here's the release been sitting on it for about 5 hours:
Individual class names have yet to be determined. The planned structure:
• GRAND-AM’s DP and the ALMS’ P2 classes will combine into one, headlining prototype class that also will include the revolutionary DeltaWing prototype, with performance balanced to maintain close competition;
• The ALMS’ Prototype Challenge (PC) class for spec prototypes will continue to run as a separate class;
• Both of the organizations’ production-based GT classes will continue as separate, distinct categories based on performance, preserving each series’ proud GT history and loyal fan following;
• GRAND-AM’s new GX class, which is debuting at this year’s Rolex 24 later this month, is being explored as a possible addition to the GRAND-AM half of the GT mix in 2014-15. There also is the possibility that GX will run separately as a fifth class.
Specifications for all classes still are being determined and will be announced later this year.
Glad we've finally got the barebones structure but is anyone else concerned about both series having weaker years this year because of so much focus on the merger? It may be a selfish thing to worry about (working for the series) but I really don't want a slump year of racing. While it is important to plan for the "Future", it is also key to concentrate on making the last year of both series the best it can be.
Confused and disappointed. This is goinng to be some BOP.
How can LMPC be a junior class to DP when the dated Oreca FLM09 laps quicker than a DP? Will teams still be running these 5 year old cars in 2014? Why?
ACO GTE currently laps places like Mid-Ohio in the same amount of time as a DP.
Clearly, DP is going to have to be completely re-invented to remain as the top class and have any hope of keeping pace with an LPM2 car.
Nothing hugely surprising and a bit of a cop out release, lots of information still to come. Whether that's because they haven't decided or they're keeping such information back, is debatable.
I question whether the inclusion of P2 is a heart felt support for the class, or a bone thrown to fans to keep them interested while behind the scenes the business makes moves to obsolete those entries by making DP's more attractive.
In 2014 the current LMP1s would be obsolete anyway, so either upgrade (and run in WEC) or convert to LMP2 and run in North America, since conversion to LMP2 would exceed cost cap. The other problem is that the driver lineups would have to change. Both teams would have to re-vamp their entire setup either way.
None of these answers are filling me with any sense of happiness. I get the distinct impression that there are known answers that they have, they just don't quite know how to spin it yet.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
John Dagys just tweeted out an article about the class structure. http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/grand-am-2014-class-structure-ann...
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
The ALMS website has dropped the bomb!
http://www.alms.com/articles/grand-am-alms-announce-class-structure-unif...
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
It's good that they're keeping the ALMS GT class intact. Everything else we have to wait and see how the balance of performance works.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Is it odd that this was released before their big press conference?
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
here's the release been sitting on it for about 5 hours:
Individual class names have yet to be determined. The planned structure:
• GRAND-AM’s DP and the ALMS’ P2 classes will combine into one, headlining prototype class that also will include the revolutionary DeltaWing prototype, with performance balanced to maintain close competition;
• The ALMS’ Prototype Challenge (PC) class for spec prototypes will continue to run as a separate class;
• Both of the organizations’ production-based GT classes will continue as separate, distinct categories based on performance, preserving each series’ proud GT history and loyal fan following;
• GRAND-AM’s new GX class, which is debuting at this year’s Rolex 24 later this month, is being explored as a possible addition to the GRAND-AM half of the GT mix in 2014-15. There also is the possibility that GX will run separately as a fifth class.
Specifications for all classes still are being determined and will be announced later this year.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
P2 Class is a little fuzzy without specs available.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
just rush home from work for this it better be good
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Glad we've finally got the barebones structure but is anyone else concerned about both series having weaker years this year because of so much focus on the merger? It may be a selfish thing to worry about (working for the series) but I really don't want a slump year of racing. While it is important to plan for the "Future", it is also key to concentrate on making the last year of both series the best it can be.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Confused and disappointed. This is goinng to be some BOP.
How can LMPC be a junior class to DP when the dated Oreca FLM09 laps quicker than a DP? Will teams still be running these 5 year old cars in 2014? Why?
ACO GTE currently laps places like Mid-Ohio in the same amount of time as a DP.
