?

 

[05XR8]

Especially with Ford Performance having said they want the Mustang GT3 at the 12H. Corvette should be making an appearance, but like you said, crickets.
Should have been bombarded with news by now. Race starts in 42 days.

I hope some of the mess that happened at this year's 12H hasn't put off teams for next year. A couple of rules have changed for race start and after safety car restarting.

 

[05XR8]

With the news of ARG stepping down from TCR, I’d just call it a wrap. I guess a budding racer can go from karts to say, Hyundai Excels, to production car racing and then TCR. However, going from karts to GR86 to GT4 to Trans-Am or GT3 or to one of the Supercars tiers, seems like a more stable progression.

Now that they’re “free” GRM should be jumping on the GT4 series.

 

[Pete05]

With the news of ARG stepping down from TCR, I’d just call it a wrap. I guess a budding racer can go from karts to say, Hyundai Excels, to production car racing and then TCR. However, going from karts to GR86 to GT4 to Trans-Am or GT3 or to one of the Supercars tiers, seems like a more stable progression.

Now that they’re “free” GRM should be jumping on the GT4 series.

Yeah, according to Barry Rogers the TCR category is looking great for 2025.
What with the tie in as a support with the Supercars, the final round of the TCR World Tour, a potential privateer's cup, it's all good and very healthy. Nothing to see here.

Now, ignore everything that's been said by those with a vested interest in the series, and let's just go by what ACTIONS we've seen.

The Rogers are holding a garage sale of five out of date vehicles, hence the mention of a Privateer's Cup, and are essentially relinquishing their control and as much financial risk as possible.
I said months ago they're not stupid, and I don't blame them, but stop talking it up to be more than it is.
No one likes it when someone puts lipstick on a pig.

 

[05XR8]

Those old TCR cars might as well go into Improved Production with the MARC Cars.

 

[05XR8]

Good man.

Mostert bows out of Australian GT

Chaz Mostert (r) won't defend his GTWCA crown next year. Image: RACE PROJECT The Supercars star added the Aussie GT

speedcafe.com

While sporadic outings are not off the table, Mostert confirmed to the KTM Summer Grill that he will bow out of regular GT3 racing in Australia as of next year.

He will instead focus on running on his own Method Motorsport squad which competes in GT4 with a pair of McLarens and a customer Porsche.

“I’m going to step back from GT3 driving next year and GT World Challenge, and I’m just gonna focus on my little team,” said Mostert.

 

[05XR8]

 

[Pete05]

Those old TCR cars might as well go into Improved Production with the MARC Cars.

Just like the MARC cars, the TCR cars are too modified from a production car to be eligible.
Nothing stopping them joining the Sports Sedans though.

Good man.

Mostert bows out of Australian GT

Chaz Mostert (r) won't defend his GTWCA crown next year. Image: RACE PROJECT The Supercars star added the Aussie GT

speedcafe.com

Sounds to me like Chaz has put the dream of drive in the blue ribbon GT3 races like Le Mans, Spa, Nurburgring etc... on hold for the immediate future.
Shame really.

View attachment 1421049

I cannot wait to ask this lot their reasons for not wanting to race at Bathurst, specifically the 12hr.

As of today, the only cars confirmed, are the same two McLarens as last year.

 

[05XR8]

I believe the same reason some private GT4 owners didn't want to get run off the road by GT3 renegades.
The last couple years have been fine. International driver's have long realised they need to stay clear of trouble to have a chance at winning.

 

[Pete05]

I believe the same reason some private GT4 owners didn't want to get run off the road by GT3 renegades.
The last couple years have been fine. International driver's have long realised they need to stay clear of trouble to have a chance at winning.

Welcome to multi-class racing, and all that comes with it.

 

[05XR8]

Yep.

 

[05XR8]

Triple Eight explains Bathurst 12 Hour absence

Triple Eight will not contest the Bathurst 12 Hour this year. Australia’s international endurance race will be without the country’s

speedcafe.com

The team’s GT activities beyond its 12 Hour absence are a work-in-progress.

