Thats right race fans...the start to the 2005 Grand Am Cup endurance series is almost here. The first race is next weekend at Daytona Int Speedway. Follow all the action of the most competitive endurance series in the US.
Wright Tuning will be running a brand new Ford Racing FRPP Mustang GT in the Grand Sports class during the opening round of the 2005 season. The field so far has 70 cars and growing everyday.
check out the action at
www.grand-am.com
and
www.grand-am.com/Events/Event.asp?ID=94

Cheers
BJZ
Wright Tuning
350EVO.com

 

Just ain't the same BJ. Good luck. When are you guys planning to run the 350Z?

 

Looks like Mid Oio will be the first event for out Z's...but who knows.
In beleive the 350Z will need a little help from GA to be "legally" competitive this year with the additions to the M3 and this new Mustang, and the 997.

 

I hope the new mustang isn't faster than the GA 'prototypes' this year.

 

The D have caught on storng and now even Rodger Penske is invovled........Grand AM is getting to be "THE PLACE" to be in US road racing....both the GAC and the Rolex series.
The mustang we are running is in the GAC race and not the 24.

 

BJ,

Does the Z just not have enough power to compete or were there other weakness too?

 

Need a little more umph and the 3.9 for starters

 

It just SUCKS! No ifs, ands, or buts about it...I can't believe Nissan Motorsports isn't working with GAC to get these cars the necessary components they need to be competitive

Guess their focus has "shift _ed" to off-road truck racing??

 

I am sure they will be working on something here in the future........well ahve to just wait and see.

 

So are you going to be driving the Mustang now BJ?

Edit: Just checked the entry list, and there you are. What are your personal thoughts on it thus far?

 

Is the 350z doomed to have only 300hp from the factory because of the JGTC 300hp car classing?

 

A. or #1 I ll drive anything if the situation is right I am sad that we are not running the 350Z's though.....after all it my job that racing them revolves around.

B. or #2 The Z's will be back and I will most likely be behinf the wheel.

C. or #3 The new Mustang that we are running as I know it...is specifically built for road racing from the factory. Its a $120,000 car built by Mutimatic. I know that after 5000 miles of testing there wasnt much more than some required maint.From what I hear...when they were testing the car.....the brakes were way to sensitive to the touch......TRW tooled up and made 150 specialized brake master cylinders specifiaclly for this car. That the type of dedication that Ford has put into it. Almost $1,000,000 into their first ever factory built race car that can be purchased through an authorized FRPP dealership.

D. or #4 The rules for the Grand Am series are really dictated by how involved the Manufacture is in the series. We def need more "help"......(advertising time bought on SPEEDChannel from Nissan would help) I would say the 350Z with the current rules...needs to be in the 375 HP range or needs to weigh about 2700 pounds.
Both of these will NOT be easy to do. The weight for sure would be difficult and more HP means two things..........spending more money on power and spending more money to replace things that are all ready wearing out to fast..........ie. front hubs, brake pads and rotors, transmissions. Nissan Motorsports tired to get the Nismo Japan new front nose , rear wing, and the 350EVO 3,9 final drive approved and was shot down right away.
I would sya that we need a litttle different cam, 3.9 final drive, the new nose for sure, possibly a new hood, and a new intake manifold.
The BMW's or for sure faster this year as well as the 997's and the new mustang.

 

BJ,

I hope you guys stick with developing the Z. We have already seen Performance pull the plug and I really hope you guys stick it out. NISMO needs to push for the changes you mention. I would like to see Nissan come out with a special race version of the 350Z. Then the GA Cup officials would have to let it run. Performance winning two races last year hurts you asking for changes to make the car better. GA Cup must realize that the bar seems to have been raised this year with Ford's factory support. Any word on the sell of the Performance team cars?

 

Nissan aka Nismo must start helping teams with the 350Z or all the work done by Performance and 350Evo will be wasted.

 

Exactly, what was do the for Nissan to bring back to Z if they are not going to support it here in the US. It's great that they support the JGTC teams but now they need to step up and do the same for the guys here.