MOTV8 Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 What do I win? See the last paragraph in my last post. In other news, LMP1 regulations are changing...a long read, and... Aston is back.... SPORTS CAR: TRG, Aston Martin Sign Major North American Partnership The Racer’s Group (TRG) and Aston Martin Racing announced today a factory-supported, multi-faceted Aston Martin Racing program. The Racer’s Group (TRG) and Aston Martin Racing announced today the formation of a partnership to bring a factory-supported, multi-faceted Aston Martin Racing program to North America starting in 2013. The move encompasses the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series, the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón and the GRAND-AM Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge as well as plans to launch a single-make support series featuring Aston Martin Vantage GT4 race cars. The new, multi-level partnership – TRG-Aston Martin Racing North America, LLC – commenced with TRG-AMR North America’s acquisition of 10 brand new race cars to compete in varying North American sports car series. The Aston Martin Vantage GTE will be unveiled at the American Le Mans Series’ annual Winter Test on Feb. 7-8 in preparation for the March 16 running of the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida. In the GRAND-AM Rolex Series and Pirelli World Challenge, the highly competitive Vantage GT3 is in its final homologation stages and will be ready to race for new customers after the Rolex 24 At Daytona. The new Vantage GT4, running in the Continental Tire Challenge, will debut at the January test days and will be ready to race in support of and alongside the highly successful Multimatic team already running in the championship. “Aston Martin Racing, as a factory- supported entity, has truly arrived in North America,” said Kevin Buckler, who will head the new organization as its CEO. “This program is massive and far-reaching. What we have crafted with Aston Martin Racing is the ability for TRG-AMR North America to compete in all the major race series with multiple teams, and to manage and support all customer programs, marketing, merchandising, transport, maintenance, a new Aston Martin GT4 race series, and even an Aston Martin-specific “Arrive and Drive” program for corporate clients and customers. I am honored to have my Aston Martin friends and co-drivers Kenneth Greenberg and Robert Nimkoff as partners with us on this new endeavor, and we are all excited to get the programs rolling immediately.” Julian Jenkins, Vice President of Aston Martin the Americas added: “There has long been a strong appetite from owners, enthusiasts and race fans alike to see Aston Martin in regular motorsport competition in North America, so this partnership with TRG is an excellent opportunity to further realize that ambition as we approach our centenary year.” Leaders of GRAND-AM and the American Le Mans Series welcomed the news. “We’ve believed from the beginning that the merger of GRAND-AM and ALMS would be a game-changer on the North American motorsport landscape,” said GRAND-AM President and CEO Ed Bennett. “This announcement by TRG-Aston Martin Racing North America is concrete evidence that our belief is bearing fruit – and quickly.” American Le Mans Series President and CEO Scott Atherton added: “We enthusiastically welcome the return of Aston Martin and the expansion of effort by TRG-Aston Martin Racing North America. Over many seasons, TRG has been a benchmark competitor in both ALMS and GRAND-AM, scoring many victories and championships. Today, we’re marking a point in North American motorsport that speaks to the confidence of the world’s premier automotive brands in our unified vision. This announcement underscores the fact that our sport is now in an unprecedented position to grow and provide value for manufacturers, for teams like TRG-Aston Martin, for our sponsors and most importantly for fans and TV audiences.” Buckler said that much of the immediate emphasis will be on securing customer teams to compete in all the North American racing series as well. “We will be responsible for race car sales, race parts, at-track engineering and technical support, rebuilds and repairs and will be there with the full support and backing of TRG-Aston Martin Racing North America for any of our customer teams,” he said. “We want to welcome and assist these teams at the highest level of support and professionalism in any of the sports car series in North America.” John Gaw, Managing Director of Aston Martin Racing said: “We are delighted to form this innovative new partnership with TRG which presents great potential across a variety of racing competitions. In TRG we have a proven race partner who clearly knows how to be competitive and win races, helping us achieve new levels of success in North American motorsport for Aston Martin.” In addition to managing its own race program and customer programs, TRG-AMR North America also has started the development of a one-make series with the Aston Martin GT4 Vantage. This series will race identically prepared Aston Martin GT4s against one another in a sprint race format at select venues throughout North America beginning as early as the fall of 2013. -and- Porsche still wants to play...a little. LE MANS: Porsche To Enter Factory 991s In WEC Porsche