All it takes is a check from Chevy...I mean BoP change and the Vette DPs will be loud and proud in the front. The politics won't allow the Vette DPs to be uncompetitive.
I'd argue BMW was the one with the advantage most recently. The 5.0L BMW engine had to be BoP'd back for this season with the increased power on the DP cars. That really shows that Ganassi had the best power. In 2012, the BMW engine's average top speed at Daytona was something like 4 mph faster than the average Ford or GM engine.
But will it? Other than Starworks a few months ago, I haven't heard or seen anything to suggest more teams going to a Ligier for the full season. Rahal and Andretti both had all but committed full season LMP2 chassis P entries as recent as a few months ago. Now Andretti backed out and Rahal is supposedly putting together a Dinan DP program.
I heard it at Petit. That's as much as I know.
I much prefer the DP type chassis to the eyes and ears, but I'm not stupid. I totally agree that the carbon monocoque chassis is the direction going forward. Carbon Fiber is becoming less costly to manufacture finally making it way more practical. You're spot on with Ganassi going with the best option. Starworks won't enter anything unless they have am drivers getting the budget to work. That's another big if surrounding the whole situation. I firmly believe that there won't be any more new DP chassis constructors because there's no market past 2016. My only beef is that I don't want a bunch of neutered LMP1 cars with 4 times the downforce than what's powering them driven by amateurs because that's the only way they can make budget. I would like to see a broader range of engines in those cars as well. The LMP2 cars don't sound nearly as good to me as the throaty loud V8 the Vette DP. Nothing wrong with the twin turbos, but there needs to be a V8 in there with something like the old Pickett AM engine or possibly a Dodge Viper V10 powered Prototype. Get the variety up. (It wouldn't hurt my feelings at all if they hacked the big honkin' fins off those things either)
How many US prototype teams have raced at Le Mans recently? Everyone wants to race Le Mans, but who actually does from America? There were only like 4 teams from the US that raced in any class this season with at least 1 of them not returning. Point being: just because US teams want to race Le Mans and have a car that can race it doesn't mean that they do.
RACER.com
1. Budget-wise, It would be silly for GM to develop a new car. HOWEVER: They might be hangin around a while as an engine supplier (US only methinks) 2. see below 3. That's silly
Correct. Hence GM body kits. Whether those go international or not remains to be seen
Totally agree. While these type of budgets usually require an am driver, I do think that there should be some serious guidelines before these ams race out there like experience in traffic, in rain, and at night in the car that the am is racing in even if the class is mandatory pro-am. At the very least, have a certain number of laps or time driven in that certain car before they're allowed to race at all. I think an extra set of tires and a 45 minute session for the am drivers only needs to be added to the race weekends like grand am did just for the extra familiarity with the car on each track for the ams
A little tongue in cheek wording to lighten the mood never hurt anyone right?LMAFO. Someone did not think this post all the way through
Too close to PWC imo. Interesting idea though. I will be stunned and amazed if that DTM series gets going here. The GT racing market here is very saturated as is. All it would do is pull entries from PWC which is a shame because it's getting really good grids now. Plus, all the US mfrs have too much invested in GTE/LM and that other touring car series that races ovals to have factory DTM cars if you ask me
