FIAGT 2006 - Announcements, Rumours and Speculations.

[Bramzel]

Thought I'd start one up, just to have another thread to rumour, speculate, dream, etc. in. This time for next year's FIAGT.

A little list of possible entries so far afaik:

GT1
2x BMS Scuderia Italia - Aston Martin DBR9
2x Russian Age Racing - Aston Martin DBR9
2x GLPK Carsport - Corvette C6R
2x Vitaphone Racing - Maserati MC12
2x JMB Racing - Maserati MC12
1x GPC Giesse - Maserati MC12
1x Lister Racing - Lister Storm
1x Reiter Engineering - Lamborghini Murcielago R-GT
1x Zakspeed - Saleen S7R

GT2
2x GruppeM Racing - Porsche 996 GT3-RSR
2x GPC Giesse - Ferrari 430 GTC
2x Team LNT - Panoz Esperante
1x Vonka Racing - Porsche 996 GT3-R
1x Proton Competition - Porsche 996 GT3-RS
1x Spyker Squadron - Spyker C8 Spyder

[19dodge]

I dont know if GPC is going the Maserati route.. i thought they had a few DBR9's on order?

GLPK with 2 C6.Rs? maybe just one, with the possiblity of them running their old C5-R alongside it.

GT2 will be very interesting as there will be a single tyre make. will gruppeM stay if they are forced to run on Yokohamas (or whoever that gets the tyre deal)

I think we can probably see 2 Zakspeed Saleens if they do get their programme rolling.

Its sad to not see Konrad on the list, but it does look doubtful for next year. It sounds like he will have diifferent plans..

[mirkob]

racingworld.it say at 99% GPC will continue with F575 with Ferrari support ; Zakspeed has 2 Saleen (I think) ; maybe another from Konrad, GMN or RML ?
Another Murcielago is expected (Muller & Trunk) .
The C5-R ex PCM (ALMS) , now is PSI could be a new Entry
With 2 C6-R GPLK can sell the C5-R still competitive
I hope 2-3 F550 still present

[JAG]

'Its sad to not see Konrad on the list, but it does look doubtful for next year. It sounds like he will have diifferent plans..'

.....that you are aware of?

Isn't Konrad back in the Porsche fold with his Supercup team?

PSI car is set for the LMES.

[19dodge]

i dont think konrad will be back in supercup next year, i could be wrong though. I think everything is up the air right now. there were rumors that he would even field a grand am team. i think it all comes down to TV packages and sponsors.

Its very good for GPC to continue with the 575's.. it makes for much more variety in the championship.

Zakspeed is buying a 2006 spec saleen, according to Dailysportscar. So i assume their second chassis would also be a new 2006 machine. And Uwe Alzen was in California last week.. what could he be there for? I have an idea..

Graham Nash has been very quiet as of late. I have a fear that the team doesnt have anymore funding to continue

[panoz.lmp1]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

1x GPC Giesse - Maserati MC12

Coppi has contracts of three different makes on his desk ... but no Maserati deal.
Before Maserati doesn´t build up new road cars we can´t see another MC12 on the track. And i don´t see that one of the existing MC12 would be sold

[jhansen]

Wasn't it stated somewhere that Mr. Ratel wanted to see to it that there was a Ferrari 550M on the grid next year?

[19dodge]

maybe MenX will field a 550 next year, or perhaps Larbre again (if they dont go to DBR9's)?

three makes are on Coppi's desk? We know the 575 and Aston,, what is the third? could it not be a GT1 car?

[cybersdorf]

Originally Posted by 19dodge

three makes are on Coppi's desk? We know the 575 and Aston,, what is the third?

Chevrolet.

[Dani Filth]

could also be a non-GT1 car . as they will probably race the 430GT2

[panoz.lmp1]

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

could also be a non-GT1 car . as they will probably race the 430GT2

Coppi wants to race the 430 AND a GT1 car.

[Bramzel]

The GPC Aston deal is off for quite some time already. In Turkey they said the MC12 still was an option. So it's probably 575, Corvette or MC12 then, and I don't know where they are supposed to get a Corvette from.

Hezemans is talking with Corvette USA to purchase both cars. Don't forget he has full support from the european Corvette importer, basicly making him the European representative for Corvette Racing. I doubt anyone else will get a C6R but him from the start of 2006. And that C5R we'll probably see again in BELCAR.

