American LeMans, C6.R ???

[deadmanTA]

I was watching this yesterday and the C6.R's were racing against each other because there wasn't any other cars in the GT1 class. What gives GM scared off all the competion?

[AU N EGL]

Originally Posted by deadmanTA

I was watching this yesterday and the C6.R's were racing against each other because there wasn't any other cars in the GT1 class. What gives GM scared off all the competion?

YES

Aston Martin Ran out of Money for racing, Saleen couild not be competitive with 5 million per year budget.

The Ferrari's 550s and 575s were getting too old. Viper was not fast enough.

New rules coming out the end of November for the next few years.

Corvette MAY move into the Prototype class to race against the Audi's in 2010

[EchoMirage]

after winning Le Mons, aston ran out of money??

[dailydriver]

I guess the effort/coin it took to beat the C6Rs did just that!!

They are owned by Ford after all, and they might be hurting even more than GM!!
Hence the cuts.

[SIK02SS]

Originally Posted by AU N EGL

YES

Aston Martin Ran out of Money for racing, Saleen couild not be competitive with 5 million per year budget.

The Ferrari's 550s and 575s were getting too old. Viper was not fast enough.

New rules coming out the end of November for the next few years.

Corvette MAY move into the Prototype class to race against the Audi's in 2010

i think that rumor was officially quabled. i was reading in the sports racer mag about it...the reason that rumor came out was because the C7 was going to be a mid engine at first. once it was official it was going to be front engine, they dropped the LMP possibility

thats what i read at least, and i dont remember who wrote it nor where the info came from

[SIK02SS]

and as far as i know, the 008 Aston is GT1 (against the vettes) and 007 is GT2. BUT, you will rarely ever see the 008 running

[AU N EGL]

Those are two different Astons, one is a DBR9in GT1 ( purpose built race car at about $960,000 each) and the GT2 is the DBRS9( convented street car to race car at about $500,000 each )

YES AMR, Aston Martin Racing, does not have the money to spend on a GT race program in North America. AMR is working on a Prototype race car and engine combination for customers in the future. Their GT program is a shoe string project now and wealthy private teams.

Plus major rule changes in the works. These rule changes will be anounced the end of Nov this year for the 2010 year. These changes have caused teams and manufactures to any new constructions on hold until the new rules are finalized.


a GT1 race team budget for 2 cars is approx $10 million per year, plus the cost of cars. The C6Rs at $1 million each New. Slightly used at $800,000 each

[LS1-450]

(Kinda off topic) I Love the American LeMans series; specifically the GT1 & GT2 classes. Man..... I hope the cost & rule changes associted w/ running in the series doesn't reduce the number of competitors. For me, The American LeMans series is the most interesting racing on TV. Just wish they'd cover more of the GT1 & GT2 cars & less of the P1, P2 cars.

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by LS1-450

For me, The American LeMans series is the most interesting racing on TV. Just wish they'd cover more of the GT1 & GT2 cars & less of the P1, P2 cars.

Same here!! (Except for maybe when they still covered the WRC on Speed )

[SIK02SS]

I love the LMP classes, the racing is a lot more interesting. My dad used to race the 4 rotor Mazda Kudzu...and i'm still around them a lot. i know a guy who ones the 02 Riley and Scott ..the one that had the crazy orange paint job, and i see a couple of the Dyson cars around at various races we're at too

[ChevyWeatherman]

I'd like to see the Aston Martins racing the C6R over here in the states, but there really is no reason to. There doesn't seem to be much of a market for them over here. At least around me here in Chicago, I see 5 or 6 Lambos to 1 Aston on the road.

[SIK02SS]

AMs are everywhere in the Los Angeles area. tons of people DD them

[ChevyWeatherman]

I'd like to see more around here. I did see a DB9 the other day and it was the hotness.

[SHELBYGLHS]

i'd like to see a factory backed viper to make the series interesting. anyone who remembers the last generation Lemans vipers wouldn't call them slow. they won lemans overall one year, anyone remember which year 99?

I really like the koni challenge races those are great battles on great tracks with a bunch of different cars. I hope chevy puts together something that could be run in that series, like ford does. Heck, i'd like to see doge do the same with the challenger.
We all benefit when the major manufactures go racing with more street based cars.

[SIK02SS]

cobalts run in the koni challenge. and yes, i think it was 99...iirc, that was their last good year. after that, they lost drivers and support and Corvette picked up where they left off

[LS1-450]

Originally Posted by SHELBYGLHS

We all benefit when the major manufactures go racing with more street based cars.

+1. That's the concept than built NASCAR. Unfortunately, the major manufaturers have spent their money on the over commercialized, highly modified, spec. class NASCAR vehicles. What a joke NASCAR has become.
It would be great to see the more street based cars, as you have stated.

[dailydriver]

Originally Posted by LS1-450

+1. That's the concept than built NASCAR. Unfortunately, the major manufaturers have spent their money on the over commercialized, highly modified, spec. class NASCAR vehicles. What a joke NASCAR has become.
It would be great to see the more street based cars, as you have stated.

As well as the original SCCA Trans Am series, which also evolved (devolved??) into a sort of tube frame spec class, and then eventually died, sadly enough.

["Z"]

Originally Posted by dailydriver

As well as the original SCCA Trans Am series, which also evolved (devolved??) into a sort of tube frame spec class, and then eventually died, sadly enough.

The tube frame Trans-Am cars are alot easier to work on though.

I miss the SCCA Trans-Am. The 80's and 90's were great. 30 car fields and outstanding racing. Lots of 3rd and 4th gen Camaros.

The best today is the FIA GT in Europe. Speed Channel didn't show the races last year. The last season on Speed was the 2006 season. Their was even a black highly modified 4th gen Camaro in a GT series (British GTor FIA GT-I don't remember which).

[SIK02SS]

FIA GT is awesome to watch!

[slick1851]

I want to see more street setup cars, than some hacked up carbon fiber monster that in no way or shape is close to the street car