PWC: 2020

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by TRspitfirefan

Methinks the IMSA fan doth protest too much.

Nope, just reading what was written and questioning how one is equal to the other. Oh and what 2 teams who have moved have directly stated about why the move. But I guess that's an IMSA fan rather than a racing in general fan.
But what was not accurate in that assessment? You've offered the challenge but without information showing why my thoughts were not accurate. That's the condition required for discussion.

[nasportscar]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Nope, just reading what was written and questioning how one is equal to the other. Oh and what 2 teams who have moved have directly stated about why the move. But I guess that's an IMSA fan rather than a racing in general fan.
But what was not accurate in that assessment? You've offered the challenge but without information showing why my thoughts were not accurate. That's the condition required for discussion.

No, there are small differentiators between the two, but nothing major right now. SRO has free, non-geoblocked live streaming for all races, then has GT3 Race 2, live on CBS Sports Network. SRO allows for pro-pro lineups, while IMSA does not. SRO GT3 is the feature, solo class, while IMSA's GTD is the third tier in multiclass racing. In 2019, both series have a difference of only 200 minutes of race time 1260 for SRO, 1060 for IMSA Sprint Cup. SRO has had an average of 17 GT3 cars entered at each race, while IMSA has had 13 GT3 entered at each race, but only 1 team has actually committed to Sprint Cup.

IMSA has the bigger name and presence, that's clear. The differences between the two, right now, are minuscule.

Honestly they both need to go back to what they are good - SRO America is sprint, IMSA GTD is endurance. Don't step on each other's toes.

That being said, I also wouldn't be opposed if SRO decided to drop GT3 completely and go with GT2 as the top category in a year or two so they are not fighting w/ IMSA for entries.

[MaskedRacer]

Originally Posted by nasportscar

No, there are small differentiators between the two, but nothing major right now. SRO has free, non-geoblocked live streaming for all races, then has GT3 Race 2, live on CBS Sports Network. SRO allows for pro-pro lineups, while IMSA does not. SRO GT3 is the feature, solo class, while IMSA's GTD is the third tier in multiclass racing. In 2019, both series have a difference of only 200 minutes of race time 1260 for SRO, 1060 for IMSA Sprint Cup. SRO has had an average of 17 GT3 cars entered at each race, while IMSA has had 13 GT3 entered at each race, but only 1 team has actually committed to Sprint Cup.

IMSA has the bigger name and presence, that's clear. The differences between the two, right now, are minuscule.

Honestly they both need to go back to what they are good - SRO America is sprint, IMSA GTD is endurance. Don't step on each other's toes.

That being said, I also wouldn't be opposed if SRO decided to drop GT3 completely and go with GT2 as the top category in a year or two so they are not fighting w/ IMSA for entries.

Not a bad idea depending on what the state of "GT2" looks like at the end of 2020. Looks like there will be a GT2 car running in the upcoming GT3 Sports club race this weekend in Barcelona. Could allow GT2 cars to run in the GT3 race in America next year in addition to cutting races to 60 minutes. Also good point with Blancpain GT running 90 minute races and the IMSA GTD Sprint cup existing, there is too much overlap. If the decision to KEEP it at 90 minute races remains in 2020, then I would encourage teams to ditch it and go to GTD. Cutting races to 60 is essential at this point. Especially if you want to help save some $$ to run the 8 hours of Indy. Cut down qualifying session length times too while you are at it.

[Bcarr6]

GT2 replacing GT3 in Blancpain GT Challenge US is fine but it breaks the SRO's trio of of world challenge series up from being solely GT3 series.

Not against it just worth noting as a reason why SRO might not bite on that in the next few seasons.

I dont think however there could be some value in making the series PRO AM only, (or PRO-AM, SILVER, or AM, like british GT).

That way you get a solid factory gun or professional driver supporting an am driver.

Might encourage a better entry.

Worth noting too, that the series has attracted mid 20's grid sizes for SOME races this year. Is it worth evaluating why the COTA grid for example hasnt translated through the season

[nasportscar]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

Worth noting too, that the series has attracted mid 20's grid sizes for SOME races this year. Is it worth evaluating why the COTA grid for example hasnt translated through the season

17 GT3 cars has been the average entered. I think it comes down to cost for teams/drivers not doing the full season. This stuff is expensive and always will be expensive, but costs could be drastically reduced and help push more to full-season with a few simple regulation changes.

[Bcarr6]

We can probably change this to PWC 2020 now

And on that note, no PRO class in 2020, can’t say it’s a bad thing I think allowing the Am in a ProAm entry the chance to win outright makes it more appealing .

