2014 Blancpain Endurance Series

JorritVD · 28 Oct 2013, 11:32 (Ref:3324171)

Couldn't find a 2014 BES topic, so I decided to start one.

http://autosport.nl/klasse/nieuws/21...viper-gt3-r-in

Team RaceArt will be the first European customer team that will enter an SRT Viper GT3-R. Roger Grouwels who drove with a Z4 GT3 in the 2012 BES will enter the Viper in three 24 hour races: Spa, Zolder and Barcelona. Also some selected BES races and Supercar Challenge races are planned. Btw, I would not be suprised if some BRCC-endurance races are also planned.

Roger Grouwels was one of the first Europeans which raced the previous racing Viper in Europe. Also known as the Rudolph Viper:

He also drove the Carworld Motorsport Viper at the 24 hours of Spa in 2004

Simmi · 28 Oct 2013, 12:14 (Ref:3324201)

Hoping to get to Silverstone and Spa next year.

Adding Vipers and Bentley's into the crowd should be amazing.

wewantourdarbyback · 29 Oct 2013, 10:54 (Ref:3324657)

If Vette could just add a GT3 to their arsenal then BP would become deafening.

Speed-King · 29 Oct 2013, 11:20 (Ref:3324669)

Quote:

Originally Posted by wewantourdarbyback

If Vette could just add a GT3 to their arsenal then BP would become deafening.

There is a GT3 Vette... Callaway Europe have been given the go ahead from GM to develop a C7 GT3.

wewantourdarbyback · 29 Oct 2013, 12:14 (Ref:3324710)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

There is a GT3 Vette... Callaway Europe have been given the go ahead from GM to develop a C7 GT3.

Excellent, not sure how I missed that.

Miguel · 29 Oct 2013, 22:45 (Ref:3324917)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speed-King

There is a GT3 Vette... Callaway Europe have been given the go ahead from GM to develop a C7 GT3.

What's the word on that car? Can we expect it to be racing at the start of next year?

Rodger Davies · 29 Oct 2013, 23:42 (Ref:3324931)

No, Calloway's initial release about it said second half of the year at best.

Beryl · 30 Oct 2013, 00:36 (Ref:3324946)

Would Callaway even be interested in racing in Blancpain? I don't believe they've entered any international series since they left FIA GT3 Euro at the end of 2010.

**chunterer** · 30 Oct 2013, 11:21 (Ref:3325060)

This series is one of the sports car series success stories of the last few decades so I can't wait for 2014.

As Simmi said the Bentley and Viper coming in will further add to the massive competition. Be interesting to learn who enters them and what pro's get hired?

Mind you is the Bentley pencilled for FIA GT3 or Blancpain as a priority?

Speed-King · 30 Oct 2013, 11:29 (Ref:3325064)

Quote:

As Simmi said the Bentley and Viper coming in will further add to the massive competition.

...though there are some stories suggesting that a number of teams are sick of being mired somewhere way down the pack and consider a switch to the ELMS.

JorritVD · 30 Oct 2013, 12:57 (Ref:3325101)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

As Simmi said the Bentley and Viper coming in will further add to the massive competition. Be interesting to learn who enters them and what pro's get hired?

The Viper will not drive in the Pro class. Maybe only if Grouwels will not drive. The Viper will therefore only race in Pro-Am, or in the Gentlemen Trophy.

Miguel · 30 Oct 2013, 13:18 (Ref:3325112)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rodger Davies

No, Calloway's initial release about it said second half of the year at best.

Oh well, something to look forward to next year

We'll have a new Bentley before that time any way.

Nick Woodbury · 30 Oct 2013, 14:03 (Ref:3325128)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miguel

What's the word on that car? Can we expect it to be racing at the start of next year?

A few months ago, there were some renderings released of the GT3 Spec Corvette.

Beetle · 30 Oct 2013, 15:15 (Ref:3325148)

Ah, you beat me to it JorritVD!

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

This series is one of the sports car series success stories of the last few decades so I can't wait for 2014.

As Simmi said the Bentley and Viper coming in will further add to the massive competition. Be interesting to learn who enters them and what pro's get hired?

Mind you is the Bentley pencilled for FIA GT3 or Blancpain as a priority?

It is a success story if I've ever seen one! Blancpain was simply managed wiser than FIA GT and therefore succeeded while the other one failed.

I'm thrilled to see new competitors in the new Viper GT3 and Bentley GT3, as well as hopefully the Callaway Corvette... perhaps later in the year.

**chunterer** · 6 Nov 2013, 15:33 (Ref:3328044)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beetle

Ah, you beat me to it JorritVD!

