[Grand Am] Grand-Am 2011 Discussion

[joeb]

There has been a bit of news lately regarding 2011 plans for multiple teams, so I thought I would start a thread to keep tabs on everybody's plans for next season.

I have compiled a list of potential DP season entries with chassis/engine listed. Please add to this list and maybe start one for GT if you are so inclined.

Ganassi - Riley/BMW
Dyson - Lola/Ford
Gainsco - Riley/Chevy
Spirit of Daytona - Coyote/Chevy
Action Express - Riley/Porsche (2 cars)
Sun Trust - Dallara/Ford
AIM - Riley/Ford
Michael Shank - Dallara & Riley/Ford (2 cars)
Starworks - Riley/BMW (2 cars?)
Doran - Dallara/Ford
Krohn - Lola/Ford

So that looks like 14 possible entries for next season, and I'm sure there will some additions/subtractions periodically. Looking at the list it seems Riley isn't as popular of a chassis as it used to be.

[Speed-King]

Looks pretty much spot on - 2nd Ganassi for Daytona, and there's a rumor about a 2nd Coyote being run by a team other than SoD... otherwise that seems to be about it unless something is coming out of leftfield.

GT:
1x Stevenson Camaros (looks like only 1 car now)
1x Autohaus Camaro
2x Turner Motorsports BMW M3
1x Magnus Porsche
1x Autometrics Porsche (Daytona only?)
1x Mitchum Porsche (Daytona only?)
1x Brumos Porsche
??? TRG (at least Daytona, but I expect 1 or 2 full season entries, Lally said they'll be at the VIR test)
1x LG Corvette
1x Whelen Corvette
1x Banner Corvette (might be in trouble with Edwards leaving etc. alternatively might turn into a Camaro)
3x Sahlen's Mazda
3x SpeedSource Mazda (might be two... or four)
1x Racer's Edge Mazda
2x Dempsey Racing Mazda (just one car entered for VIR)
1x TPN/Blackforest Mustang (semi-works entry)
??x Audi R8 (APR?? Vici?? United Autosports??)
??x Ferrari 430/458

Probably 20 for the full season, give or take one or two - more for Daytona.

[HJJ]

I have my doubts about Krohn racing in Grand Am.

[Fogelhund]

I think you'll find another manufacturer in GT as well.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Fogelhund

I think you'll find another manufacturer in GT as well.

another prep 1 or prep 2?

[Fogelhund]

Whatever the unibody chassis is.

[Speed-King]

Tony Dowe's Ferrari?

[Canada ALMS fan]

That would be nice. Tony's a great guy and a seasoned racer. It would also make the Leighton Reese Corvette even less likely.

[chernaudi]

Suntrust has switched from Ford to Chevrolet as an engine supplier, and Ford will be running Mustangs in GT.

[johncho]

I doubt starworks will be running BMW engines.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by johncho

I doubt starworks will be running BMW engines.

why do you say that?

[dxk1]

With all the success Ganassi had this past year, it is sort of surprising that there will not be more entries with BMW engines in DP Class. The big winner in DP seems to be Ford engines which will be in more than half the entries!

DK

[joeb]

I was just browsing the GA website and found this little bit about the cars that are eligible in the GT category:

"Among those cars eligible for competition in the Rolex Series GT class are the Porsche GT3, Chevrolet Camaro, BMW M3 and M6, Pontiac GTO.R, Mazda RX-8, Nissan 350Z, Ferrari 430C, Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang, Infiniti G35, Audi R8, Jaguar XK and Mercedes SLS."

So I guess they might be expecting a Mercedes SLS along with Audi R8? And could this be what Krohn will be racing in 2011? Also, has the Infiniti or Jag raced before?

[Speed-King]

The Infiniti raced once in the 2006 or 2007 24hours...

And that's mostly a list of theoretically elegible cars, a look at the GT-rulebook shows for which cars GA has actually bothered so far to create a set of specs...

The 2011 rulebook should be available in the next months, though. It will be interesting to see what changes there are in there...

[TWK]

Originally Posted by joeb

I was just browsing the GA website and found this little bit about the cars that are eligible in the GT category:

"Among those cars eligible for competition in the Rolex Series GT class are the Porsche GT3, Chevrolet Camaro, BMW M3 and M6, Pontiac GTO.R, Mazda RX-8, Nissan 350Z, Ferrari 430C, Chevrolet Corvette, Ford Mustang, Infiniti G35, Audi R8, Jaguar XK and Mercedes SLS."

So I guess they might be expecting a Mercedes SLS along with Audi R8? And could this be what Krohn will be racing in 2011? Also, has the Infiniti or Jag raced before?

From Dave Spitzer:

Ferrari 458

Discussions are underway to introduce a version of this car for Rolex GT competition. Again, significant attention will be paid to the engine and electronics to be sure it is a fair entry.

Other GT3 cars – Mercedes, BMW, etc.

We are in early discussions with these brands to include versions of their GT3 cars in Rolex GT also. If you are interested in details, please let us know. Similar principles will be followed as with the Audi R8.