Daytona 24 thoughts
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
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I think the C8R did just fine in its first race. The first race for the FGT at Daytona in 2016 was a disaster, with the top finishing FGT finishing 32 laps behind the winner, and they brought 4 cars to that race with the UK-based WEC team also entered. It was dogged by gearbox problems. Yet, by LeMans 5 months later, it finished 1, 3 and 4 in its class in its first year.
The first iteration of the Porsche RSR wasn't competitive in the beginning, but dominated last year, and they have a new version of the RSR this year, which is supposedly 90+% new. The BMW M8 was also a perennial last place finisher in the beginning.
I predict by LeMans, the C8Rs will have it figured out, and will be on the pace with everyone else. I have no doubts they'll be on the podium many times this season and will probably win a few. They'll do a lot of fine tuning and will likely get BOP help as most new cars do.
The first iteration of the Porsche RSR wasn't competitive in the beginning, but dominated last year, and they have a new version of the RSR this year, which is supposedly 90+% new. The BMW M8 was also a perennial last place finisher in the beginning.
I predict by LeMans, the C8Rs will have it figured out, and will be on the pace with everyone else. I have no doubts they'll be on the podium many times this season and will probably win a few. They'll do a lot of fine tuning and will likely get BOP help as most new cars do.
Last edited by Foosh; Jan 26, 2020 at 03:02 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2017
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Well you can surely tell the new cars are Corvettes. They look great they run with the pack and one of the headlights went out. Nit picking I know but the head light goes out? Geeezz. 4th is good considering right out of the box but we lost one.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2020
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This was a true test for the C8.R. It's an entirely new platform for GM and the fact that #3 finished the race and was even as high as 2nd place during the race is a great achievement. Their seemed to be issues with pit row and more stops, naturally adding more time. Heck the Ferrari never held as high of a position as this car! Now let's compare this to the 2 Porsche's that have already been raced and went through a 50 hour endurance test! Huge advantage for Porsche. I'm pretty sure the C8.R hasn't been put through that sort of test yet. BMW surprised me actually, I figured they'd have more issues but #24 was very strong through the entire race. I watched most of the race, missed some of the night racing.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Valdosta GA
St. Jude Donor '15-'16-'17-‘18-'19-'20-'21-'22
Only watched bits and pieces, definitely will watch the recap when it goes on youtube... but I see the Corvette that finished 4th had 2 more pit stops than the BMW/Porsche/Porsche that finished 1-2-3.
Anyone really follow it and have insight? The obvious assumption is that the Corvette was thirstier than the other 3 that beat it..... but in reality, it could be just that there was some strategy involved and/or a million other things that made sense for Corvette Racing to pit 2 more times than the competition.
Anyone really follow it and have insight? The obvious assumption is that the Corvette was thirstier than the other 3 that beat it..... but in reality, it could be just that there was some strategy involved and/or a million other things that made sense for Corvette Racing to pit 2 more times than the competition.
The time cards for the entire race aren't available at this time -- perhaps that'll give us more info.
As for speed -- GTLM
On lap 613 the #3 posted the 2nd quickest lap time of the race at 1:42.364 just behind the BMW's 1:42.168 on lap 752
http://results.imsa.com/
Last edited by raff; Jan 26, 2020 at 03:00 PM.
Team Owner
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Well 4th was kinda last, because the lower finishers broke down at various points going many laps down. The victory was keeping one car alive for 24 hours.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2017
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Lets not forget a 5.5L NA pushrod 2valve “Corvette” engine was in the overall winner’s Wayne Taylor Cadillac DPi car. Hats off to “Old School Power”.. still gets the job done.
Last edited by Rinaldo Catria; Jan 26, 2020 at 02:59 PM.
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I think one of the extra pit stops was the result of #3 getting turned around and tagged going into turn 1 on the restart in hour 6 --
The time cards for the entire race aren't available at this time -- perhaps that'll give us more info.
