+1! I think Calado either got caught napping or was not aggressive enough defending his position. Ford needed the Brits for the GT40 to win the first time around, now they're relying on the rule makers to look the other way...
I think the GT would have eventually got him, but to lose it in turn 1 the way he did deserves a firing!
No, I learned years ago there is a big difference between even the best club racers and the pros that do it full time. I raced head to head for years with one of the most talented amateurs I've ever seen, Ron Farmer. His level of talent, consistency, and door to door was some of the best I ever raced against Runoffs and all. We had some great multiple lead changes battles and he honestly got the best of me more than half. He went on to do several years of Continental tire and although he did great for gentleman driver, the full time pros were alway able find those extra tenths. That said the 200+ club races I did I was exposed to some great drivers and extremely close spec racing, what I lacked not having best car I learned great race craft. Leaving the door open end of race is simply bad race craft.
Just how is a National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing made? I guess I'm better off asking a France, eh? Now, can we get back to the cars themselves, rather than the organizations? (yeah, I always need to get laid...)
Probably, but at least close the door a little bit. F1 parallels are inevitable, but I think LH or JV would have been a bit more aggressive in their defense of the position.
I saw Ickx & Redman win the 1968 BOAC 500 (Brands Hatch in GT 40 # 1075), & I've loved Ford GTs ever since. But the new Ford GT was racing in IMSA 11 months BEFORE the 1st road car was ever delivered. That is not a GT series in my opinion. Now, Porsche has a mid-engine 911 that, similarly, was allowed to run in this year's 24. Anyone bought a mid-engined 911 road car? I thought not. So is this a GT class car? Hell no; no more than the Ford was. A car competing in the GT series of IMSA should be one which was pulled off the production line and modified for racing and not one which was purpose built in a race shop and allowed to compete well before the car was - if ever - for sale to the public and licensed as a road car. Just my opinion. BTW, if this crap is allowed to continue, privateer GT competitors will not have a snowball's chance in hell of winning. Let the purpose built race cars which aren't on the road run in the prototype classes ... there are, after all, two such classes.
One more thing ... The Ford GT cars in this year's 24 made significantly fewer pit stops than the Ferraris or Corvettes. They saved waaaaaay more time on fewer stops than their margin of victory proved to be.
Aside from Risi, there aren't privateer entries in GTLM. They are all in GTD. GTD rules are different from GTLM. I do agree with GTLM becoming a little too prototypish.
It seems you are starting to grasp why the street version of the GT is such a special car. Yes, the street car is that close to the race car. As close to a "no waiver" car as you'll find. As for homologation, everyone agreed to allow Ford to race with production cars starting later. Perhaps they did not think the Ford would be so successful, so fast. On a final note, there is no comparison to the Porsche RSR. At least there will be production GTs.
Oh, but I believe there will be road going mid-engine 911s for sale ... someday. There will be two available for the US, and they will go to Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno.
I guess I'll "grasp" how special the street GT is WHEN someone other than Bill Ford, Mark Fields and probably 4 other folks actually GET one. "Everyone" (I assume you mean RISI/Corvette Racing/etc) agreeing to let the Ford race is NOT how it's done, GT racing is NOT a democracy. Ford clearly sandbagged at LeMans 2016, the GT drove away from the Porsches/Corvettes like they were tied to trees. The 488's fared better....hmmm, 2016....50th anniversary of the first Ferrari/Ford battle...nah, the FIA would NEVER do that, would they? The GT (and RSR) should NEVER have been allowed to race in GT, this kind of foolishness makes NASCAR of the 1980's look fair. PS. If GM does indeed reveal a mid-engine Corvette at Detroit 2018, I wonder if they will be allowed to run it at LeMans 2018? (even though NO customer cars will have been sold). Maybe Chevrolet will just ask all the competing teams if it's OK....
Homologation is based on number of cars produced or total $$$$, right? So, 2 RSR's going to Leno and Seinfeld should do it. Right?
Reading skills are important. I never said only 6 cars WOULD be produced. I said that up to this point, it seems that only 6 cars have been produced. But the car has been racing in GTLM (a PRODUCTION based class) since June 2016. I guess Ford (and Porsche with the RSR) don't have to meet the homologation standards. Congrats on getting a GT (whenever you do).
Careful....you're starting to sound like me. In my case it's genetic...'can't help it. It's frowned upon, nonetheless.
This is the GTE/ GTLM rules : TenTenths Motorsport Forum Porsche can re-positioned the engine because the 911 is produced in more or 2500 examples for year. with the Ford GT the problem is the car start to race before the street car is available, but the car is legal now. Tomgt talks about Ferrari will manufacture a 488 Prototype for 2017/2018 more like the Porsche GTE, At least huge modification to current 488 GTE. I think like him.
The 488 is a good car, but imho not good enough without major modifications and maybe even need new homologation for 2018. Ford built a race car, maybe Ferrari needs to build one too and make it road legal just like the Ford GT. It will be very tough to beat Ford in the major 12/24 Hours in 2017 (Ferrari already lost Daytona, but hey there was only one single GTE!). Maybe Ferrari will pull something magically out of hat this year.
With the current car, Ferrari can re-positioned the engine although I do not know if that's enough. For a new homologation they need to built 100 units, Ferrari could easily sell 100 units of a special 488. They could also do a GTE / GTLM with Laferrari base, but I think Ferrari wants to race with the 488.
The V8 or V6 is the way to go, not V10/V12 Rules will not allow "GT1-ish" cars but as someone said GT2 is already GT1, GT3=GT2 etc Ferrari does invest a lot of money, but can not put in ten times? more as Ford does.
Yes, I know, the V8 or V6 is the future. My question now is if Ferrari can re-positioned the engine of the 488 and how much could improve this the balance of the car and the size of the rear diffuser, so as to continue using the current model without a special homologation.
The 488 would not gain a lot from moving engine fwd. It would help fore/aft CG but that is not a big problem on 488. No more than on Ford GT. And would add a bit to rear diffuser-but again not a lot. Same as on Ford GT. Helps Porsche a lot for obvious reasons. 488 may have a high CG in rear-due to intercooler location. If they could lower engine that might help them some.
