Porsche Returning?

[Nordic]

Hot on the heals of the new aston, there are strong rumours that Porsche have been testing a new LMP1 car in the Rainbow Nation of South Africa. Details are sketchy, but the signs are promising.

If true it will prompt Audi to bring forward the son of the R8, the R9 and hopefully convince Ford to put the Jag F1 team out off its misery, and let it go back to sportscars where it belongs.

[garystout]

If the Porsche rumours are true, and Aston Martin do return, i can only see a greater number of fans return to the 24, as it seemed to me this year that the number of fans are seriously falling off over the years. apart from a serious manufacture involvement, why else do we attend the event? (apart from beer etc)

[Robbo SPS]

GT / GTS is surely where the interest will be forr the next few years

[Barry]

GT / GTS is surely where the interest will be forr the next few years

No problems with that as far as I am concerned, often more intresting than the 'senior' classes

[Matt Harper]

GTS/GT needs more participants. The whole Corvette/Ferrari Maranello thing is getting a bit old and predictable. The Lamborghini at Infineon was waaaaay off the pace (excusable as a new entrant, I suppose) and only got onto the podium by punting one of the vettes off the track, as it was being lapped.
We've discussed this before, but there is so much more potential for new entrants - GT particularly (though GTS is becoming as exotic as LMP1 in terms of cost). The GTS 'silhouette' class has had highly successful predecessors and spawned fantastic racers like the 935 K3, 512 BB and the Nissan 300ZX, prior to the C5R and 550 LM Ferraris.
Aston Martin and Jaguar (XKR) would be good for parent company, Ford and what about Maserati, Mosler (why don't Mosler race in GT? Is it a regs thing?) Mecedes Benz and Ford USA?  

[Steve Pyro]

What happened to Saleen, has the rule book been unkind to them?

[Fax]

I think lack of development has been unkind to the Saleens.
The only thing more predictable in recent years at Sebring than an Audi winning, is the sight of the Saleen's dragging bodywork around by the three hour mark.  Agreed, GTS is going to be where its at over the next few years.  During the TV coverage of yesterday's race Bill Adam mentioned that as soon as the flag falls at the Petit Le Mans, all of the factory C-5 Vettes are available for purchase.  Depending on their history they are going for between $250,000-450,000 (You can probably pick up Juniors Vette at a bargin price!) A bit of a hit in the wallet but you'd be instantly competitive in GTS, especially if the factory guys have teeting problems with the new C-6.  Sebring next March should be a great show with all of the new GTS cars making their race debuts.  I suspect we'll see some of those Vettes in privateer hands.
John

[Steve Pyro]

Not that I have that kind of cash lying around, but how many of the C5R chassis are there (including the slightly fire damaged one).

[Fax]

Steve,
I know there's at least four because when I was at Mid-Ohio a couple of weeks ago the C-5R's there were not the LM cars, those were still being rebuilt after the 24 Hours.  They had three at Sears Point, the two LM machines and one of the spares for Dale Jr and Boris Said.  I'm guessing they've got four rollers and enough spares to probably build up another one or two complete cars.  Matt,
does your book have a chassis log in it?
John

[hgb]

... Mosler (why don't Mosler race in GT? Is it a regs thing?)  

I'm afraid, it's the regs thing. They had a couple of ACO guys down at Florida late last year to inspect the car but the ACO had objections which are still in the way. That's what Warren said.

[Robbo SPS]

Not that I have that kind of cash lying around, but how many of the C5R chassis are there (including the slightly fire damaged one).

I thought they were on the C6 now, or am i wrong.

[Steve Pyro]

I thought they were on the C6 now, or am i wrong.

The C6 road car is the one you can now buy at your local Chevy dealer but the Pratt & Miller racing team still use the C5R.

However, as mentioned on RLM, they have begun development of the C6R and we should (?) see it at LM next year.

[Matt Harper]

Steve,
I know there's at least four because when I was at Mid-Ohio a couple of weeks ago the C-5R's there were not the LM cars, those were still being rebuilt after the 24 Hours.  They had three at Sears Point, the two LM machines and one of the spares for Dale Jr and Boris Said.  I'm guessing they've got four rollers and enough spares to probably build up another one or two complete cars.  Matt,
does your book have a chassis log in it?
John

The C5R has an interesting history. Design work on the racer was started in 1997 and was kept totally secret until just before the cars debut at the Rolex 24 hour race in 1999. Pratt & Miller built two 6 litre cars which lead the GT2 class in that USRRC race for 20 hours before encountering transmission problems - which also plagued them at Sebring in 99. The original two chassis had 6.0 litre ZLT-1 motor and carried black/silver Goodwrench livery.
Ultimately, 7 chassis have been built and since the 2000 Le Mans debut have run with up-rated 7 litre engine in a variety of different liveries. Ron Fellows has driven for the programme since it's inception.
The C5R is undoubtedly the most successful racing project GM have undertaken and it's roots can be traced back to the early 90's with the "American Patriot" and "Interpid" IMSA GTP programmes. The success on track has created a massive amount of interest and support for the Corvette brand, which is likely to continue with the debut of the C6R at Sebring in 2005.
I have dealings with the company that air-freights the cars between race venues and Pratt & Miller's facility in Detroit. I'm lead to believe that the C6R is a re-skin - i.e. mechanically it is the same car that dominates GTS right now, with the new body shape (not as pleasing in my opinion). Physical dimensions are so close as to not make much difference (The C5 is an unnecessarily large car - front overhang in particular is excessive and houses nothing but the radiator, a/c condenser, oil cooler, air cleaner and brake ducts).
It;s interesting to note how the brands track success has been used by GM for marketing and PR. In 1970 Corvettes had class wins at Daytona, Sebring and Le Mans - back then, nobody in GM seemed to know or care about this achievement - so much for "What wins on Sunday, sells on Monday".