Congrats to Mike Hedlund with Starworks

I had questions but I didn't want to offend anyone. I'm curious if I wanted to compete regionally for a few years and get some real world experience what it would take to maybe "buy a drive" at the Glen for example. There's no way I could afford an entire season and I doubt i'll ever get a free ride, I'm too old for that now.

 

Ya, but that's kind of my point. It's not really competing for the same dollar. People compete in each of those series for different reasons. The GT3 cars are on such a different level than almost everything you listed (w/ exception of the new Lambo cars and GTE) that it's not a valid comparison -- let alone taking into account how much it costs to do each one. There's a LOT of funded drivers out there that will pony up the dollars if the series is operated in an enticing way and the cars are awesome.

It costs around $750k-1M to do the NAEC in a competitive GTD car and it'll end up being less seat time than a season in PWC because you'll be sharing the car each of the 4 weekends with 2-3 other drivers.

I'm happy to pass along any info I can to those interested!

-mike

 

thanks! I guess I'm underestimating the number of potential entrants.

 

If you're worried about offending me, don't be!

Assuming you have any sort of racing background (club, motorcycles, etc) -- You don't need to compete regionally for a few years before you could buy a seat at any of the NAEC races (or even the normal rounds, which I'd recommend first). Just work with a good pro driver/coach and do some testing in the type/class of car you want to race. They'll be able to tell if you're ready to enter the races or not (if they're good and don't just want your $$$).

I did my first car race in March of 2011 at Buttonwillow w/ SCCA in a Porsche Cup. A few days after that I started working with Johannes van Overbeek. I did a lot of test days w/ him and club races in the Porsche Cup to work on my driving. Once I thought I was ready, I asked JvO if he thought I was ready to enter the IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge race at Laguna in September of 2011. If I remember correctly, his response was "Hell yes!", so I entered it and ended up winning the Gold class of the first race and finished 3rd in the second race. 3 months later I bought a seat in my first "Pro" race -- the 24 Hours of Daytona.

Granted, I grew up racing bicycles and motorcycles so the racing itself wasn't anything new to me... and I spent a LOT of time and money working on my driving (with the rite people helping me along) before entering that first big race... but it can be done safely, efficiently and most importantly.. fun.


ps: before Laguna someone tried to sell my a seat in a GTD car, they told me it cost the team $120k to run the car for that 2:40 hour race alone. that might give you an idea how much the longer races will cost.

-mike

 

Thanks Mike, that was really helpful! You actually just confirmed my plans are somewhat viable depending on finances. I was going to do some regional stuff either up here or FL depending on my living situation in the next few years. Get a full comp license and see how I stack up before I get into some serious series. Then hook up with some Pro's and see if I could get my way in somehow.

I have one of 3 goals. The Glen, Sebring, or Daytona. I want to do an enduro at one of those 3.

 

one of the big complaints I've heard from several IMSA teams is that 1/3-1/2 of your budget for the year is spent in the first quarter (Daytona and Sebring), and that jives with the numbers you're providing here. big $$$

 

And the reason people are liking LMPC in this environment is it's less than half the cost of running a GTD car... and a lot faster.

Of course for that value comes a rather difficult car to drive (GTD not easy to drive either) and something that can even make the best drivers look like idiots. You also get to be abused by GTLM cars for a couple hours every weekend which isn't always fun...

-mike

 

Really?? I didn't see that coming. I thought the PC cars would be much more expensive to run.

Laguna looked like bumper cars for a while. It has to take a lot of patience and understanding.

 

as much as I dislike the concept of "spec prototypes", LMPC has worked incredibly well...fast, relatively cost effective, produces great racing, and attracts open wheel/prototype drivers. it's been great in both ALMS and TUSC.

 

Mike running P2 last time i watched. Have to go do events today so i'll be a few hours behind.

 

PC win and 5th OA for Mike and Renger! well done gents

 

Thanks guys! Really tough race w/ the crazy conditions. We started P6 (on points, qual was rained out) and I was P2 by the end of the first lap. Conor Daly kicked my ass and I couldn't run his pace so I just tried to be safe and push as much as I could without risking the car.

Renger destroyed everyone in the rain. Little known fact, we actually took wing OUT of the car during the heaviest rain for him...

ps: we finished 4th overall.. how funny would it have been if we ended up on the overall podium? lol.

-mike

 

Tough break mike. It was looking good for a while.

 

Thanks Rob. I was struggling a bit myself this weekend, but the car was good. I made a slight mistake in the race and lost a couple positions but was still able to give the car to Renger in a good position for the last hour. Shame that the #31 hit us.. our strategy was working out perfectly and we'd have had 1 less stop than everyone else in the class.

Hopefully I'll drive better at Petit and we'll have some luck.

-mike

 

Are you running in daytona?

 

I was working with Scuderia Corsa to run my 458 GT3 as a last minute deal, but the gentleman in Europe who was interested decided against it (so most of the budget went away). The car was actually at the track for the Roar in the back of the rig.

I'm trying to find a seat with another team for the race weekend itself, but it looks like everything is pretty much set. Will post here if anything changes though, thanks for asking!

-mike

 

Sorry to hear that, Mike.

Do let us know if any last minute changes. All the best!!

 

congrats to Mike for winning the GTE class at the Imola round of ELMS!

of course he did it in a Porsche

 

SUPER congrats!

 

Nice job mike

 

Thanks guys! The GTE's cars are very cool to drive and a lot of fun.

-mike