GTS for overall wins?

[JAG]

GTS for overall wins?

The following is a quote from the boss of Aston Martin from the press release announcing AMs entry into GTS with the DB9:-

"We are keen to see new regulations for 2004 that will allow true production-based sportscars to compete on a level playing field. The new rules from the [Le Mans organiser] Automobile Club de l'Ouest [ACO] clearly provide this, and we hope other sporting organisations will follow their route and encourage sportscar racing to grow in importance and profile."

Am I missing something. I thought the only 'advantage' the GTS cars will have over the LMPs (2003 and 2004) is a 100litre fuel tank that could potentially give a GTS car a shock win if the conditions are very wet etc., as we had at LM 1995.

Surely GTS cars will need more performance breaks to compete for overall wins, even as an underdog as the Mclaren F1 GTR did in 1995.
Have I missed something in the 2004 ACO regs, less weight, more power, more aero freedom, tires?

Do Aston Martin/Masarati etc. know about new 'GT1' regs for 2004/5 that Ratel has hinted at recently.
There must be something to give Aston Martin such confidence that they will be competing for overall wins.
Personally I would welcome it enthusiastically, as we know the LMPs will not be slowed significantly with the 2004 regs, so if GTS cars can compete for overall wins all the better.

I suppose any 'GT1' class would only happen in 2005.


Or is he talking about 'regualar' production cars such as the DB9/575 being able to compete on a level playing field with the 'Supercars' such as the Masarati and Zonda. Has the ACO made any distinction in the regs between regular production cars and 'Supercars' as the FIA did?
Ratel was talking about putting the 'Supercars' in a new 'GT1' class with the DB9/575 in GT2 (GTS) and the 911 RSR/360 in GT3 (GT).

[Patrick B]

I've tried looking for something that would give the GTS cars a boost, but i can only find a couple things.

2004 spec GTS cars have 20cm wider wings, 20L more gas and 7% bigger(diameter)restrictor then a 2003 spec LMP1. Might bring them alot closer... but not close enough. However come 2005 the 2003 LMP's also get more weight added.

The 2004 spec LMP1s have 10L more gas and 5% bigger(diameter)restrictors then the 2003 spec LMP's.

Come 2005 id say the GTS cars will have a chance against a 2003 LMP1 but not a 2004- spec LMP1.

[paul-collins]

Well read, Pat.

[billnchristy]

That would probably mean the 550/575 ferraris will now hit a higher or equal top speed on the Mulsanne straight...they were supposedly very close before. They will never outbrake or accelerate the LMPs unless given a lot more wing and a lot less weight though.

[The Badger]

Originally posted by billnchristy
That would probably mean the 550/575 ferraris will now hit a higher or equal top speed on the Mulsanne straight...they were supposedly very close before. They will never outbrake or accelerate the LMPs unless given a lot more wing and a lot less weight though.

I thought that the 550's were one of the fastest cars in a straight line there !

[Mal]

We will have to see, but I think new new breed of factory backed cars could well raise the game for GTS especially the mid engined cars such as the Enzo based Meserati

[RacingManiac]

The Prodrive 550s were pretty fast on Mulsanne, according to Ron Fellows, the Ferrari has about 30kph on the Vette....

[kdr]

i read a Q&A with Derek Bell in Autocar last week and when asked to predict upcoming trends he replied that he could see the rise and rise of the GTS "Supercar", as one-off prototypes were too expensive to build.

[Pilgrimage]

I can believe that if the big factories stay away, unlike Audi/ Bentley etc.

[paul-collins]

Originally posted by billnchristy
That would probably mean the 550/575 ferraris will now hit a higher or equal top speed on the Mulsanne straight...they were supposedly very close before.

Not as close as I expected:

RfH Dome 207 206
Champion R8 198 202
Panoz 204 202
Courage 197 196
R&S 198 194

Ferrari 550 193 191

Speeds are mph, first number is Wednesday evening practice, second number is race evening. (Courtesy dailysportscar)

[PascaLM]

A possible GTS overall win relies mainly on the LMP reliability. Remember Daytona 1973 and 2000.

The probability is low because of the Audi and Judd powered cars but it's > 0.

[billnchristy]

You do have to admit that the Audis are showing their age though. There has been a lot more trouble with them this year than the previous years.

Granted, they still run like clockwork, not swiss, but maybe still scandinavian...