USCC 2014 Entry List & Schedule ONLY

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

And just what is this delusion based on?

Delusion?

How about the number of GTLM cars competing annually vs. a decade ago. The expense of it has basically lead it to be a manufacturers class, with some amateurs buying used cars. Most amateurs are buying GTD/GT3 cars though. That isn't to say that GTLM racing isn't fantastic, just as the cars are fantastic.

[David Land]

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/ex...audi-for-2014/

Lizards are going with Audi in GTD, going to be strange but those cars should look GREAT!

[joeb]

Originally Posted by David Land

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/ex...audi-for-2014/

Lizards are going with Audi in GTD, going to be strange but those cars should look GREAT!

Good to see that confirmed. Added variety will be nice in the class.

[Maelochs]

I don't think there was any problem with either GT3 or GTE-GTLM which rendered the class nonviable---I do think that manufacturers were frustrated that they had to design and build two versions of their cars, and then support both, in order to run in all the major series.

Audi, for instance, never got around to building a GTE version of the R8, and I am sure all GTE fans really wanted to see one. Same with Mercedes SLS, Lamborghini Gallardo (West Racing did try and failed utterly,) and McLaren MP12 ... too much money involved in developing a GTE version, but at the same time the lack of one shut them out of some top-tier series.

Combining the two classes should allow manufacturers to reach more customers with more cars for more profit, which will strengthen all the series and provide a better spectacle for fans.

[canciaro]

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

Same delusion that makes Ncrdbl1 think LMP2 is dieing globally?

I really think that guy is doing some consulting work for Grand-Am people and just trying to **** off a majority of the fan base

[rwintle]

Originally Posted by David Land

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/ex...audi-for-2014/

Lizards are going with Audi in GTD, going to be strange but those cars should look GREAT!

Any idea who the drivers might be (other than Seth?). RIP the days of Long and Bergmeister in the FLM Porsche.

[extramundane]

Originally Posted by rwintle

Any idea who the drivers might be (other than Seth?).

Spencer Pumpelly tweeted the press release announcing the Audi switch, so I'm hopeful that he'll be a part of it... and that he'll not be teamed w/ Bossman.

[Fogelhund]

Despite being a massive Porsche fan, I am happy to see FLM going with the Audi R8. A quality team, bringing some needed diversity to the grid. It bodes well for the class overall.

[joeb]

I have been attempting to keep track of announcements regarding entries and here is what I have for GTD now. Admittedly I have probably missed a few.

#	GTD	Car
1	AF Corse	Ferrari
2	AIM	Ferrari
3	AJR	Porsche
4	AJR (Team Seattle)	Porsche
5	Dempsey	Porsche
6	Dempsey	Porsche
7	Flying Lizard	Audi
9	Flying Lizard	Audi
10	GMG	Audi
11	Keating Viper	Viper
12	Magnus	Porsche
13	Muehlner	Porsche
14	NGT	Porsche
15	Park Place	Porsche
16	Scuderia Corsa	Ferrari
17	TRG Aston	Aston
?	AF Corse - 2nd Car	Ferrari
?	Fall line	Audi
?	JDX	Porsche
?	Muehlner - 2nd Car	Porsche
?	Park Place - 2nd Car	Porsche
?	Paul Miller	Porsche
?	Scuderia Corsa - 2nd Car	Ferrari
?	TRG Aston - 2nd Car	Aston
?	Turner	?

[joeb]

Proto list as well:

#	Proto	Car
1	Action Express	Corvettte DP
2	Deltawing	Deltawing
3	Gainsco	Corvettte DP
4	Ganassi	Ford Riley
5	Shank	Ford Riley
6	Spirit of Daytona	Corvettte DP
7	Wayne Taylor	Corvettte DP
9	Whelen	Corvettte DP
10	ESM	HPD ARX-02
11	ESM	HPD ARX-02
12	P2 team (speedsource?)	Lola Mazda
13	P2 team (speedsource?)	Lola Mazda
NAEC	Action Express	Corvettte DP
NAEC	ADR Delta	Corvettte DP/Oreca 03
NAEC	Oak	Morgan Nissan
?	8 Star DP	Corvette DP
?	8 Star P2	?
?	Ganassi - 2nd Car	Ford Riley
?	Greaves	Zytek Nissan
?	Muscle Milk	?
?	Pecom	Oreca Nissan
?	Shank - 2nd Car	Ford Riley
?	Starworks	BMW Riley
?	Starworks - 2nd Car	BMW Riley
?	Wayne Taylor - 2nd Car	Corvette DP

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Delusion?

How about the number of GTLM cars competing annually vs. a decade ago. The expense of it has basically lead it to be a manufacturers class, with some amateurs buying used cars. Most amateurs are buying GTD/GT3 cars though. That isn't to say that GTLM racing isn't fantastic, just as the cars are fantastic.