AG Team Manthey to campaign two new 991-model GTE cars in FIA World Endurance Championship... While having halted development of its 997-model 911 GT3 RSR and pulled factory support from Flying Lizard Motorsports and Team Felbermayr-Proton, Porsche announced Friday that it will field a team of its own in next year's FIA World Endurance Championship with its new-generation GTE contender. The German manufacturer will team up with longtime partner Manthey Racing to campaign two new 991-model Porsche 911 RSRs in the global sports car championship, including a full attack at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The effort, to be run under the Porsche AG Team Manthey banner, will mark the first factory entry in the twice-around-the-clock marathon by Porsche since its overall victory in the famed race in 1998. "The new 911 RSR is currently being developed by our engineers and tested by our works drivers," said Hartmut Kristen, head of Porsche Motorsport. "What better time could there be to introduce the new car than the Porsche 911's 50th anniversary." Having been in development for much of this year, the new 991-model car will replace the current 997-based Porsche in 2014. The factory squad, run by endurance specialist Olaf Manthey, who took Porsche to five overall victories at the Nurburgring 24, will be the only team with the new GTE contender next year. Full details of Porsche's factory program, including drivers, are unclear at this point. However, it would seem logical for both cars to be filled with its usual crop of factory pilots, with Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz, Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Long all appearing to be potential candidates. Additionally, fellow factory driver Marco Holzer and Nick Tandy, who both drove for Manthey's works-supported squad in International GT Open this year, could be in contention as well. Porsche's WEC GTE-Pro program will precede its planned factory entry into the LMP1 class in 2014. It's expected much of the focus will shift to the prototype program in just over one years' time, leaving the new 911 RSR to customers in all major sports car championships worldwide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted December 1, 2012 Author Share Posted December 1, 2012 Too bad we won't be in teh C7r's to greet teh Astons'.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOTV8 Posted December 2, 2012 Share Posted December 2, 2012 Too bad we won't be in teh C7r's to greet teh Astons'.... ...or teh new Bimmers! BOOM! ALMS: BMW Z4 GTE Confirmed For 2013 BMW to build GTE-homolgated Z4 for 2013 American Le Mans Series season... While there had been uncertainty over its future involvement, BMW has confirmed that it will return to the American Le Mans Series next year with a new GT-class contender. The Bavarian manufacturer revealed that it will shift its focus to a GTE-spec BMW Z4 in 2013. Based off the successful GT3 contender, the car will debut in the 61st annual Twelve Hours of Sebring in March. First revealed in a SPEED.com exclusive in July, the long-awaited official announcement came during BMW's annual end-of-season awards banquet Saturday evening in Munich. “This change in model shows that we are focusing fully on the BMW Z4 as an all-encompassing GT car,” said BMW Motorsport director Jens Marquardt. “The BMW Z4 GT3 has been very successful on the GT3 scene in recent years, and has proven its ability to win races. I am confident this car will also play a major role as a GTE car in the ALMS.” The Z4 GTE replaces the venerable M3 GT, which has been in the ALMS since 2009. Over the course of four seasons, it collected back-to-back GT championships, including the driver, team and manufacturer titles in 2011, along with seven class victories, all in the hands of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing (BMW Team RLL). Details of the Z4 are unclear at this moment but it's believed the car is nearing the completion of its initial homologation and will begin on-track testing early next year. Full details on BMW's 2013 ALMS program are expected to be announced next month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted December 3, 2012 Author Share Posted December 3, 2012 Hmmmmmmmm.....it does look a little sexier than teh school bus they did have... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenomOnWheels Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 ALMS: BMW Z4 GTE Confirmed For 2013 BMW to build GTE-homolgated Z4 for 2013 American Le Mans Series season... I love those Z4s. Anxious to see how they do in ALMS. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted December 6, 2012 Author Share Posted December 6, 2012 ALMS: BMW Z4 GTE Confirmed For 2013 BMW to build GTE-homolgated Z4 for 2013 American Le Mans Series season... I love those Z4s. Anxious to see how they do in ALMS. But you would still be rooting for CR, right.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertdawg Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Im glad to see the Aston's back, teh new beeemers could be trouble, BMW already knows what they are up against with CR so the Z4s might be monsters out of the box... