I personally don't like pushing the GT2 class basically because the differences in HP. Today's sportcar has about 500-650 HP and the GT2 class is limited to only 500 HP. Where does that leave cars like the Z06, Viper, or GT-R (which claim to have 480 HP but has been dynoed to run over 500 HP)? If they would push the HP numbers on the GT2 car then maybe you'll see my stamp of approval.

I agree. I think I am in favor of merging GT1 and GT2. I don't know how it would work though. While there are no GT1s here, as someone pointed out there are enough in the LMS in europe, and with the ALMS being very le mans centric, how would auto qualifiers be dealt, etc?

There you go. What works in Europe doesn't always work here. What is good for the 24 is not so much here. Makes me wish something like the FIA or Super GT would truly become a World Championship with events on both sides of the globe. Think about it, the ALMS has how many races? The LMES? Combine the two , toss in a couple rounds in Asia, and you'd be in the ballpark of F1 in number of events. Some US events may be lost, preferably street course, but the quality of the races should be vastly improved.

The last two LeMans Series races has 4 and 5 GT1 cars racing respectivily.

All things considered, I don't really see a Ferrari F430 GT outrunning a current Corvette C6. I'm sure the more powerful cars will have to be restricted. Either that, or make the current GT2 machines to keep pace with the current GT1's. That's my only concern with merging GT1 with GT2. Combine them now, and it will just be the Corvettes blowing everyone out of the water unless one or both of them crash out or have some on-the-side issues. That even includes the F430 GTs raced by Houston's own (yes, I'm a Houston native) Risi Competizione.

JohnM - 18 May 2008 12:49 AM

All things considered, I don't really see a Ferrari F430 GT outrunning a current Corvette C6. I'm sure the more powerful cars will have to be restricted. Either that, or make the current GT2 machines to keep pace with the current GT1's. That's my only concern with merging GT1 with GT2. Combine them now, and it will just be the Corvettes blowing everyone out of the water unless one or both of them crash out or have some on-the-side issues. That even includes the F430 GTs raced by Houston's own (yes, I'm a Houston native) Risi Competizione.

What are we really merging anyway? I think the idea would be that the GT1 teams like Pratt/Miller Corvette and Pro-Drive Aston Martin would build EVO cars and the GT1 spec class would be abandoned and the GT2's would just become GT. Besides there are already GT2 class Vette's and Aston's out there. Whats the difference anyway, we are talking about tube framed cars anyway.

I really like GT-1 and hate to see it get pushed out by the others. Sounds like a dumb thing to say, But imho, the GT is the primo car on the track. Am I really that far behind the times?

bblades - 18 May 2008 01:36 PM

What are we really merging anyway? I think the idea would be that the GT1 teams like Pratt/Miller Corvette and Pro-Drive Aston Martin would build EVO cars and the GT1 spec class would be abandoned and the GT2's would just become GT. Besides there are already GT2 class Vette's and Aston's out there. Whats the difference anyway, we are talking about tube framed cars anyway.

I think the main differences betweein GT1 and GT2 are the amounts of money involved, top speed, and HP. As I said though the modern Viper has over 600 HP and in GT2 that's too much and for many thats too large of an advantage when matched to the Ferraris and Porsches. The Viper Competition Coupe used in the ALMS GT2 is a late model based on the old Viper but how about the new Viper and its next generation? How about supercars like Lamborghini or the Corvette ZR1 - where would they fit on the grid since the Lamos are classed at GT1 in Europe and the ZR1 has 600+...

My point. There is a need for differences in the GT series.

A united GT series well resemble that of the Rolex Series - which if great in itself - but not if you're planning to running more then 600+ HP.

Haven't we done this before, with the GT 1 class of the late 1990s? Remember the MB blow over at Le Mans? Remember the extreme costs associated with those exotics? Now it is completely different with a new name and all... yeah right. Same thing different decade.

Hitokiri2 - 18 May 2008 07:59 PM

How about supercars like Lamborghini or the Corvette ZR1 - where would they fit on the grid since the Lamos are classed at GT1 in Europe and the ZR1 has 600+...

Any and all cars are classified by where their manufacturer homologates them. Any car currently in GT1, could be rehomologated for GT2. Of course, that would require a completely newly designed race car, adhering to the class rules. Power is balanced through restrictors.