R.I.F.! What did I quote? The most recent plan is NOT for a single GT class.

"My understanding is that we'll have two GT classes,” said Romolo Liebchen, Head of Audi Sport customer racing. “I think this approach is good. For the first approach, for the customer side, I think we have something to offer. And for the professional approach, we'll have to see what we can do and how we can do it.









L.P.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

I don't think there was any problem with either GT3 or GTE-GTLM which rendered the class nonviable---I do think that manufacturers were frustrated that they had to design and build two versions of their cars, and then support both, in order to run in all the major series.

Audi, for instance, never got around to building a GTE version of the R8, and I am sure all GTE fans really wanted to see one. Same with Mercedes SLS, Lamborghini Gallardo (West Racing did try and failed utterly,) and McLaren MP12 ... too much money involved in developing a GTE version, but at the same time the lack of one shut them out of some top-tier series.

Combining the two classes should allow manufacturers to reach more customers with more cars for more profit, which will strengthen all the series and provide a better spectacle for fans.

The mfgs do not want the 'classes' combined. A single platform (car) yes, but they will have different 'kits' to make them into separate classes.

"The proposal to merge the two platforms, set forth back in October, was vetoed by manufacturers on the grounds of costs, particularly for privateers wanting a reasonably priced way to go racing.

Instead, talks have since centered on the concept of a base car but with different “kits” being made available to adapt the car for either a cost-effective privateer class or a fully fledged factory-based category. The two proposed classes are being known as “GT” and “GT+” internally."








L.P.

[HORNDAWG]

I think it is a good thing for FLM to be going with the R8.









L.P.

[Speed-King]

What we still don't know about GT and GT+ are the respective performance envelopes.

Is their goal to simply streamline car development but having a very small spread between the classes as it is today, or are the GT-base cars suppossed to be significantly slower than they are today?

[nkoske]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

Despite being a massive Porsche fan, I am happy to see FLM going with the Audi R8. A quality team, bringing some needed diversity to the grid. It bodes well for the class overall.

I agree.

[cbbrit]

Originally Posted by rwintle

Any idea who the drivers might be (other than Seth?). RIP the days of Long and Bergmeister in the FLM Porsche.

I'm sure that Dion von Moltke will be retained, as he already has massive experience in the R8, having driven it in all the 2012 ROLEX races with APR, and was part of the winning team in this year's Daytona 24 hrs.

[Mechanic Z]

Originally Posted by Simmi

It does often provide a better spectacle, but then again if there were cautions every five minutes in the WEC - so would that.

There's much more to it than the spectacle.

ALMS GT in 2013 had five different manufacturers, while WEC GTE-PRO had three.

ALMS GT in 2013 had three different tire manufacturers, WEC only had one.

And as far as the racing is concerned, if it's just the cautions that make ALMS GT better, how did the ALMS race at COTA happen?

Oh well, matter of opinion, I guess.

As for the Lizards announcement, I wonder if we'll see one silver and red car, and one silver and black car like in the early days of the team?

I'm guessing Pumpelly and Von Moltke will probably both be back, but the other amateur driver is a good question, considering the Venezuela driver problems.

[Mechanic Z]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

I think it is a good thing for FLM to be going with the R8.



L.P.

Livery is going to look really strange on an R8.

[Breitling24]

Originally Posted by Mechanic Z

And as far as the racing is concerned, if it's just the cautions that make ALMS GT better, how did the ALMS race at COTA happen?

Lots of paved run-off with no gravel traps.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Mechanic Z

Livery is going to look really strange on an R8.

Looks ok to me, in this mock up.











L.P.

[pederb]

Originally Posted by rwintle

Any idea who the drivers might be (other than Seth?). RIP the days of Long and Bergmeister in the FLM Porsche.

I'm sure Audi will provide a few of their factory drivers

[pederb]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Looks ok to me, in this mock up.











L.P.

Awesome

[Purist]

I've just never found the R8 (road car) to be a terribly attractive looker.

One year, maybe 2009, Phoenix had one at the Spa 24, which I thought looked comparatively alright. The primarily blue one running Grand-Am this year didn't look bad either.

One thing that didn't help get the rules out was the unplanned shutdown of the wind tunnel (Windsheer facility?) where the full-scale tests were to be held. And, I suppose, by the time that bombshell hit, a lot of potential tracks that could have been used for live testing were booked up.

[BullMan]

Originally Posted by Breitling24

Lots of paved run-off with no gravel traps.

Well the WEC runs F1 circuits in every round but Le Mans at circuits with oceans of pavement runoff.

[somebodysb2]

R8's are famed for being the easiest-to-drive GT3 car on the grid. Outstanding stability compared to say, the Nismo GT3 that is plagued with rear traction issues. Seth should be able to drive at the limit much easily than on the old GTC Cup car.