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted December 6, 2012 Author Share Posted December 6, 2012 Agreed....and teh GoDug has already stated that there isn't going to be any major changes from teh 2012 cars, just a little fine tuning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VenomOnWheels Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 ALMS: BMW Z4 GTE Confirmed For 2013 BMW to build GTE-homolgated Z4 for 2013 American Le Mans Series season... I love those Z4s. Anxious to see how they do in ALMS. But you would still be rooting for CR, right.... Sure I will, Shifter - after the Vipers and just ahead of the Aston Martins, and BMWs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted December 7, 2012 Author Share Posted December 7, 2012 That chit just ain't right... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOTV8 Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 He'll come around.....after another year of sniffin C6.R exhaust fumes. I do hope tehy get teh Vipers over to La Sarthe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOTV8 Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 Well....Porsche is still paying Pat Long's mortgage and Wolf has a ride. LE MANS: Porsche LMP1 Rollout Set For Mid-2013 New-for-2014 Porsche LMP1 car to be run by Weissach-based factory team... Porsche's highly anticipated entry into the LMP1 ranks of the FIA World Endurance Championship continues to build momentum, with the German manufacturer confirming this weekend that its program will be run by a new factory team based out of its Weissach, Germany headquarters. Additionally, Wolfgang Hatz, Porsche AG Board of Management Member for Research and Development, revealed the first roll-out of the new-generation prototype will come in the middle of next year, ahead of a planned full-season attack in the FIA WEC in 2014. Leading new LMP1 program will be Fritz Enzinger, the former head of BMW's Formula One program, while Porsche's Head of Motorsport, Hartmut Kristen, will continue to maintain all of the manufacturers' other motorsports programs worldwide. Details of the program were announced Saturday evening at Porsche's "Night of Champions" celebration in Stuttgart, where confirmation also came that all nine of the current Porsche factory drivers have been retained for 2013. They include: Joerg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz, Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas, Wolf Henzler, Patrick Pilet and Marco Holzer. So far, only Henzler's full-season placement has been announced, with the German remaining with Team Falken Tire in the American Le Mans Series. No fewer than four additional factory drivers are expected to head up Porsche's new works GTE-Pro program in the WEC, utilizing the new 991-model RSR. Pffft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOTV8 Posted December 15, 2012 Share Posted December 15, 2012 LMAO! Nice commentary piece regarding the ALMS whoring their rulebook out for BMW: Commentary: Should ALMS Accept BMW’s Z4? By James Fish The American Le Mans Series has accepted the V8-powered BMW Z4 into its GTE class, thereby breaking its own rules. The GTE class is supposed to pit production-based sports cars from different manufacturers against one another; cars are adjusted via air restrictors and a few other parameters so that very different cars can compete on an equal footing. Cars in the GTE class are supposed to be based on cars you could buy off the showroom floor. In the case of BMW’s Z4, this has caused some controversy because the ALMS version uses a V8 which BMW does not offer in its Z4 street-car line Almost every GTE car is granted a waiver (or two, or twenty) from the rules—the SRT Viper is allowed to use its enormous 8-liter V-10 engine, despite the rules specifying 5.5 liters as the maximum. The Corvette is forced to run a 5.5-liter version of its 6.2-liter production engine. The old BMW M3 sedan was given more waivers than any two other cars, to keep it competitive with the high-performance sports cars it raced. So why would fans complain about the Z4? Those detractors claim that the V8 Z4 is not a “production car” and thus the racing version amounts to a prototype, and is outside the rules. (Many of those same fans complained about the M3, for having too many waivers, but that’s a different story.) Some racing fans (well, people in general) look at the past as a simpler, better time, when things were done “right.” They look back a time when racing was a lot less expensive, cars were a lot simpler, and literally anyone with a little know-how and a welder could build a winning race car in his garage. n those days, auto manufacturers would build special street cars just to be able to beat the competition on the race track. Factories would either design whole new cars (smaller builders like Ferrari or Maserati could do this.) Bigger manufacturers like Ford or GM would build “homologation specials”—limited runs of specially optioned cars to earn the label “production car” so those options could be used on the race car. Nowadays that simply isn’t possible—it would cost too much. Those fans calling for BMW to build an homologation run of 25 V8 Z4s for the street aren’t considering what that would involve nowadays. Any car built and offered for sale would have to meet modern safety and emission standards. The days are gone where a factory could weld a few motor mounts and bolt in a bigger motor—a V8 Z4 for the street would need a complete powertrain and