Pro Am only also allows for some more interesting strategies and puts more on the ability of the Am in the race.

Wonder if they will scrap the 90 min races too. Let’s just do 60?

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

We can probably change this to PWC 2020 now

And on that note, no PRO class in 2020, can’t say it’s a bad thing I think allowing the Am in a ProAm entry the chance to win outright makes it more appealing .

Pro Am only also allows for some more interesting strategies and puts more on the ability of the Am in the race.

Wonder if they will scrap the 90 min races too. Let’s just do 60?

Haven't they usually only had a few PRO entries at most rounds anyway? And sounds like they would only have 2 for 2020 with 2 cars from the Vegas round not returning

And it appears Platinum drivers will not be allowed either, Gold or Silver matched with a Bronze driver. And it sounds like still 90 min races x2 per weekend.

It seems like they're trying to emulate only the worst things from IMSA, including the week long podiums to get all the classes in

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Haven't they usually only had a few PRO entries at most rounds anyway? And sounds like they would only have 2 for 2020 with 2 cars from the Vegas round not returning

And it appears Platinum drivers will not be allowed either, Gold or Silver matched with a Bronze driver. And it sounds like still 90 min races x2 per weekend.

It seems like they're trying to emulate only the worst things from IMSA, including the week long podiums to get all the classes in

It’s going to be interesting to see how this affects things.

This is probably why SRO went quiet on implementing GT2 in America for 2020. They are instead focusing on getting the Am’s into GT3 for Now.

Also hidden in the announcement was a drop from 7 Rounds to 6. Not clear if that means they aren’t going to include the 8 hours of Indy in this series after all, or whether they are dropping COTA

I hope this transition back to pro-am focus allows for more entries, I’m honestly not sure what the impact will be although surely they wouldn’t do it without enough team input...

Also KPAX to Gt Challenge Europe would be cool

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

It’s going to be interesting to see how this affects things.

This is probably why SRO went quiet on implementing GT2 in America for 2020. They are instead focusing on getting the Am’s into GT3 for Now.

Also hidden in the announcement was a drop from 7 Rounds to 6. Not clear if that means they aren’t going to include the 8 hours of Indy in this series after all, or whether they are dropping COTA

I hope this transition back to pro-am focus allows for more entries, I’m honestly not sure what the impact will be although surely they wouldn’t do it without enough team input...

Also KPAX to Gt Challenge Europe would be cool

It sounded like 2 cars were leaving was at least an influence on this. Sounds like KPax is headed to Europe to replace MSport. Not a bad swap.

They really need to drop the 8 Hour from the season, it's almost a third of the season in one race. It has to be crazy costs and very unlike the rest of the racing.

It also seems like GT4 is too attractive to those who could run GT2. Yes, the speeds are MUCH lower but better return on investment and smaller learning curve.

It would be interesting to see what the costs for car, rebuilds and track time are for cars in GT3, GT2 and GT4. I'd hope in that order with a good jump between each group.

[deggis]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

It seems like they're trying to emulate only the worst things from IMSA, including the week long podiums to get all the classes in

[deggis]

It would be shocking if they're not considering combined GT3-GT4 grids. That works in British GT and in World Challenge Asia.

That might also simplify the amazingly confusing class/regional championship structure.

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by deggis

It would be shocking if they're not considering combined GT3-GT4 grids. That works in British GT and in World Challenge Asia.

That might also simplify the amazingly confusing class/regional championship structure.

I do like this idea. It always allowed for interesting racing back before they split the grids.

I imagine they wont do it because of the different wishes of the Sprint / Sprint X competitors.

Sprint brings in a solid grid, Sprint X not so much. So maybe the winning formula is GT3 + Sprint X GT4, and keep Sprint as a separate grid and calendar.

That way, GT4 competitors could pick between being part of the main race as the second class, or running in the support race for outright wins.

[nasportscar]

Originally Posted by deggis

It would be shocking if they're not considering combined GT3-GT4 grids. That works in British GT and in World Challenge Asia.

That might also simplify the amazingly confusing class/regional championship structure.

SprintX regionals are going away for next season, so that's good.

If the series cannot attract enough GT3 cars to the grid, I'd be happy to see them combine w/ GT4 SprintX teams. Would be a lot of fun again.

[Mike Hedlund]

Teams and drivers don't want GT3/GT4 combined (from either paddock).

Not saying that's a reason not to do it, but that's the current state of affairs.

