FIA GT in Valencia

. . .and a Lambo on the podium !!!!

 

lambo = audi = volkswagen; and they have enough money to take the title in 2004 or 2005

 

Not too surprising. Everyone knew the Saleen (which was fastest in qualifying) would end up breaking, and the Lister is way off the pace so that leaves the Viper, which seems like it's 20 yrs old now and the Lambo battling for the crums.

Regards,

Jon P. Kofod
www.flatoutracing.net

 

If 550's can beat this Murcie what do you think 575GTC's and Maser/Enzo's will do to it?

 

Jim,


I think ultimately they are going to have to rethink where they place the Maser GT (not sure where they will put it). If early testing is any indication (lapped Fiorano faster than a 333 SP) it will lap the entire GT field with you and I driving it.

Part of the problem is that GT class within the FIA structure is pure privateer funded racing, and the teams are running huge costs in this class. That is why the 575 isn't running at many races and has little interest from race teams. Unlike US manufacturers in ALMS (first the Vipers/Dodge and now the CR5's) Euro FIA GT racing is strictly privateer teams if you omit Pro Drive.

GT class at LeMans is always the smallest class (discounting LMP2) in sports cars and the costs are pretty big to run these cars without deep pockets and manufacturer's support.

I don't expect to see many 575's this season. If the Maser makes it to the grid it "game over".

Regards,

Jon

 

Why do you think 575s are slower than 550s? They are not doing well.
In N-GT, Porsche is sweeping 360GTCs.

 

Are they? (575's) I thought they beat the 550's. The P are and always have been winners. Jon?

 

Not sure why the 575's are off the pace. they haven't gotten a podium in the first two races of 04 and have been consistently off the pace in the first two races at Monza and Valencia.

First time out last year at Monza they were a full 2 seconds faster and romped the field. Now the 575's are a second or two off the pace. I think this got the 550 teams to do major upgrades over the winter to be competitive.

In the case of the 360's there aren't enough of them and most are raced by privateer drivers, who are quite good, but no match for Porsche factory drivers like Sasha Massen and Lucus Luhr.

If you look at lap times this year the 360 is dead on with the GT3's but there are usually 4 or 5 GT3's for every 360 at the race. At Valencia there was one lone 360.

It gets back to my arguement about ALMS and Grand Am. The Porsche is cheaper, more reliable and in most cases faster. It makes little sense to run a 360 GT for twice the cost of a GT3RS and let's face it there is much more fectory support for the GT3 even among the low budget privateers.

The 575 issue is concerning though. I haven't checked but maybe the rules have been tweaked in favor of the older cars.

In the case of the Maser GT, the rules won't need to be tweaked.....they'll need to throw the whole rule book out and write a new one.

I think Ferrari Spa is going to see if they can win LeMans overall with a GT car. Only issue is the smaller tires and more frequent pitstops vs. the LMP class.

regards,

Jon

 

I was under the impression that it would be much cheaper to get a Maser GT up to pace when compared to a 550 or 575....

 

I am not referring to the Maser GT Trofeo Light that is based on the street car but the carbon fiber bodied GT car based on the Enzo.

Jon

 

The 575s seem a little off pace, but drivers, I'm sure, have something to do with it. In this last race, a 575 came in fourth behind the Murci.

Also, there was only one Murci in this race. But, it seems the 550s will be dominant...