[Grand Am] Rolex Series/Continental Tire SCC 2012 Discussion

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by FordCosworthPanoz

The first hour had some good action.

I thought the first hour featured the most egregious contact. The second hour things seemed to smooth out and the battles started to unfold which led to two close finishes, even if the battles were a let down compared to the ALMS race.

Chris

[Maelochs]

I think the Mazda RX8 goes away next year, and I don't know what might replace it. If the series wants a few Audis on the grid, look for aero updates at least.

Oryx and Limitless---might have been money as much as car, but APR is definitely struggling because of the car. But hey, it took Porsche half a season and some aero BoP to get the new 997 variant to work in ALMS and that is with a huge number of cars in several series providing feedback.

I think Audi doesn't care very much about Grand Am right now, but if the new US DTM series doesn't fly, I'd expect they will care more about the Rolex effort.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by MagVanisher

Anyways, this is just a rant but I think Grand-Am needs to aim more by racing at Le Mans.

Huhhhh???

Mixin' apples and strawberries, aren't we???




Mae: What exackly do yas mean by "I think the Mazda RX8 goes away next year, and I don't know what might replace it." ? Is the RX8 being discontinued by Mazda? If so what's the rules on longevity of a discontinued model in GA? (It was 7 years in ALMS, thus the Robertson's use of the discontinued Ford GT...)

Or do you mean teams are giving up on it?

[Speed-King]

Ah, I think you guys give APR a little too much credit - they were a force in Conti ST a couple of years ago, but right now it seems like they've over extented themselves rather badly.

Their GS Audi program is a train wreck, the ST-cars get DNQs as often as not for too much boost and they have the same problem whenever they show up in World Challenge.

[Purist]

The standard RX-8 has already been out of production for a few years (last year was 2008 or 2009, I think). Support for the program appears to be trailing off (only one SpeedSource car), and the cars aren't demonstrating the same level of performance overall that they once had. Also, Mazda will be focusing their efforts on the SkyActiv power plant in GX and LMP2 beginning in 2013.

Speaking of GX, are there any other takers for that class other than Mazda?

[Speed-King]

Lotus and a third one TBA for the 24, more to come later next year - suppossedly.

[jimclark]

Originally Posted by Purist

The standard RX-8 has already been out of production for a few years (last year was 2008 or 2009, I think). Support for the program appears to be trailing off (only one SpeedSource car), and the cars aren't demonstrating the same level of performance overall that they once had. Also, Mazda will be focusing their efforts on the SkyActiv power plant in GX and LMP2 beginning in 2013.

Wow..I'd forgotten the 8 was gone. That's how much I'm losin' interest

And racin' used to be my passion ('til only just a few years ago...aboot the time the world's economy went south)

[picchiofan]

Originally Posted by Purist

The standard RX-8 has already been out of production for a few years (last year was 2008 or 2009, I think). Support for the program appears to be trailing off (only one SpeedSource car), and the cars aren't demonstrating the same level of performance overall that they once had. Also, Mazda will be focusing their efforts on the SkyActiv power plant in GX and LMP2 beginning in 2013.

Speaking of GX, are there any other takers for that class other than Mazda?

Last production year for the RX8 was 2011, it ceased production in November of last year. Homologation rules in GA basically allow a car to run for 2 years after it ceases production.

As for GX, the New Lotus Evora GT4 car has a Grand Am spec version they're building for the class as well.

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by picchiofan

Last production year for the RX8 was 2011, it ceased production in November of last year. Homologation rules in GA basically allow a car to run for 2 years after it ceases production.

As for GX, the New Lotus Evora GT4 car has a Grand Am spec version they're building for the class as well.

And Grand-Am has been fairly reasonable with allowing teams to run cars that are out of homologation, like IMSA and the SCCA have. I know that the SCCA World Challenge allows cars virtually of any age (within reason) to run so long as it isn't a full season campaign.

As for the Evora GT4, it started as a conversion to the GT class but Grand-Am wasn't happy with it as a GT car and have, for the sake of customer interest and potential entries, done the reasonable thing and allowed it to run in their "experimental technology" GS class. I guess like the Deltawing it is trying to prove that less weight is a (new idea and a) good thing.

Chris

[Purist]

The 2011 RX-8 was just a special release: the Spirit R (only 1000 units).

Until we have reason to believe otherwise (i.e. the company is back on more stable footing), I'm going to take any potential new Lotus programs/entries, regardless of the series, with a pinch of salt.

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by Purist

The 2011 RX-8 was just a special release: the Spirit R (only 1000 units).

Until we have reason to believe otherwise (i.e. the company is back on more stable footing), I'm going to take any potential new Lotus programs/entries, regardless of the series, with a pinch of salt.

I believe in this case there is a team that has at least one Grand-Am legal car in their possession. Not unreasonable to assume they'll be at Daytona (and perhaps at Laguna or Lime Rock this year) and in the series as long as spares and interest remain stocked.

Chris

[FordCosworthPanoz]

For whoever has the new Evora, My bet is they'll show up at the Rolex 24 with the Evora then disappear for eternity like so many new teams do.

[Jonerz]

Originally Posted by FordCosworthPanoz

For whoever has the new Evora, My bet is they'll show up at the Rolex 24 with the Evora then disappear for eternity like so many new teams do.

Yeah, I neglected to factor in funding as well. Fingers crossed someone wants to pay for the deal to start with.

Chris

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by Jonerz

As for the Evora GT4, it started as a conversion to the GT class but Grand-Am wasn't happy with it as a GT car and have, for the sake of customer interest and potential entries, done the reasonable thing and allowed it to run in their "experimental technology" GS class. I guess like the Deltawing it is trying to prove that less weight is a (new idea and a) good thing.

Chris

Um, is there any regulations for the GT class that does not allow either a full GTE or GT3 cars to compete unless it is converted to Grand-Am specs?

I understand that the Evora will compete in the GX class, but it seems that having both GT classes is a bit of a pain unless Grand-Am scrap the current GT class in favor of GX.

[Speed-King]

Think of it as GTO and GTU in IMSA of old...

The current GT-class will become a bit more upscale than it was, so Ferrari doesn't get beaten by lowly Mazdas anymore, and GX becomes a class for smaller cars which can also incorporate some kind of alternative technology.