As for speed -- GTLM
On lap 613 the #3 posted the 2nd quickest lap time of the race at 1:42.364 just behind the BMW's 1:42.168 on lap 752
http://results.imsa.com/
The time cards for the entire race aren't available at this time -- perhaps that'll give us more info.
As for speed -- GTLM
On lap 613 the #3 posted the 2nd quickest lap time of the race at 1:42.364 just behind the BMW's 1:42.168 on lap 752
http://results.imsa.com/
Le Mans Master
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From: One Hour From Boston!
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An acceptable result, in my opinion. New car, new motor . . . bound to be some teething pains. They will learn a LOT from this race, and be much better prepared for the next one. Good race for BMW & Porsche, they will be tough competitors all season. The C8r looked & sounded good, and showed plenty of speed and plenty of promise. I'm cautiously optimistic.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: Gettysburg PA
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We were there for both days..... just got home moments ago. Disappointed somewhat, as the P cars were also essentially new as were the Corvettes. The P cars seemed SO strong and were able several times to run as a team, which didn't hurt.
The last pit stop for the Yellow #3 was about double the length of the BMW's and P cars. Couldn't hear the announcer talk, so don't know if something was getting fixed, or adjusted. Hopefully, they get it sorted out soon.
The last pit stop for the Yellow #3 was about double the length of the BMW's and P cars. Couldn't hear the announcer talk, so don't know if something was getting fixed, or adjusted. Hopefully, they get it sorted out soon.
Cruising
Joined: Jan 2020
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We were there for both days..... just got home moments ago. Disappointed somewhat, as the P cars were also essentially new as were the Corvettes. The P cars seemed SO strong and were able several times to run as a team, which didn't hurt.
The last pit stop for the Yellow #3 was about double the length of the BMW's and P cars. Couldn't hear the announcer talk, so don't know if something was getting fixed, or adjusted. Hopefully, they get it sorted out soon.
The last pit stop for the Yellow #3 was about double the length of the BMW's and P cars. Couldn't hear the announcer talk, so don't know if something was getting fixed, or adjusted. Hopefully, they get it sorted out soon.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,570
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From: Springfield TN
I think one of the extra pit stops was the result of #3 getting turned around and tagged going into turn 1 on the restart in hour 6 --
The time cards for the entire race aren't available at this time -- perhaps that'll give us more info.
As for speed -- GTLM
On lap 613 the #3 posted the 2nd quickest lap time of the race at 1:42.364 just behind the BMW's 1:42.168 on lap 752
http://results.imsa.com/
The time cards for the entire race aren't available at this time -- perhaps that'll give us more info.
As for speed -- GTLM
On lap 613 the #3 posted the 2nd quickest lap time of the race at 1:42.364 just behind the BMW's 1:42.168 on lap 752
http://results.imsa.com/
This is especially interesting because during the first two hours of the race, the Corvettes were consistently about 3/10ths of a second per lap behind both of the Porsches. That said with about two hours or so left I watched the #911 Porsche blow right past the number three Corvette in the infield to take over third place. #3 Corvette had nothing for that P-car.
I do not know who was driving on the fast lap, the ambient conditions or how new the tires were. Some of these details would be helpful to know.
Based on the eyeball test, neither the car, nor the driver(s), had anything for the Porsches when it counted—At the beginning of the race and at the end of the race.
Also, one of the lumbering BMWs won the race. They were not fast in qualifying, and they were not fast during the early stages of the race. IMSA must have let them use nitrous near the end....
Last edited by quick04Z06; Jan 26, 2020 at 04:50 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,570
Likes: 615
From: Springfield TN
This has now been reported by numerous people: "We were given to small a fuel connector and it takes us about 7-8 seconds longer to fill the car than the other GTLM cars and honest mistake on IMSAs part it's first race for the car so not much that we can do about it but on that stop it killed us." I don't know how true it is, but it may explain the slower pit stops.
If this is true, IMSA should be horsewhipped. Criminal. Also, I would have thought Corvette Racing early on would have been jumping up and down and screaming at them to allow a change to the fuel nozzle rather than just living with it.
Last edited by quick04Z06; Jan 26, 2020 at 04:48 PM.