Changes at Zwaans Racing

**FIRE** · 30 Aug 2004, 18:02 (Ref:1081743)

Zwaans Racing will enter only 1 Viper in the rest of the FIA GT season. In the Teams Championship they are 7th, by focussing on 1 car they hope to improve their position.

Team owner/driver Arjan van der Zwaan:

Quote:

It was not an easy decision to withdraw one car. We think this is the right decision to be able to score points in the rest of the season. Entering two cars would be put an enormous logistic pressure on the team in the rest of the races. We can't use this pressure because we are already in preperation for next season when we will use another car.
The last race is at Zhuhai on 14 November. If we get the cars back after this race there isn't enough time to prepare them for selling. So the car we withdraw now will be prepared for selling. During the races we can focus on 1 car which will be driven by Val Hillebrand, Henrik Roos and Stephane Lemeret.

The new Lamborghini Murciélago R-GT and Saleen S7 belong to the candiates for entering in FIA GT next season.

Source: www.zwaansracing.nl (translated)

19dodge · 30 Aug 2004, 23:25 (Ref:1081969)

interesting, didnt know they were considering switching to saleens. I thought they were going to go with lambos.

wow, if they switch to saleens, we could have the possibility of having over 9 Saleen's in FIA GT next year CONFIRMED(2 for Vitaphone, 1 for DRM) MOST LIKELY (2 for RML, 1 for Konrad, and 1 for Nash) + 2x Zwaans?

wow!

Duffacus · 31 Aug 2004, 08:23 (Ref:1082353)

RML has an advert in autosport selling two Saleen S7R's at the end of the 2004 season prepared to FIA regs. This could be a possibility for Zwaans?

Bramzel · 31 Aug 2004, 11:39 (Ref:1082554)

They wouldn't win much when they changed from the Vipers to the RML Saleens imho. RML ain't in the top of the field either, unfortunately. Imho they should go for the Murcielago, it's a car that has proven to be fast.

19dodge · 31 Aug 2004, 12:25 (Ref:1082602)

wow, im surprised. they are selling their 2 FIA chassis, and their 1 aco chassis. Now, im not totally surprised, since i have heard rumors of what the team is trying to achieve- a contract with a manufacture(for 2005 into 2006). But what if that does not happen?

**FIRE** · 31 Aug 2004, 14:47 (Ref:1082747)

Quote:

Originally posted by 19dodge
interesting, didnt know they were considering switching to saleens. I thought they were going to go with lambos.

wow, if they switch to saleens, we could have the possibility of having over 9 Saleen's in FIA GT next year CONFIRMED(2 for Vitaphone, 1 for DRM) MOST LIKELY (2 for RML, 1 for Konrad, and 1 for Nash) + 2x Zwaans?

wow!

Has Vitaphone confirmed to enter 2 cars? Isn't their 2nd Saleen the Konrad car?

19dodge · 31 Aug 2004, 21:59 (Ref:1083206)

in last week's autosport, it was confirmed that "Vitaphone" Will be back in FIA GT and LMES with 2 BRAND NEW Saleen S7R's. One car will be for Uwe and Michael, and the 2nd car will be with younger drivers.

now, the article didnt mention Konrad one bit. Maybe for 2005, they will go their own ways (since if what i heard is correct, Konrad is trying to get the contract with the same manufacture that RML is trying to get.) But if AB Racing (Vitaphone) Stay partners with Konrad, i assume Konrad will again enter one car for his own team. But i think AB and Konrad are in a long term partnership anyways (they are going to be building their own Saleen chassis's this winter).

JAG · 31 Aug 2004, 22:15 (Ref:1083224)

Good to see Vitaphone stepping up their program.

mikmx · 3 Sep 2004, 10:37 (Ref:1085746)

I just love Saleens but they are the most unreliable car in fia gt. All cars that started in SPa not one saw morning light. I hope they can get the budget and the opportunity to run the Lambo. Its still fairly unproven but wait and see this weekend. I think the future is much brighter for them running a Lambo.

19dodge · 3 Sep 2004, 12:24 (Ref:1085850)

what team do you want to run the lambo? RML? RML has VERY diffrent plans for 2005/2006. I have already hinted it here before.
(its just rumors right now, but hopefully everything will be announced sometime in december)

Bramzel · 3 Sep 2004, 16:39 (Ref:1086087)

Perhaps the one in the topic title?

BTW, hopefully that 2nd Vitaphone Saleen will give Walter Lechner a proper chance for once. With a competative codriver.

**FIRE** · 3 Sep 2004, 19:02 (Ref:1086210)

How many Lambo's are available for customers?

Bramzel · 3 Sep 2004, 19:05 (Ref:1086213)

Dunno really. Of course there will be a limit, but I haven't heard of any restrictions yet. I doubt that there will be more orders then Reiter can handle.

**FIRE** · 3 Sep 2004, 19:11 (Ref:1086221)

I think they will supply around 2 teams. Besides 2 for DAMS 2 for Zwaans? (whisfull thinking

)

Bramzel · 3 Sep 2004, 19:20 (Ref:1086231)

If Zwaans can get one they'll run only one probably.

**FIRE** · 3 Sep 2004, 19:49 (Ref:1086261)

Maybe it's better for them to concentrate on 1 car. This year they had some driver changes and 2 cars gives more pressure on the team.

vandijk · 3 Sep 2004, 20:00 (Ref:1086268)

(...) today Boucut did an excellent job in the 'old' car. He led the second session with the Viper almost till the end with a time of 1:47.967. Just before the end the Vitaphone Saleen put in a lap of 1:46.619!

BSchneiderFan · 8 Sep 2004, 18:35 (Ref:1090181)

I thought the Autosport story said that Alzen and Bartels HOPED to run two Saleens next year.

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