IMSA vs PWC GT3 Cup Series
03-15-2017, 12:22 PM
#17
Sadly it seems there are at least some guys who can afford to simply buy their way in. When I was running 2-wheelers there was a sharp cut for who made the grid, and who didn't (107% of pole) which even THAT was pretty broad... but still plenty of people went home. Did seem to help keep the true dreamers out who really didn't belong running at that level.
03-15-2017, 01:27 PM
#18
Either of these series requires a budget upgrade from club racing.
Weekend cost $25-35K and that does not include crash damage.
The numbers I have been told when I was looking into the IMSA GT3 series was:
Car ($200-$280k) depends if you buy new or used
Trans/Support: $15-$20k/weekend
Entries: $2-3k/weekend
Tires: $7k/weekend (3 sets)
Consumables: $2k/weekend
Budget $50k in for crash damage and incidentals for season.
Flights, hotels, meals, to get you to and from each race: $10k (season)
(I post this above so others that are interested can have an idea without having to do the work).
I personally didn't know it was such a huge leap in budget.
But as others have said if you want to compete with the best gt3 cup drivers in USA and get coverage for sponsors (ha ha i wish) this is the series to be in and you got to PAY to PLAY.
One day soon....
Weekend cost $25-35K and that does not include crash damage.
The numbers I have been told when I was looking into the IMSA GT3 series was:
Car ($200-$280k) depends if you buy new or used
Trans/Support: $15-$20k/weekend
Entries: $2-3k/weekend
Tires: $7k/weekend (3 sets)
Consumables: $2k/weekend
Budget $50k in for crash damage and incidentals for season.
Flights, hotels, meals, to get you to and from each race: $10k (season)
(I post this above so others that are interested can have an idea without having to do the work).
I personally didn't know it was such a huge leap in budget.
But as others have said if you want to compete with the best gt3 cup drivers in USA and get coverage for sponsors (ha ha i wish) this is the series to be in and you got to PAY to PLAY.
One day soon....
03-15-2017, 03:14 PM
#19
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entry is now $4500 a weekend and you have to buy four sets of Yokohama tires per event at $2200 a piece so another $8800
we are going to some IMSA racing this year and next and trying to come up with a budget between PCA Club and Pro level
this really depends on your shop and support guys
I have asked other crew chiefs why the big price tags and they say things like well these guys want cavier and $27 bottles of peanut butter and all kinds of stupid stuff you would have if money was no object
I dont have an unlimited budget but want to race IMSA and am going to keep track of how things go and cost realistically
and let you guys know!!
yes it is expensive but I think can be done much less than say a KMR would charge a weekend
(I hope)
we are going to some IMSA racing this year and next and trying to come up with a budget between PCA Club and Pro level
this really depends on your shop and support guys
I have asked other crew chiefs why the big price tags and they say things like well these guys want cavier and $27 bottles of peanut butter and all kinds of stupid stuff you would have if money was no object
I dont have an unlimited budget but want to race IMSA and am going to keep track of how things go and cost realistically
and let you guys know!!
yes it is expensive but I think can be done much less than say a KMR would charge a weekend
(I hope)
03-15-2017, 03:29 PM
#20
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I would love to step up to IMSA GT3 Cup at some point. That would be a dream come true.
The expense part is hard to swallow, but more speed cost more money. Sport of Kings 100%.
I could see myself hitting the pipe hard in that series.
Makes me realize how good I have it in the GT4 Trophy East club racing series.
Entry fees and tires are manageable, especially for a one make spec series when compared to GT3 Cup, Lambo series and Ferrari challenge. And the car is easy to live with. It is a unique and great product that PCA came up with.
It is a Great series to be in on your way up or on your way down from GT3 Cup IMO.
For now i can only watch the GT3 cup from the sidelines and dream.
The expense part is hard to swallow, but more speed cost more money. Sport of Kings 100%.