Clearly, DP is going to have to be completely re-invented to remain as the top class and have any hope of keeping pace with an LPM2 car.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Confused and disappointed. This is goinng to be some BOP.
Early days, but I tend to agree - at present.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Yeah currently confusing.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Great that P2 cars are in, I just hope any GALMS mods are easy to take off should a team want to go to Le Mans.
rules are for 2 years only, so when do we start speculating about 2016?
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
maybe ppl will now sign up for this year know where 2014 will go
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should that be friday night motorsport
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Technical issues????? in 2013? For RLM? Surely not!
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Hello Sam, nice to hear your voice again!
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2nd that!!!
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DP has an easier upgrade path than people think.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
GA / ALMS playing it by ear? Surely not. Ahem.
Plenty of time for the "Get out of Jail" clause for teams to play..
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Let's see what happens. As everyone has noted, it's reallllllly light
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we talk about DP at le mans on facebook
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Class names and Series name to be released at a later date. Yup, cop out. Just tell us it's "L.L.A.M.A" already!
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Well, I just hope the fans get some genuine, racing as a result.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Nothing hugely surprising and a bit of a cop out release, lots of information still to come. Whether that's because they haven't decided or they're keeping such information back, is debatable.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
ALMS official tweet from the press conf - "Intention to keep P2 as close to ACO spec as possible while increasing performance for DP"
Thank god for that
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Key word, intention.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
I'd like to hear Sam's thoughts on what a DP is going to need to get close to an LMP2 car.
BTW - isn't the press conference underway?
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
I question whether the inclusion of P2 is a heart felt support for the class, or a bone thrown to fans to keep them interested while behind the scenes the business makes moves to obsolete those entries by making DP's more attractive.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
"By [Corvette and Riley bodies] working in the same way," Grand-Am of course mean "make sure the Corvette body is unequivocally the fastest."
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
DPs already develop around 50 bhp more than LMP2s so fast tracks would be a nightmare if you gave DPs another 90 bhp.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Using Road America as a baseline.
DP fast lap = 2:02.382
LMP2 fast lap = 154.218
LMPC fast lap = 157.172
GTE fast lap = 2:04.415
You're going to need Heiz-Harold Frentzen to BOP this mess.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Sam it was actually Martin Plowman in the Conquest Endurance Morgan-Nissan at Daytona ;)
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
No P2 would be a disaster in 2013 if that's a major class point in 2014. They NEED to focus on getting the P2 cars into the series now.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Delta Wing coupe from Sam's website:
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Wouldn't the homologation have lapsed on the Oreca FLM09 by 2014 anyway?
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Just mentioned downgrading P1 cars to fit in with P2. Hmmm
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
That's Leo Parente's voice isn't it?
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T'is
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MAJOR news (or complete red herring) - scott elkins "P1 cars could downgrade engine/aero to compete at P2 level"
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Surely only a temporary move and a kick in the teeth for Rob Dyson and Greg Pickett who've made the investment.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
In 2014 the current LMP1s would be obsolete anyway, so either upgrade (and run in WEC) or convert to LMP2 and run in North America, since conversion to LMP2 would exceed cost cap. The other problem is that the driver lineups would have to change. Both teams would have to re-vamp their entire setup either way.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Oh dear. Better not to read too much into that.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Rolex Series@RolexSeries
"We are committing to United States sports car racing. That's where we need to be focused." #TheFuture
That reads as spec racing to me, since all US focused racing seems to be that way.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Possibility: LMP2s will run on Continental rocks while the DPs get a bit of a weight reduction and run on Michelin/Dunlop stickies.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Okay I take back my previous negatives about Leo Parente. BAM! First question, and he goes right for the kill shot. Thank you Leo!
And of course that question is completely avoided.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
-Press conference, and almost nobody asks a real question
DRINK!
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
None of these answers are filling me with any sense of happiness. I get the distinct impression that there are known answers that they have, they just don't quite know how to spin it yet.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
"Buddy-buddy"....I hate all this arse kissing and PR spiel.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Did we really expect to get any more "official" insight into what is happening other than the press release?
Fiddly - Foodle. Wait and see.
Re: Class Structure - LIVE - your reactions please
Prototype Lights should join the Conti Series or Pirelli Series, that'd be cool.