What's happening with this? 5 cars at LRP? Seems like an expensive/dangerous way to get seat time with those P1 cars whizzing around you. What's the point?? I'm assuming the Patron GT3 (IMSA) Challenge is still going strong?

 

To fill the grid on race day.

 

ah yes, that's the point for ALMS, but I meant (sorry I wasn't clear), what's the point for the person driving the Cup Car?

 

I guess the point is to get on TV (sponsors love that) and to race for a class win in one of the best series in the world. If I had a fuel cell I would have been out there. The GT3 cups did ok, stayed out of the way and except for a sticking throttle and cold tires after Guy Cosmo got out of his, there were no problems.

 

Fuel cell, and the $3k entry fee you mean!

 

And the invitation by ALMS too.

 

I hope it works so well that they add them to the 12 Hours of Sebring. It would be great to see more private teams there.

 

The ALMS cars come from the IMSA GT3 Challenge series. To run with those guys you can't worry too much about a couple grand here or there. You can run a season with PCA for the cost of an IMSA weekend. Fun racing though.

I'd love to do an ALMS Challenge race if I had the car and was willing to spend the cash.

 

World Challenge has been doing a similar thing this year.

 

Ditto! I'd do Sebring in a heartbeat. Unfortunately, it looks like next year it will be the SuperCup car for ALMS GT3, not the IMSA car.

 

Where did you hear this? Is IMSA adopting a true GT3 class?

 

I don't know what YOU spend on a PCA race weekend, but it sure aint coming cheap for me. In what areas are the IMSA costs higher? More consumables (tires, brakes, gas, etc)? I go through 1.5 sets of tires every race weekend in PCA and close to $1k in gas...+ support+race fees + transportation...and then there's the checkover and setup ahead of the race. Aint cheap!

 

I guarantee you a decent team-run IMSA effort averages $20k+ per event.

 

Let's see. At the Miller IMSA race my tire bill was $9800. I'm sure gas was close to $1k. Insurance $4500. Entry fee was around $3k I think. $8k in repairs for the normal IMSA bump and grind. I won't discuss support fees but it's fair to assume that they will be at least two times what you are paying for a PCA event.

It might not be as much as a PCA season but it's a hefty bill for a weekend of fun.

The racing is great though. I wish I had the time and the money to do more of it.

 

As I understand it, GT3 Challenge will continue to be current IMSA Spec but those doing GT3 in ALMS will have to run the SuperCup car....