FIA GT1 at Silverstone this weekend
Discussion
A little bigger, better, brasher, and noisier than the GT3 cars.
This series is the last place to hear, and feel the brutish Corvette GT1 cars in action.
Corvette are apparently a little non-plussed at them being used, but as a photographer, and a spectator, I'm glad!
Chasing the Corvettes for second place on the noise stakes would be the GTR.. which has a 5.7 v8
Two teams were running the GTRs - Swiss Racing:
and Sumo Power.. one of the sumo cars failed to finish, after contact with a Vette, but the other one, pictured here went on to win
but only after two Astons were disqualified
The Murcielagos had the best flames... although one ended up slightly barbequed after yesterday's race
I was slightly disappointed with the Ford GTs though, they didn't sound nearly loud enough, and they weren't that fast.
but the old Maserati's still top the beauty stakes
Some more here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/itwasntandy/sets/7215...
This series is the last place to hear, and feel the brutish Corvette GT1 cars in action.
Corvette are apparently a little non-plussed at them being used, but as a photographer, and a spectator, I'm glad!
Chasing the Corvettes for second place on the noise stakes would be the GTR.. which has a 5.7 v8
Two teams were running the GTRs - Swiss Racing:
and Sumo Power.. one of the sumo cars failed to finish, after contact with a Vette, but the other one, pictured here went on to win
but only after two Astons were disqualified
The Murcielagos had the best flames... although one ended up slightly barbequed after yesterday's race
I was slightly disappointed with the Ford GTs though, they didn't sound nearly loud enough, and they weren't that fast.
but the old Maserati's still top the beauty stakes
Some more here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/itwasntandy/sets/7215...
Edited by cpufreak on Monday 3rd May 09:46
Some very good coverage on ESPN today.
With regards to the 2 Astons, the Young Driver AMR car that 'won' was disqualified for a worn plank, the second placed car was given a 15 second penalty for ignoring a drive through penalty so the Sumo GT-R won, but the Aston stayed in second place. They are, of course, appealing.
The Corvettes will of course also be pounding around Le Sarthe in June as well.
With regards to the 2 Astons, the Young Driver AMR car that 'won' was disqualified for a worn plank, the second placed car was given a 15 second penalty for ignoring a drive through penalty so the Sumo GT-R won, but the Aston stayed in second place. They are, of course, appealing.
The Corvettes will of course also be pounding around Le Sarthe in June as well.
cpufreak said:
Red Firecracker said:
The Corvettes will of course also be pounding around Le Sarthe in June as well.
I thought GM had laid pressure on the ACO to get them withdrawn... can't have the manufacturer run new cars being slower than the old ones, run by privateers...cpufreak said:
Red Firecracker said:
The Corvettes will of course also be pounding around Le Sarthe in June as well.
I thought GM had laid pressure on the ACO to get them withdrawn... can't have the manufacturer run new cars being slower than the old ones, run by privateers...
Racefan_uk said:
cpufreak said:
Red Firecracker said:
The Corvettes will of course also be pounding around Le Sarthe in June as well.
I thought GM had laid pressure on the ACO to get them withdrawn... can't have the manufacturer run new cars being slower than the old ones, run by privateers...As I said I had heard that GM were more than a bit upset about this, and had been working with the ACO to have the GT1 cars withdrawn..
cpufreak said:
yes, that's the point. Marketing dept of the manufacturer isn't going to understand the difference between GT2 and GT1... the only thing they'll notice is that last year's car is quicker than this years...
As I said I had heard that GM were more than a bit upset about this, and had been working with the ACO to have the GT1 cars withdrawn..
After meeting and talking to the guy in charge of the GM motorsport projects before now, I find that incredibly hard to believe. They have better people than that within GM.As I said I had heard that GM were more than a bit upset about this, and had been working with the ACO to have the GT1 cars withdrawn..
I'd have thought they would more likey prefer the customer GT1 cars to seep all before them at Le Mans while they go toe to toe with Porsche and Ferrari in GT2.
Indeed. Corvette and especially Pratt & Miller always strike me as racers in the truest sense of the word, people who would be horrified at the suggestion of influencing other entries.
Don't forget also that Corvette were not guaranteed an invitation in GT2 (although the chance of them not getting one was very very slim) as their automatic invitation was for a single car in GT1 (Alphand had 2 automatic invites and Peka 1) so there could have been a situation whereby Pratt & Miller were still contesting GT1 themselves.
Don't forget also that Corvette were not guaranteed an invitation in GT2 (although the chance of them not getting one was very very slim) as their automatic invitation was for a single car in GT1 (Alphand had 2 automatic invites and Peka 1) so there could have been a situation whereby Pratt & Miller were still contesting GT1 themselves.
There was not enough promotion and advertising done yesterday at Silverstone....the SRO need to push their 'Sponsorship Agency', JMI into action fast.....
GT1 and GT3 racing is pretty good so far as a championship is concerned but over time crowds will grow as more people see it on TV or read about it.
GT1 and GT3 racing is pretty good so far as a championship is concerned but over time crowds will grow as more people see it on TV or read about it.