I could see myself hitting the pipe hard in that series.
Makes me realize how good I have it in the GT4 Trophy East club racing series.
Entry fees and tires are manageable, especially for a one make spec series when compared to GT3 Cup, Lambo series and Ferrari challenge. And the car is easy to live with. It is a unique and great product that PCA came up with.
It is a Great series to be in on your way up or on your way down from GT3 Cup IMO.
For now i can only watch the GT3 cup from the sidelines and dream.
03-15-2017, 03:37 PM
#21
Rennlist Member
I would love to step up to IMSA GT3 Cup at some point. That would be a dream come true.
The expense part is hard to swallow, but more speed cost more money. Sport of Kings 100%.
I could see myself hitting the pipe hard in that series.
Makes me realize how good I have it in the GT4 Trophy East club racing series.
Entry fees and tires are manageable, especially for a one make spec series when compared to GT3 Cup, Lambo series and Ferrari challenge. And the car is easy to live with. It is a unique and great product that PCA came up with.
It is a Great series to be in on your way up or on your way down from GT3 Cup IMO.
For now i can only watch the GT3 cup from the sidelines and dream.
The expense part is hard to swallow, but more speed cost more money. Sport of Kings 100%.
I could see myself hitting the pipe hard in that series.
Makes me realize how good I have it in the GT4 Trophy East club racing series.
Entry fees and tires are manageable, especially for a one make spec series when compared to GT3 Cup, Lambo series and Ferrari challenge. And the car is easy to live with. It is a unique and great product that PCA came up with.
It is a Great series to be in on your way up or on your way down from GT3 Cup IMO.
For now i can only watch the GT3 cup from the sidelines and dream.
03-15-2017, 03:44 PM
#22
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Originally Posted by 987part
We have the same type of accidents in PCA club racing guys
03-15-2017, 04:16 PM
#23
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03-15-2017, 08:01 PM
#24
There are definitely more way to save money on the support and transportation side...but entry tires and running costs are the same everywhere.
03-15-2017, 08:09 PM
#25
Burning Brakes
If you just want to show up w/ a single car trailer and have a buddy help you wrench on your car between sessions, you can do it for less than the big teams -- but all you'll be doing is driving around and spending all your spare time working on the car. And if that's all you want to do, then don't bother going to an IMSA weekend. Save a bunch of money, avoid the headaches and politics and do club races.
-mike
03-15-2017, 08:31 PM
#26
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It can be done cheaper than a professional shop like KMR charges, but you won't have a chance at winning (unless you're already fast enough to be paid to be driving). The hospitality stuff teams like KMR do is basically nothing of the budget.
If you just want to show up w/ a single car trailer and have a buddy help you wrench on your car between sessions, you can do it for less than the big teams -- but all you'll be doing is driving around and spending all your spare time working on the car. And if that's all you want to do, then don't bother going to an IMSA weekend. Save a bunch of money, avoid the headaches and politics and do club races.
-mike
If you just want to show up w/ a single car trailer and have a buddy help you wrench on your car between sessions, you can do it for less than the big teams -- but all you'll be doing is driving around and spending all your spare time working on the car. And if that's all you want to do, then don't bother going to an IMSA weekend. Save a bunch of money, avoid the headaches and politics and do club races.
-mike
And often overlooked is the value of in-house data analysis, set-up expertise, and coaching provided in the package.