Zakspeed 2 Saleens? Rumours have been there for ages already, and only now (after the Saleens best times) it's starting to be realized. They'll probably try with one, but I'd be surprised if they manage to get 2 cars on the grid.

PSI Motorsport expressed clearly that they wanted to enter that C5R in LMES if they could buy it. So I think they might enter some selected rounds, but I'm not expecting them for a full season.

550's, I forgot about those indeed. I wouldn't be surprised if Larbre entered again with one next year, don't know about any others though. There are quite a few getting available (BMS/RAR) probably, so who knows if someone else wants to run it in FIAGT.

[Asa]

I read in Autosport that Ferrari has stopped development on the 575 to concentrate on the 430. I doubt anyone will want to enter it against the Astons, Maseratis and Corvettes.

I also remember that Maserati will only build 7 MC12s. Vitaphone, JMB, Risi and Racing Box already accounted for the 7. I doubt GPC can get a deal.

[Bramzel]

Originally Posted by cybersdorf

Chevrolet.

Calling the Corvette a Chevrolet is cursing these days Cybers They strictly dropped the Chevrolet as they didn't want to associate it with the korean Chevy's.

Originally Posted by Asa

I also remember that Maserati will only build 7 MC12s. Vitaphone, JMB, Risi and Racing Box already accounted for the 7. I doubt GPC can get a deal.

That's only if Risi will get that 2nd car. If not, one's available. Also, you never know what JMB or Racing Box will do. JMB had problems getting their second car funded this year after Spa, with Buncombe and Zlobin dropping out. If they have that again next year, who knows who'll run that car instead. The first car is Kutemann's, who's co-owner of JMB, so that car won't go anywhere. The other car is from a other dutchman who could also let GPC run it. So there are plenty of strategies that could unfold.

However, all in all it'll be quite interesting in wich car GPC will hit the grid next year. Seems none of their options is a easy one to get (MC12/Vette/DBR9) or to keep competative (575).

[Asa]

I suggest GPC to run Lambo Murcielagos on Pirellis.

[Dauer 962]

Originally Posted by Bramzel

That's only if Risi will get that 2nd car. If not, one's available.

There is no MC12 available at the moment. All MC12 are sold. Even if Risi would get a 2nd one they have to build a complete new one or giv the test car to them.

Originally Posted by Asa

I suggest GPC to run Lambo Murcielagos on Pirellis.

Good Idea, but not very realistic IMO.

[panoz.lmp1]

Originally Posted by Asa

I also remember that Maserati will only build 7 MC12s. Vitaphone, JMB, Risi and Racing Box already accounted for the 7. I doubt GPC can get a deal.

There are 8 existing MC12 and all of the eight cars are delivered (expepting the 001 car that never raced)

[Fosca]

I think on DSC there was mentioned that Risi had two MC12s.

[Dauer 962]

Originally Posted by Fosca

I think on DSC there was mentioned that Risi had two MC12s.

Definetly no. 8 cars were build. 6 are racing actually. 1 was sold in may. 1 testcar is still at Maserati.

[panoz.lmp1]

Originally Posted by Dauer 962

Definetly no. 8 cars were build. 6 are racing actually. 1 was sold in may. 1 testcar is still at Maserati.

And to produce another race car Maserati must build new road cars first

[Dani Filth]

i don't think thats a problem . they still sell the road car i think

[Dauer 962]

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

i don't think thats a problem . they still sell the road car i think

No, the road MC12 is sold out.

[panoz.lmp1]

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

i don't think thats a problem . they still sell the road car i think

They only build 25 road cars and sold them in a small series. I´m not sure whether they build more cars to build another racecar afther the cars can´t race at LeMans

[Dauer 962]

Originally Posted by panoz.lmp1

They only build 25 road cars and sold them in a small series. I´m not sure whether they build more cars to build another racecar afther the cars can´t race at LeMans

The first series was sold out immediatley, so they announced a second series for production later this year, which would be now. This was announced in winter, but as I didn´t hear anything in these days, I think they cancelled this plan.

[panoz.lmp1]

Complety Agree. I think after the "Aco desaster" they don´t want to build more cars. The second announced series for my opion was planed only for the case of a succesful MC12 in all series.