[FIA GT] GT1 World Championship 2011

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Ratel doesn't like supercars in GT1. He's pushing for more pedestrian (but still high-performance) sports cars.

At this point he'll probably take whatever he can get, seeing as there hasn't been an overwhelming response from manufacturers. GT3 on the other hand...

[The359]

6 manufacturers in the first season is better than he had hoped, hwe had originally been aiming for 5 with 6 as a maximum. And remember, there was a 7th manufacturer interested (Saleen) and they were turned down by the FIA.

I don't really see how he's in any way desperate. He has far more manufacturers than WRC or WTCC.

[joeb]

Originally Posted by The359

6 manufacturers in the first season is better than he had hoped, hwe had originally been aiming for 5 with 6 as a maximum. And remember, there was a 7th manufacturer interested (Saleen) and they were turned down by the FIA.

I wouldn't say 6 manufacturers were in the series, but 6 makes. To me there is a difference at least.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by joeb

I wouldn't say 6 manufacturers were in the series, but 6 makes. To me there is a difference at least.

I'd say so too. Plus with the exception of the GTR it was all just machinery that was lying dormant pretty much.

[Deleted]

They really had just 3 makes (ford, lambo, nissan) willing to meet the regulations, the remaining old cars were only allowed to come in as a very, very last resort. So had they not allowed to grandfather Corvette, Aston and Maserati, things wouldn't look that great.

2010 FIA -spec Saleens were rather unspectacular in LMS.

[I Rosputnik]

How much are the manufactuers supporting the teams?

As far as I'm aware:

• Ford gives Matech wind tunnel time, technical data and parts.
• Nissan gives as much as it can within the rules.
• Aston Martin is providing works drivers, parts and technical data.
• Lamborghini is promoting it's team through the occasional press release. (But as for parts and technical data I'm not sure.)
• I think Maserati is the same as Lamborghini.
• I'm not sure if Chevrolet and P&M has done anything with the Corvette teams.

But apart from that I'm not completely sure how things work between manufacturers and teams in GT1.

[Canada ALMS fan]

Originally Posted by Chiana

They really had just 3 makes (ford, lambo, nissan) willing to meet the regulations, the remaining old cars were only allowed to come in as a very, very last resort. So had they not allowed to grandfather Corvette, Aston and Maserati, things wouldn't look that great.

2010 FIA -spec Saleens were rather unspectacular in LMS.

Spot on except the Lambos were old cars too.

[The359]

I'm fairly certain the R-SVs are completely new cars, not based on the older R-GTs. And as Reiter has been developing the only factory backed Lamborghinis for some time, I'm sure Lamborghini aids the project in some form.

Of course Maserati is aiding in the funding, you think a medical communications system company (Vitaphone) is footing that entire bill?

[rich07]

Originally Posted by The359

I'm fairly certain the R-SVs are completely new cars, not based on the older R-GTs. And as Reiter has been developing the only factory backed Lamborghinis for some time, I'm sure Lamborghini aids the project in some form.

Of course Maserati is aiding in the funding, you think a medical communications system company (Vitaphone) is footing that entire bill?

The Lamborghinis are new cars, I was reading an article in a magazine where they went over the development of the new R-SV, quite interesting.

Maserati would have to be chipping in, probably less then at the start of the program and dont forget they actually built the cars in the first place through Maserati Corse and development. But Vitaphone are pretty handy too so they probably have done some of the development themselves, especially with four cars to run this year.

[Splatz the Cow]

What news (Ted) on McLaren and Ferrari are going to be with their cars?

[Dauer 962]

Originally Posted by rich07

The Lamborghinis are new cars, I was reading an article in a magazine where they went over the development of the new R-SV, quite interesting.

Correct, though the chassis of the R-GT and the R-SV is the same. But apart of that, almost everything else is new. As the chassis is identical it was possible to upgrade one of the old R-GT to R-SV spec, as happened with one of the all-inkl cars.

[Dauer 962]

Originally Posted by I Rosputnik

How much are the manufactuers supporting the teams?

As far as I'm aware:

• Ford gives Matech wind tunnel time, technical data and parts.
• Nissan gives as much as it can within the rules.
• Aston Martin is providing works drivers, parts and technical data.
• Lamborghini is promoting it's team through the occasional press release. (But as for parts and technical data I'm not sure.)
• I think Maserati is the same as Lamborghini.
• I'm not sure if Chevrolet and P&M has done anything with the Corvette teams.

But apart from that I'm not completely sure how things work between manufacturers and teams in GT1.

Lamborghini occasionally sends their CEO for some nice shots in the grid. Don’t know if that counts as support….

Maserati always sends engineers and support trucks. Maserati truck is usually the only support truck of a “make” in the GT1 paddock.