03-15-2017, 08:34 PM
#27
entry is now $4500 a weekend and you have to buy four sets of Yokohama tires per event at $2200 a piece so another $8800
we are going to some IMSA racing this year and next and trying to come up with a budget between PCA Club and Pro level
this really depends on your shop and support guys
I have asked other crew chiefs why the big price tags and they say things like well these guys want cavier and $27 bottles of peanut butter and all kinds of stupid stuff you would have if money was no object
I dont have an unlimited budget but want to race IMSA and am going to keep track of how things go and cost realistically
and let you guys know!!
yes it is expensive but I think can be done much less than say a KMR would charge a weekend
(I hope)
we are going to some IMSA racing this year and next and trying to come up with a budget between PCA Club and Pro level
this really depends on your shop and support guys
I have asked other crew chiefs why the big price tags and they say things like well these guys want cavier and $27 bottles of peanut butter and all kinds of stupid stuff you would have if money was no object
I dont have an unlimited budget but want to race IMSA and am going to keep track of how things go and cost realistically
and let you guys know!!
yes it is expensive but I think can be done much less than say a KMR would charge a weekend
(I hope)
It can be done cheaper than a professional shop like KMR charges, but you won't have a chance at winning (unless you're already fast enough to be paid to be driving). The hospitality stuff teams like KMR do is basically nothing of the budget.
If you just want to show up w/ a single car trailer and have a buddy help you wrench on your car between sessions, you can do it for less than the big teams -- but all you'll be doing is driving around and spending all your spare time working on the car. And if that's all you want to do, then don't bother going to an IMSA weekend. Save a bunch of money, avoid the headaches and politics and do club races.
-mike
If you just want to show up w/ a single car trailer and have a buddy help you wrench on your car between sessions, you can do it for less than the big teams -- but all you'll be doing is driving around and spending all your spare time working on the car. And if that's all you want to do, then don't bother going to an IMSA weekend. Save a bunch of money, avoid the headaches and politics and do club races.
-mike
Couldn't agree more. "Do it right or don't do it at all."
03-16-2017, 08:08 AM
#28
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I definitely see the attraction to sprintX in the GT Cup class. Its an opportunity to run in a more dynamic pro /semi pro series with pit stops and driver changes in a fairly reasonably priced car. The 991 cup will run against the 458 challenge cars and Hurican super trofeo. It's getting a little closer to IMSA GTD but with much more reasonable cost. A 991, 458 or hurican can all be bought for less than a new GT4 Clubsport MR and the cost per hour is way less than a GT3 class car. I believe we will see much larger fields in the GTCup class at the srint x weekends.
03-16-2017, 01:31 PM
#29
Rennlist Member
It can be done cheaper than a professional shop like KMR charges, but you won't have a chance at winning (unless you're already fast enough to be paid to be driving). The hospitality stuff teams like KMR do is basically nothing of the budget.
If you just want to show up w/ a single car trailer and have a buddy help you wrench on your car between sessions, you can do it for less than the big teams -- but all you'll be doing is driving around and spending all your spare time working on the car. And if that's all you want to do, then don't bother going to an IMSA weekend. Save a bunch of money, avoid the headaches and politics and do club races.
-mike
If you just want to show up w/ a single car trailer and have a buddy help you wrench on your car between sessions, you can do it for less than the big teams -- but all you'll be doing is driving around and spending all your spare time working on the car. And if that's all you want to do, then don't bother going to an IMSA weekend. Save a bunch of money, avoid the headaches and politics and do club races.
-mike
04-09-2017, 09:07 PM
#30
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Are you talking about IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge vs the PWC GT Cup class? If so, even besides this weekends lack of PWC GT Cup entries, IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge destroys it in terms of depth of field and talent levels. There's normally 1 or 2 quick guys in PWC GT Cup, but IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge is much tougher and probably a better investment if you are simply wanting to improve -- much more track time and you aren't always being attacked by full Pros in faster GT3 cars. :-)
But if you want to race in bigger events and experience/learn multi-class racing, PWC GT Cup is a good option. Personally, I hope they remove the class though.
-mike
But if you want to race in bigger events and experience/learn multi-class racing, PWC GT Cup is a good option. Personally, I hope they remove the class though.
-mike
Dosnt appear to be very much compared to the PWC GT and GTS schedule...
Are they included in the SprintX?
Last edited by tcsracing1; 04-10-2017 at 08:02 PM.