Foosh

That's a good theory and could be the case. On the other hand, there are other possibilities.

Clearly, GM decided a change of leadership was necessary, but we don't know why. DF knew full well that the change was coming, and GTLM was going away simply because everyone else was leaving. It would surprise me greatly if he put on a "Don Quixote" hat, protested, and fought for the status quo. That clearly wasn't going to work, and he had to know that a change in racing strategy was required.

When the change of leadership occurred, GM explained they would be taking a top-to-bottom re-evaluation of their racing program. That clearly indicates that they did not make a decision to support development of a GT3 car until it was too late to have it ready for the new IMSA GTD series. After a lengthy delay, GM announced that they would be developing a C8 GT3, and they reached an agreement with IMSA to modify the C8R under a 2-year exemption to bridge the gap.

That's why I think it's equally plausible that DF wanted to get started on a GT3 much earlier, and was likely frustrated he couldn't get that decision green-lighted. However, I suspect he may have also been inclined to fight for continuation of a factory GT3 program, and perhaps he fought against the privateer model.

Since DF is now back at GM as a consultant, we probably won't know for the foreseeable future. Perhaps he'll write a book or grant candid interviews for pieces on the history of the Corvette Racing Team when he decides to really retire.

Foosh

There is no "factory" Ferrari team in IMSA either. They don't even participate full-time, only in the more high profile events.

16falcon

I wonder if another reason they delayed developing a GT3 spec race car is because they new it would be based on the Z06 and they didn’t want to let the Z06 cat out of the bag early? Just thinking out loud, always dangerous, especially on this forum, lol.

Foosh

I think the cat was already out of the bag as soon as the C8R was first unveiled. Everything about it screamed Z06 far more than Stingray, absent the wishbone.

johnodrake

In watching Le Mans, there is precious little attention being paid to other than the Hypercar class.

swift93

They are going to miss you.

68/70Vette

I see automobile manufacturers trying to distance themselves from ICE automobiles. With a possible exception of Toyota, looks like they all are striving to show 100% allegiance to a future of all EVs. EVs don't look very exciting as race vehicles.....They make a muted rrrrrrrrrr sound as they swish by and with a 1000+ pound battery they aren't going to be very agile.

Walter Raulerson

I tried to watch Le Mans yesterday and last night the coverage was AWFUL. I never knew who was talking the "field" people didn't have a clue the people in booth fought to over talk each other and the coverage of the race was terrible. I didn't know who the drivers were and never heard their names. The Daytona 24 and other endurance races that I've seen covered over here are excellent.

dollarbill

Worst decision in the world for corvette. They finally go mid engine and then drop out. So we have a highly competitive car and we are pulling out of factory racing and leaving the factory program to privateers. I guess Cadillac won in the board room. This is a Bud Lite move in Corvette racing and will hurt the brand in the long run. All the learning from racing that was translated into street cars over the last 25 years is flushed down the toilet for the future.

BIG Dave

*THE FOLLOWING IS NOT A SPOILER POST*

Not going to give away Corvette’s position at the end of LeMans, but if you DVR’d it, GO WATCH IT! 😉

Louisvillec5

How awesome is this

5632

Now it is a true foreign car race. No Americans.

Foosh

Because that's what most viewers are interested in, who actually wins the overall race, not so much their class. I do think they could do a better job running through both overall and class standings more often. It seems like 90% of the coverage time, the Hypercar standings were on screen.

It was a great win in the last Le Mans where C8R is allowed to run in its original "GTLM" trim. FIA/WEC ended the GTE-Pro class last year due to lack of participation, and this was the swan song for GTE-Am. Next year, like IMSA did 2 years ago, the GT classes at Le Mans and WEC will be GT3.

It's just another demonstration that the C8R is competitive when it can run as designed, and that it couldn't just be converted to GT3 specs and be competitive. That's why a whole new car needed to be built from the ground up. By next year, they'll finally have it ready for both US and abroad.

dollarbill

This is what happens when you put a Cadillac lady in charge of GM Racing. Cadillac has a Factory team and Corvette doesn’t. The best they can do is sell “race” cars to privateer teams and hope for a few wins. Instead of leading the parade they will have to wave flags and cheer like their customers. Ask Bud Lite how it feels to lose your passionate fan base.

johnodrake

Of course, I am interested in the overall leaderboard, but this year the GT cars were all but ignored and I do not agree with you that most people aren't interested in in seeing the GT class battles. There are people that like LMPT2 also and they weren't given much more attention than the GTs.

johnodrake

How so? Teams? Caddy is obviously American and so is Glickenhaus - that is 5 of the 16 entered hypercars. Even the Porsche teams were American - Penske

5632

Sorry, I apologize I don't know what a Glickenhaus is and never herd of it. Porsche is not American.

switchlanez

Porsche isn't American but the Porsche team Penske is, as was correctly specified. Same goes for the Porsche franchise dealer in my town. American, not German.

Avanti

Ferrari "ended" racing at Le Mans a half-century ago, but just came back this year... and WON! So, who is to say what has ended and when?

Foosh

The new "Hypercar" prototype class brought the Ferrari factory and other teams back. In addition, Acura, BMW, Cadillac, Porsche, Peugeot, and Toyota also finance factory Hypercars (GTP in IMSA). Not all Hypercar/GTP teams compete in both WEC and IMSA. Acura and BMW from IMSA did not go to Le Mans, but Cadillac and Porsche did. Ferrari, Peugeot, and Toyota factory Hypercar teams don't compete in IMSA. However, thanks to the normalization between IMSA and WEC, all Hypercar/GTP class cars are eligible for both series, including Le Mans.

Until this year, IMSA prototypes were not eligible to run at Le Mans and vice versa. Factories are investing in these teams because they are important for R&D and the future of sports car electrification. The goal is to bring something like these cars to the street someday.

There are no more factory GT (non-prototype teams) in either IMSA or WEC with Chevrolet's withdrawal after this year in IMSA. However, many manufacturers provide some factory support to the privateer teams, which is the model Chevrolet is going to with Corvette.