BGP
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Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 370
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From: New Market, Maryland
I have to admit, I like the vettes too. They struggled last year because ALMS did away with GT1 and GT2 for a combined GT class. Took them a while to get sorted out. All types of growing pains but now they seem to be well into their game. They are serviced by Pratt and Miller but are basically a factory Chevy team. They run LS7s, I believe, like the Z06.
The BMWs had the same problem the first year. All sorts of growing pains including mistakes in the pits and by the drivers. They got their a$$es kicked but now they are sorted and rolling. They don't do F1 any more so BMW is really behind this Rahal Letterman team. The head of BMW racing actually sowed up last year for the 12 hour Sebring race. That's how much they think of this effort. Not sure if they run the BMW V8 or V10.
The Jaguars just don't seem to be able to get it together. They've been in the series for 2-3 years and it's the same old story every race. Great looking and sounding cars though! I think these guys run a V12.
The Ferraris- still my overall favorites. The Risi Competizione is the best team but the Patron team of Scott Sharp racing are no slouches either. I think the Risi team is the closest to a Ferrari factory team and if you listen closely, you can tell the difference in the way the two teams cars sound. The Risi car is a little huskyier than the Patron cars. The switch from the 430GT platform to the 458GT platform has caused some reliability issues at least. The Risi cars did not finish Le Mans last year because of breakages. They run a small bore V8.
The gaggle of 911s- mostly RSR but some cup cars in GTC class. The best of the bunch is Flying Lizard Motorsports (usually). They've won numerous class championships with the 911 RSR. The 45 car drivers are Porsche factory drivers (Patrick Long and Jorg Bergmeister). The 44 car from FLM usually does not do as well- likely a driver thing as the cars are prepped by FLM. This is the closest to a factory Porsche team in ALMS. They have a "special relationship" with the factory. However, the winner of GT was the Falken tire 911RSR. They won Mid-Ohio a few weeks ago in the rain too. They are always there but usually not a serious threat. Something lit a fire under them though, recently. Man their primary driver, Wolf Henzler, was rolling. He made a pass on the BMW in turn 1 on the outside that was amazing and then started to stretch the lead all the way to the end. Seems they want the team to move up from just being a tire test bed platform.
I don't now as much about the prototype classes. Dyson racing has the 16 and 20 car. The 20 car won overall. I know the 16 car is a Mazda powerplant (2 liter- 4 cylinder I think) turbo and I think these are the only turbos out there. The Muscle Milk car is a V12 Aston Martin. In big races like Le Mans, Sebring and the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, this class is dominated by Audi and Peugeot diesels. Short 2 hour races don't being those teams out.
Just a little background. I too hope they continue. A street race is different and much tougher all around on cars and drivers. Long Beach is the only other major one I can think of so I hope Baltimore stays with it. Everyone was amazed how many people turned out. I saw estimates of over 160k+ for Sunday and about that many for Saturday. I too worked the event with SCCA but I seriously doubt I will do that again. I got in to some amazing places with an all access pass but I just don't think it is worth it and to be honest, the race promoters sort of treated the SCCA flaggers badly by not giving them much consideration. I think next year I'll just buy my ticket and be happy with a good seat and paddock pass.
The BMWs had the same problem the first year. All sorts of growing pains including mistakes in the pits and by the drivers. They got their a$$es kicked but now they are sorted and rolling. They don't do F1 any more so BMW is really behind this Rahal Letterman team. The head of BMW racing actually sowed up last year for the 12 hour Sebring race. That's how much they think of this effort. Not sure if they run the BMW V8 or V10.
The Jaguars just don't seem to be able to get it together. They've been in the series for 2-3 years and it's the same old story every race. Great looking and sounding cars though! I think these guys run a V12.
The Ferraris- still my overall favorites. The Risi Competizione is the best team but the Patron team of Scott Sharp racing are no slouches either. I think the Risi team is the closest to a Ferrari factory team and if you listen closely, you can tell the difference in the way the two teams cars sound. The Risi car is a little huskyier than the Patron cars. The switch from the 430GT platform to the 458GT platform has caused some reliability issues at least. The Risi cars did not finish Le Mans last year because of breakages. They run a small bore V8.
The gaggle of 911s- mostly RSR but some cup cars in GTC class. The best of the bunch is Flying Lizard Motorsports (usually). They've won numerous class championships with the 911 RSR. The 45 car drivers are Porsche factory drivers (Patrick Long and Jorg Bergmeister). The 44 car from FLM usually does not do as well- likely a driver thing as the cars are prepped by FLM. This is the closest to a factory Porsche team in ALMS. They have a "special relationship" with the factory. However, the winner of GT was the Falken tire 911RSR. They won Mid-Ohio a few weeks ago in the rain too. They are always there but usually not a serious threat. Something lit a fire under them though, recently. Man their primary driver, Wolf Henzler, was rolling. He made a pass on the BMW in turn 1 on the outside that was amazing and then started to stretch the lead all the way to the end. Seems they want the team to move up from just being a tire test bed platform.
I don't now as much about the prototype classes. Dyson racing has the 16 and 20 car. The 20 car won overall. I know the 16 car is a Mazda powerplant (2 liter- 4 cylinder I think) turbo and I think these are the only turbos out there. The Muscle Milk car is a V12 Aston Martin. In big races like Le Mans, Sebring and the Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta, this class is dominated by Audi and Peugeot diesels. Short 2 hour races don't being those teams out.
Just a little background. I too hope they continue. A street race is different and much tougher all around on cars and drivers. Long Beach is the only other major one I can think of so I hope Baltimore stays with it. Everyone was amazed how many people turned out. I saw estimates of over 160k+ for Sunday and about that many for Saturday. I too worked the event with SCCA but I seriously doubt I will do that again. I got in to some amazing places with an all access pass but I just don't think it is worth it and to be honest, the race promoters sort of treated the SCCA flaggers badly by not giving them much consideration. I think next year I'll just buy my ticket and be happy with a good seat and paddock pass.
