GTS in ALMS

[JAG]

Who do you think will set the pace in GTS in the ALMS.

Without the restrictors the ACEMO Saleen is already quicker than the 2003 pole at Sebring in testing a few weeks back.

I think the C5R could have problems this year.

Also do the GTS cars have 2002 vspec restrictors back?

[gsmith2424]

In my opinion I don't think the C5R will not have a problem because they now have Michelin's which will speed them up quite abit. And do you know how much quicker the Saleen was than 2003 Sebring Pole time?

[noise boy 2]

The other thing to remember, is that it is possible to take a faster line around sebring during testing, as some of the barriers are not up to allow for use of the short course. Robert

[gsmith2424]

I forgot about that because I now remember in 2002 when Dyson was still racing the MKIIIA he was just as fast as the Audi's in testing down there.

[SALEEN S7R]

Originally posted by JAG
Also do the GTS cars have 2002 vspec restrictors back?

Yes they do, and so do the new LMP 2 cars (when one is produced) and so do the GT and LMP 2 class cars.

[JAG]

I realise LMP1 and 2 have bigger restrcitors. Still not sure about GTS and GT.

Has it been confirmed by anyone?

[SALEEN S7R]

I havent seen any documentation saying that the restrictors would change back to the 2002 regulations for the GTS/GT class cars, but when it was announced that all 4 classess would have 10% smaller restrictors in 2003 the ACO did say that all 4 classess (LMP1, LMP2, GTS, GT) would go back to the 2002 spec restrictor sizes, so I think we can assume that this has happened, especially when u consider how much faster the ACEMO Saleen is running than the Vettes were last year.

The only cars that will run the 2003 restictors as far as Im aware are the old LMP 900 machinery (so all of them) and the old LMP 675 class, added to this the LMP 900 and LMP 675 cars will also have a 80 litre fuel tank, instead of the 90 litres the LMP1 and LMP 2 class cars will run with, and a shorter rear wing of 180cm, whilst the LMP 1 and LMP 2 class cars will run 200cm rear wings. GTS class cars will also have 200cm rear wings, and more importantly 100 litre fuel tanks.

So the short answer is yes I beleive that the restrictors have changed back for GTS/GT class cars to the 2002 specifcation, or else the Saleen woudnt be running that much faster around Sebring than the pole time for last years Sebring 12hr time. I also remember Ratel saying that the main reason why the restrictors didnt change in FIA GT for 2003 was that because the restrictors were only in place for one year and would have to be changed back for 2004 so he didnt see the point.

[Cadete]

Originally posted by SALEEN S7R
Yes they do, and so do the new LMP 2 cars (when one is produced) and so do the GT and LMP 2 class cars.

There is already one LMP2 car produced, the Courage C65 is to run at full LMP2 spec this season, not as an hybrid, since it was made for the LMP2 rules in the first place. On the AutoHebdo issue where they tested this car they said that it will lose some wing but it will have 2002 restrictors, like all the LMP2.

[simon c]

what lap times are we looking at for le mans then this year?

GTS - sub 3.50's must be realistic?

what can we expect of an R8 this year?

what about the LMP1 / 2?

[SALEEN S7R]

Id expect to see a Ferrari 550 or Ferrari 575 dip into the 3:49's yes, and maybe the Saleen even quicker now its restrictors are gone. Will be intresting to see what happens but dont bet against the Care Racing guys getting into the 3:49's, as for the JMB Ferrari 575's who knows, the car is quick...

[simon c]

2002 restrictors for GTS cars will make things interesting.

last year it took an age for some of the P900's to outdrag a 550 up the pit straight - Pesca, Dome Mugen - not R8's or RFH I know, but it was often a real squeeze!!!

would be fantastic to see a Saleen leading GTS this year - although Borcheller won Alms in 2001 and Gounon / Lechner demonstrated just how good car is in FIA GT last year, in international competition there just haven't been the results which we know the car is capable of.

[SALEEN S7R]

Yeah I agree Simon, and lets not forget that the Audi's, RFH domes and Listers will be running to LMP 900 regulations, so I woudnt be suprised to see the GTS cars matching the LMP 900 machinery on the straights, not the RFH domes, but the Audis they could as they are running 2003 restrictors, the Audis arent that fast in a straight line strangley enough, dont get me wrong they are quick but theres a few cars that are faster.

[RobweenerPI]

You are forgetting what time of year it is too guys. It's January in Florida too, sure it may be sunny and warm at 70 to 80 degrees this time of year but everytime I've been to Sebring for the race it's been 90 to 100. Cooler temps really allow the cars to pick up time. Most of the time the fastest laps of the race are done at twilight when the track temp starts to drop. I'd expect the curcuit to be a second or two quicker at least now then it is when it comes time to race.

[Mal]

Originally posted by RobweenerPI
You are forgetting what time of year it is too guys. It's January in Florida too, sure it may be sunny and warm at 70 to 80 degrees this time of year but everytime I've been to Sebring for the race it's been 90 to 100. Cooler temps really allow the cars to pick up time. Most of the time the fastest laps of the race are done at twilight when the track temp starts to drop. I'd expect the curcuit to be a second or two quicker at least now then it is when it comes time to race.

Thats true, the fastest laps in the race at LeMans are often done late at night or in the early hours and pole position is usually won during the Wednesday late night qualifying.

[SALEEN S7R]

Yes but from what Ive been reading on DSC this was the cars first shakedown, and the cars only ran for 1 day, and the management were saying that the gearing on the car wasnt setup for Sebring really, so the times are a little false and that they would be going much quicker for the Sebring 12hrs. So far the car has lapped in the high 1:57's, the pole time in 2003 was a 1:59.024, now considering this was really just a shakedown and the car wasnt setup for Sebring I think this is very signifcant. To me this indicates too that the GTS cars are running the 2002 restrictor sizes.

[jhansen]

Nevermind, brain fart.

[Fab]

Not the topic, but I didn't want to open one just for that question : Graham (or Cy, or somebody else), have you some link or something about the Panhard Motorsport ? What's this all about ?

I saw that they asked themself some questions about that on the french forum MotorLegend...

Thank you for any hint...

[SALEEN S7R]

Graham, just thought, would u be able to confirm for certain if the ACO GTS class are running to 2002 spec restrictors the same as LMP 1 and LMP 2 classess please?