During the 24 Hours of Le Mans weekend, the ACO announced it was looking to cut costs in the GT2 class; bringing the racecars closer to production cars. It would seem the GT1 class is under the slashing costs radar too. The lack of participation in American Le Mans Series, Corvette Racing is the only GT1 team competing in this particular field with eleven GT2 teams running consistently, is reason for restructuring. Aston Martin is no longer in the ALMS because of funding issues and concerned about the rules. An Oreca-prepped Saleen S7R is said to be racing soon but with each passing event it seems unlikely and if does race in America it probably is for one race.
Eleven GT2 teams is not bad but the Le Mans Series, European version of the ALMS, regularly fields up to twenty teams on any given race day, which is the goal of the US should be producing. The European side of sports car racing is much healthier than North America, but the fact is spiraling costs is effecting ALMS and can eventually catch up with teams in the LMS, as it is only in its fourth season. So what do ruling bodies do to cut costs? The cars are always first to be analyzed.
A month ago crash.net posted an article stating, “The ACO has also mooted a cost-cutting move in GT2, bringing the class closer to the road-going models that provide the base for competition cars. The use of a factory engine and a reduction in onboard electronics are being targeted as the main means of reducing engineering costs.” Those statements did not hit me recently while reading a post about this very issue at the ALMS forums but I will get back to this.
When a Corvette Z06 is featured in a magazine what other cars are usually compared? The Porsche 911 GT3 and Ferrari F430. It is safe to say that all three cars are within the same performance category yet are split within the GT-classes from the ACO and FIA. The GT1 class is extremely expensive since it allows the use of exotic materials, better aerodynamics, larger brakes, wider tires, and larger engine restrictors compared to GT2. In essence Porsche and Ferrari could produce GT1 running racecar but it would very costly for teams to purchase and operate such machinery. I do not know the price of the GT1 class Corvette but a single 911 GT3 RSR is priced $280,000, so you can imagine how much money the GT1 category demands being that ulitizes a higher grade of technology; think about what the bill would be for an engine rebuild or replacement body work and suspension members.
With the way things are going, I would not be surprised if the GT1 category disappeared. Again, Corvette Racing is the lone GT1 class with two cars racing themselves for guaranteed podiums. Three manufacturers compete in the GT2 class both in North America – Panoz, Ferrari, and Porsche – while five manufacturers represent the field in Europe – Panoz, Ferrari, Porsche, Spyker, and Chevrolet (with the Z06GT). The LMS proves the Corvette can fit in the GT2 class to battle directly against Ferrari and Porsche, who are sadly the top manufacturers of what should be a diverse field of cars. Even if GT1 were to dissolve a solution for GT2 is needed.
Allow me to go back to how crash.net’s article had hit me; the only class that fits the factory engine, reduced onboard electronics all in favor of slashing engineering costs, is the GT3 class, which uses the 911 GT3 Cup, which for the price of one RSR can land a team two of these machines. The road going 911 GT3 is fast, period, so stripping approximately 500 lbs. from the 911 variant, one gets the impression how much quicker the Cup car is.
In 2006, the FIA launched the FIA GT3 European Championship as a way to expand manufacturer involvement in motorsports as well as to assist non professional amateur drivers into racing with cost in mind, which is the ultimate series for privateers. The FIA does this a couple of ways. GT3 differs from its GT1 and GT2 counterparts in the implementation of low-cost engineering and designing in the development of a road car to the racing counterpart, as well as the equalization of competition. The cars are not allowed to be developed by their manufacturers over the course of a racing season whereas the GT1 and GT2 classes allow otherwise. Manufacturers provide a ready-to-race car, which in turn are limited in what they can alter from production specification. Since the inception of the championship many manufacturers have joined the series. The manufacturers representing the grid are:
-Ascari KZR-1
-Aston Martin DBRS9
-Chevrolet Corvette Z06-R
-Dodge Viper Competition Coupe
-Ferrari F430 GT3
-Lamborghini Gallardo GT3
-Lotus Sport Exige GT3
-Maserati Gran Sport Light
-Porsche GT3 Cup
-Jaguar XKR GT3
-Ford Mustag FR500GT
-Gord GT GT3
-Morgan Aero 8 GT3
If ACO adopts the GT3 class and some of the FIA rules, this could be an awesome class for the ALMS. Not a great amount will be saved for race team as operational costs will be the same but atleast the price of the cars and maintenance will be a lot lower than GT1 and GT2 cars. I am sure this goes through, this will effect the FIA GT series as the GT1 and GT2 classes participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Chances the FIA GT3 might become the premier grand touring class. The ALMS, LMS, and FIA GT3 could have a great number of factory-supported private teams because of this move.