Hitokiri2 - 18 May 2008 07:59 PM

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.

Even from GT1 to another GT1 there is a lot of restrictions made. The Saleen S7 has more horsepower off the showroom floor then it does when raced in ACO competition. You bring up Corvette, there are currently two purpose built tube framed cars one in GT1 and another in GT2, it is quite easy to build a chassis and hang a Corvette body on it, thats the current state of things in ALMS. The idea is to make the rules to attract the greatest number of competitors, not to base the rule on the hope that a car participates in the series. If Lamboghini and Dodge were looking to have full factory GT1's, there would not be a debate about whether the class should survive. The Evo class would allow for the fire breathing GT1 cars to compete for the overall win, which in turn gives the factory more ROI instead of being a red headed step child.

So what would the rankings be? LMP1-"evo"-LMP2-GT? I suppose, but at that point, you're better off just encouraging those teams to make a LMP1.

bblades - 19 May 2008 12:23 AM

You bring up Corvette, there are currently two purpose built tube framed cars one in GT1 and another in GT2, it is quite easy to build a chassis and hang a Corvette body on it, thats the current state of things in ALMS.

This is simply untrue.

All right Marshall, this is about as close to a pertinent thread as I see without starting something new. Where is the Bell story at? Hints about a big scoop and a no show so far! Well....

Yeah, it went from saturday to never. Perhaps the scoop is too hot to make public? (IE: Unfinished deal?)

fogelhund - 19 May 2008 07:09 AM

bblades - 19 May 2008 12:23 AM

You bring up Corvette, there are currently two purpose built tube framed cars one in GT1 and another in GT2, it is quite easy to build a chassis and hang a Corvette body on it, thats the current state of things in ALMS.

This is simply untrue.

Pruett made the point that there are no - no! - tube-frame cars in either ALMS GT category. As opposed to Grand Am, where all GT's are tube-frame cars a la NASCAR. Somebody needs to re-read Pruett. . . if he did at all. Grand Am logic says that as long as the body resembles something that can be seen on a dealer['s lot or a showroom all is well, ALMS has tried for a stricter definition of what a GT car is, realizing that the fan is not easily fooled. The sense of identifying with what he sees in a showroom is simply too strong for that.

bblades - 19 May 2008 12:23 AM

[
E The Evo class would allow for the fire breathing GT1 cars to compete for the overall win, which in turn gives the factory more ROI instead of being a red headed step child.

I feel the Evo class is self defeating for this reason.

The reason for Le Mans racing is challenge the drivers to drive through traffic over long amounts of time and still finish the race on top. The range of classes makes the racing interesting at the same time challenging to the drivers plus it gives the fans or spectators a chance to see a verity of cars racing all the same time.

Why would we want to see a GT1 car win 1st overall? I personally wish they'd just bump the Penske Porsche Spyders to LMP1 because having a P2 car win a race overall to me doesn't make sense. I guess it is what is it though...

Somehow, I don't see the EVO cars being their own class.

As opposed to Grand Am, where all GT's are tube-frame cars a la NASCAR.

Not all of them. The GARRA GT class has a prep 1 & prep 2 "classes". I can't remember which one is which, but I think prep 1 is production & prep 2 is tube frame. Somebody who follows GARRA closer than I do can give you more details.

kbeech - 21 May 2008 10:55 PM

As opposed to Grand Am, where all GT's are tube-frame cars a la NASCAR.

Not all of them. The GARRA GT class has a prep 1 & prep 2 "classes". I can't remember which one is which, but I think prep 1 is production & prep 2 is tube frame.

That is correct. Lime Rock will see the debut of a Corvette that was actually purchased by the team as a road car in an action at Daytona before they stripped it down and built it up. (I can hear the howls already that a proper GT car should never have any miles on the road as a street car or that it's too stock.)