Are We on the Cusp of the Next Golden Age of Sports Car Racing?

"willkinton247" (willkinton247)
12/26/2013 at 12:19 • Filed to: Sports Cars, TUSCC, Le Mans, Ferrari, WEC, Racing, Porsche, Audi, Prototype

There have been many recent developments in the world of sports car racing over the past few months, with important announcements coming from a large number of major automakers. This leads me to believe that we are on the cusp of something great, and something historic. Sports car racing has always been defined by manufacturer involvement, and I believe that is beginning to return on a large scale.

Sports car racing is one of the oldest forms of racing, and it has a long and illustrious history of manufacturer involvement. The prestige of many manufacturers is tied to their efforts and accomplishments in sports car racing in the past, especially at Le Mans, with major marques such as Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, Mercedes, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Bentley, Renault, Toyota, Mazda, McLaren, Nissan, and Ford all having a storied and celebrated history in the sport. These manufacturer efforts defined the racing, the rivalries, and the sport.

Unfortunately, after 1999, manufacturer involvement became sparse. Mercedes pulled out of sports car racing indefinitely after an aerodynamic design flaw caused Peter Dumbreck's CLR to spectacularly become airborne during Le Mans in 1999 (Mark Webber's CLR also experienced this during warm-ups). Toyota stopped their GT-One program and transitioned into Formula 1. BMW also made a transition to Formula 1, but ran the BMW V12 LMR for one more year in the American Le Mans Series. BMW took the win at Charlotte and Silverstone, but the V12 LMR could not match the pace of the new Audi R8, and BMW retired their LMP effort before the last race of the season.

Audi prototypes went on to define sports car racing and Le Mans throughout the 2000's. There were short lived and unsuccessful prototype efforts from Chrysler, Cadillac, and Panoz, and none of these efforts could match the Audi R8's performance, and the car won at Le Mans five times in six years (The one year an R8 did not win was 2003. Audi provided an engine, staff, and drivers to Bentley, a fellow member of the Volkswagen Auto Group, and Bentley won with the Speed 8). After another successful year for the R8 in 2005, Audi introduced its successor, the R10 TDI, which in 2006 became the first diesel to win at Le Mans. The next year Peugeot returned to sports car racing with the 908 HDi FAP which took second place, finishing ten laps behind the winning Audi R10 TDI. This was the beginning of the one of the defining rivalries of the sport.

Peugeot was Audi's only main competitor between 2007 and 2011. In 2008, Peugeot qualified in the top three slots, ahead of Audi, and the French cars were able to maintain a lead in the first half of the race. The second half of the race was defined by two periods of rain, and the Audis proved better able to cope with the wet conditions, leading to another Audi win by 10 minutes. In 2009, Peugeot and Audi were joined by Aston Martin with their Lola-Aston Martin B09/60. Audi introduced their new R15 TDI, and Peugeot used the 908 HDi FAP, but with a brand new energy recovery system. Peugeot won, Audi took third, and an Aston Martin finished 4 th . The next year, Audi won with the updated R15 TDI plus, and all four Peugeots failed to finish the race, three of which experienced engine failure. Aston Martin entered two cars, of which only one finished the race, crossing the finish line 32 laps behind the leader.

In 2011, the ACO changed LMP1 rules, rendering all previous cars obsolete. Audi responded with the R18 TDI, Peugeot responded with the 908, and Aston Martin with the AMR-One. Two of the Audis crashed spectacularly during the race, and both Aston Martins had retired by the fourth lap. The lone remaining Audi won the race by 13.8 seconds. After that year, Peugeot retired from sports car racing, citing low consumer sales, and Aston Martin dropped their LMP program to focus on GTE. In 2012, Toyota picked up where Peugeot had left off, entering two TS030 hybrids to take on Audi's new R18 e-tron quattro hybrid. Both Toyotas failed to finish the race, and Audi took another victory. However, after Le Mans, Toyota managed to win three out of the five races in the World Endurance Championship. In 2013 Toyota returned to challenge Audi. At Le Mans, Audi took first, third, and fifth, and Toyota took second and fourth. In the World Endurance Championship, Toyota put pressure on Audi, even if Audi ended up winning the championship.

