VIR 400 Grand Am

[gttouring]

Okay for real this time- sunday October5, Virginia international Raceway a 400, the DP's are roaring and ready
http://www.grandamerican.com/news/news866.html
Pilgrim is on Pole 1:47.418 lap at 109.591mph with the Doran Chevy and Didier Theys is slotted to the rear of the field for a tech infraction in the Doran Toyota- the 'wicker length' on the rear wing was too long...Outside pole is the hideous redbull Brumos fabcar Porsche at 1:48.242 lap at 108.756 (the GTS-DP gap isn't very big is it?)
'GTS' corvette-Simon Gregg took the pole in the GTS class. Gregg piloted the Derhaag Motorsports No. 40 Corvette to a 107.240 mph lap in 1:49.772
GT ferrari of Wagner is on their pole at of 1:52.544 at 104.599 mph- the all beating and bully mustang is at the back as it changed out a motor.
1 lone srpII Nissan lola is racing=2:01.643 lap at 96.775
that is a sucky slow pole pace.

So there you have it the big fight at Virginia, we'll see what happens and what fun might be had. personally seeing Theys in a superior Toyota-Doran charge from the back will be excellent to watch. And the ex-Trans-Am Mustang/GT1 beating everycar up to the front and fighting theys along the way should be cool. Ofcourse Pilgrim is out front and he is darn good 'wrasslin' that wheel so 'wheel' see.

[Patrick B]

I have my finger's crossed for G&W. With Darren Law and Patrick Huisman behind the wheel at there home track they should do well.

[gttouring]

i think the G/A setup set up is working in DP's favor and I see Theys coming on and challenging for the race. they are that impressive in that doranToyota

[billnchristy]

I would make the guess that the Toyota will charge to the front and win if it doesnt break. Same with the Chevy Doran.

These 2 cars are much faster than the Brumos cars, but the Brumos have that all important reliability on their side...

I would expect to see the mustang move up there too, VIR is a faster track than mt. tremblant and should suit it and the DPs better...

Cant wait, should be a good one, and a pretty good field!

[Chevyguy]

Forest Barber won't be driving the #54. He's getting out of the way for the two very talented guys to get the job done. He knows Borchellar will need alot of help to catch up in the championship. Shame the #27 and #54 won't be duking it out from the start. They have clearly the best driver lineups, and that's why they are the fastest. I wonder if Pilgrim would have had fastest time if the #27 was legal? Anyways, should reliability hold out, the #54 should easily take this, provided it goes green for a long time at the start.. I'm hoping the #27 will catch the #58 and give the Chevy a points advantage. If the caution comes out, it's gonna be a tough one.

[Megatron]

Its obvious that the flat six is lacking power. My guess is Grand Am will choke all other powerplants next year so the GT3 engine can remain the "baseline".

G&W should dump the Picchio and get a real car. They have had too many problems this year. Although I hear that the company is considering scrapping the DP2 altogether and building a "DP3", which would take advantage of all the lessons learned.

The Toyota seems to be making good power for a DP engine.

The Ford Focus has potenial in the hands of Speedsource.

I still think the only car worth looking at is the FABCAR, so I suppose I will cheer for the Brumos cars. The 59 car has faded badly this year. JC France and Haywood aren't exactly the world's greatest driver pairing.

[gttouring]

its off! (live timing and Scoring isn't though from the GA website.
and from the go http://www.grand-am.com/index.html)
the Corvette (ex-GT1/Trans-Am) just Freaking FAST- out right drag race down the straight Vs. The DP Doran Toyota it clearly had the legs to beat the DP- the braking zone was different ansd the twisties the DP's clearly have the Advantage. Brumos Porsche 2nd place by lap 7. Pilgrim in the Doran chevy (DP)in 1st.
the 'bumper cam' on this car the brumos is stunning be on for sure.
The Picchio is 3rd. Theys has moved up to 5th by lap 8 HOUNDING the Picchio.
The famous Blue Mustang is charging up fast as well.

[gttouring]

The Toyota Doran of Auberlin and Theys is on a tear.still no live timing-

#40 Gregg in the corvette gts is up front followed by the brutish blue mustang of riggins
Trans- am cars rule.

The lone SrpII is still alone and somewhere midfield

I will hand it to Speed (NASCAR affiliate that it is) good coverage so far and started right after the NASCAR race at Kansas.

[gttouring]

well actually due to cautions there is a 10 lap overlap of the 2 races Nascar on thr last ten GA on the first 10.

(unbelievable that Ryan newman is up for 8 wins this season and not a championship contender)

The VIR course is a real beauty- especially the turn arounf the BIG oak tree, this should prove to be a world class venue- Trans-am ran here i think, well they should as should CART

Little news or coverage of the GT players. but the GTS scrap is fabulous. as is the charge (made so easy looking) by DOran Toyota guys.

[gttouring]

that polka dot picchio is hideous- and the multimatic Ford with the 'road painted' on it is a little goofy. but the racing is good so far.
the Porsche engine (a gt derivative) is the problem as being a bench mark- they should have used a Trans Am engine as it is propelling the heavier T/A-GTS cars to incredible speeds,
NOTE: ugly cars do well as the Picchio with polka dots balsted by the Segway Sports Toyota Fabcar (9th) a rarly seen entry.
if you can run this class and series for about 10 years with a start up fee of about 500,000 US it is the sportscars survival winner in NorthAmerica for sure.

