IMSA 2024

Correct the GTD customer cars are part of a totally different program to the GTD Pro cars even if some of the staff worked on both. Testing leading up to Daytona had the team know that they were in for an uphill battle and they were confident that they would receive the support from GM needed to make progress. It was all kept pretty quiet but some of the failures and problems that took place at Daytona were not the kind of stuff you would see from a club racer let alone a pro effort. This has nothing to do with the drivers or AWA. Random example, the cars have the option of A/C which costs close to $30K on top of the $1.3 Million for the car. At Daytona (where the weather was unseasonably hot) NONE of the GM engineers knew how to turn it on!!! Of course A/C does not win or loose a race nor is it essential but it is one of the examples I can share. Others I cannot but they pertain to serious operating systems on the car that have an amazing amount of stupidity in how they were conceived and handled by GM. Sebring was a total farce with repeats of the same failures as Daytona PLUS an elementary mistake to not inform IMSA that the diffuser spec was changed disqualifying all 4 cars from quali. The cars only ran as a back room deal to avoid the embarrassment of the Vette's not being in the field due to GM's blunder.

As for pulling out of IMSA completely I would only be speculating. I have a few theories but prefer to speak to more people involved first before opening my mouth. Changing manufacturers mid-year is always an option but the relationship between AWA and Mantella is strong and personal and so too is his relationship with Orey Fidani who runs the other Vette and will continue. It is a complex dynamic that makes changing manufacturers much harder than in other arrangements. I can assure you the problem is not money but there needs to be perceived value by the person writing the cheques and in this case it is far from the case. When you are privy to the numbers they are shockingly high and will get the attention of even the wealthiest of people.

 

sounds like P&M is trying to run a customer GTD program with a Pro (GM factory support) budget and hosing their customers in the process. that's really unfortunate, but should have been made clear during their selection process.

 

I can assure you that during the 'selection' process a LOT of promises were made by GM that were not followed through on. Performance relative to competitors are the least of their worries. They need to sort very elementary problems that allow them to get to the finish line before anything. I can tell you that at Daytona one of the cars went through 4 alternators at $8K each with GM just chucking parts at the problem (with the customers paying of course) without the correct people to analyze the failures to determine the core issues. Amateur hour at its best.

 

Long Beach this weekend!
Quali 7:55pm ET friday
Race: 430pm ET Saturday

 

Long Beach: Joining late...

LAP 1!!! GTD what a move in the hairpin!

Big crash by the Mclaren, collecting the Dark green porsche...

 

Caution 2: Deletraz crashes...

 

19 mins to go, the 6 gets spun in the hairpin and causes a traffic jam....no yellow.

 

13 mins to go: yellow for DiPhilippi....crashes on his own after getting a new nose after crashing...

 

Final: Caddy Caddy Porsche...okie...

 

I enjoyed this race when it was run at dusk, but still a decent race

 

I think endurance cars in a super sprint format is weird...

 

I think they’ve always done 100 minute races at Long Beach, just started later in the past. but I could be wrong

I don’t mind the format for events like this (street races in combination with other series)

 

IMSA W'Tech race at Laguna Seca tomorrow (Sunday 5-12-24) at 3pm Eastern time on either NBC (not certain) but def on Peacock!

 

started 20 mins ago...

Wayne Taylor binned his Wolf on the start of his race at the Monaco Historics...

 

Jack Aitken just got hosed...

 

Roger Penske gets around... Belgium yesterday, Laguna today, Indy tomorrow....

 

I know WT well. He was so nervous that he must have psyched himself out. Too bad as this was his dream to drive an F1 car in Monaco…

 

Heading to the Glen in a couple hours.

 

My favorite road course. Still remember the 6 hour race in the late 90s when Max Papis came back from almost 2 laps down to win. Best sports car race I ever witnessed in person. Enjoy.

 

IMSA stays on NBC

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