RE: GTC prototype test: Time For Tea?
Tuesday 21st January 2014
Of course there's some cynicism surrounding the launch of Global Touring Cars; this is PistonHeads after all. But put aside concerns that the world already has enough saloon racing championships and watch this video for a few minutes.
GTC prototype test: Time For Tea?
The Focus V8 touring car in action at Queensland. With flames
It's a test from last summer of the Focus prototype at Queensland (perhaps corroborating a suggested V8 Supercar link) with Ashley Walsh at the wheel. In matt black with a smattering of circuit dust and some delicious camber on all four wheels, it looks the absolute business. Really compact too.
The onboard footage shows a pretty spartan cabin, surely a prerequisite to comply with the low-cost mantra of the series. There's a big seat, a cage, a gearlever, wheel and small dash display.
But inside or out, the prototype sounds brilliant; it's the tangible difference (and potential advantage) GTC cars would have over the NGTC British Touring Cars. Whether a business is brave enough to take on a GTC franchise in the UK remains to be seen. On this evidence, we hope one of them does.
See the video here
Discussion
k-ink said:
Space frame, V8, RWD... nothing to do with a dull focus, so why bother putting the ford body shell on to of this custom creation? At least Monaros are based on a real car. Seems like massive marketing hype to me.
That said, nowt wrong with V8 racing.
+1That said, nowt wrong with V8 racing.
I really don't get the point in wanting to promote dull cars in spec you can't buy. Racing used to be in part about beautiful cars.
Looks like it's fairly softly sprung yet still has decent corner speed. If I'm correct (feel free to flame me if I'm wrong) that should mean it's a nice stable competent chassis that should be not too scary or twitchy. To me it looks like a decent way to get a first taste of racing a high powered RWD car. So many race cars are just silhouettes of the road cars these days (DTM, Super GT, NASCAR) so that doesn't really bother me. If it were me I'd put an Alfa Romeo shell on top or maybe go completely the opposite and find some chronically dull JDM slushmobile just for the fun of it. 
I just don't get Silhouette racing period. How can any manufacturer claim it's their car?
All touring cars need to get real and get back to group N or A spec. Most manufacturers have a car that fits the bill these days.
The only restriction should be engine size, production quota, sold in the competing market and upgraded, pads, exhaust, tyres. They should even run the road spec wheels. Not allowed to run optional extras or bolt on spoilers. That way, we the punter could purchase some serious metal to trot to work in.
All touring cars need to get real and get back to group N or A spec. Most manufacturers have a car that fits the bill these days.
The only restriction should be engine size, production quota, sold in the competing market and upgraded, pads, exhaust, tyres. They should even run the road spec wheels. Not allowed to run optional extras or bolt on spoilers. That way, we the punter could purchase some serious metal to trot to work in.
BoxsterEtype said:
I just don't get Silhouette racing period. How can any manufacturer claim it's their car?
All touring cars need to get real and get back to group N or A spec. Most manufacturers have a car that fits the bill these days.
The only restriction should be engine size, production quota, sold in the competing market and upgraded, pads, exhaust, tyres. They should even run the road spec wheels. Not allowed to run optional extras or bolt on spoilers. That way, we the punter could purchase some serious metal to trot to work in.
Because that's boring? Who really cares?All touring cars need to get real and get back to group N or A spec. Most manufacturers have a car that fits the bill these days.
The only restriction should be engine size, production quota, sold in the competing market and upgraded, pads, exhaust, tyres. They should even run the road spec wheels. Not allowed to run optional extras or bolt on spoilers. That way, we the punter could purchase some serious metal to trot to work in.
"Oh no, i can't but this car so all this racing no longer appeals"
Sometimes I wonder what planet the average PH'er lives on, you'll moan about anything.
AngryPartsBloke said:
Because that's boring? Who really cares?
"Oh no, i can't but this car so all this racing no longer appeals"
Sometimes I wonder what planet the average PH'er lives on, you'll moan about anything.
Exactly, I can't believe that PH'ers have managed to find a reason to moan about a V8 race car..."Oh no, i can't but this car so all this racing no longer appeals"
Sometimes I wonder what planet the average PH'er lives on, you'll moan about anything.
k-ink said:
Space frame, V8, RWD... nothing to do with a dull focus, so why bother putting the ford body shell on to of this custom creation? At least Monaros are based on a real car. Seems like massive marketing hype to me.