[Dead-Eye]

Originally Posted by Dauer 962

Correct, though the chassis of the R-GT and the R-SV is the same. But apart of that, almost everything else is new. As the chassis is identical it was possible to upgrade one of the old R-GT to R-SV spec, as happened with one of the all-inkl cars.

According to racingsportscars.com all except one all-inkl car are upgraded R-GTs.

[helgi]

Well, I think it's not a wrong thread to post this news. Nikolai Fomenko during a press conference in Abu Dhadi said that his team Marussia (Russian supercars) is going to race in LM 2011 (?) and FIA GT1 (as I understand). Maybe it's just an idea and not a firm project.

By the way, how do Europeans utter 'Marussia'? It's a form of name Mary and we pronounce Маруся = [maru'sja].

[NaBUru38]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Ratel doesn't like supercars in GT1. He's pushing for more pedestrian (but still high-performance) sports cars.

Originally Posted by chunterer

'Grand Touring Cars' is the term I think you're looking for?

Actually, no. In racing, GTs include the 370Z, Mustang, the MC12, the 911 and the 550 Maranello. But I was talking about road cars, where only the 550 from that lsit qualifies as a GT - front engine, lots of power, four proper seats, very expensive. That's why I avoided that term.

Originally Posted by Canada ALMS fan

At this point he'll probably take whatever he can get, seeing as there hasn't been an overwhelming response from manufacturers. GT3 on the other hand...

Sure, but he's trying not to need supercars.

[I Rosputnik]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Actually, no. In racing, GTs include the 370Z, Mustang, the MC12, the 911 and the 550 Maranello. But I was talking about road cars, where only the 550 from that lsit qualifies as a GT - front engine, lots of power, four proper seats, very expensive. That's why I avoided that term.


Sure, but he's trying not to need supercars.

I wouldn't mind GT1 cars like the Mustang (The Boss might I add), Gran Turismo and a GTR to boot.

As for the Marussia, that would be epic. (In regards to how it's pronounced, I say Ma-Russia.)

[I Rosputnik]

Christian Hohenadel to go to GT1 next year.

I wonder what team will pick him up?

[Deleted]

I don't get these awards (it's not like it's hard to get a seat anyway), but I love how were supposed to think FIA GT3 as a "platform" for GT1

[NaBUru38]

Exactly, I Rosputnik. Since I wanted to include more cars than the 550 Maranello, I said "high-performance sports cars" instead of "grand tourers".

[The359]

Originally Posted by helgi

Well, I think it's not a wrong thread to post this news. Nikolai Fomenko during a press conference in Abu Dhadi said that his team Marussia (Russian supercars) is going to race in LM 2011 (?) and FIA GT1 (as I understand). Maybe it's just an idea and not a firm project.

By the way, how do Europeans utter 'Marussia'? It's a form of name Mary and we pronounce Маруся = [maru'sja].

Marussia already claimed they were going to enter in 2010 as well. I'm not even sure they've sold any road cars yet, so I wont hold my breath.

I imagine all their money (wherever they're getting it from...) will be on their new F1 team, Marussia Virgin.

[cmk]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

Exactly, I Rosputnik. Since I wanted to include more cars than the 550 Maranello, I said "high-performance sports cars" instead of "grand tourers".

The 550 actually does not have 4 proper seats, it has 2. Fortunately, grand tourers can be 2 or 2+2...

[rich07]

Originally Posted by The359

I imagine all their money (wherever they're getting it from...) will be on their new F1 team, Marussia Virgin.

I wouldnt hold my breath to see Marussia on the grid too especially with this F1 news. If they havent built any cars how would they homologate the car in the first place?

Originally Posted by cmk

The 550 actually does not have 4 proper seats, it has 2. Fortunately, grand tourers can be 2 or 2+2...

I would like to see a mix of Grand Tourers (As long as it has two seats and its front engined its a GT to me) and supercars like earlier FIA GT. You had supercars like the Saleen mixing it with GTs like the Lister, 550 and the Viper.

And then you had supercars like the Lamborghini and the MC12 arrive alongside the newer GTs such as Corvette, 575 and the DBR9.

And presently you have GT-Nissan, Corvette and Aston. Supercars-Lamborghini, Maserati and the Ford GT. Pretty balanced between supercar and GT which is fine in my view.

[cmk]

I agree with you, the mix was and would be good; though I have to say I would consider the Lister Storm a supercar if anything ever was!

[rich07]

A GT with supercar performance?

[Purist]

So, what does that make the TVR Speed 12 then?

I think Jeremy Clarkson's description of it was something like, 'They've fitted wheels, to a thunderstorm."

Frankly though, with cars at this level of performance, do the semantics of whether it's a GT, Supercar, or Force of Nature, actually make a damn bit of difference?