Favorite Sportscars (endurance racers, that is)

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JohnBM01

JohnBM01

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Hello again, GT Planet.

Gran Turismo players both novice and veteran (like myself) may have noticed some of the many sportscars in racing.

For example, there is the Toyota GT-One, the Lotus Elise GT1, and the Nissan R390 GT1.

If you noticed the car names above, notice the "GT1" in 3 out of the 4 cars I mentioned. GT applies to closed-top race cars. Among these endurance-racing stars, I think GTP race cars are my favorite race cars, although I still enjoy an open-top powerhouse.

Among my favorites? Let's see... The Bentley EXP GT (that won Le Mans for 2003) is one of the most beautiful and most sexy cars. From a car company known for making luxurious-as-crap luxury cars (and I'll admit, they must be hotels on wheels). But this EXP GT goes back to the times when Bentley won Le Mans within the first decade of competition. Five outright victories to be exact.

Of course, the Toyota GT-One is ultimately the ultimate Japanese race car, and had it not been screwed later in the race, they would have beaten BMW in 1999. And Toyota would have been the only other car company besides Mazda to win Le Mans outright. And I would love to see them or another Japanese car company try their hand at Le Mans and win it. You all hear me, Japanese racing programs? Win one for Japan!

My favorite open-top is the Ferrari 333SP, and my favorite is the Momo Ferrari 333SP. The Ferrari 333SP has one of the best engine sounds I've heard for any race car (of course, almost any Ferrari engine has a beautiful engine roar). The car packs about 700 horsepower. This race car is like taking Michael Scumacher's Ferrari, downtuning it for endurance racing, and you can zoom down Mulsanne at 200+ mph.

You all want to share some of your favorite endurance racing cars? GT, GTP, World Endurance Championship cars of the 80s, whatever, come on in and share your favorite endurance race cars.
 
Originally posted by JohnBM01
there is the Toyota GT-One, the Lotus Elise GT1, and the Nissan R390 GT1.

If you noticed the car names above, notice the "GT1" in 3 out of the 4 cars I mentioned.
Click to expand...


You only mentioned 3 there, not 4. :odd:
 
The Porsche 956/962, and the Audi R8. It just doesn't get any better.
 
Silk Cuts Jaguar. Couldn't find pic of real version, but here is model pic in order to get the look of it.
 
I thought the Panoz was absoltutly amazing as Don Panoz reverted back to using a front engined car for racing. Had a phenominal engine (to hear that V8 come out of Mulsanne was one of my greatest memory's. Even going to the practice, you could hear the car from a mile away) and for me it was always a kind of outsider and I thoght it loked fantastic.
Umm... the lotus GT1 and Esprit, I thought were both fantastic cars, mainly because I'm a Lotus fan :D ......
The XJ220 Le Mans race car from 1994, man that thing again, for me was a proper racing car.
The new TVR T440R's I think they look superb with an engine sound to match :eek: .
The Jaguar XJ14, was an absolute beast. Sort of a F1 car, but with a sports car body.
Ummm... virtually every car which ran in the 1994 Le Mans. Firstly because that was my first year I went, and secondly I thought that was maybe the best line up Le Mans has ever had. It was just before all the super protypes came in and bent the rules (mainly to note the 911 GT1). They had some real super and sports cars then! some of the GT cars that raced: Venturi LM600, McLaren F1, Jaguar XJ220, Nissan Skyline GTR, Toyota Supra, Honda NSX, Callway Corvette, Porsche 911 GT2, Marcos LM600, Lister Storm GT1, Ferrari F40 and many more :) :O . That's the stuff dreams are made of!!;)

Personally the open top prototypes have never done anything for me, but there you go....
 
To many endurance racing fans, the Porsche 917 was considered one of the ultimate race cars. he cars packed 1,000+ horsepower, and could tear up the Mulsanne back in the day.

A class of race car I don't really like is the Daytona Prototypes. ALMS lovers would say that Grand-Am is trying to be their own Le Mans series by using NASCAR Country's Daytona as its focal point. However, that's not to say that the cars aren't beautiful. To me, the DPs are basically a flashback to the high powered GT2s and the sexy GT1s, but exclusive to Grand-Am. There was a Multimatic Ford Focus that had a certain concept that looked better than the cars out now, and I'm afraid I don't have a Focus Multimatic car.

The Dorans and the Porsche Fabcars look nice in this class, by the way. And add this to the "my favorite sportscar" list, the Cadillac Northstar LMP. Maybe some of the luxury makes know how to make beautiful and powerful LMP and GTP cars.
 
Probably the Ferrari 333SP. Why? The sound.

But I also enjoyed seeing a C5R and the old 993 based GT2 go rumbling by. (the turbo charged GT2 had such a neat jet-fighter induction noise)


///M-Spec
 
As I have said, I like the GTP cars. They are the most of a race car you can get without being in a fancy, open-top car. The GTP racers are some of the best in terms of looks and style. And I love that Audi R8C from 1999, even though it didn't do well at Le Mans that year (neither did the R8R).

