Offical Grand-Am GT RX-8 Thread
09-04-2012, 01:26 PM
#1952
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I found some of the comments by ALMS fans regarding the DP cars odd though. A few referenced the DP cars as "slow". Not at all the impression I've gotten in general. Seems like the DPs probably have the speed edge on the LMP1/2 cars. Even if uglier 
Not sure just a weight change would be sufficient, but maybe.
Not sure just a weight change would be sufficient, but maybe.
09-04-2012, 01:40 PM
#1954
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as a casual fan who just got into Gran-Am racing the last two years I kinnda think this is exciting.
More cars
more manufacturers
?
Not sure how smoothly they'll integrate DP with LMP or where the GX class fits.
what does ALMS have similar to GT class?
More cars
more manufacturers
?
Not sure how smoothly they'll integrate DP with LMP or where the GX class fits.
what does ALMS have similar to GT class?
09-04-2012, 01:43 PM
#1955
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ALMS has 2 prototype categories and 1(?) GT category. There used to be 3 GT categories I think, but then merged together. Porsche and Corvette are 90% of the GT field for ALMS.
09-04-2012, 01:45 PM
#1956
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would be interesting to see how the Ferrari team will fair in this new class. Would have been nice to see the RX8 out there. 
09-04-2012, 02:16 PM
#1957
09-05-2012, 10:15 AM
#1958
GRAND-AM: Rolex Series, American Le Mans Series Announce Historic Merger
The most significant development in the history of sports car racing in North America was announced today, with plans for a landmark merger of GRAND-AM Road Racing and the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) unveiled at Daytona International Speedway.
Under terms of the merger, the following entities will combine with GRAND-AM: the American Le Mans Series; the International Motor Sports Association, which sanctions ALMS events; the Road Atlanta race track facility in Braselton, Ga.; the Chateau Elan Hotel and Conference Center in Sebring, Fla.; and Sebring International Raceway, via a reassignment of the lease agreement with the Sebring Airport Authority to operate the raceway.
Both sanctioning bodies will continue to operate separate schedules in 2013 before racing under one banner in 2014 beginning with North America’s premier sports car race, the 52nd annual Rolex 24 At Daytona.....
Under terms of the merger, the following entities will combine with GRAND-AM: the American Le Mans Series; the International Motor Sports Association, which sanctions ALMS events; the Road Atlanta race track facility in Braselton, Ga.; the Chateau Elan Hotel and Conference Center in Sebring, Fla.; and Sebring International Raceway, via a reassignment of the lease agreement with the Sebring Airport Authority to operate the raceway.
Both sanctioning bodies will continue to operate separate schedules in 2013 before racing under one banner in 2014 beginning with North America’s premier sports car race, the 52nd annual Rolex 24 At Daytona.....
09-05-2012, 11:40 AM
#1959
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I found some of the comments by ALMS fans regarding the DP cars odd though. A few referenced the DP cars as "slow". Not at all the impression I've gotten in general. Seems like the DPs probably have the speed edge on the LMP1/2 cars. Even if uglier
Not sure just a weight change would be sufficient, but maybe.
Not sure just a weight change would be sufficient, but maybe.
09-06-2012, 06:22 AM
#1960
An interesting statement made, by a principle, about the merger:
more at: http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/102250
more at: http://www.motorsport.com/grandam/ne...erger-by-2014/
The new group also refused to discuss the class structure of 2014 series, but Panoz as good as confirmed that the LMP1 prototype class would not be part of the new series.
"In our situation were are not thinking about an LMP1 class," he explained. "We are thinking about prototypes, advanced prototypes. We are American based and this series we are putting together is an American sportscar series and we need to take care of our own market."
That statement backs up speculation that Grand-Am's Daytona Prototype class will be the top division of the new US sportscar series in 2014.
It is understood that the new group is working on how to incorporate LMP2 cars, which are presently faster than DPs, as a secondary class.
"In our situation were are not thinking about an LMP1 class," he explained. "We are thinking about prototypes, advanced prototypes. We are American based and this series we are putting together is an American sportscar series and we need to take care of our own market."
That statement backs up speculation that Grand-Am's Daytona Prototype class will be the top division of the new US sportscar series in 2014.
It is understood that the new group is working on how to incorporate LMP2 cars, which are presently faster than DPs, as a secondary class.
The fastest cars in ALMS are Prototype 1, and currently only two teams exist. It is expected that the P1s will be dropped. The P2 class should survive as will the current Grand-Am Daytona Prototypes. The famous DeltaWing that made history at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans will also be included in the “new” class.
09-06-2012, 11:29 AM
#1961
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sounds like this could get real interesting in 2014.
09-06-2012, 11:56 AM
#1964
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dp vs lmp2 sounds like fun to me.
wonder what changes they'll have to make to level that playing field. Has anyone looked up lap times those two classes have put down on the same track recently? DP is the slower of the 2, correct?
wonder what changes they'll have to make to level that playing field. Has anyone looked up lap times those two classes have put down on the same track recently? DP is the slower of the 2, correct?
09-06-2012, 12:11 PM
#1966
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5 seconds? yikes, that's a pretty big gap to fill.
Do we know if any of the Mazdas would go to LMP2?
also, where is that new GX class going to fit with them merging?
Do we know if any of the Mazdas would go to LMP2?
also, where is that new GX class going to fit with them merging?
09-06-2012, 12:24 PM
#1967
There was a news report on here a day or two ago about Mazda's rotary future. There wasn't anything new about rotaries, but it did say that Mazda was going to start making racing engines. Maybe they will make ones for the P2 and GX classes.
I would say a redesign of the DP chassis is in order.
I would say a redesign of the DP chassis is in order.
09-06-2012, 01:28 PM
#1969
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even if it's just as an "engine provider", that's at least still keeping rotaries on the track so I'll take it.
09-06-2012, 04:35 PM
#1970
ALMS and Grand-Am merger will strengthen sport, says ACO
More at: http://www.autoweek.com/article/2012...n=awdailydrive
The Automobile Club de l'Ouest—the organizer of the 24 Hours of Le Mans—believes that the merger announced on Sept. 5 between Grand-Am and the American Le Mans Series will make international sports-car racing stronger.
ACO president Pierre Fillon, whose organization licenses the Le Mans name to the ALMS, said the move had “become necessary to enable endurance racing to continue to evolve.” He said the merger, which will come into force in 2014, “will reinforce the presence of endurance racing on the international scene.”
A statement from the ACO read: “The ACO is delighted about this merger, which will increase the already large audience for endurance racing in North America, and at the same time boost its international impact.
“The quality of the two organizations combined is a guarantee of confidence concerning the perpetuation of the values and prestige of the Le Mans 24 Hours on the American continent.”
ACO president Pierre Fillon, whose organization licenses the Le Mans name to the ALMS, said the move had “become necessary to enable endurance racing to continue to evolve.” He said the merger, which will come into force in 2014, “will reinforce the presence of endurance racing on the international scene.”
A statement from the ACO read: “The ACO is delighted about this merger, which will increase the already large audience for endurance racing in North America, and at the same time boost its international impact.
“The quality of the two organizations combined is a guarantee of confidence concerning the perpetuation of the values and prestige of the Le Mans 24 Hours on the American continent.”