This brings us to the present and the future. Audi is facing competition from Toyota, as they have been able to make serious strides in their LMP1 development, and is expected to be able to a major competitor to Audi in 2014. Furthermore, Audi's champion, Allan McNish, just announced his retirement, and Audi will need to replace him. And then there is the third marque that has thrown its hat into the LMP1 ring: Porsche.

Porsche is returning in 2014 with the 919, a hybrid utilizing a 4 cylinder turbocharged engine. This car will be Porsche's first prototype since 2010's RS Spyder LMP2 car. There will likely be some kinks to work out, as this being Porsche's first year of re-entry in Le Mans, but I expect them to be fully competitive with Audi and Toyota. Having three factory based racing teams on equal ground in the top tier of sports car racing is a very exciting thing to see in this racing series.

Looking forward, 2015 is likely to have an even more diverse field of manufacturers. Nissan has stated that they are aiming to build an LMP1 car that is " !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! " to the prototypes currently being built (It will also not be based off of their experimental ZEOD RC that will be running in the spot formerly occupied by the DeltaWing). Also, due to a budget cap that will be introduced in Formula 1 in 2015, many manufacturer teams will have room in their budgets for new endeavors. Moreover, the new V6 turbocharged engines in F1 should be legal for use in LMP1 with few modifications, reducing the costs of building an LMP program from the ground up. Because of this, Renault is said to be looking into an LMP1 car for 2015. But the most speculation of Le Mans aspirations revolves around Ferrari.

Luca di Montezemolo, the president of the company, has openly stated that Ferrari is considering a return to Le Mans. "We are working on some technology innovation that we are testing at the moment, so this is the first time in which, theoretically, there could be the possibility of thinking about Le Mans…There have been a few weeks where I have begun to think of the possibility, if the rules go in the right direction that I expect, maybe to do sooner or later Le Mans with a Ferrari car to win,"he revealed to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Di Montezemolo also noted that the 2015 F1 budget cap would allow Ferrari to have the budget necessary to field an LMP1 team as well, saying that it would be a good place to send people who would no longer have a place with the F1 team under budget restrictions. Rumors have even come out regarding what driver line up Ferrari would use for a Le Mans bid. However, this may not come until 2016.

If Ferrari does return in 2015 or 2016, it would be momentous. It would mark the first Ferrari factory LMP program since 1973. It also means that the field could consist of upwards of five major factory teams, all in the top field. The last time there were that many manufacturers competing for victory at Le Mans was in 1999, and Mercedes Benz and Toyota were competing in LMGTPs, with the other four marques competing in LMPs.

Stateside, massive changes are happening as well. The !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! will be kicking off its inaugural year with around 60 entrants. As I have mentioned before, this marks a turning point for sports car racing in America. No longer will sports car fans be torn between two very similar racing series, and the field is huge. There is no longer a category for LMP1 cars, but there is plenty of interesting developments in the Prototype class. Due to the high costs of LMP2 cars over Daytona Prototypes, many thought that the field would be dominated by DPs. But that has turned out not to be the case, with an equal number of each competing in the top class.

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Furthermore, Mazda is backing a factory LMP2 team that will be showcasing the Mazda SKYACTIV-Diesel engine in a Lola chassis, with hopes of using this effort as a launching pad for a future LMP1 car. Ford is also stepping back into endurance racing, providing a 3.5 liter EcoBoost V6 engine for Chip Ganassi Racing's Daytona Prototype. Ford appears to be very interested in using racing to market their EcoBoost line of engines as not only efficient, but powerful as well. This is pure speculation, but I could see this line of thinking leading to future racing endeavors in the European market. At any rate, 2014 will be a red-letter year for sports car racing in America as well.

So why is all of this important?

Well, it's because sports car racing is responsible for a huge amount of technological development that trickles down to road cars. This has lead to major developments in aerodynamics, engines, drive trains, transmissions, and so on. The emphasis on endurance puts a strong importance on developing reliable, fuel efficient, and powerful cars, which has tangible, real world implications. Furthermore, the open-ended nature of the rules fosters creativity in design, leading to unique solutions across manufacturers (Formula 1 also encourages creativity in design, but that's oftentimes viewed as " cheating " and " bending the rules "). Therefore, having upwards of five auto manufacturers present in prototype racing, all searching for different solutions to the same problem, will lead to some truly exciting developments in future cars in general.

