1st Customer ZR1 GT2 team Revealed
#6
Safety Car
GM can't stop you from racing a Corvette in GT2 but they sure can make sure you have to run on crap tires. GM controls the Michelin tire supply in the ALMS series. You must get factory approval to use Michelins. This is true for Porsche, Ferrari and Corvette.
Rahal got special Dunlops for his team.
Richard Newton
My Speed TV Page
Rahal got special Dunlops for his team.
Richard Newton
My Speed TV Page
#7
Race Director
I doubt P&M would sell you a car if GM asked them not to. Nobody else can build one. Tires would be another hurdle all together.
I've been hoping for a few years GM would disband their factory team, and just offer support to private teams.
I've been hoping for a few years GM would disband their factory team, and just offer support to private teams.
#8
Racer
Then they came out with W/C Caddies and strongly discourged you and Lou from running World Challenge in Vettes.
Then they came out with Grand Am Pontiacs and discouraged Stevenson from running the Vettes he had.
Locke
North Florida Corvette Assn., NCCC
Jacksonville, FL
#9
They should encourage all the Corvette entries they can..........it enhances the brand image when there are multiple teams.........not just one team of factory cars. .........ie. Porsche RSR GT, is available to anyone that has the money. But there is always going to be a "favored team" ...remember Prodrive with the Ferrari 550GT and the DBR9. But they still sold cars to other entries..........isn't their money good enough ?? There are many "gentlemen racers" that have saved the factory's *** in various GT series over the years. Ultimately the factory always controls who gets the best parts and info anyway....ie. Porsche and BMW.
jerry
jerry
#10
Former Vendor
Member Since: Aug 2005
Location: Lewisville TX
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Doesn't anyone remember what happened to us?
Riley even sued them over the entire mess because they were promissed the contract to build the GT2 cars. Of which we have chassis #001 of 001 built.
Riley even sued them over the entire mess because they were promissed the contract to build the GT2 cars. Of which we have chassis #001 of 001 built.
#12
What if I won the Florida lottery and want an American GT2 car ??????? Old Ford GT's from Doran don't count.
There seems to be no problem buying a competitive GT3 car from Callaway.
Last edited by FORGED DST; 11-10-2010 at 05:29 PM.
#13
Former Vendor
Member Since: Aug 2005
Location: Lewisville TX
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Yeah but that would be logical....so would having a private team carring the flag proving how good the car is over all of others.
However you can't be faster than them (GM), as that would look bad to the guys funding their team.
Think there are politics in Washington? Try racing
However you can't be faster than them (GM), as that would look bad to the guys funding their team.
Think there are politics in Washington? Try racing
#14
Safety Car
In big time racing there is only one factory team. I don't care which company it is - one team is favored. When it comes to Corvettes you are not going to beat a Pratt & Miller car. Doug Fehan will make sure that doesn't happen. They'll let you spend a huge pile of money but you will never ever win.
This is the case with Porsche and Ferrari as well. Of course Ferrari will sell you a new 458. Just don't try to buy tires for it.
Everyone in racing will take your money. The factory will determine if you're allowed to win.
Richard Newton
This is the case with Porsche and Ferrari as well. Of course Ferrari will sell you a new 458. Just don't try to buy tires for it.
Everyone in racing will take your money. The factory will determine if you're allowed to win.
Richard Newton
#15
Le Mans Master
Sad, but true what Richard and Anthony are talking about. IMOE the tire thing can even happen in a spec tire series, along with arbitrary setup restrictions, either of which can easily manipulate and even invert a field. OMG, don't get me started by asking how I know, but the lesson was learned at great personal expense. Washington is a lunch-bunch compared to what goes on behind the scenes in racing. Still, it's in my blood...
#16
I agree, with you guys ........racing and politics are inevitably married.
But in international sports car racing it just seems obvious [to me anyway] that there has to be multiple teams [ even if one is favored ] in order to have reasonable fields to attract sponsors and viewers to a series.........24 Hr., 12 Hr,, 6Hr, and 3 Hr. races need more than 8 cars....4 factory teams. Remember Porsche with Kremer, Brumos, Holbert, Wolleck, etc. competing with the factory. There are dozens of privateers competing against MBZ and Audi in DTM.......guess where they buy the cars !! There were dozens of Camaros and Mustangs competing against Penske and Bud Moore, and Shelby in the TransAm glory days.
Oh, well I know I'm in a dream world here... I just want to see American cars compete in supposedly international series. Strange that you have to watch French, German, and Belgium teams compete in FIA GT1 and GT3 series with "our" cars.
Thank God for Sebring with a quality field allowing that to happen here.....but still only 2 Corvettes out of 50 cars. Sorry I'm frustrated !!!!!
jerry
But in international sports car racing it just seems obvious [to me anyway] that there has to be multiple teams [ even if one is favored ] in order to have reasonable fields to attract sponsors and viewers to a series.........24 Hr., 12 Hr,, 6Hr, and 3 Hr. races need more than 8 cars....4 factory teams. Remember Porsche with Kremer, Brumos, Holbert, Wolleck, etc. competing with the factory. There are dozens of privateers competing against MBZ and Audi in DTM.......guess where they buy the cars !! There were dozens of Camaros and Mustangs competing against Penske and Bud Moore, and Shelby in the TransAm glory days.
Oh, well I know I'm in a dream world here... I just want to see American cars compete in supposedly international series. Strange that you have to watch French, German, and Belgium teams compete in FIA GT1 and GT3 series with "our" cars.
Thank God for Sebring with a quality field allowing that to happen here.....but still only 2 Corvettes out of 50 cars. Sorry I'm frustrated !!!!!
jerry
Last edited by FORGED DST; 11-11-2010 at 11:20 AM.
#17
Le Mans Master
Whatever complains there are, I'm sure lots of us still identify with what you're saying Jerry. FWIW, I don't want the OP (or anyone else) to think I've chimed in just to dampen spirits here, as I'm a faithful follower of ALMS and LMS racing who's very pleased the ILMS has seen fit to include both the 12-Hour and Petit. (Just wish I could watch them from behind the wheel.)
#18
Race Director
GM told me the only way I would be allowed to be competitive is if they BROKE....or there would be retribution. I was "broke" myself, so it didn't really matter.
Don't guess it matters much anyway if the TV package is as bad as posted elsewhere.
Don't guess it matters much anyway if the TV package is as bad as posted elsewhere.