frame redesign. The cost would outweigh any promotional value gained from racing the new version. That is a reality old-school fans need to accept—racing nowadays is not something builders like Enzo Ferrari do out of passion (Ferrari famously built his road cars only to fund his racing team.) Racing is now a corporate promotional venture, to build a car’s image and a manufacturer’s brand. It is all about advertising, and if the return on the investment isn’t there, the racing program gets axed. BMW’s head of Motorsports Jens Marquardt made it very clear in a press statement several months ago that BMW was only interested in GT racing, and only with the Z4. The Z4 was more competitive, and could benefit more from the racing image, while sedans like the M3 were aimed at a different market. Series like ALMS had to decide to grant one Huge waiver to BMW—allowing a non-production engine (though one BMW actually makes for other models) or kicking the factory out of the series. ALMS management has drawn the ire of its fans for many good reasons—basically that management bankrupted the most popular sports car series in North America. Here, however, ALMS management made a wise choice: given that almost every car on the grid is granted waivers, and given that BMW has been a very welcome addition to the series for several years, ALMS will let the V8 Z4 compete. This means more promotion for the series, as BMW advertises its involvement. It means more first-rate, factory supported cars on the grid, which makes for better racing. It means BMW fans will now watch ALMS races to see their favorite team compete. Not all rules are made to be broken, but considering how flexible ALSM GTE rules already were, this extra stretch to squeeze in the new BMW makes perfect sense. So, to recap, it makes perfect sense to bend over for BMW because they want it that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted December 15, 2012 Author Share Posted December 15, 2012 With any luck, teh headboard-biting will cease when Grand Am takes over in 2014...I think if teh Corvette were to threaten to pull out, we might even be granted teh 6.2, maybe even with a supercharger, and drop 100 kilos, and have LMP-like aero allowed... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertdawg Posted December 17, 2012 Share Posted December 17, 2012 Won't it be sweet when CR stomps BMW next year, even with thier prototype ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOTV8 Posted December 22, 2012 Share Posted December 22, 2012 Especially if its orange. GRAND-AM: 2014 Class Structure Unveil Set For January 4 Series officials from American Le Mans Series, GRAND-AM to reveal class structure for unified sports car series early next month... While Christmas may be less than one week away, drivers, teams and manufacturers from both the American Le Mans Series and GRAND-AM will have to wait until early next month before finding out the class structure for the 2014 unified sports car championship. Series officials have confirmed the much-anticipated announcement will come on Jan. 4 at Daytona International Speedway, during the annual "Roar Before the Rolex 24" pre-season test for Rolex Series and Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge series competitors. Both GRAND-AM Director of Competition, Richard Buck and ALMS/IMSA COO Scot Elkins will be on hand to reveal the class structure that will come into effect in January 2014, beginning with the 52nd annual Rolex 24 at Daytona. The essentials of the class structure are believed to have already been finalized but a decision was reportedly made to hold the announcement until after the holiday season. And...while I'm not a rabid Porschephile, I have been tracking their blurbs mainly because I take pleasure in Patrick Long's misfortune. Kooky, huh? LE MANS: Porsche Names Factory WEC Drivers Marc Lieb, Richard Lietz, Romain Dumas, Joerg Bergmeister, Patrick Pilet, Timo Bernhard to drive factory 991 GTE-Pro entries in FIA WEC... Pocket pool competition....GO! Porsche will head into next year's FIA World Endurance Championship with a star-studded lineup for its attack on the GTE-Pro category. The German manufacturer announced Thursday its driver pairings for the pair of factory 991-based Porsche 911 RSRs, to be run by Porsche AG Team Manthey. After teaming for two wins in this year's inaugural World Championship with Team Felbermayr-Proton, Marc Lieb and Richard Lietz will continue in the WEC, alongside a second season-long 911 for Joerg Bergmeister and Patrick Pilet. Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard will join the two pairings for the 24 Hours of Le Mans in June. While Dumas and Bernhard are currently only scheduled to do one race in the factory GTE machines, it's believed the duo will be at the core of the development of Porsche's new LMP1 contender, which will begin on-track testing sometime next year. As for the remaining factory drivers, Wolf Henzler and Marco Holzer will contest the American Le Mans Series with Team Falken Tire and Paul Miller Racing, respectively, while Patrick Long's full-time assignment has yet to be confirmed. The American, however, will kick off the 2013 season at Daytona, driving a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car for Park Place Racing. Porsche also confirmed Thursday the addition of Nick Tandy as a 10th factory pilot for 2013. The 28-year-old Englishman, who won this year's Porsche Cup, is expected to continue racing in the International GT Open next year. "A big dream has come true. I'm absolutely thrilled," Tandy said. "Ever since I first drove a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup it was clear to me that there could be nothing better than to become a works pilot for Porsche. It's great that Porsche recognized what I have achieved so far and that they included me in the factory pilot family. I'll do everything to merit this trust." