SRO America 2021

[Bcarr6]

Bit of a dud start there from the KPax duo.

[WyldStallion]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

Bit of a dud start there from the KPax duo.

It was Colin Braun and Jan Heylen, so it can't be considered a surprise. They obviously took over again after the pit stop sequence.

Biggest disappointment of weekend was the poor performance of the Windward/HTP team.

The female drivers of Hagler and Vogel did rather well though as a positive point to make.

Ryan Myren did a great job on the broadcast. Very impressed.

[cbbrit]

GTWC America Race 2 notes:

https://sportscar365.com/sro/sro-ame...onoma-weekend/

And results:

https://www.tsl-timing.com/file/?f=P...0906rc2wcg.pdf

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by WyldStallion

It was Colin Braun and Jan Heylen, so it can't be considered a surprise. They obviously took over again after the pit stop sequence.

Biggest disappointment of weekend was the poor performance of the Windward/HTP team.

The female drivers of Hagler and Vogel did rather well though as a positive point to make.

Ryan Myren did a great job on the broadcast. Very impressed.

I don’t think it’s any surprise KPax dominated, they will likely win 90%+ of the races this year being the only true pro entrant. The HTP guys are not full pro but classed as such for this series.

Ryan was as good as expected, his pit reporting has always been well presented and very knowledgeable, so it’s no real surprise but good to see nonetheless

[S griffin]

KPax will be tough to beat. Hopefully others can give them a run for their money. Still good start to the season, plenty to look forward over the rest of the season

[W2Motorsport]

Originally Posted by S griffin

KPax will be tough to beat. Hopefully others can give them a run for their money. Still good start to the season, plenty to look forward over the rest of the season

I was really happy to see the return of pro line ups but didn't expect there would be only one team competing. At this point pro am only would be better just to have some competition for the overall win.

Ward and Ellis are both good but they should not be considered equal to Caldarelli and Pepper that is crazy. Same for Foley and Dinan I believe in both cases these cars would be considered Silver Cup if that were a class. Between themselves they would have a good race as the line ups are pretty close.

Would be really great to see another actual pro line up or two materialize to compete with KPax. Plenty of drivers sitting around this season and not racing, or not racing much who could give them a run.

None the less I watched both races which is more than can be said for any of their races last year. Also huge GT4 grids and the GT America series was interesting with maybe the most entertaining race of the weekend in race #1 (due to a penalty, but still).

[WyldStallion]

No wonder in some years GT WC America struggles when you consider this.

GT3 makes in Japan:
Nissan, Honda, Lexus

GT3 makes in mainland Europe:
Porsche, Audi, Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari, Lamborghini

GT3 makes in UK:
McLaren, Aston Martin, Bentley

GT3 makes in USA:
NOTHING!!!!! ...well since the failed Viper GT3 in 2016.

There is a market out there for the taking GM, Ford, and Chrysler. Step up and fill it. I think if a prominent USA based GT3 car was around which is not over the top expensive and the manufactuter provided customer support like Lambi, Audi, and Mercedes do. Then they will suceed and make money. Lots of GT4 teams in Michilen Pilot Challenge and SRO GT4 would step up to GT3 if they had a Corvette C8 GT3 or a Ford Mustang or a Dodge Viper with customer suppport available. Would help SRTO GT American and IMSA GTD in turn too.

[broadrun96]

Well the Viper is not eligible, it's been out of production for multiple years now and zero plans to bring it back as it cost them money to sell each car they made. They would be better off using Ram trucks than the 20 plus year old platform that the pos Challenger/Charger is based on. And a short bed Ram might be smaller. Outside of that they make nothing even close by shape or design.

Ford does the minimum they can and Mustang GT4 is peanuts compared to making a true GT3. They aren't really interested in racing and not so interested in ICE and cars even in the future.

GM will likely end up with a GT3(ish) car but there's no way they will sell enough and have GM's full backing to make it a commercial success selling them.

Never mind that there are PLENTY of other options and yet you don't see the numbers. If the series was worth it people would race. But it does not appear the value is there. Blaming it on non-American cars makes no sense.

