Whelen and Curran To Rolex GT
#1
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Whelen and Curran To Rolex GT
Sonny Whelen is taking his team to the Grand-Am Rolex GT class with a pair of Corvettes. The team will be leaving World Challenge for G-A. The cars are not yet ready, so not sure of the first race for these guys.
#5
Le Mans Master
That should be interesting, Curran was pretty quick WC, I'd like to see how he stacks up in GA. Aren't WC Vettes faster than the GA Vettes obviously I've never compared the times, the WC cars look a lot faster.
#7
Drifting
W/C cars have more power, but less grip. GA uses Pirelli slicks vs the
DOT type race rubber of W/C. The prep 2 tube frame cars MAY have an advantage in suspension geometry and ability to relocate weight
The lap times probably wouldn't be that much different. The front running
GT Rolex cars justed tested at Daytona running 1:49's that is super quick for the relative lack of power.
#10
Race Director
it is a shame, my roots are in WC, but the totally screwed things up, lost sponsors and decent TV coverage, and Grand Am has it right (although I still hate the DP's). Should be an awesome year for Grand Am, and virtually no one will see WC.
I'm not switching to Dish Network just to watch WC..............
I'm not switching to Dish Network just to watch WC..............
#11
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World Challenge is in a world of hurt for 2010. Whelen is gone, Gunter is gone, Mike Davis is headed to ALMS GT2 in a Doran built Ford GT, Mazda money is gone so look for Tindol and Tri-Point to bail, BimmerWorld went to Continental...so who is left?
Real Time will clean up with their two cars in Tc and two cars in GTS. K-Pax and Sofranos to battle for GT honors? Then a handful or guys who jump in and out depending on the schedule. Unless club guys start coming out of the woodwork...
It is my understanding from talking to various teams lately,those that have left have lost faith in SCCA and WCVision. Most don't like the direction they are taking the series. Cost are too high, no good word on the Toyo R888 tire, Versus doubts, and most say that SCCA and WCV do not have a clue how to treat teams and sponsors. So, they are voting with their feet and leaving.
Bove can't sell series sponsorship, unstable rules, paddock favoritism, all add up to unhappy customers. It will be interesting.
Real Time will clean up with their two cars in Tc and two cars in GTS. K-Pax and Sofranos to battle for GT honors? Then a handful or guys who jump in and out depending on the schedule. Unless club guys start coming out of the woodwork...
It is my understanding from talking to various teams lately,those that have left have lost faith in SCCA and WCVision. Most don't like the direction they are taking the series. Cost are too high, no good word on the Toyo R888 tire, Versus doubts, and most say that SCCA and WCV do not have a clue how to treat teams and sponsors. So, they are voting with their feet and leaving.
Bove can't sell series sponsorship, unstable rules, paddock favoritism, all add up to unhappy customers. It will be interesting.
#12
Melting Slicks
Rolex GTs were about 1 sec/lap faster than WC at Laguna and Mid-Ohio
#13
Safety Car
Curran's a great driver but I've seen very few races where he finishes. He either wrecks or has a mechanical. Either Whelan's cars aren't built to last, or he needs to learn to be gentler on his equipment.
It will be nice to see some 'vettes, do they use solid axle cars in Rolex?
It will be nice to see some 'vettes, do they use solid axle cars in Rolex?
#14
Race Director
It is my understanding from talking to various teams lately,those that have left have lost faith in SCCA and WCVision. Most don't like the direction they are taking the series. Cost are too high, no good word on the Toyo R888 tire, Versus doubts, and most say that SCCA and WCV do not have a clue how to treat teams and sponsors. So, they are voting with their feet and leaving.
Eric is very fast, and really seems to have only had mechanical issues the last few years. Whelen obviously builds good cars, but I have to think Eric may have had some bad hardware along the way.
I continue to like the ALMS CARS best for endurance racing, and the SPEED GT CARS for sprint racing, but the Rolex and Koni RACING is by far the most competitive and fun to watch right now.
#15
Racer
Curran's a great driver but I've seen very few races where he finishes. He either wrecks or has a mechanical. Either Whelan's cars aren't built to last, or he needs to learn to be gentler on his equipment.
It will be nice to see some 'vettes, do they use solid axle cars in Rolex?
It will be nice to see some 'vettes, do they use solid axle cars in Rolex?
The production based cars have limitations but Lou was commenting that they were using an aftermarket transmission. There goes that rules creep that drives costs up. I guess it's necessary when the factory pieces can't stand the strain of racing.
Riggins and Ron even had a set of drawings for a car with a removable back half to be able to run the straight axle at the high bank/smooth tracks and the transaxle at the twisty/rough tracks. GM didn't want to see Corvettes in the series so the car never got built and Stevenson went with the Pontiacs; but it was a neat idea.
Locke McCormick
North Florida Corvette Assn.
Jacksonville, FL
#16
The Tube Frame cars can run either. See the Stevenson Team's Vettes from a few years ago. They had a Riggins built car with a straight axle and a Crawford built car with a transaxle in the back.
The production based cars have limitations but Lou was commenting that they were using an aftermarket transmission. There goes that rules creep that drives costs up. I guess it's necessary when the factory pieces can't stand the strain of racing.
Riggins and Ron even had a set of drawings for a car with a removable back half to be able to run the straight axle at the high bank/smooth tracks and the transaxle at the twisty/rough tracks. GM didn't want to see Corvettes in the series so the car never got built and Stevenson went with the Pontiacs; but it was a neat idea.
Locke McCormick
North Florida Corvette Assn.
Jacksonville, FL
The production based cars have limitations but Lou was commenting that they were using an aftermarket transmission. There goes that rules creep that drives costs up. I guess it's necessary when the factory pieces can't stand the strain of racing.
Riggins and Ron even had a set of drawings for a car with a removable back half to be able to run the straight axle at the high bank/smooth tracks and the transaxle at the twisty/rough tracks. GM didn't want to see Corvettes in the series so the car never got built and Stevenson went with the Pontiacs; but it was a neat idea.
Locke McCormick
North Florida Corvette Assn.
Jacksonville, FL
#17
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I wanted to provide a clarification about Whelen.
The team is building two completely brand new G-A Rolex GT spec Corvettes. They will not be converting their WCGT cars. It was deemed as not feasible to do.
Sorry for any confusion.Wanted to set the record straight.
The team is building two completely brand new G-A Rolex GT spec Corvettes. They will not be converting their WCGT cars. It was deemed as not feasible to do.
Sorry for any confusion.Wanted to set the record straight.
#18
Le Mans Master
I am excited to see them do battle in GA.
I stopped by and spoke with Sonny himself a few years ago when ALMS/WC still came to Portland. Super nice guy and spent time talk to us about how they were swapping a bum motor etc.
Curran is fun to watch and if the cards fall into place I can only see his stock rising.
I'm looking forward even more to GA this year.
#19
Le Mans Master
W/C cars have more power, but less grip. GA uses Pirelli slicks vs the
DOT type race rubber of W/C. The prep 2 tube frame cars MAY have an advantage in suspension geometry and ability to relocate weight
The lap times probably wouldn't be that much different. The front running
GT Rolex cars justed tested at Daytona running 1:49's that is super quick for the relative lack of power.
DOT type race rubber of W/C. The prep 2 tube frame cars MAY have an advantage in suspension geometry and ability to relocate weight
The lap times probably wouldn't be that much different. The front running
GT Rolex cars justed tested at Daytona running 1:49's that is super quick for the relative lack of power.
#20
Burning Brakes