Sportscar/GT (and Le Mans) Rumours and Repetition

[Jacques Rabbit]

Originally Posted by Pandamasque

So now we know who is that mysterious audience that prefers to see Audi people waving flags to seeing final lap/turn overtakes for the lead in other classes! (off the top of my head: GTE in Silevrstone, P2 in Interlagos)

Yeah. To be fair, the director was much better in Bahrain and Fuji, which is probably why I enjoyed those so much more than the others.

I'd like a fuller GTE field a lot, as good as some of the races were, and hopefully with the GTE/GT3 stuff on the horizon, we'll get there.

Originally Posted by lms

amen. (factory corvettes, vipers and bmw z4 to the wec). not certain, but no lmp1 and lmp2 in grand alms = FAIL

I think it's more likely you'd see Corvette staying. They've been in support of the unification, and the C6.R has always been used in promotion of it. I would hope that Corvette would find it redundant to have a Corvette in DP, a Corvette in GTE, and a Corvette in Rolex GT, but GM never found it redundant to sell the same exact car under five different badges, so...

[Simmi]

A few more positive rumblings about the Z4 GTE. Leo Parente seems to imply it's happening in this video off the back of his trip to SEMA. Could Dunlop be stepping up to support the programme more?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCArd...=results_video

[batmobile]

FIA GT3 cars accepted in ELMS under the GTC class.
http://www.endurance-info.com/versio...cus-14332.html

[MitchZ06]

They did this last year too...

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

They did this last year too...

Unfortunately, no GT3 team showed up in ELMS...

[broadrun96]

I thought last year it was a list of accepted cars not all GT3s?

[R4z3rw33n]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

I thought last year it was a list of accepted cars not all GT3s?

GTC was originally declared as a class for 997 Cup, Ferrari Challenge, and Lotus Cup cars, if memory serves.
Eligibility was later expanded (after they'd gained poor entry numbers at the early rounds) to general GT3 entries.

Edit:

Here's the release announcing the change:
http://www.europeanlemansseries.com/....php?news=2152

[urdragon]

Same history. Until the ELMS grants a place at LM for their GT3 entries or for a GTE aligned by the GT3 winners, ELMS status will be as much as the same as BES or GT Open with almost five tents of entries, proving they are capable to grant such big grids wich the three hour format.

[TF110]

According to Lexus enthusiast, Gazoo denies the LFA will be used for next year's N24...? So, are they lying?

[Racenut]

Originally Posted by TF110

According to Lexus enthusiast, Gazoo denies the LFA will be used for next year's N24...? So, are they lying?

mmm... maybe a turbo 86? or 4 litre supercharged Toyota V6 (lotus).. wide flares, big wheels... sounds likes Toyotas version of a Z4 GT3.. lets start the rumour... It's official Toyota 86 GT3!!!

[MagVanisher]

Originally Posted by TF110

According to Lexus enthusiast, Gazoo denies the LFA will be used for next year's N24...? So, are they lying?

Oh please, I hope it's a lie because I want to see the LFA race at the 'Ring!

[TF110]

Akira Iida said the LFA was his "next challenge". So they'll run it somewhere. If they're denying it's the N24 I don't know where else it could be.

[rich07]

gtspirit suggest it could be elsewhere but that sounds like a random guess rather then an educated guess....especially when they say it could likely be raced in the 'Le Mans Series' next year...

http://www.gtspirit.com/2012/11/08/l...ce-car-teased/

[Simmi]

Doesn't seem like anyone has a clue. But I can't imagine GG would have said N24 if he hadn't heard something along those lines. It's not uncommon for one person to say 'okay this is happening' while another in the same organisation swiftly denies.

I'm biased but I'd love to see it in ACO racing.

[DeathOrGlory]

Hoping its a GTE car too.

[urdragon]

The GTSpirit article has plenty of contradictions, my guess it's a GTE car, but that comment of GTSpirit saying lexus wants to be raced against Lambos and Mercs confuses me, but GTSpirit tends not to be quite realiable about Racing cars articles, compared to supercar news.

[Simmi]

Spoken about it a bit in the Le Mans sub-forum but Alpine returning to the fold with a tie-up with Caterham could see the name back at Le Mans.

It turns out there's more to it than just speculation with new owner Tony Fernandes quoted in Autosport print edition today saying that 'Le Mans could be a way to run this car together. It would bring the heritage together and create a good story.'

Damn right it would. That new machine would be an extremely pretty new regs GT car.

[Mal]

L'Endurance Magazine have tweeted

"Awesome announcement tonight. And this is properly awesome."

..... I wonder what this means??

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Mal

L'Endurance Magazine have tweeted

"Awesome announcement tonight. And this is properly awesome."

..... I wonder what this means??

FIA/WEC has reached a long-term deal to hold races in Bahrain?

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by Mal

L'Endurance Magazine have tweeted

"Awesome announcement tonight. And this is properly awesome."

..... I wonder what this means??

I'm not sure but I got the sense that it was an announcement personal to them rather than sportscar news. Really like these guys.

After the issues they've had the last few days maybe they've found a way to make and sell those amazing race posters Jake creates? But then why would that be announced tonight? I know there's one prominent forum member who could tell us more.

[GT3.14]

Originally Posted by Simmi

I know there's one prominent forum member who could tell us more.

It's as if they were practically related.

[TF110]

Looks like it was just a t-shirt with their logo. On some other topic, Aston Martin is supposedly looking for buyers. Toyota is said to be interested!

[deggis]

edit: misread

[rich07]

Originally Posted by TF110

Aston Martin is supposedly looking for buyers. Toyota is said to be interested!

Not the first time Ive seen that rumour. Slightly OT and not realistic but could you imagine a TS030 with a Aston V12 in the back..

[Lorenzo S]

Originally Posted by rich07

.. Slightly OT and not realistic but could you imagine a TS030 with a Aston V12 in the back..

Oh God yes! I think the Aston LMP was the greatest sounding prototype to have screamed around Le Mans since the Mazda 787B. What I wouldn't give to hear/see that in a winning chassis...