| Author | Message | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Junior Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 232 Registered: 4-2002 |
Very insightful, Rob. I've noticed in the past that virtually all race series implode sooner or later. As you state, increased competition breeds increased costs, until only one manufacturer is left. Most F-car guys don't like NASCAR, and I don't watch it myself, but it has had staying power. The powers-that-be keep juggling the rules arbitrarily in an effort to avoid total domination by any one team. It's a complicated problem; one that I certainly wouldn't care to tackle. At least in the recent ALMS race, I was well positioned, fan-wise. I'm both a Corvette and F-car guy. Hate Saleen. So I had 4 cars to cheer for. I think Chevy made a rare mistake and shot themselves in the foot. Thank goodness ProDrive was there to pick up the pieces. | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2290 Registered: 12-2000 |
Whether IMSA or Trans Am in it's heyday, it's exciting when manufacturers get involved and put that much money in the series. The cars are awesome and the publicity is awesome. However, they never last longer than a few years for the manufacturer to get a few wins and the cost-benefit ratio doesn't look as attractive anymore. Anytime you have a manufacturer heavy series, one will go crazy in order to beat the other the next year. Every year the bar gets raised and raised and the rule book gets thicker and thicker until it all bursts. I believe in the private team formula with only back end manufacturer support. Actually, most of the teams in ALMS are structured just that way. With the exception of Audi. Saleen and Panoz don't really count because they aren't major manufacturers. All the Ferrari teams out there now are private with only back end Ferrari support and that formula may let the series last. Do you know how much money a team would have to invest in order to topple the Audi's? Just by the high cost of entrance we're getting small turn outs in the proto's. Where's BMW? where's Cadi? The Daytona proto is the best for all... 1) Cost controlled rules and stable year to year. 2) Private teams will field the cars. 3) Several manufacturers participating at a support level and getting brand exposure, but not having to pay tens of millions for it. The fans will come and soon followed by more and more sponsors as they see large fields and great close racing. Look how successful Speed Channel Touring is right now. They are probably the only pro series that fills up the field. I think the DP's will be there in a few years. Now GA can make the entire thing bust, I'm not crazy about them, but I think ALMS might pick up on the DP thing too. I think DP will be a hit, but not necessarily GA. We finally have a formula that is long term, unlike any other road racing series we've had in history. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Junior Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 214 Registered: 4-2002 |
Oops. Me bad. TiVo had it, but I was too pre-occupied with F1 Sunday. | ||
| Hans E. Hansen (4re_gt4)
Junior Member Username: 4re_gt4 Post Number: 213 Registered: 4-2002 |
Uh, ProDrive victory over the Corvettes? I thought I had my TiVo set up to get all this. What race was that? | ||
| Barton Workman (Bartonworkman)
New member Username: Bartonworkman Post Number: 17 Registered: 3-2002 |
"We may see another IMSA Part II with ALMS." I'm not sure what this means Bob. It all comes down to the commitments of the manufactureres and sponsors. Now that Panoz signed the deal to extend the agreement with the ACO, we will see more manufacturer interest coming in the form of Mazda, Nissan, Bentley and others. The key was extending the contract and now that has happened, interest in Modena should pick up. The recent announcement that JMB will be entering a team in the ALMS GT category full time for 2003 is telling. Olive Garden/ Rafanelli will be back and we should expect other Ferrari entries for 2003 which is all laying the ground work for a future Ferrari/Maserati project. Now that Prodrive has achieved victory in the GTS class against the factory Corvettes, Vipers and Saleens, Ferrari must certainly be taking a harder look at the ALMS. The only thing that could derail the whole thing is if they decide to follow everyone else's lead and take the show over to the IRL which certainly has been suggested as Maserati is the only Italian make to score victory in the Indy 500. BHW | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2136 Registered: 12-2000 |
We may see another IMSA Part II with ALMS. | ||
| Barton Workman (Bartonworkman)
New member Username: Bartonworkman Post Number: 16 Registered: 3-2002 |
With out the factory involvement needed for a series to get big exposure on the world stage, the GrandAm series will fail within one year's time. Concerns are already being expressed over lack of manufacturer interest (other than those NASCAR are bringing in to help bolster numbers) and there are no name sponsors coming on board. Without manufacturer involvement, the teams do not bring media or sponsorships which make the whole thing fly to begin with. In fact, I am hearing rumblings about media boycotts as a result of the treatment received at the Daytona July event. If the ISC thinks they can run the whole shooting match in house, they may want to think again. Sports cars are not NASCAR. The schedule for Ferrari/Maserati to enter the prototpye ranks will be in 2004 when the new ACO regulations come into effect. What purpose would Ferrari/ Maserati have to run the GrandAm with no sponsors, no media, no fans and anti-factory rhetoric when they can run in the ALMS with big sponsorhip and the chance to win at LeMans and play to the world stage and a quarter million fans? BHW | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 2117 Registered: 12-2000 |
I think Grand Am actually has a better formula right now than ALMS. I consider ALMS the better series right now, but for how long? The key is cost, and rules that allow for heavy R&D like ALMS cost most of the competition out. Audi and Panoz are basically the entire show in Proto. Where's Cadi, BMW, and others? Bring the costs down, but still let manufactures show off their names and we have a new series with 20+ proto fields, instead of 4-8. Plus, not only more now, but more later as fewer teams will pack up and leave after just a year or two of exposure. | ||
| Barton Workman (Bartonworkman)
New member Username: Bartonworkman Post Number: 15 Registered: 3-2002 |
Grand Am's dumbing down of sports car racing is going to be a huge failure. Chassis manufactureres whom have committed to buidling cars are reporting not selling any chassis thus far and engine makes whom have supposedly committed have not started producing examples. It would be a mistake for Ferrari/Maserati to commit to the GA and it looks rather like Maserati will be doing a spec series in Europe with Spyder's which are already being tested. BHW | ||
| Racer 001 (Mr_0011)
Junior Member Username: Mr_0011 Post Number: 111 Registered: 3-2002 |
"About the best thing we'll see replacing the 333 I think." Sure looks like!!  | ||
| Rob Lay (Rob328gts)
Board Administrator Username: Rob328gts Post Number: 1908 Registered: 12-2000 |
This is a neat new class Grand Am has come up with to help teams limit costs. The idea is for manufactuers to create cars to the rules and then have it open for private teams to buy. Ford and Toyota are going to produce cars and it looks like Ferrari with a Maseratti engine may take part too... http://www.theracesite.com/index.cfm?pagetype=2&form_article=3886 About the best thing we'll see replacing the 333 I think. |