In case you haven't noticed, there aren't too many GT1 cars out there anymore. Sure, we are all painfully aware of the parade that is the ALMS GT1, which features 2 corvettes and maybe an Aston Martin if it's a good weekend. But It's not just the ALMS.
It wasn't always this way. The 2005 FIA GT series offered 7 makes of GT1 cars. In 2006, it went to 5 when Lister and Ferrari dropped out. 2007 saw Saleen leave. 2008, Lamborgini wasn't on the grid. During all this time, 3 years, 4 makes of cars left the grid. Also, the ammount of teams fielding a car was cut in more than half from 2007 to 2008.
Maybe it's the FIA series having trouble? Maybe. The LMS in 2005 had 10 entrants fielding 5 different manufacturors. This year it's 6 teams fielding 4.
The ALMS struggle to field GT1 entries is well known to most around here. It's horrific.
So, why is this happeneing? Is GT1 too expensive to compete in? Is this the fault of the manufacturors or the teams? When will a new GT1 car see the road?
So, why is this happeneing? Is GT1 too expensive to compete in? Is this the fault of the manufacturors or the teams? When will a new GT1 car see the road?
I think you hit one of the nails and thats cost. Team like Aston Martin and Corvette spend millions upon millions to update their cars to have the edge other teams like Saleen can't do that since they just don't have the money. Dodge use be very supportive of the Le Mans Series but now its road racing days are over in Le Mans and their focusing on smaller series' and NASCAR.
Another major fault is that other manufacturers aren't picking up the slack mainly the Japanese automakers. Le Mans doesn't run in Japan so there's no interest there and even though many Japanese cars are sold in the USA (maybe even more then in Japan?) they already represent themselves well in NASCAR, Indycar, smaller road racing series, and now even the NHRA. I would love for Nismo to come back to the ALMS but for now thats just a pipe dream. Lexus wanted to join the ALMS but basically ran out of money or ran out of faith. I often wonder why AMG or BMW won't enter the GT1 series in the ALMS since they do have some kick butt V8 power but I guess thats their decision.
I want a larger GT1 crowd too but as long as Corvette keeps on dominating it won't happen unless Aston Martin comes back with an effort like they did a few years back (the effort now I'd argue is a joke compared to the past) or some European Le Mans team comes over to take the challenge. What would be interesting is if Team Corvette went to Europe and entered their GT1, now that I'd like to see but probably won't.
It's much like the old IMSA GT series where the 962 Posche dominated for years, then the Electromotivve Z car, then Toyota. A major manufacturer put all their money into one series and won consistantly. Bob Tullius while having some factory support was basically a privateer and got killed with what was a very competitive car that needed just that little bit more development that they didn't have the money for. Corvette and occasionally Aston Martin seem to be the only ones currently willing to step up and spend the money. Until more manufacturers see the benefit we will be stuck with watching the Corvettes race themselves.
So, why is this happeneing? Is GT1 too expensive to compete in? Is this the fault of the manufacturors or the teams? When will a new GT1 car see the road?
I think you hit one of the nails and thats cost. Team like Aston Martin and Corvette spend millions upon millions to update their cars to have the edge other teams like Saleen can't do that since they just don't have the money. Dodge use be very supportive of the Le Mans Series but now its road racing days are over in Le Mans and their focusing on smaller series' and NASCAR.
Another major fault is that other manufacturers aren't picking up the slack mainly the Japanese automakers. Le Mans doesn't run in Japan so there's no interest there and even though many Japanese cars are sold in the USA (maybe even more then in Japan?) they already represent themselves well in NASCAR, Indycar, smaller road racing series, and now even the NHRA. I would love for Nismo to come back to the ALMS but for now thats just a pipe dream. Lexus wanted to join the ALMS but basically ran out of money or ran out of faith. I often wonder why AMG or BMW won't enter the GT1 series in the ALMS since they do have some kick butt V8 power but I guess thats their decision.
I want a larger GT1 crowd too but as long as Corvette keeps on dominating it won't happen unless Aston Martin comes back with an effort like they did a few years back (the effort now I'd argue is a joke compared to the past) or some European Le Mans team comes over to take the challenge. What would be interesting is if Team Corvette went to Europe and entered their GT1, now that I'd like to see but probably won't.
With the Japanese manufacturers in mind, none of them offer a car that would be a serious challenge to either the Corvette or the Aston Martin. The Nissan Z would be hopelessly underpowered; Lexus is mostly a personal/luxury division of Toyota. I'd be quicker to believe you'd see them in GT2. Mazda's RX8 would be a natural and the Nissan would have a better chance. And forget about the GT-R and its all-wheel-drive. It won't happen.