That said, nowt wrong with V8 racing.
Well give yourself a round of applause, of course it's just marketing hype; does it detract from the RWD, space framed v8 monster? Not really. I'd rather this than some guy diving through the doors of a B-Max into a pool on my TV every 10 minutes.That said, nowt wrong with V8 racing.
AngryPartsBloke said:
BoxsterEtype said:
I just don't get Silhouette racing period. How can any manufacturer claim it's their car?
All touring cars need to get real and get back to group N or A spec. Most manufacturers have a car that fits the bill these days.
The only restriction should be engine size, production quota, sold in the competing market and upgraded, pads, exhaust, tyres. They should even run the road spec wheels. Not allowed to run optional extras or bolt on spoilers. That way, we the punter could purchase some serious metal to trot to work in.
Because that's boring? Who really cares?All touring cars need to get real and get back to group N or A spec. Most manufacturers have a car that fits the bill these days.
The only restriction should be engine size, production quota, sold in the competing market and upgraded, pads, exhaust, tyres. They should even run the road spec wheels. Not allowed to run optional extras or bolt on spoilers. That way, we the punter could purchase some serious metal to trot to work in.
"Oh no, i can't but this car so all this racing no longer appeals"
Sometimes I wonder what planet the average PH'er lives on, you'll moan about anything.
tram50 said:
AngryPartsBloke said:
BoxsterEtype said:
I just don't get Silhouette racing period. How can any manufacturer claim it's their car?
All touring cars need to get real and get back to group N or A spec. Most manufacturers have a car that fits the bill these days.
The only restriction should be engine size, production quota, sold in the competing market and upgraded, pads, exhaust, tyres. They should even run the road spec wheels. Not allowed to run optional extras or bolt on spoilers. That way, we the punter could purchase some serious metal to trot to work in.
Because that's boring? Who really cares?All touring cars need to get real and get back to group N or A spec. Most manufacturers have a car that fits the bill these days.
The only restriction should be engine size, production quota, sold in the competing market and upgraded, pads, exhaust, tyres. They should even run the road spec wheels. Not allowed to run optional extras or bolt on spoilers. That way, we the punter could purchase some serious metal to trot to work in.
"Oh no, i can't but this car so all this racing no longer appeals"
Sometimes I wonder what planet the average PH'er lives on, you'll moan about anything.
Anyone who has spectated one of the V8 Supercar silhouette car races (A series that came in to being to fill the gap left by the demise of the Wesbank modified V8's due to excessive costs of running) in South Africa where the concept for this new GTC series was developed will be able to attest to the amazing spectacle of big flame throwing V8's involved in hard wheel to wheel racing(In the old DTM style series the drivers would think twice before engaging in a battle due to the great expense of the cars they were driving).
They are always a favourite for the spectators and I'll make sure I'll have had my feed before their races would start and position myself with a view of the braking area at the end of the main straight- absolute motorsport theatre
Who on earth wants to watch a bunch of incredibly expensive factory supported only FWD turbo hatches buzzing around a track over bellowing flame breathing V8 beasts which will be profitable on a marketing level that privateers can afford to run and will enjoy factory support as spectators can relate to the cars on the track albeit only in body shape?
They'll be great
They are always a favourite for the spectators and I'll make sure I'll have had my feed before their races would start and position myself with a view of the braking area at the end of the main straight- absolute motorsport theatre
Who on earth wants to watch a bunch of incredibly expensive factory supported only FWD turbo hatches buzzing around a track over bellowing flame breathing V8 beasts which will be profitable on a marketing level that privateers can afford to run and will enjoy factory support as spectators can relate to the cars on the track albeit only in body shape?
They'll be great
Engine and gearbox sound exactly the same as V8 Supercar jobs. Wouldn't surprise me if they were lifted straight out of one. That seat needs anchoring properly too 
Anyway, I've changed my opinion on the concept. I think they look great and might make a good spectacle - potentially looking like DTM but sounding like V8SC. Wider Motorsport audiences don't care about whats underneath the body that much, I don't think. And these look and sound right.
Still dont think it will take off, mind.
Anyway, I've changed my opinion on the concept. I think they look great and might make a good spectacle - potentially looking like DTM but sounding like V8SC. Wider Motorsport audiences don't care about whats underneath the body that much, I don't think. And these look and sound right.
Still dont think it will take off, mind.
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