Ascari - alive and kicking!

[Coniston]

Lots of uncertainty surrounding Ascari in the last few weeks as they announced that they are not making road cars anymore, but advert in Autosport today states they are seeking drivers for GT3 - I assume this is for FIA. The area code on the add so I guess this is either the factory or a local team - does anyone know?

Hope they do well, Damax cars were quick last year but not very reliable. Look good though and it's good to have some Brits to look out for!

[paul-collins]

Damax are slated to return, but Ascari must run 6 cars this year to be eligible for the championship - and have committed that there will be a second team of 3 cars, whether run by themselves or a satellite (as reported on dailysportscar on Jan 10).

Too bad about the road cars ceasing production, as they're quite sweet...

[Leoparky]

As far as I know, the three cars being built at the factory have no team running them, begs the question will Ascari be running them themselves.....correct me if I am wrong but GT3 regs precludes manufacturers running cars.......it also questions there eligibilty as they are not making the road car on what the GT3 car is based, let alone the 200 cars being built (or intended to be built!!!) otherwise every manufacturer would build a car with the intention of making it to then only use it on the race track.

[Coniston]

Hmm - on this basis it looks less promising! I guess it would help if we knew what team was running the cars if indeed a manufacturer is not allowed to run the cars. Though, if they are not manufacturing the road cars anymore, then maybe they aren't breaking that rule! Seems an extreme way of getting around it if that is the case! Have any drivers on here been in touch with Ascari with regards to the drives available?

[The359]

Is Venturi still allowed to enter cars if they can get 6 entries, considering they aren't selling production versions?

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by The359

Is Venturi still allowed to enter cars if they can get 6 entries, considering they aren't selling production versions?

They lost the GT3 homologation

[The359]

I don't understand how they ever got it in the first place if they weren't building any new Atlantiques.

[Leoparky]

They have not been building Atlantiques for a couple of years......this is all very interesting as I read that BMW were looking at trying to get the Z4 homologated in GT3 form. How big is the grid going to be??

[Leoparky]

Incidentally, I saw the Advert in Autosport and it is the factory as a contact number.....how can they do that???

[grazias]

Can't say deal is good at Ascari - tried getting some information about the drives available for GT3 cars they advertising in Autosport and woman I spoke to couldn't give me any help on race by race or season package. Think I will go and see what the deal is like in British GT with a team that want to do racing.

Note: if you want drivers to take the option up the you should at least try be helpful on the phone. I don't want to come for factory visit if it means a long trip and for no reason when the prices are shown that aren't worth it. Just because there is carbon fibre chassis involved does not mean the pockets are lined with gold!

[Leoparky]

The car is one of the most expensive in the series......not sure what there gameplan is if they advertise in Autosport and then are vague on the telephone

[Coniston]

Grazias - what were the prices? If you couldn't get any decent info from them I suppose it's little suprise that the road car business has failed.

Leoparky - how much is the GT3 car? How does it compare to others in FIA GT3?

[grazias]

The woman on phone not helpful

My english is good but it seemed like I was talking another language asking for information on racing cars.
Sponsor will do deal with someone els now. Shame as I liked car but no go with team who not know how to run.

They will not get good with help like that....seyloco beifto....

[Coniston]

What's the translation of 'seyloco beifto' or will it get the feminists mad?!! Seems odd to have a contact person mentioned on an advert who isn't then able to answer basic questions. A friend has a Gordon Keeble and we went to the Ascari factory a few years back with the Gordon Keeble Owners Club. I was very impressed with the factory and the staff who showed us around. This is why I'm interested in how they are doing. I'm sure there must be some good people still there? I can't remember the names of the guys who showed us around - sorry guys if your reading this!

[Leoparky]

The car is priced at circa £175,000 which is the most that can be charged for a GT3 car (this I believe is just for a std car), The bit I don't understand is why are the factory handling driver enquiries unless they are planning to race the car themsleves (which they are not allowed to!)