Mezger/Cup update
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From: Loveland, CO
I think the ALMS broadcasters put it best yesterday with their commentary regarding how the fields are being equalized. They remarked that the rule makers are doing their jobs when all the various teams are complaining about their disadvantage.
Porsche was the top dog in GA for a number of years and it was only a matter of time before people starting shooting at the target on their back. Hurley is just speaking what has become the party line the last few years. Buckler says it. John Horton says it. They all say that they aren't getting the breaks that they need.
The fact of the matter is that the GA GT3s are still competitive. They just are no longer dominant. I personally don't have a problem with that. The only problem I have ever had with GA GT class cars is the Prep2 tube frame cars. That's a disparity that I think is ridiculous. The "BMWs" and "Camaros" should be written right out of the rules IMO.
Porsche was the top dog in GA for a number of years and it was only a matter of time before people starting shooting at the target on their back. Hurley is just speaking what has become the party line the last few years. Buckler says it. John Horton says it. They all say that they aren't getting the breaks that they need.
The fact of the matter is that the GA GT3s are still competitive. They just are no longer dominant. I personally don't have a problem with that. The only problem I have ever had with GA GT class cars is the Prep2 tube frame cars. That's a disparity that I think is ridiculous. The "BMWs" and "Camaros" should be written right out of the rules IMO.
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The only place FIA matters is with the RSR really. There is the GT3 class of racing in certain countries/series, but that's a drop in the bucket for Porsche Motorsports and I suspect they'll just keeping running the GT3R there until the FIA figures out their new rules
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From: Loveland, CO
This is not to say that they won't make cars to FIA specs. But I don't think the boys in Weissach are going to lose any sleep over the delays in the release of the new regs. They'll just keep counting all those Euros they make on the standard Cups as they doze off at night.
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From: Midwest
The price of the new GT America (Cup) for the USCR next year is going to be the draw compared to the other GT3 based options, which are almost double the entry price.
I think since Grand-Am recently allowed new manufacturers in, they need to stroke the egos and give them some relative quick success to ensure car counts. Remember, they made Ferrari jump through a lot of hoops to make the 458 legal. Now they have begun to relax all those regulations. I can live with that.
The new GT America should certainly close the gap to the GT3 based cars, but how much has yet to be seen. If it can keep it's rear tires underneath it for longer, that might prove to be all the difference.
From recent press releases from USCR, it looks like they are going to try and phase out the Prep-2 tube-framers, which is good for everybody.
I think since Grand-Am recently allowed new manufacturers in, they need to stroke the egos and give them some relative quick success to ensure car counts. Remember, they made Ferrari jump through a lot of hoops to make the 458 legal. Now they have begun to relax all those regulations. I can live with that.
The new GT America should certainly close the gap to the GT3 based cars, but how much has yet to be seen. If it can keep it's rear tires underneath it for longer, that might prove to be all the difference.
From recent press releases from USCR, it looks like they are going to try and phase out the Prep-2 tube-framers, which is good for everybody.
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I see ten 997 GT3-Rs on the entry list. Compared to a typical Carrera Cup race with four times as many entries and having Cup spec series in how many countries? FIA GT3 is a drop in the bucket when they are making several hundred Cup Cars a year. Porsche will follow the money. Their big meal ticket is their own proprietary seriesI see ten 997 GT3-Rs on the entry list. Compared to a typical Carrera Cup race with four times as many entries and having Cup spec series in how many countries? FIA GT3 is a drop in the bucket when they are making several hundred Cup Cars a year. Porsche will follow the money. Their big meal ticket is their own proprietary series and will continue to be for the foreseeable future. and will continue to be for the foreseeable future.
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From: SF Bay Area
For those of you who are interested, as suspected the 991 cup will continue with a Mezger not only this coming year, but at least one year following but probably two. In addition, the "GT American" car (this is essentially a combination of ALMS GTC and Rolex GT) will run a 4.0 liter Mezger.
Bottom line: you won't see a 9A1 in a spec race car for several years.
I also doubt the Mezger will be in the 991 RS. The direct link between race engine and street engine will be no longer from what I can tell.
Bottom line: you won't see a 9A1 in a spec race car for several years.
I also doubt the Mezger will be in the 991 RS. The direct link between race engine and street engine will be no longer from what I can tell.
So yeah, agree - a) 991RS will have the 9A1, and b) at some point in the future the cup's (RSR?) will have the 9A1 base as well, and the Mezger will be retired for all the reason's stated in other posts. That being said the Mezger has had amazing longevity, success, and is certainly iconic.
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From: Loveland, CO
I never said that GT3 wasn't a viable market or viable racing venue for Porsche. I just said that it's not part of their core motorsports business plan. There's a reason that Porsche Motorsports is the most profitible motorsports division of any auto maker in the world.