[WyldStallion]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Well the Viper is not eligible, it's been out of production for multiple years now and zero plans to bring it back as it cost them money to sell each car they made. They would be better off using Ram trucks than the 20 plus year old platform that the pos Challenger/Charger is based on. And a short bed Ram might be smaller. Outside of that they make nothing even close by shape or design.

Ford does the minimum they can and Mustang GT4 is peanuts compared to making a true GT3. They aren't really interested in racing and not so interested in ICE and cars even in the future.

GM will likely end up with a GT3(ish) car but there's no way they will sell enough and have GM's full backing to make it a commercial success selling them.

Never mind that there are PLENTY of other options and yet you don't see the numbers. If the series was worth it people would race. But it does not appear the value is there. Blaming it on non-American cars makes no sense.

I think there is something to it. If GM came up with a Corvette C8 GT3 with customer support. I think it will bring lots of new playes into GT3. Probably from the GT4 and TCR ranks or even lower level prototypes. GM should back it, there is money to be made if they get enough customers and put in the effort to support that number. I thought initially that Laura Wontrop Klauser would open to this. Not sure now after the news of them wanting to just use a modified/BoP'd Corvette GTE for GTD Pro. I think a GT3 effort would be a great way for Laura to stamp her role and place as the new director.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by WyldStallion

I think there is something to it. If GM came up with a Corvette C8 GT3 with customer support. I think it will bring lots of new playes into GT3. Probably from the GT4 and TCR ranks or even lower level prototypes. GM should back it, there is money to be made if they get enough customers and put in the effort to support that number. I thought initially that Laura Wontrop Klauser would open to this. Not sure now after the news of them wanting to just use a modified/BoP'd Corvette GTE for GTD Pro. I think a GT3 effort would be a great way for Laura to stamp her role and place as the new director.

Because there is ZERO chance of them getting a GT3 homologated car done, tested, approved and certified prior to the start of 2022 year. There just isn't nearly enough time for that in the window needed.

Think the decision will come after the decision as to platform for LMDh. If they go Caddy or even Buick, WEC visits China usually and big market for Buick, expect a GT3 program or possibly a GTD homologation of a GT3ish car. If they go Corvette for LMDh, goodbye to the GT program I think.

[S griffin]

Have to wait for the GT3s, make do with what we have. The series is struggling, but we should still have enough for a decent grid. The series needs to survive and hopefully Corvette will stay, but the series needs careful managing

[Bcarr6]

Optimum Motorsport will be debuting the Mclaren 720s GT3 at COTA with Ollie Millroy and Brendan Iribe.

This entry will be for most of the rest of the season, calendar change dependent

[Bcarr6]

Motorsports in Action seem to have acquired a 720s GT3 from somewhere, you would assume it’s the ex Compass car.

Hopeful it goes racing in GTWC America at some point this year!

[WyldStallion]

After 4 races now The GT world challenge American as a whole has been impressive and a good watch so far this year.

The FCY/Safety car bit reared its ugly head just past the halfway mark of Race 2 though. Put a stain in the race I think. Not sure if KPax would have won that if it was just FCY only and they allowed the gaps built up to remain. I think the Ward/Ellis Mercedes had the race in control up to that point. Lost their lead artificially.

[WyldStallion]

Stefan Ratel is talking about the Indy 8 in a new Sportscar365 article posted. 2022 Indy 8H looks to be going GT3 only. Good move I think. Kyalmai is coming up soon I bet that race goes more smoothly. No GT4 there.

[Purist]

Well, I'm not complaining that Ozarks is replacing Austin in 2022.

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by Purist

Well, I'm not complaining that Ozarks is replacing Austin in 2022.

Looks like a cool track, not sure how overtaking friendly itll be for GT3's but looking forward to finding out.

It certainly looks like itll have a heap more character than COTA

[WyldStallion]

Maybe there is time still. But I think they should revert to the 60 minute race format at least. Maybe even the 1 driver / 50 minute for GTWC America. Need to differentiate itself from IMSA more so than ever now with GTLM gone. Heard nothing about their format though in 2022. Would be cool also if Porsche 992 Cup cars could be allowed on the GTWC America grid as a 2nd class to the GT3s.