16 replies to this topic

[EarnardBeccelstone]

F1 has always been my first love in motorsport, but increasingly tintop GT racing has been drawing my attention. I just finished watching the replay of the opening 2015 Super GT race, and I was staggered at how good the action was. There's so much freely available online content as well (F1 take note).

 

The variety in GT racing around the globe at the moment is staggering:

 

Pirelli World Challenge. The top GT class has cars from 13 different manufacturers and a field of 49.

Super GT. The top class only has 3 manufacturers and 15 entries, but the junior category has 11 different manufacturers and 29 entries.

Blancpain series: 11 different manufacturers and 24 entries in the professional field.

 

Plus you’ve got different engines, multiple chassis configurations and competition between tyre manufacturers in some series.

 

At the moment, the WEC GT competition is the only cloud on an otherwise sunny horizon. Just three manufacturers/eight teams in GTE Pro and four manufacturers/nine teams in GT Am.

 

Some links

Nissan Nismo Youtube channel for Super GT: https://www.youtube....zL-MaCy-YUqPRoQ

Blancpain: https://www.youtube....4QUJwkbdQ3s5MQr

Pirelli WC:  http://www.world-challengetv.com/2015/

[noikeee]

Yeah, but BOP, so it's all fake competition. Screw BOP.

[MNader]

I agree, GT racing has been very promising of recent

[Dan333SP]

The GT3 class, despite BoP complaints and amateur drivers in some series, is a home run by SRO as far as creating interest by manufacturers and creating exciting on track racing. BoP is the only way you can get these car companies to compete in GT these days, because we all know what happened when big companies spend lots of money and bend the rules (Merc CLK GTR, Porsche GT1 were the tip of the iceberg last time around). GTE has BoP as well, you know.

I enjoy the variety of cars but I still wish there were more one-offs or smaller brands. When Gt3 was created you had Ascaris, Morgans, Alpinas, Ginettas, Venturis... Now it's basically just the big sports car/luxury car makers.

 

I will say that the cars on track now look the part as far as racing machines. The newest R8 LMS Ultra is an absolute beast and would fit in with a grid of the old GT1 machines, while the Maserati and Morgan that raced in GT3 1.0 looked out of place on a racetrack to some extent. I just wish more European teams raced the Viper GT3-R, which is my favorite of the breed and is extremely competitive in the US 

Edited by Dan333SP, 09 April 2015 - 12:10.

[Henri Greuter]

The GT3 class, despite BoP complaints and amateur drivers in some series, is a home run by SRO as far as creating interest by manufacturers and creating exciting on track racing. BoP is the only way you can get these car companies to compete in GT these days, because we all know what happened when big companies spend lots of money and bend the rules (Merc CLK GTR, Porsche GT1 were the tip of the iceberg last time around). GTE has BoP as well, you know.

I enjoy the variety of cars but I still wish there were more one-offs or smaller brands. When Gt3 was created you had Ascaris, Morgans, Alpinas, Ginettas, Venturis... Now it's basically just the big sports car/luxury car makers.

 

I will say that the cars on track now look the part as far as racing machines. The newest R8 LMS Ultra is an absolute beast and would fit in with a grid of the old GT1 machines, while the Maserati and Morgan that raced in GT3 1.0 looked out of place on a racetrack to some extent. I just wish more European teams raced the Viper GT3-R, which is my favorite of the breed and is extremely competitive in the US 

 

 

 

The lack of Vipers, Doesn't have that something to do with the fact that there is an engine limit of 6 liter or thereabout for most European series and Vipers use much larger locomotive size engines?

 

 

Henri

[Dan333SP]

The lack of Vipers, Doesn't have that something to do with the fact that there is an engine limit of 6 liter or thereabout for most European series and Vipers use much larger locomotive size engines?

 

 

Henri

 

No, the latest Viper GT3-R is homologated and eligible for all GT3 competition despite the 8.3L V10. I don't think GT3 has ever had a displacement limit, they just restrict the hell out of the engine and make sure the power/weight ratio is about the same as the other cars.

 

http://www.dailyspor...at-le-mans.html

 

Wiki actually has a list of the currently eligible cars in the category, the Viper being among the most recent homologations (the list doesn't yet include the new Audi and Lambo)-

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Group_GT3

 

I think the GTE class has a displacement limit of 6 liters, but I can't find anything at the moment to confirm that. The Vipers raced there too with their big V10s but had to be granted waivers by IMSA/ the ACO, if I recall.

Edited by Dan333SP, 09 April 2015 - 13:03.

[CountDooku]

Any series that can spawn this beauty gets my vote!

 

Edited by CountDooku, 09 April 2015 - 14:21.

[Dan333SP]

I'll see your Merc and raise you a Mclaren 650-

Edited by Dan333SP, 09 April 2015 - 15:57.

[CountDooku]

Now I'm as big a Macca fan (road cars especially) as the next person but the Merc AMG GT is pure sex.

 

I really don't understand why GT3 isn't way more popular. Close racing, road relevant machines and loads of manufacturers.

[WhiteSGPlayer]

You can't talk about GT racing without mentioning the almighty Tudor (formerly ALMS) GTLM Class. Best GT(E) racing on the planet, consistently

[Dan333SP]

Agreed. Still a shame that Viper pulled out of that class, and immediately after winning the driver's title too! I wish a top-notch privateer team would buy the cars from them and keep racing. Vette vs Viper in the early days of the ALMS was a highlight for me in GT1, and now they have factory cars from Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, and sometimes Aston to fight with, all of them running the best GT drivers around.

[WhiteSGPlayer]

Agreed. Still a shame that Viper pulled out of that class, and immediately after winning the driver's title too! I wish a top-notch privateer team would buy the cars from them and keep racing. Vette vs Viper in the early days of the ALMS was a highlight for me in GT1, and now they have factory cars from Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, and sometimes Aston to fight with, all of them running the best GT drivers around.

 

There's an ex-works Viper first on the LM reserve list, I believe. So a return at Le Mans is basically a given. Hopefully they'll end up somewhere next season, considering the Vettes have finally landed in Europe

 

 

EDIT: I was also planning to make a GT Racing thread Oh well, I might poach the LM one if it hasn't been made

Edited by WhiteSGPlayer, 09 April 2015 - 16:43.

[TimRTC]

OP didn't even mention the British GT or GT Open which don't have massive grids but always serve up some good racing.

 

 

I must admit to a weakness for the beastlike looks of the Nissan GT-R

 

Jody Fannin in the JRM Nissan GT-R by Tim R-T-C, on Flickr

 

And the smooth curves of the Ginettas:

 

Zoë Wenham in morning GT4 warmup by Tim R-T-C, on Flickr

[Stephane]

I miss the 550-DBR9-Viper GTS-R-Corvette C6.R-Saleen S7R era.

[Prost1997T]

[Afterburner]

https://www.youtube....h?v=el8T4g0ryys

Thanks for the vid. I swear the sound of those freakin' Porsches is going to be in my head for the rest of my life.

[OvDrone]

There are shenanigans afoot over at the Blancpain Endurance Series race at Monza right now.

 

The racing was good though.