Went to this yesterday with my brother and really enjoyed the GT1 race, and the GT3s too. GT4 really needs some more cars in it but has the potential to be very good too. A shame it hasn't really taken off as the premise of the series is pretty sound I'd have thought.
As far as spectator numbers go, apart from the day that Peugeot gave away a shed load of freebies for the LMS race a year or two ago, I've never seen big crowds for 'endurance' races (I used the brackets as technically 1 hour doesn't make an endurance race, but you know what I mean). It's a bit more of an acquired taste plus it doesn't get the mainstream terrestrial that, for example, the BTCC gets so it's more of an unknown to the general public. I agree with Chevron though; I thought there were quite a few folks there, especially considering how bloody cold (and wet early on) it was.
And the new circuit layout's a winner in my opinion. The new Abbey right hander is pretty spectacular and there are definite overtaking opportunities at Village. Once the diggers and mud have all gone, it'll be really good.
If you're not fed up with photos then mine are here: http://www.pbase.com/trackside/fia_gt_championship...
As far as spectator numbers go, apart from the day that Peugeot gave away a shed load of freebies for the LMS race a year or two ago, I've never seen big crowds for 'endurance' races (I used the brackets as technically 1 hour doesn't make an endurance race, but you know what I mean). It's a bit more of an acquired taste plus it doesn't get the mainstream terrestrial that, for example, the BTCC gets so it's more of an unknown to the general public. I agree with Chevron though; I thought there were quite a few folks there, especially considering how bloody cold (and wet early on) it was.
And the new circuit layout's a winner in my opinion. The new Abbey right hander is pretty spectacular and there are definite overtaking opportunities at Village. Once the diggers and mud have all gone, it'll be really good.
If you're not fed up with photos then mine are here: http://www.pbase.com/trackside/fia_gt_championship...
Thoroughly enjoyed the racing yesterday but it was bloody cold, even in the stands at Luffield. It was the first time i've been to an endurance type race and was a little confused at where the cars were on track at the end of the race 
Loved the sound of the 6 series BMW in the GT3's. The GT1's were pretty awesome sounding, all having a completely different sound. I was impressed that the GT-R's held their own against the (lovely looking) MC12's and Astons. Looking forward to seeing the GT's again.
Loved the sound of the 6 series BMW in the GT3's. The GT1's were pretty awesome sounding, all having a completely different sound. I was impressed that the GT-R's held their own against the (lovely looking) MC12's and Astons. Looking forward to seeing the GT's again.
Trackside said:
Went to this yesterday with my brother and really enjoyed the GT1 race, and the GT3s too. GT4 really needs some more cars in it but has the potential to be very good too. A shame it hasn't really taken off as the premise of the series is pretty sound I'd have thought.
As far as spectator numbers go, apart from the day that Peugeot gave away a shed load of freebies for the LMS race a year or two ago, I've never seen big crowds for 'endurance' races (I used the brackets as technically 1 hour doesn't make an endurance race, but you know what I mean). It's a bit more of an acquired taste plus it doesn't get the mainstream terrestrial that, for example, the BTCC gets so it's more of an unknown to the general public. I agree with Chevron though; I thought there were quite a few folks there, especially considering how bloody cold (and wet early on) it was.
And the new circuit layout's a winner in my opinion. The new Abbey right hander is pretty spectacular and there are definite overtaking opportunities at Village. Once the diggers and mud have all gone, it'll be really good.
If you're not fed up with photos then mine are here: http://www.pbase.com/trackside/fia_gt_championship...
That day at the LMS was a nightmare - I queued for an hour and a half to get in, thus missing the first half hour while (ironically) the Peugeot team shot themselves in the foot. And to add to my ire, all the chumps with the free tickets were wandering around the shopping area behind the pit straight and not watching the racing. That and the Renault World Series events at Donington were sufficient to confirm in my mind that free tickets ruin motor racing.As far as spectator numbers go, apart from the day that Peugeot gave away a shed load of freebies for the LMS race a year or two ago, I've never seen big crowds for 'endurance' races (I used the brackets as technically 1 hour doesn't make an endurance race, but you know what I mean). It's a bit more of an acquired taste plus it doesn't get the mainstream terrestrial that, for example, the BTCC gets so it's more of an unknown to the general public. I agree with Chevron though; I thought there were quite a few folks there, especially considering how bloody cold (and wet early on) it was.
And the new circuit layout's a winner in my opinion. The new Abbey right hander is pretty spectacular and there are definite overtaking opportunities at Village. Once the diggers and mud have all gone, it'll be really good.
If you're not fed up with photos then mine are here: http://www.pbase.com/trackside/fia_gt_championship...
Anyway, GT1 field was an awesome spectacle. The weather reminded me of 1997 when my dad and I huddled under an umbrella watching JJ Lehto dance the Langheck GTR through the puddles and most of the privateer GT1 911s managed to destroy each other at Copse. Mercifully it dried up in time for GT1, but still tricky track conditions all day. James Calado and Alex Sims were my drivers of the day though - stunning performances both.
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