TUDOR United SportsCar Championship Thread

[Swarley]

This may be the most excited I've been for a sports car season in a long time. We FINALLY get to see the combined series racing together at the Rolex 24 at Daytona in late January.

Roar Before the 24, the official testing for the 24 hour race, is set to take place this coming weekend (3-5). A lot of cars we'll see for the first time, so it should be pretty exciting. We'll finally see for the first time the SpeedSource Mazda LMP2 diesels, the OAK Racing's Morgan-Nissan LMP2, Pickett Racing's ORECA-Nissan LMP2, Corvette Racing's C7.R's finally without the camouflauge.

67 entries are confirmed for the Roar Before the 24 testing, including 17 in the Prototype class, 12 in the Prototype Challenge class, 11 in the GT Le Mans class and 27 in the GT Daytona class.

Official Entry List: http://f.cl.ly/items/2T3i0Z1F332p2S3S2l2b/Roar Entry List 12-24.pdf



TUDOR United SportsCar Championship 2014 Schedule:

1/25 - Rolex 24 at Daytona
3/15 - 12 Hours of Sebring
4/13 - Long Beach street circuit (P/GTLM only)
5/4 - Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca (split P/GTLM and PC/GTD races)
5/31 - Belle Isle street circuit (P/GTD only)
6/7 - Kansas Speedway (PC and IMSA Prototype Lites only)
6/29 - Six Hours of the Glen
7/13 - Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
7/25 - Indianapolis Motor Speedway
8/10 - Road America
8/24 - Virginia International Raceway (split GTLM/GTD and PC races)
9/20 - Circuit of the Americas
10/4 - Petit Le Mans

 

[Swarley]

Risi Competizione has withdrawn from the test session (still planning on being at the 24) and Team Falken Tire has announced it will not compete at the Rolex 24 at Daytona due to not enough prep time for their new Porsche 911 (991).

Pretty cool, so far for the Rolex 24 at Daytona there are confirmed drivers from outside series such as WEC, DTM, IndyCar, GP2, Aussie V8 Supercars, WTCC and NASCAR.

 

[Swarley]

GTD Technical Regulations Released

With just a mere hours left in the year, IMSA released the final draft version of the GT Daytona regulations to TUDOR United SportsCar Championship teams.

The rulebook, which had been circulated to manufacturers over the past three weeks, features the technical specifications for the new-for-2014 class, which combines existing cars from GRAND-AM’s GT class, new GT3-based machinery as well as Porsche’s 991 Cup-based 911 GT America.

As expected, driver aids such as anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability control are not permitted, but specific FIA-approved manufacturer-installed roll cages may be permitted following IMSA’s review of the homologation papers.

It’s understood FIA GT3 models such as the Audi R8 LMS and BMW Z4 GT3 have been allowed to use the slightly thinner roll cage instead of GRAND-AM’s previously mandated size, which had been outfitted on R8s that previously competed in the Rolex Series.

Additionally, all cars must also run IMSA’s single-element rear wing, supplied by Crawford Composites.

Of note, carbon chassis are permitted, meaning the McLaren MP4-12C could be eligible for competition.

While no model-specific specification were released, the baseline minimum weight for the class is 1215 kg, with a maximum engine displacement of 8.5 liters for normally aspirated and 4.0 liters for turbocharged powerplants.

IMSA will be able to adjust a car’s performance through minimum weight, engine restrictor/boost pressure, fuel capacity, gurney and rear wing height adjustments.

All BoP adjustments take effect seven days after notice.

A final version of the GTD regulations is expected to be released following this weekend’s Roar Before the Rolex 24.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/gtd-technical-regulations-released/

 

[Price]

I cant wait to hear the DPs in person.

 

[Swarley]

I cant wait to hear the DPs in person.

They sound quite nice. Hearing them come down the infield straight at Kansas Speedway was glorious (even if the track sucked lol).

 

[Swarley]

Speaking of... Here are a few of the pics I took last July when Grand-Am was at Kansas Speedway:

 

 

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Teams showing up for the Roar:

Mazda trailers:

One of the new LMP2 Mazda Skyactiv Diesels:

OAK Racing LMP2:

GB Autosport Porsche 911 America:

 

[Swarley]

More unloading pics:

LMP2 Mazda Skyactiv Diesel:

Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT America:

Scuderia Corsa Ferrari 458 Italias:

TRG Aston Martin V12 Vantage:

Miihlner Motorsports Porche 911 GT Americas:

 

[Swarley]

IMSA Increases Grid Capacity for NAEC Rounds

IMSA will allow up to 68 cars to compete in each of the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup rounds, it has been revealed.

A larger-than-expected number of entry requests for the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship season, particularly in the four-round endurance championship, sparked the increase in car capacity, according to IMSA’s Gary Cummings.

The season-opening Rolex 24 at Daytona was originally capped at 60 entires, corresponding to the maximum number of pit boxes that can be accommodated on pit lane.

While Cummings said they had considered expanding pit lane, the end result will see up to six cars share a pit box for Daytona. Each box will be between 20 and 21 feet in length, roughly the same size as the GT teams from last year’s race.

Cummings said they received 80 entry requests, and a number of multi-car operations depended on gaining both entries, a factor that also contributed to IMSA’s decision to increase the field size.

The Six Hours of The Glen and Petit Le Mans, which were both also initially limited to 60 entries, will also increase to 68, as well as the Twelve Hours of Sebring, which was originally set at 63.

Cummings expects the use of both pit lanes at Road Atlanta, should they reach the new maximum capacity.

http://sportscar365.com/imsa/tusc/imsa-increases-grid-capacity-for-naec-rounds/

 

[Swarley]

Corvette Racing's new C7.Rs. Still in camouflage tho:

Level 5's PC car and two GTD Ferrari's:

Porsche North America/CORE Autosport Porsche 911 RSR (991) without livery:

Pickett Racing's ORECA-Nissan LMP2 car:

Whelen Corvette DP being inspected:

Extreme Speed Motorsports HPD LMP2:

Starworks PC car:

One of the SRT Vipers:

 

[Swarley]

One of the GTD class Flying Lizard Audi R8's: :wub:

One of the GLTM class SRT Motorsport Vipers along with the GTD class Riley Motorsport Viper:

Pickett Racing ORECA-Nissan LMP2 car with one of the Ganassi Ford DP's in the background:

 

[Swarley]

Ganassi Ford Riley DP and Krohn Racing Ferrari 458 Italia GTLM:

Spirit of Daytona Corvette DP and OAK Racing Morgan LMP2:

Porsche North America Porsche 911 RSR (991):

Corvette Racing Chevy Corvette C7.R:

Park Place Motorsports Porsche 911 GT America:

Extreme Speed Motorsports HPD LMP2:

Flying Lizard Motorsports Audi R8 LMS

 

[Price]

:kenny:

 

[Swarley]

Not having the black on the rear of the car is throwing me off.

 

[Swarley]

Official entry list for the Rolex 24 at Daytona is out. 67 entries, 1 short of the grid limit.

http://www.imsa.com/sites/default/files/races/entry_lists/Daytona Entry List 1-15.pdf

 

[Swarley]

A look at the new leader lights system:

 

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[Swarley]

First crash. RLL BMW GTLM car got into the Team Seattle/AJR Porsche 911 GTD car after hitting oil on the track:

 

[Swarley]

Coolest looking shot I've come across today: