GT Racing - GT1, GT3, Blancpain Endurance Series & National GT SeriesSports Cars 

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thestig1030
Rowe Racing has changed from Mercedes to a new BMW M6 GT3..Competing at 24h Nordschleife next year


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Still a bloody horrible livery.
 
Spacegoat
Little disappointing that they are going to be fielding only one car again. Would have been nice to see a couple of GT-R's on the grid.
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Here's an interesting tid-bit from a V8 Supercars article that was posted within the last couple hours:

At a media awards function last night Nissan confirmed it would defend its Bathurst 12 Hour crown in February with a brand-new GT-R that will be permanently based in Australia after the Mount Panorama assignment.
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Impending Australian GT announcement?
 
Hopefully that's the case, I've been wanting to see a GT-R in the AGTC for a long time now. I'm surprised Tony Quinn never purchased a GT-R, he's a big fan of the car and ran/runs one in various tarmac rallies here.

Also, I can't believe I didn't think of this for my previous post - hopefully Nissan have Matt Simmons lined up for the 12 Hour. It makes perfect sense on the marketing side and would be a good warm up for his Blancpain campaign.
 
Cap'n Jack
Hopefully that's the case, I've been wanting to see a GT-R in the AGTC for a long time now. I'm surprised Tony Quinn never purchased a GT-R, he's a big fan of the car and ran/runs one in various tarmac rallies here.

Also, I can't believe I didn't think of this for my previous post - hopefully Nissan have Matt Simmons lined up for the 12 Hour. It makes perfect sense on the marketing side and would be a good warm up for his Blancpain campaign.
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He'll be running the Blancpain series in Europe next year, so they may have him focus on that.
 
R1600Turbo
He'll be running the Blancpain series in Europe next year, so they may have him focus on that.
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You might be right, but it seems like a great opportunity for both him and Nissan. There's always 2017 and beyond though.
 
When the R35 came out, I thought the AGT would showcase one with the GT-R history here.
 
Andy Priaulx has left BMW. And part of me has died inside :(

@MatskiMonk
 
Clark
Andy Priaulx has left BMW. And part of me has died inside :(

@MatskiMonk
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Yeah... I have mixed feelings about it. It's a shame for the BTCC from my point of view. First and foremost I'm a BMW enthusiast, secondly the BTCC is pretty much my favourite form of motorsport, and obviously I came to like and support Andy whilst he gained his masses of experience with BMW... so the 2015 BTCC championship was awesome for me, despite the pretty average results - indeed Andy Priaulx getting back into the BTCC was the catalyst for me visiting every round this year. Without that next year, and just the otherwise mid-table results from WSR, the 2016 championship is going to feel pretty flat.

On the flipside of that, assuming he does join the Ford WEC program, that could be good. I like the WEC, but I don't follow it that closely as I don't really have anybody to support. Given there's no competition from BMW, I've got no issue cheering Priaulx on even if he's got a blue oval on his shirt (don't be expecting an avatar change to a Ford GT though!)

Realistically, I think it's completely understandable that he's decided to make this move. With his breadth of experience he still has a lot to offer, and I don't think anyone would blame him for seeing out his career in high profile international sports car racing, rather than trundling around mid-pack in a domestic championship, driving a car that's being regulated against. For me the shame of it is BMW can't offer him that opportunity to get back on the podium at Le Mans.

I'm glad I've gotten to see Andy race first hand in the BTCC, the DTM, the ILMC and the ELMS, it was good to meet him away from the track at the BMW Car Club Festival, I'm also pleased that I got to see him take his final win wearing the blue and white roundel at the Race of Champions. Thanks for the podiums, the wins and the championships Andy 👍
 
MatskiMonk
Yeah... I have mixed feelings about it. It's a shame for the BTCC from my point of view. First and foremost I'm a BMW enthusiast, secondly the BTCC is pretty much my favourite form of motorsport, and obviously I came to like and support Andy whilst he gained his masses of experience with BMW... so the 2015 BTCC championship was awesome for me, despite the pretty average results - indeed Andy Priaulx getting back into the BTCC was the catalyst for me visiting every round this year. Without that next year, and just the otherwise mid-table results from WSR, the 2016 championship is going to feel pretty flat.

On the flipside of that, assuming he does join the Ford WEC program, that could be good. I like the WEC, but I don't follow it that closely as I don't really have anybody to support. Given there's no competition from BMW, I've got no issue cheering Priaulx on even if he's got a blue oval on his shirt (don't be expecting an avatar change to a Ford GT though!)

Realistically, I think it's completely understandable that he's decided to make this move. With his breadth of experience he still has a lot to offer, and I don't think anyone would blame him for seeing out his career in high profile international sports car racing, rather than trundling around mid-pack in a domestic championship, driving a car that's being regulated against. For me the shame of it is BMW can't offer him that opportunity to get back on the podium at Le Mans.

I'm glad I've gotten to see Andy race first hand in the BTCC, the DTM, the ILMC and the ELMS, it was good to meet him away from the track at the BMW Car Club Festival, I'm also pleased that I got to see him take his final win wearing the blue and white roundel at the Race of Champions. Thanks for the podiums, the wins and the championships Andy 👍
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Wasn't the whole purpose of BMW putting Andy in the Marc VDS Z4 GTE part of a larger program to take BMW back to Le Mans?
 
