GT3: ACO style

[Mike E]

Graham talks about the auto invites in the latest TWISC episode. They are still a thing but there might be fewer of them.

[Mike E]

There are still a lot of moving parts to settle in this GT3 adventure

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...rvette-switch/

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...ok-like-2.html

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Mike E

There are still a lot of moving parts to settle in this GT3 adventure

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...rvette-switch/

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...ok-like-2.html

Good summary of where things stand for the WEC. Hate to be the one who has to tell a GT team they are in - unless another hypercar shows up......

[Matador]

Originally Posted by Mike E

There are still a lot of moving parts to settle in this GT3 adventure

https://sportscar365.com/lemans/wec/...rvette-switch/

https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/...ok-like-2.html

Interesting. So they are flagging Akkodis ASP to be the team that will run the RC-F GT3 in the interim. Not a bad choice at all.


In the bigger picture, I can't help but feel that Toyota Motorsports GmbH/TGR Europe will be making a move towards a large customer motorsports program, and mopping up some of the business that Audi will be leaving on the table.

[Mike E]

Surely once they are in, that's it. But they might not know they are in until quite late, in case another you-know-what turns up.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by Matador

In the bigger picture, I can't help but feel that Toyota Motorsports GmbH/TGR Europe will be making a move towards a large customer motorsports program, and mopping up some of the business that Audi will be leaving on the table.

I doubt this because the Corolla TCR is Toyota Argentina project.

[Matador]

Originally Posted by FIRE

I doubt this because the Corolla TCR is Toyota Argentina project.

Okay, but I'm not sure what the TCR car has to do with GT3 and GT4 prospects?

[Simmi]

Plenty of teams sweating. That's a blow if the goalposts have moved from a freight perspective and the grid size actually drops at the very time it NEEDS to expand.

Vanwall are ****ed is my big takeaway. I hope for the sake of IF that they can quickly show that car is in a competitive window.

[Mike E]

It would be good to have Imola or Spa as a WEC/ELMS double header next year to give the LMP2 and GT3 rejects some track time under comparable conditions. And it would just be a cool event.

[flatlandsman]

Imola makes no sense as a WEC venue, very tight for these cars and there will be hundreds of track limit issues, thwere were with GTWC last year.

Mugello would have been far wiser, bigger, wider, better straight for overtaking traffic, better facilities I would think.

[Simmi]

Manthey confirmed by Porsche for next year. Swooped in and bagged the contract.

https://presse.porsche.de/prod/press...otorsport-news

I think it's also the first manufacturer that's basically come out and said they've got two allocated entries.

The big question for me is will we get Grello Porsches in WEC and at Le Mans now?

[broadrun96]

Well Porsche, Ferrari, BMW and GM are pretty much a lock aren't they with their Hypercar/GTP programs

[Coach Ep]

Back to ELMS/GTWC (IGTC) or move to IMSA then for GR and Team Project 1 then it seems. Or step up to Hypercar!

How long before we see a similar model for GT entrants being introduced to ELMS as well? And possibly LMP3 being removed from the headlining act?

[v8supes]

Big question is which manufacturer is going to make Ben Keating an attractive offer?

[Coach Ep]

That's nothing but a minor one and already answered by the man himself, he's not interested in GT3. Expect to see him (exclusively) in P2 next year.

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by v8supes

Big question is which manufacturer is going to make Ben Keating an attractive offer?

Yeah this goes back to a point I made a while back that the likes of Keating, Bovy, Al Harthy etc should be getting paid by manufacturers due to their importance. But by extension they then become 'works' drivers, so would lose their bronze rankings. Kind of funny really.

[Mike E]

They don't need to literally get paid. They just don't have to fund the program. Similar end result.

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Well Porsche, Ferrari, BMW and GM are pretty much a lock aren't they with their Hypercar/GTP programs

And Lambo

[Bentley03]

Originally Posted by Simmi

The big question for me is will we get Grello Porsches in WEC and at Le Mans now?

Same, I really (REALLY) hope so!

I'm excited by this announcement.

[Matador]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Well Porsche, Ferrari, BMW and GM are pretty much a lock aren't they with their Hypercar/GTP programs

Originally Posted by Mike E

And Lambo

And Ford with Proton?


Akkodis ASP admits they are talking to Toyota, but say they are also in discussion with two other manufacturers... who could they possibly be also talking to and would those other two have a realistic shot at making the grid?

[Mike E]

Originally Posted by Matador

And Ford with Proton?


Akkodis ASP admits they are talking to Toyota, but say they are also in discussion with two other manufacturers... who could they possibly be also talking to and would those other two have a realistic shot at making the grid?

Merc and Aston?

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Matador

And Ford with Proton?

Ford aren't running a Hypercar so in that list above no. Likely in because would ACO boot Ford from running??

[Coach Ep]

Perhaps the GT3 allocation is an incentive from the ACO with the hope of Ford finally deciding to give Hypercar a try?

[veeten]

Originally Posted by Matador

Interesting. So they are flagging Akkodis ASP to be the team that will run the RC-F GT3 in the interim. Not a bad choice at all.


In the bigger picture, I can't help but feel that Toyota Motorsports GmbH/TGR Europe will be making a move towards a large customer motorsports program, and mopping up some of the business that Audi will be leaving on the table.

The best part is that the RC-F is a proven machine, as witness to the record it has in IMSA Weather Tech series in both GT3 Pro and GTD. The tech and racing info will be shared between TGR and TRD.

[GT3_Fan]

Originally Posted by veeten

The best part is that the RC-F is a proven machine, as witness to the record it has in IMSA Weather Tech series in both GT3 Pro and GTD. The tech and racing info will be shared between TGR and TRD.

Audi leaving the GT3 scene will leave a void that a combination of Toyota/Lexus, Chevy Corvette, and Ford GT3 programs can fill.

Doubt WEC will have any Audis. Although it will be a couple years before we see Audi R8's dry up in SRO, DTM, and NLS/N'Ring stuff still at least in ProAm cateogories.