It is a success story if I've ever seen one! Blancpain was simply managed wiser than FIA GT and therefore succeeded while the other one failed.

I'm thrilled to see new competitors in the new Viper GT3 and Bentley GT3, as well as hopefully the Callaway Corvette... perhaps later in the year.

Has there been any official news on likely Bentley owners and drivers as yet?

jasonjessica09 · 6 Nov 2013, 16:42 (Ref:3328080)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

Has there been any official news on likely Bentley owners and drivers as yet?

The one thing about Blancpain that annnoyed me is the extremly high number of Ferrari's. Me hope a couple of those teams will look to an SRT Viper, Bentey or Corvette in 2014...or Mercedes SLS too..thats my favorite GT3 car.

Félix · 6 Nov 2013, 17:21 (Ref:3328094)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

Has there been any official news on likely Bentley owners and drivers as yet?

Everybody's getting excited about Bentley as if there was going to be a dozen customer entires for next season. The plan, from what I understand, is for a factory/M-Sport entry with one/two cars (Kane-Smith are confirmed IIRC) for Blancpain, probably with other races/series if things go well. The plan for selling cars seems to be at least 6 months to a year away... so to me it's like speculating about who will buy customer Porsche P1s!

FstrthnU · 15 Nov 2013, 13:57 (Ref:3331731)

http://www.fiagtseries.com/news/deta...-sprint-series

2014 Schedule confirmed

April 12-13 3 Hours of Monza
May 24-25 3 Hours of Silverstone
June 28-29 3 Hours of Paul Ricard
July 23-27 24 Hours of Spa
September 20-21 Nurburgring 1000 km

Also, Blancpain GT Series title awarded to teams and drivers who compete in both the Sprint and Endurance Series (though titles also awarded separately for those series). Entry fees greatly reduced for teams competing in both series.

Accident · 16 Nov 2013, 11:06 (Ref:3332101)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beryl

Would Callaway even be interested in racing in Blancpain? I don't believe they've entered any international series since they left FIA GT3 Euro at the end of 2010.

Given how hard SRO shafted them on the BoP I'm not surprised they haven't returned. If I was in their position, I'd probably be pretty reticent about returning to an SRO series.

Carbone · 16 Nov 2013, 15:09 (Ref:3332149)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accident

Given how hard SRO shafted them on the BoP I'm not surprised they haven't returned. If I was in their position, I'd probably be pretty reticent about returning to an SRO series.

It was not SRO who was responsible of the balance of performance to the FIA GT3 championship (2006-2012), but only the FIA.

**chunterer** · 17 Nov 2013, 19:10 (Ref:3332658)

seems to be 2 2014 threads?

Victor_RO · 17 Nov 2013, 19:16 (Ref:3332662)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chunterer

seems to be 2 2014 threads?

One is for the Endurance series, the other is for what used to be the FIA GT Series this year, which now also has Blancpain sponsorship but keeps the sprint race format.

IndyMeister · 26 Nov 2013, 14:14 (Ref:3336966)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonjessica09

The one thing about Blancpain that annnoyed me is the extremly high number of Ferrari's. Me hope a couple of those teams will look to an SRT Viper, Bentey or Corvette in 2014...or Mercedes SLS too..thats my favorite GT3 car.

I don't think this will happen: The saying goes that Ferraris are fairly gentle to drive. That makes them a good fit for part-time racers or bronze pilots.

If I was a team owner I'd ask myself this uestion: Why should I sell my well proven and fast Ferraris for more or less untested cars?

Don't get me wrong: I like diversity as well! But there have alway been GT3-projects that never were appealing for the masses. Alpina or Morgan for example.

jasonjessica09 · 26 Nov 2013, 14:46 (Ref:3336987)

I would love to see an SRO-SCCA PWC alliance to expand the Blancpain endurance series format to the USA. We could use a 24 hour GT3 race or 3/6 hour enduros at some classic A\American road circuits or even others that have not had much use lately like Salt Lake City, Portland, New Jersey MP

JoestForEver · 26 Nov 2013, 15:53 (Ref:3337022)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonjessica09

I would love to see an SRO-SCCA PWC alliance to expand the Blancpain endurance series format to the USA. We could use a 24 hour GT3 race or 3/6 hour enduros at some classic A\American road circuits or even others that have not had much use lately like Salt Lake City, Portland, New Jersey MP

Pirelli World Challenge has a much more diversified grid than the blancpain series and the classification as well as BoP is different. Probably too crowded and messy to race together, but I do agree that a joint non-championship race at the Long beach or St. Petersburg will be fantastic.

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