ALMS - 12 Hours of Sebring

Skeeter

Skeeter

Skeeter

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Joined
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The opening round of the ALMS is this comming weekend, and man does it look like its going to be a good one. The GT Classes look to be the best bet for good close racing (as usual), even after the big mix up in classes.

For those who dont know, the P1, P2, GT1 and GT2 structure has gone, instead there will be a single Prototype class, and a single GT class.

- The Prototype class will consist of P1 and P2 spec cars, as the ALMS rules aimed always to bring the 2 classes closer together (hence the Porsche RS Syder beating the Audi R10's a couple of years back). However, for Sebring and Petit Le Mans they will compete as 2 seperate classes, P1 and P2, to stay inline with the Le Mans 24hr format.

- GT1 is dead. A lack of interest and massively soaring costs meant the ALMS has decided to scrap it and instead invest in a much more competitive and bigger GT2 class.

- Any my my, its worked. The GT2 class is great this year. Corvette, Jaguar, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, and Ford are all competing. Definately the place to look for the closes fights.

- LMP Challenge. A new class has been created as a feeder into LMP. The LMPC is a single spec class (Oreca Prototype) that is to LMP what GP2 is to F1. The place to look for new drivers emerging.

- GT Challenge. Another new class to again act as a feeder or cheaper alternative to the GT2 class. This class is open to GT3 spec Porsches, which as well as being bullet proof, always offer good action in all the series they compete in all over the globe.

So all looks good.... apart from the fact its in America :(. It looks like its only live on the SPEED chanel (which I dont get) so no 12 hour marathon for me. Although I know it was online somewhere last year, so if anyone knows where Qualifying and the Race will be streamed please let me know :)

EDIT: Wow, looks like I may have been wrong and Motors TV are showing all 12 hours live! But Im not in this weekend :( so any online streaming is still welcome!
 
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Skeeter said:
The GT2 class is great this year. Corvette, Jaguar, Ferrari, Porsche, BMW, and Ford are all competing. Definitely the place to look for the close fights.
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Awesome. Given the difficulties the IMSA have had with gathering support (and that's before the ACO stuck their oar in), hopefully this move will give them the action they need to draw in more fans. ZR1 vs. GT3 RSR vs. 430 GT vs. E92 M3 vs. XKRS vs. GT? Yes please, based on what the Ferrari and Porsche will get up to on their own: -


Also, to clear up - is the GT Challenge officially a single spec class, or is that effective because only GT3s have been entered?

Personally I'm a bit peeved that Audi won't be taking the R15+ there (well, not for the race at least), so I hope somebody can take it to the Peugeots, like this: -


Fights down the field are great, but there's something to be said for having a scrap for the outright lead of the race.

Double Edit - Thanks Skeeter, that'd make sense for a feeder-esque series.
 
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I belive the GTC class is open to 911 GT3's only, but from a few different regulations and aparently some older models too. So not strictly a spec class, but pretty close.
 
Christ that's a crash and a half :o

Think I may actually watch at least a large chunk of this, not watched any ALMS before (or even much GT racing at all) but getting Sky tomorrow so might as well,

Also iRacing are doing a 'World Tour' event for this (they've done the rolex 2.4 hours of daytona, and the daytona 500 so far, more later in the year), which is 2 hours of Sebring in the Corvette C6-R, should be fun :)
 
Yep, spare car will be sorted for them.

Skill - you have been missing out. I love GT racing and Prototypes, much better than open wheels. Speeds of single seaters but the close racing and contact of touring cars :)
 
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It looks like Intersport will now not use the spare car for Sebring instead opting to wait until Long Beach, it seems the accident was caused by a rear suspension failure while travelling in a strait line at high speed sending the car sideways and taking off, very much like Stephan Ortelli's accident at Monza in 2008.




Also here is a few laps onboard the Aston Martin LMP1 with Adrian Fernandez

http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/alms-aston-martin-sebring-in-car/
 
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Live streaming on Speedtv.com for those who dont know. Just logged on and it looks like the 2 Factory Corvettes collided in the pits, damaging one car, puncturing a tyre on the other and getting a stop go penalty for the collision.

Oops.
 
Skeeter said:
Live streaming on Speedtv.com for those who dont know. Just logged on and it looks like the 2 Factory Corvettes collided in the pits, damaging one car, puncturing a tyre on the other and getting a stop go penalty for the collision.

Oops.
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Oops doesn't really cover it. :D

Numptyness of the highest order is a little closer. It looks like they sent one of the cars out without a bonnet as well.

One of the funniest things I've seen all day.
 
Jesus!

Rear right wheel just came off a GT2 Porsche *for the second time!* and hit the rear left wheel of another GT2 Porsche causing the tyre to delaminate and trash the rear end of that car.

D'OH!
 

Instantly one of the best overtaking moves ever. Pirro was a an opportunist and it worked superbly.

This is the sort of thing that can happen when drivers aren't given blue flags and leap out of the way at that very moment.
 
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