[gttouring]

gregg in the 40 corvette GTS, plowed off course and back on- and the Mustang duely passed right by- and the Riggins car kepts huffin- the corvette didn't miss a beat and slotted in right behind.

[gttouring]

#28 gt ferrari (ex-challenge car went off course and out of race) Theys came in with the DP toyota he hear something rubbing in the rear.
all else seems well
Pilgrim in the Doran Chevy is still out in front. (GTS seems to be down to only 2 cars am i missing something?)

[gttouring]

pits stops, Hurley Haywood in the brumos porsch is out front MAD traffic through the esses. the Nissan Lola SRPII is 11th overall.
the GTS corvette is 8th overal currently. Terry Borchellar is driving the wins off the doran chevy getting up the field.

[gttouring]

lap 30- I will report every 15 laps from here

[gttouring]

speedsource multimatic ford spins and drives backwards on some portion of the back straight?!(the one with the 'highway road' painted onit what the heck (lap 30) and looks like the left rear suspension is broken the camber and toe is way off. ( as porsches wizz by it you see how large the DP's really are.

[gttouring]

news on Doran Toyota- the rightt rear rub is reported as being a bent or damaged rear suspension piece due to damage (no video or anything to confirm)
Only 4 cars on the lead lap 3 DP's (brumos, Doran chevy, Picchio!) -one tough GTS car #40 corvette
martini in GT ferrari 360 is the leader there
i really need to report back but so much is happening.
They and the Doran Toyota is slotted into 20th.
As evenly matched cars the DP's are the picchio is getting slaughtered by the Doran chevy and the brumos. it is settled in and is staying on the lead but it can't even be seen in the picture.
whew

[gttouring]

Is the racing good? Not bad, you can see who are the professionals and who are the gentlemen during race pace.
FULL course cautions come out way too much on a natural road course like this, safety is one thing this is another.
the Picchio is second on lap 42, really? all the development they have done is really working- money well spent.

[gttouring]

thanks to the caution i guess the order got shifted.
Splitter cam on the Brumos again! hoowah! these cars (DP) have a bit of body roll compared to an LMP or SRPI which they replaced. Big transitions is when you notice it most.
Still they are showing well. the racing is good, SPEED needs to cover the GT/GTS class a bit more- it is all Hurley haywood this and that at the Moment.

[gttouring]

well don't check the Grand-AM website now, they just spoiled the race outcome (33 laps before the race ended on the broadcast)
I won't ruin it here though. Derhaag motorsports GTS corvette (40) should be a killer in Trans-Am wonder why they don't...
Martini in GT Ferrari (#33) is cruising stunningly, compared with the GT ferrari challenge version running around the Real Race version looks like a bully, just a bit bigger looking and nasty. super Grand Sport class for next year (SGS) will be Ferrari challenge cars and Porsche Cup cars duking it out and some GS1 cars from the 'lower GA race series)
the daytona prototypes are neck and neck nose to tail- the red bull porsche is trying to get one of his 4 laps back he lost in the pits.

[gttouring]

The Picchio shape does grow on you, as do all the DP's during a race. Stills do them no justice and I imagine in person they are much more impressive.
Pilgrim and the doran chevy are currently no where to be seen lap 50

[gttouring]

The doran chevy is fast approaching Haywood in the brumos and the picchio with Law (7 second gap down from 15) the doran toyota 1 lap down is back into 14th overall and gaining.
[1 point for DP's over the LMP wars in ALMS they don't race this hard as well they usually can't catch Audi)
the toyota fabcar is really a mean looker, better than the the sister porsche. the Doran Toyota just blew past the Fabcar Toyota- clearly engine differences.

borchellar in the Doran Chevy balsted by the Picchio in a bomber move!!, says the picchio is running lean to conserve fuel.

What does Ayse and Fab think of all these things( DP's and race commentery?)

[gttouring]

the heritage (blue Mustang) had its water pump belt fly off in the race which explains its dissappearing from the fight.

The GT ferrari #33 of Cort Wagner seemingly has no competition.

Darn the fabcar Toyota just got passed and lapped down.
the Mustang is 7th overall and 3rd in GTS

[gttouring]

Traction control on these Dp's don't seem to help as much as they think as the Trans-Am GTS cars really do just as well a lap with out it.
the Toyota doran is really out of the race, 7th in DP and 13th overall, too bad really.
The Doran Chevy (bell motor sports) teryy Borchellar is in 2nd and reeling in the brumos porsche of haywood.

[gttouring]

Trap speeds at VIR for the DP's- and the Yates motor is reported at 540 HP (and i thought the porsche motor was at 460?) and did you know hat the GA has a spec tire per class?
Goodyear for DPs, Dunlop for GTs.

Doran Toyota 168
>Doran Chev 166
>Brumos (59) 165
>Bromos (58) 162
>Pistachhio 163 -Picchio the misname made me laugh so hard
>Multimatic 159

all stuff from GA website.
And what a piece of action Donahue in the Brumos POrsche (redbull) had to pass Borchellar as the Doran chevy passed him earlier ( a reall nail biter! honest)
and at the end of the ong back strech Borchellar tries the pass(this redbull car is really a back marker, protecting the sister car in P1 -FOUL PLAY! i say especially the fight he is putting up-it is for championship points though)

[gttouring]

the lapped redbull car crashed into a porsche and just went off, the cause? a multimatic spin, and the doran chevy sails away-chasing Brumos porsche and the lead (full course yellow- in a slow section by the pits out like 2 corners? really...)