His gain is the BTCC's loss. Whilst he has made a right move for him in as much as he is part of a massive new team with a lot of hopes riding on it, the BTCC and the ELMS also has lost a big name. But I think there must have been some reason. There seems to be so many on here who know the most as is possible to know about every facet of motor-sport like the mechanical side, the commercial side, etc. So someone must have an idea why WSR was unable to hold on to him. What was likely said in the talks between Dick and Andy.
 
TDZdave
Wasn't the whole purpose of BMW putting Andy in the Marc VDS Z4 GTE part of a larger program to take BMW back to Le Mans?
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I've never heard it specifically laid out like that? BMW Motorsport have open stated that Le Mans doesn't tick the right boxes for them, but it's not uncommon at all to place BMW works drivers in GT series cars to bolster the teams. Glock, Spengler, Tomczyk, Farfus, Wittmann and more have raced for BMW Sports Trophy teams throughout the year. I could be wrong though.

Diehardracer
His gain is the BTCC's loss. Whilst he has made a right move for him in as much as he is part of a massive new team with a lot of hopes riding on it, the BTCC and the ELMS also has lost a big name. But I think there must have been some reason. There seems to be so many on here who know the most as is possible to know about every facet of motor-sport like the mechanical side, the commercial side, etc. So someone must have an idea why WSR was unable to hold on to him. What was likely said in the talks between Dick and Andy.
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A double or triple podium at Croft isn't the same as a (class) victory at Le Mans. Which would you choose? Even if WSR were offering more money than Ford (lets be honest that's unlikely to be remotely the case) I doubt he'd take it given the other options on the table, do you honestly think a RWD car will have a decent crack at the championship next year?

Maybe he'll come back one day, but I'm thinking next time we see "Priaulx" on the side window of a touring car window, it'll be Sebastian.
 
TDZdave
Wasn't the whole purpose of BMW putting Andy in the Marc VDS Z4 GTE part of a larger program to take BMW back to Le Mans?
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No BMW need to start making cars to the rule book for the ACO to ever consider letting them anywhere near Le Mans again.

Diehardracer
His gain is the BTCC's loss. Whilst he has made a right move for him in as much as he is part of a massive new team with a lot of hopes riding on it, the BTCC and the ELMS also has lost a big name. But I think there must have been some reason. There seems to be so many on here who know the most as is possible to know about every facet of motor-sport like the mechanical side, the commercial side, etc. So someone must have an idea why WSR was unable to hold on to him. What was likely said in the talks between Dick and Andy.
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Holdenhsvgtsr
No BMW need to start making cars to the rule book for the ACO to ever consider letting them anywhere near Le Mans again.
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This is rare, but you're right. If they want to ever go to Le Mans, they need to make an actual GTE spec car.
 
I thought he would go and do a full season with either Turner or RLL in the US, I think he really wants to do GT/Sportscar racing and BMW weren't giving him that option.
 
Clark
I thought he would go and do a full season with either Turner or RLL in the US, I think he really wants to do GT/Sportscar racing and BMW weren't giving him that option.
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I think he wants the world, not just the USA.

Might have been a better option than some of this lot though:

WTSCC: Proven teams and drivers for the new car’s debut.
Two versions of the BMW M6 will make their race debuts in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship (WTSCC):

In the GTLM class, the BMW M6 GTLM will be run by BMW Team RLL, which enters its eighth season together with BMW Motorsport. The regular drivers also remain unchanged from 2015. Bill Auberlen (US), Dirk Werner (DE), John Edwards (US) and Lucas Luhr (DE) form an impressive quartet. They will receive support from BMW DTM drivers Farfus and Spengler, as well as Graham Rahal (US), at the Daytona 24 Hours. New to the squad is Kuno Wittmer (CA), who won the Drivers’ title in the GTLM class in 2014 and will compete at this year’s races in Daytona (US), Sebring (US) and Road Atlanta (US).

Turner Motorsport will field two BMW M6 GT3s in the GTD class. BMW works driver Jens Klingmann (DE) will contest the entire season for Will Turner’s (US) team. The squad of drivers at Turner Motorsport will receive reinforcement for the endurance races by BMW Motorsport Junior Jesse Krohn (FI). The line-up for Daytona will also include BMW DTM drivers Wittmann and Martin.
 
05XR8
Waiting for Erebus announcent :)
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Me too!
Pretty certain Reynolds will be in, since he was meant to be in the Objective McLaren until he signed with Erebus. Le Brocq will probably race for Erebus, or maybe M Motorsport. Hopefully Muscat and Marjoram get a seat. Then you have Twigg, Emery and Haber that raced the season, so they might be in.

As I'm typing this, I'm realising there are a lot of options for them. They are running 2 cars again yes?
 
I'm hoping 2 cars. Walsh could be in as well. Muscat and LeBrocq with Reynolds would be formidable.
 
At least we know they'll be fielding SLSs and AMG GTs for next season. Scratch my Ash Walsh comment.
http://m.speedcafe.com/2015/12/09/erebus-in-walkinshaw-holden-customer-talks/
The requirements of its GT squad will also need to be factored into future planning, with two new AMG GT GT3s having already been ordered on behalf of customers for the new Australian season.

They will join the team’s existing AMG SLSs, which will form the basis of Erebus’ Bathurst 12 Hour attack before running alongside the new cars during the championship.
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That would be prett cool. It'd be great to see BMW fight for outright honours for the first time since the race moved away from its production car roots.
 
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