The Bentley EXP GT is beautiful for three reasons:

- The British racing green coupled with a beautiful GTP
- The Sound
- It's a chick magnet! (Can you imagine a host of girls trying to catch up with a car that can do 200 or 240 mph?)

And back to the Ferrari, it is a shame that the 333SP is retired. I think if Ferrari wanted to reconsider sportscar racing in the big leagues, they should build a car as beautiful as the 333SP, with a sweet engine note, and make it durable enough to silence the Audi factory.

The 360 Modena is a beautiful car to race, and I like the ones in Grand-Am and ALMS. The JGTC has a 360 Modena with an aggressive front. I actually like that one too. I actually prefer the 360 Modena over the F355 or the 550 Maranello, in terms of looks.

The Panoz LMPs and GT1s were beautiful, yet unique. They may be the most successful American-based operation in sportscar racing. The Esperante GT1 (which can be had in GT3 for 2,000,000 cr) looks very low from the back while racing. Plus, it just looks so cool when racing. The Panoz LMP efforts are probably the only car company to have a FR Le Mans Prototype within the past 10 years. The front-engine layout means that there is equal weight distribution between the front engine and the spinning rear wheels. Panoz did a hell of a job with their cars.
 
Originally posted by JohnBM01
The Bentley EXP GT is beautiful for three reasons:

- The British racing green coupled with a beautiful GTP
- The Sound
- It's a chick magnet! (Can you imagine a host of girls trying to catch up with a car that can do 200 or 240 mph?)
Click to expand...

And at 7.3 mpg over the entire 24 hours, it outperforms a Hummer H2 on fuel economy. :D
 
Originally posted by PunkRock
The Porsche 956/962, and the Audi R8. It just doesn't get any better.
Click to expand...


Werd.

The 956.
porsche956c1.jpg


Audi R8.
audi-r8-6.jpg
 
You know, I know I was forgetting a sportscar that was one of my favorites.

Ever heard of the Mazda RX-792C (or RX-792P?)?

This car had turbo fires in their racing efforts, but it is one of the lovliest sportscars ever made. This car came a year after Mazda made history. The history lesson? Mazda became the first (and as of now, the ONLY) Japanese car make to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans outright (which is in my view, the ultimate proving ground). The RX-792s were aerodynamic and lovely. But as I mentioned, the cars had a tough time cooling down the turbo engine.

But in my view, I think if Mazda were to challenge Le Mans again with a full-factory effort, something like the RX-792C would be the focal point. If Mazda decides this and bases the car off of this 1992 automotive masterpiece, then Audi may want to check their rear view mirror down Mulsanne for something other than another R8.

This Mazda is a stylish example of automotive excellence, and had it been able to cool the turbo engine down, it would have maybe gone two-straight at the Le Mans 24.
 
Interesting that there's appreciation for such a fine automobile right here in Houston, John. :)

I have a sweet-spot for the Kunimitsu NSX. I will have that car someday.
 
I guess Houston is well represented thanks to Hondakid's reply.

I don't have a legitimate website, but on the JGTC website...

http://www.jgtc.net (Japanese)
http://www.jgtc.net/index_en.htm (English)

If you go to the Race Video, you'll notice that in about maybe 1996, there was a sportscar racing there. A Le Mans-style sportscar mixing it up with Japan's best. Anyone know what this car might be? To know for sure, let me repeat where to find what I am talking about:

Go to the website above (in Japanese or English). Then go to something that should say "Race Video," or "Race Movie" or something. With Media Player, choose a link based on your modem speed, then check out the movie. It is about 8 minutes long. But the sportscar I am referring to is within the first... 2 minutes of the video.

Okay? I'll jump to another thread for another topic. Until then, see you. And keep sharing us your favorite LMP, GTP, GT1, or any exotic GT here.
 
The Ferrari 330P4 and the 250LM.

Plus that sexy little Alfa prototype, can't remember the name, never won Le Mans but that lovely wail down the Mulsanne.

:O how ound be soo sexy?:O
 
Sometimes, I have an eye for art. With childish imagination and my current young adult status, I begin to admire cars as they zoom down the track under the hot sun, the rainy weather, the dark and dank night, or whatever the case may be. Whatever it is, Le Mans has been art in its purest form. Maybe it is the beautiful cars that makes you think about wanting to jump into the race and drive the wheels off that car.

Another car I admire may not be a prototype of any kind, but I just want to admire it regardless. The Porsche GT1 may be the second ultimate Porsche (the 917 is what I consider the ultimate), but it won Le Mans in 1998. This is where now-called GTS cars could actually hold a candle to the powerful sportscars. The Porsche GT1 can be bought as a road car for about $1,000,000. That means you'll have to be Donald Trump, Ja Rule ("Murder Inc!"), or someone to buy one. If you come across it, it is elegant. Elegant as the lonely moon and sparkly stars that accompany it. The racing variant survived 24 hours to win outright. It is more regarded as a GT car rather than a prototype, but I will hand respect to where respect is due.
 

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