[FIA GT Race] 2009 Round One, Silverstone, May 1-3.

[helgi]

What is the difference between Corvette Z06R and Callaway Corvette,that helped Ludwig-jr to win at Oschersleben ADAC GT?
Thanks!

[TheNewBob]

Originally Posted by arnage arnie

There was a sizeable crowd (I was marshalling) - the thing with Silverstone is that it's a sprawling circuit with thousands of grandstand seats so, apart from GP weekend, it never looks busy.

I agree. The grandstands didn't look too full (and on corners like Copse and Stowe they weren't even open), but the paddock was very busy, as was the display area behind the grandstands on the main straight. In fact, there was a massive queue to get over the bridge into the paddock when it was time for the pit walk.

Can anyone explain what happened to the #2 Maserati? I was moving around and grabbing a hot drink when the safety car came out, and I never managed to find out the cause..

[Dani Filth]

left rear damage done by the wheel getting loose i think ..

[chunterer]

Yes it exited Club in a shroud of smoke then stopped dead under the gantry!! Thought it had sideswiped a slower car at first but when it was dragged across to the straight on the Int'l circuit you could see the tyre had come totally off the rim and visible damage to that corner 'underneath' the car?

They seemed to struggle to load it onto a flat bed truck so took the engine cover off and lifted it after that!!

[geeteeone]

Originally Posted by helgi

What is the difference between Corvette Z06R and Callaway Corvette,that helped Ludwig-jr to win at Oschersleben ADAC GT?
Thanks!

They are basically the same car. All the GT3 spec Corvettes are Z06.Rs built by Callaway Competition.

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by chunterer

Yes it exited Club in a shroud of smoke then stopped dead under the gantry!! Thought it had sideswiped a slower car at first but when it was dragged across to the straight on the Int'l circuit you could see the tyre had come totally off the rim and visible damage to that corner 'underneath' the car?

They seemed to struggle to load it onto a flat bed truck so took the engine cover off and lifted it after that!!

The commentators on gt1live suspected the wheel nut had come off - it looked a bit like something flew away from the hub when the problem started.

[helgi]

Thanks,geeteeone!
Besides, is there special thread for GT3 discussion (not only European championship,but national ones too)?
There're some questions on that theme,and I think, it's interesting to compare succes of makes in different countries and tracks.

[brands]

Sky sports extra has a hour long programme starting at 6.30PM, repeated tomorrow at 4AM and 3PM

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by helgi

Thanks,geeteeone!
Besides, is there special thread for GT3 discussion (not only European championship,but national ones too)?
There're some questions on that theme,and I think, it's interesting to compare succes of makes in different countries and tracks.

Just post your questions and observations in here, I doubt that a mod has looked at this forum in quite some time as evidenced by the still not un-sticky-ed St.Pete-thread.

And to be honest: I kinda like it! This forum was seriously over-moderated for a while.

On Topic: Yup, it is indeed kinda interesting, I guess, in the end that means that a number of manufacturers (not all probably) are so well balanced that it does come down to the quality of the team and drivers rather than to the relative speed of the different car makes.

[Tim the Grey]

It was dragged over to me, and the whole left rear wheel was missing... Including the nut!

Chatting to a Vitaphone mech. after the race, he said it was an issue 'with the disc brake'...

Dunno if that's translation issue, or PR speak, but they'd got a wheel and nut on it, parked in the pit after the race...

[helgi]

A question about GT3 championships: is that handicap system based on hp/weight used in every championship? So, do GT3 cars have the same hp/weight ratio in every championship?
Is the handicap system strict? I mean, are there strict number of kilos put into the car for succes? And is it possible if at 21.00 Audi has, for example, +5kilos and at 21.15 the Bureau scratch their bean and put an extra 'co-driver' as they think the car is to competitive? Is there an analogy to weight mayhem that is usual for WTCC?

[Sportscarguy08]

Originally Posted by Tim the Grey

It was dragged over to me, and the whole left rear wheel was missing... Including the nut!

Chatting to a Vitaphone mech. after the race, he said it was an issue 'with the disc brake'...

Dunno if that's translation issue, or PR speak, but they'd got a wheel and nut on it, parked in the pit after the race...

For those who missed it, CorvetteMotorsport.com has HD highlights of Qualy and the race, plus a slow-mo of the 2 cars wheel coming off...it looks like a deja-vu like what happened at Audi in 2007 at LM....the wheel nut not being properly fastened and then coming off at high speed...

Honestly im glad maserati didnt win..and if it takes a saleen to do it, then im all for it...its about time another team won the titles...

[dxk1]

Originally Posted by Sportscarguy08

Honestly im glad maserati didnt win..and if it takes a saleen to do it, then im all for it...its about time another team won the titles...

I agree, anyone but Maserati. You have to admit though, those Vitaphone guys do run the best team operation in the series and always have the best pit stops.

DK

[Tim the Grey]

Pix now on Flickr of Ramos counting wheels, and wondering why it doesn't add up...

Someone watching the Vitaphone stop tells me the left rear gun man was trying to stop the car leaving... Sounds like a snafu?