Mazurfer

Thought I'd start one since I didn't see it anywhere yet.


Rule change effecting GT class:

In GT, Mazda RX-8s got an RPM limit boost from 8,600 to 8,880, and lost some weight (35 pounds).

Will it help?


I think I will try and make it up to the 24 hour at Daytona this year on Jan. 29th as it's only two hours North!

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Should start a beer meet thread for the race

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

35 lbs isn't much.

Striker-7

iTrader: (3)

It's enough to win. How many races have been won because the car only had 1/2 tank of gas, compared to full up? You just cut 1/3 of the weight off a fuel cell (6.5lb/ gal), or dumped almost 9 lbs of mass off each wheel. Weight counts. Less weight counts more.

William Lear (of Learjet fame) was once quoted as saying he'd "sell his grandmother for a pound less airframe weight", which prompted the engineers at Lear Aviation to rate weight savings in 'grandmothers' versus lbs.

Mazurfer

Watch how many other teams bitch because that added weight penalty the RX-8's had to carry has now come off. I don't think it will help all that much just because other GT teams have finally taken notice of Mazda's success in this series and are looking to de-throne in a serious way.

PaPaBear

Homestead Raceway, March 5. Definitely going. Can't make Daytona (sad).

MaRxtin

im in here for the good convo and to support the 8s

Chibana

I was surprised when I read about this change for the RX-8s, considering how well they did last season. Of course, these requirements apply to all teams using the Riley RX-8, which seems a bit unfair to everyone else (i.e., everyone who isn't SpeedSource). I'm very glad to see the rev limit go up a bit. I wasn't happy when that restriction was first put in place, since high RPM is what rotaries are all about.

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

GrandAm may have seen something in the Roar before the 24 test days that brought about the change. Porsche & Chevy cars could have reduced their lap times.

PaPaBear

The Chevy's were coming on strong in the last few races 2010 overcoming their tire problems. Perfections by other teams have made them more competitive with the RX-8.

Mazurfer

Yes, but I believe the rev limit and weight penalty lifting were both talked about very early last year and maybe even before that.

Anywho...........................


And the comprised field for 32 cars for the Daytona 24 hour in GT class is made up of……………….

43.7%.........14 cars (Porsche GT3)
28.1%.........9 cars (RX-8)
09.3%.........3 cars (Ferrari 430)
09.3%.........3 cars (Camaro GT.R)
03.1%.........1 car (Ford Mustang)
03.1%.........1 car (BMW M6)
03.1%.........1 car (BMW M3)


Next week!

PaPaBear

The Porsches are back with a vengence! This year is going to be wild.

Chibana

Whatever happened to Ferrari? I seem to recall one or two F430s at the beginning of the season last year, and then they were gone. Were they only in it for the 24 hours at Daytona?

Mazurfer

Don't really remember but three 430's are entered this year. You're right in that if the where there, they went bye-bye.

msumlin

35 pounds off of the 75 that they added last year to the 8's becuase of the whining, Porsche teams, funny, when they were winning everyting on 2009, not a peep! Camaro's lost 150 pounds and Porsche got to use the 3.8L and run wider tires in the rear.

Porsche is better suited for Daytona and Chevy looks string as well, shoud be a great battle in 2011. We'll be there on Thursday takin all in with SpeedSource in the pits, once again.....hopefully it will be a bit warmer than last year!

Mazurfer

Well, I know that "York". "Z0oMzo0m", and a couple other guys are there right now.
Me.............stuck at home as I am on call this weekend!

Rx strength

RX8 3rd place GT in Daytona behind 2 Porsches, 14th overall. Not too shabby!

Evolv

iTrader: (1)

I went to this event, first time ever at Daytona or any GT event. I smiled from ear to ear seeing that Yellow #40 Dempsey sponsored car take 3rd.

or maybe it was the garage passes and the 100+ photos I took of that RX-8 before the race began.

Strata-R

Yea 3rd isn't too shabby. Go Mazda! I like how none of us even mentioning the DP class. I'm with you guys though. I don't care about DP class, any of the drivers, nor the teams. I just like watching the manufacturer wars in GT class. I just wish the presenters covered the GT class more. The broadcasts are so DP biased.

Chibana

^^ I agree with the coverage. I'm much more interested in the GT class than DP.

ZOOM-I-DO

Cant wait for July when they return to Laguna Seca Mazda Raceway in Monterey. Getting a bunch of Socal 8's together for an epic caravan up Hwy 1 from Cambria to Monterey. I have to find out more about the Mazda Coral etc.. soon.

auzoom

Does anyone know if any of the 8's are going to be running renesis engines? or are they all going to be 20B's?

Rotr8

iTrader: (2)

They are all 20Bs the 8s in the Continental Challenge series run Rene's if there are any left, I only followed up til last year when it was the Konig Challenge series

Strata-R

does anyone know the specs of the individual cars in the GT class, or at least the RX-8s?

Strata-R

oh, I just found the specs for the Speedsource RX-8s:

20B Three rotor rotary engine (1,950cc)
Max Power 425HP @ 8500RPM
Max Torque 285 ft-lbs. @ 7600
Max RPM 8800
Dry Sump Lubrication
Bosch 4.3 ECU

http://www.speedsourceinc.com/index....late=mazdacars