Yes, the corvette is the only fish in the pond. GM can spend big dollars to support 'rock on a string' (nascar) racing, a GT1 program where they only race them self, and yet, lay off many people from their work force and post billions of dollars in losses. Yes, racing makes a great deal of sense for GM.
With the Japanese manufacturers in mind, none of them offer a car that would be a serious challenge to either the Corvette or the Aston Martin. The Nissan Z would be hopelessly underpowered; Lexus is mostly a personal/luxury division of Toyota. I'd be quicker to believe you'd see them in GT2. Mazda's RX8 would be a natural and the Nissan would have a better chance. And forget about the GT-R and its all-wheel-drive. It won't happen.
The new Lexus LF-1, the Nissan GT-R and the upcoming Acura NSX (V10) replacement would all be suitable for GT1. At least two of those cars have been considered to be GT1 entries, though the GT-R was shelved by Nissan (nothing to do with the all-wheel drive).
The new Lexus LF-1, the Nissan GT-R and the upcoming Acura NSX (V10) replacement would all be suitable for GT1. At least two of those cars have been considered to be GT1 entries, though the GT-R was shelved by Nissan (nothing to do with the all-wheel drive).
That was exactly what I was going to say. Plus I heard that Lexus is going to up the LF-1 with a even more impressive car and going to be on the lines of the upcoming NSX and GT-R. Plus as I said Lexus was going to twin turbo the IS350 and enter the GT1 (or was that GT2?) field but lost out in interest and money.
Plus as I said Lexus was going to twin turbo the IS350 and enter the GT1 (or was that GT2?) field but lost out in interest and money.
The IS350 was Normally Aspirated, and was intended to be raced in the S2 category of GT2 for IMSA. They lost out neither interest, nor money, but were asked by outside forces to quit the ALMS project.
Plus as I said Lexus was going to twin turbo the IS350 and enter the GT1 (or was that GT2?) field but lost out in interest and money.
The IS350 was Normally Aspirated, and was intended to be raced in the S2 category of GT2 for IMSA. They lost out neither interest, nor money, but were asked by outside forces to quit the ALMS project.
You must be talking about that introverted and diminutive association that dwells in the center of the racing world!
The IS350 was Normally Aspirated, and was intended to be raced in the S2 category of GT2 for IMSA. They lost out neither interest, nor money, but were asked by outside forces to quit the ALMS project.
Really? I read on the World Challenge page that Ron Holland (who planned to run the Lexus in the WCGT series) said his cars are the Lexus ALMS project cars and they come with turbos...Maybe he modified them...I don't know...
One solution was offered to help out GT1 as well as prototypes. This was an idea to merge GT1 with LMP1 into a class known as "LMP1 Evo." Or as noted from the June 2008 edition of [U]Automobile[/U] magazine:
[I]"...a new top category tenatively called LMP1 Evo. In essence, this is the merger of today's LMP1 and GT1 classes, with two goals in mind. The first goal is to reduce speeds down to less than the 145-mph lap average exceeded in last year's twenty-four-hour race. The second is to shift appearances from fendered formula cars to racy road cars. ..."
-source: [U]Automobile[/U] magazine, June 2008 edition, page 65[/I]
However, such a plan for LMP1 Evo has been cancelled from a few websites I've looked at. So I guess you won't see such cars like the one below. The car below is what a mid-engined Corvette C7R would look like to keep true with the LMP1 Evo specifications:
Grand Touring 1 is a dying breed in the ALMS (not sure about the LMS). Had this LMP1 + GT1 combination work, do you think this LMP1 Evo could help both GT and prototype? Or would something have to be done to get more GT1 competition even if mostly privateers with outdated cars?
One solution was offered to help out GT1 as well as prototypes. This was an idea to merge GT1 with LMP1 into a class known as "LMP1 Evo." Or as noted from the June 2008 edition of [U]Automobile[/U] magazine:
[I]"...a new top category tenatively called LMP1 Evo. In essence, this is the merger of today's LMP1 and GT1 classes, with two goals in mind. The first goal is to reduce speeds down to less than the 145-mph lap average exceeded in last year's twenty-four-hour race. The second is to shift appearances from fendered formula cars to racy road cars. ..."
-source: [U]Automobile[/U] magazine, June 2008 edition, page 65[/I]
However, such a plan for LMP1 Evo has been cancelled from a few websites I've looked at. So I guess you won't see such cars like the one below. The car below is what a mid-engined Corvette C7R would look like to keep true with the LMP1 Evo specifications:
Grand Touring 1 is a dying breed in the ALMS (not sure about the LMS). Had this LMP1 + GT1 combination work, do you think this LMP1 Evo could help both GT and prototype? Or would something have to be done to get more GT1 competition even if mostly privateers with outdated cars?
"EVO" has not been cancelled! It is "EVO"lving and will be more inclusive than the originally hinted at proposal from the ACO.