In addition to the now discontinued global program with Johor Motor Racing, Triple Eight ran a single-car Mercedes entry in GT World Challenge Australia last year and may yet do so again.

Ambitions to field the new Chevrolet Corvette GT3 remain on hold due to a lack of available machinery.

“The Corvette program, I think there’s no availability of cars until after Round 1, so if anything, that would be down the track a bit,” he said.

“The only option we’ve got is with AMG. We haven’t finalised a GT3 program at this stage, that’s still 50:50, but we’re looking to run a GT4 car.”

Just do it! Be nice for other Supercars teams to join GT4. WAU should be in with Supras and I’d like to see Brad Jones(for some reason I could see him running Aston Martins) and Tickford join.

 

[Pete05]

Triple Eight explains Bathurst 12 Hour absence

Triple Eight will not contest the Bathurst 12 Hour this year. Australia’s international endurance race will be without the country’s

speedcafe.com

Just do it! Be nice for other Supercars teams to join GT4. WAU should be in with Supras and I’d like to see Brad Jones(for some reason I could see him running Aston Martins) and Tickford join.

Having seen the GT3 Corvette that SVG and Scotty Mac will be sharing in the Daytona 24hr, that's got me frothing for any potential local program, so long as it is run at factory level to its full potential.

Triple Eight's involvement in the AMG customer program for Johor was difficult to watch for me.
Professional teams such as T8, BJR & Tickford, will do customer programs for a price, and, so long as they don't distract from their main objective.
T8 would've set a ridiculous price to run the Johor program, no doubt thinking it would be passed in as too expensive.
Their bluff was called.
I can only imagine the immense frustration as a Whincup, SVG or Feeney, driving an AMG to within an inch of its limits, only to then have to watch as a filthy rich Prince bleeds seconds every lap and loses the race.
Don't forget to smile as he returns to pit lane, and tell him what a great job he did. After all, they're the customer paying the bill for this little exercise.
How much is that pain worth for an entire championship?

As the local AMG customer racing reps, T8 will probably do something with a GT4 out of obligations to AMG if they have to.
I have to say, I can't see BJR or Tickford doing anything for a few reasons.
1. BJR don't have any existing manufacturer relationship, and nothing on the horizon.
2. Neither team needs the distraction from their focus of closing the gap to T8, and neither appears to have the capacity or personal to devote to such a program.
Finally, if it was going to happen, surely the prestige of the B12hr would be the race to get such a thing over the line.

Two weeks from the B12hr with less than 20 cars confirmed, only two of them GT4, my enthusiasm for the race has been totally deflated.

 

[05XR8]

Yeah, I don’t think I’ll be watching. It’s not enough to even watch Chaz because they’ll not get much camera time anyway.

I feel you about the reasons for Supercars teams to not get involved. Just dreaming is all. Super2 looks to be bigger investments, but the nostalgia in me makes me feel GT4 is closer to ATCC than Supercars is even to the V8 Supercars era.

 

[Pete05]

Well Chaz will be having a busy weekend, even if he's having someone manage the McLarens while he does GT3 duty in the Ferrari.
His car would have to be one of the equal favourites for victory.

Super2 is a cash cow for any team that has a car(s) and the infrastructure to run it.
Look at Eggleston Motor Sport.
They've committed to running 5 cars in 2025, and will do so... provided the drivers deposit their money on time.
As soon as they don't, the car gets parked & EMS let everyone know it's available... for a price.
Will all those cars be run with equal effort?
I don't believe they can be. Each team has a numero uno for each role, and someone is getting 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th best Lead Mechanic.

I'm with SVG in his opinions on the Gen3 Supercars.
To me, they'll always be better than the Gen2 purely for visual reasons alone. Whenever they roll out the Super2/Gen2 cars, I'm reminded of just how ugly those things are.
The Gen3 are better to look at, but the racing is no better to watch and that's because they didn't bother to listen to people like SVG.
The Bathurst 1000 was a super close race, but as boring as bat **** because all cars were regulated to the point of identical pit strategies!
Make a few rule changes that open up strategic options, and some tweaks to the cars...
Even if the cars lost three to five seconds per lap, I'm sure the racing would be more exciting to watch.