-mike

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Mike Hedlund

Teams and drivers don't want GT3/GT4 combined (from either paddock).

Not saying that's a reason not to do it, but that's the current state of affairs.

-mike

Is it a speed differential thing? They do seem to be a good bit apart at Road Atlanta at least and could see it being more of a problem then benefit to the racing.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

Also hidden in the announcement was a drop from 7 Rounds to 6. Not clear if that means they aren’t going to include the 8 hours of Indy in this series after all, or whether they are dropping COTA

I hope this transition back to pro-am focus allows for more entries, I’m honestly not sure what the impact will be although surely they wouldn’t do it without enough team input...

Well it appears the change was to drop COTA and not the 8 Hour.

GT World Challenge America Schedule:
May. 16-17 — Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
Jun. 6-7 — Virginia International Raceway
Aug. 8-9 — Sonoma Raceway
Aug. 29-30 — Road America
Sep. 19-20 — Watkins Glen
Oct. 3-4 — Indianapolis 8 Hours

[nasportscar]

Spoke with Mike Hedlund, Ryan Dalziel, Kyle Marcelli, and Mark Miller about the 2020 changes. See what they had to say: https://www.facebook.com/notes/north...6385017814435/

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Is it a speed differential thing? They do seem to be a good bit apart at Road Atlanta at least and could see it being more of a problem then benefit to the racing.

Speed differential in itself is not a problem from what I understand, in fact it makes passing easier and the races safer. It becomes of course a problem when it becomes too big or - and I think that is the issue with combined GT3/GT4 fields - when the two classes make their lap times in drastically different ways, i.e. the GT3s are fast through the corners but relatively slow on the straights, whereas the GT4s are the other way around. What this leads to is a situation where the GT3s can't pass the GT4s easily on the straights and get held up when they run into them in the corners. This will, of course, compell GT3 drivers to attempt high risk passes in the corners so as to lose not too much time.

The smart thing for multiclass racing would be a combination of GT2 and GT4 cars (both with relatively low aero) - or if you want to include GT3s - the creation of a GT3U class that follows the same aero regs as GT3, but has to make do with less horsepower, e.g. by limiting engine displacement to 3.5l or something like that. Thus the traditional GT3 cars could easily and safely pass the GT3U-cars on the straights. I believe IMSA GTO/U back in the 80s and 2000s GT1/2 used to work like that.

[Purist]

Looks like Austin is back on, and Indy has changed to a non-points race.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Purist

Looks like Austin is back on, and Indy has changed to a non-points race.

Yeah, it seemed strange to require Indy within a sprint season. And with it at the end I think you'd have seen teams skip with "budget" problems. With Penske ownership I think we'll see the race go on and possibly get enough publicity at the track with other events to come back in 21 but long term? Maybe not so much.

https://sportscar365.com/sro/world-c...rica-schedule/

New schedule:

2020 GT World Challenge America Calendar:
March 7-8 — Circuit of The Americas
May. 16-17 — Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
Jun. 6-7 — Virginia International Raceway
Aug. 8-9 — Sonoma Raceway
Aug. 29-30 — Road America
Sep. 19-20 — Watkins Glen
Oct. 3-4 — Indianapolis 8 Hours (Non-Points)

[NaBUru38]

The Captain has mentioned the possibility of a 24-hour endurance race at Indianapolis.

[nasportscar]

KPAX bringing one car for the GT America season w/ Guy Cosmo and Patrick Byrne to go along with their European expansion https://www.facebook.com/naracecar/?...UdfjRkKBleElOi

[Bcarr6]

3 GT3s confirmed so far

HTP Winward Motorsport - Mercedes AMG GT3 - Bryce Ward / Russell Ward
K-Pax Racing - Bentley Continental GT3 - Guy Cosmo / Patrick Bryne
Racers Edge Motorsports - Acura NSX GT3 - Kyle Marcelli / Martin Barkley

Plenty more lined up to announce in the run up to COTA im sure....

[nasportscar]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

3 GT3s confirmed so far

HTP Winward Motorsport - Mercedes AMG GT3 - Bryce Ward / Russell Ward
K-Pax Racing - Bentley Continental GT3 - Guy Cosmo / Patrick Bryne
Racers Edge Motorsports - Acura NSX GT3 - Kyle Marcelli / Martin Barkley

Plenty more lined up to announce in the run up to COTA im sure....

5 GT3s confirmed so far. https://www.facebook.com/notes/north...5414337578168/

[S griffin]

That's a good start