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted December 22, 2012 Author Share Posted December 22, 2012 I wonder where Patricia will surface? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted December 22, 2012 Author Share Posted December 22, 2012 Check teh roar on teh 2013 car at COTA! http://telly.com/olivergavin#!56B5L Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOTV8 Posted December 23, 2012 Share Posted December 23, 2012 Sounds HEALTHY! I can't wait for that race at COTA, did you catch the GP? Track looks awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted December 24, 2012 Author Share Posted December 24, 2012 It is a good looking track, it's too bad they didn't just add it to teh schedule, rather than ditch Mid-Ohio. Hopefully, with teh merger, we'll have a longer race list now that teh warm-weather tracks are available. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted December 25, 2012 Author Share Posted December 25, 2012 Now, I'm a fan and all, but... That dood has me whupped.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desertdawg Posted December 26, 2012 Share Posted December 26, 2012 I think it looks damn good... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted December 26, 2012 Author Share Posted December 26, 2012 I think it looks damn good... I do too, but I would have went with teh black instead of teh gunmetal grey if you're going that far, might as well go all teh way.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted December 28, 2012 Author Share Posted December 28, 2012 Check out teh March 2013 issue of Corvette Magazine-nice article about Ollie... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Posted January 4, 2013 Author Share Posted January 4, 2013 Grand-Am Road Racing and the American Le Mans Series have unveiled the initial concept for the organizations' unified competition class structure that will debut in January 2014 at the 52nd running of the Rolex 24 at Daytona. The concept, which will be in effect for the 2014 and 2015 seasons, includes the majority of classes from both the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series and the ALMS will be retained with the exception of the ALMS' P1 prototype class. Individual class names have yet to be determined. The planned structure is as follows: ■Grand-Am's Daytona Prototype and the ALMS' P2 classes will combine into one, headlining prototype class that also will include the revolutionary DeltaWing prototype, with performance of the cars balanced to maintain close competition. ■The ALMS' Prototype Challenge (PC) class for spec prototypes will continue to run as a separate class. ■Both of the organizations' production-based GT classes will continue as separate, distinct categories based on performance, preserving the history and fan following of both categories. As part of this plan, the ALMS' GTC cars will join the Grand-Am GTs. ■Grand-Am's new GX class, which is debuting at the Rolex 24 later this month, is being explored as a possible addition to the Grand-Am half of the GT mix in 2014-'15. There also is the possibility that GX will run separately as a fifth class. Specifications for all classes still are being determined and will be announced later this year. In addition, there will be continued discussion regarding the increasing inclusion of green technologies in the new unified series. “This is a ‘best of both worlds' approach that reflects the fact we have a true merger evolving on a daily basis,” said Grand-Am Managing Director of Competition Richard Buck. “And this announcement is only a first step in solidifying our class structure. Our organizations' respective competition departments are working diligently on balance of performance for the top prototype class, plus overall class specifications across the board. “This process is not being rushed. We are carefully gathering input from drivers, teams and stakeholders throughout the sports car industry, emphasizing inclusion, as we work toward a simple – but also complex – goal: we want to get it right the first time.” Added International Motor Sports Association and ALMS Chief Operating Officer Scot Elkins: “Numerous important partners and stakeholders have been invaluable during this process. We could not have reached these decisions as rapidly as we did without that assistance. Many factors were taken into consideration for this initial conceptual lineup, but the priority was to enable as many current competitors as possible to continue racing with their existing equipment. “We also want to thank the Automobile Club de l'Ouest for its input as we strive to maintain the important ability of teams to qualify for and race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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