Not to mention some truly exciting racing.

For more updates about racing and other automotive thoughts, feel free to follow me on the Twitter at !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . If you want me to look into a particular series or topic, or have any feedback, let me know!

DISCUSSION (66)

ncasolowork2 > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 12:21

TL;DR

Yes. Ferrari will be returning to LMP1 to compete with Audi, Toyota, and Porsche.

The new United Sports Car Racing in the US is going to be epic.

That's all that matters. It is all going to be epic. It is entirely possible that Sportscar racing might become the premier form of racing in the US if Indy Car isn't careful.

Bakkster, touring car driver > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 12:49

You've said exactly my thoughts, much more clearly than I would have. If things continue on their trajectory, we will certainly see a new golden age.

I thought the Mazdas were using standard Multimatic (Lola) chassis.

willkinton247 > Bakkster, touring car driver
12/26/2013 at 12:50

Yep I believe you are correct.

Diesel > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 13:44

I came here to read about how Sebastian Vettel is greater than Senna.

I was disappointed.

willkinton247 > Diesel
12/26/2013 at 13:49

Well, that's not sports car racing. haha

JDIGGS > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 13:49

Don't forget trickle down of safety as well.

pfftballer > ncasolowork2
12/26/2013 at 13:51

But I thought Nascar was the premier form of racing in 'Murica.

willkinton247 > JDIGGS
12/26/2013 at 13:52

Absolutely. This was amazingly fully survivable.

Kinja'd!!!

HammerheadFistpunch > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 13:53

I hope so, I've always wanted to be on the cusp of something.

WellYouDontSay > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 13:56

Peugeot used the 908 HDi FAP- HAHA my inner child just chuckled out loud in a packed conference room

WellYouDontSay > WellYouDontSay
12/26/2013 at 13:58

None the less well written

willkinton247 > WellYouDontSay
12/26/2013 at 13:59

...yeah, that's normal. I may have had the same experience while writing it.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 14:03

Amazing video. No Audi TV commercial to follow. Talk about dropping the ball there, PR department.

WellYouDontSay > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 14:05

Well now I don't feel alone.

Thank You!

carphanatik > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 14:09

Nice article. Sports car racing can also be an outlet for people who are bored of watching F1 lately (not judging, I'm just not entertained when there's one person/team/etc winning by a large margin on a regular basis).

carphanatik > Diesel
12/26/2013 at 14:10

It looks like you came here looking for a fight.

willkinton247 > carphanatik
12/26/2013 at 14:11

You aren't alone. That's what is so exciting about these developments — Audi's domination is about to be seriously challenged by multiple teams.

Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 14:12

For the European, Asian theater, I'm on with this. I really still have a lot of grief about the US scene.

The P2 cars without restrictions would eat the lunch and kiss the girlfriends of the DP cars. Stack on that the fact that a ALMS GT car is lightyears ahead of a Daytona GT tube frame car with a 'Pontiac GXP' or a 'Camaro' body stretched over the top of it. The prior racing series products brought to market by the same people behind TUDOR have more primetime Tuesday night soap opera and less cutting racing technology. I wish I could be more hopeful. I want to be wrong.

This next year will likely be OK because this multi-layer performance matrix is up in the air. When the long-serving incumbent American (read NASCAR) teams keep losing after losing after losing, there will be 'performance balancing' antics that don't do much besides cut the nads off the ALMS and European teams.

Diesel > carphanatik
12/26/2013 at 14:14

Schumacher sucks!

Rob Klyver > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 14:16

No mention if Honda Racing /HPD or Acura? Why?

NicoZura > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 14:20

I'd love to see more manufacturers get on board to diversify the field, especially Ferrari. Something about Ferrari just feels right about LeMans. Porsche returning is awesome, but it still feels more like Toyota against VAG, rather than 3 competing manufacturers. Throw Ferrari in there, the competition would be epic.

willkinton247 > Rob Klyver
12/26/2013 at 14:24

They weren't run by factory teams.

willkinton247 > NicoZura
12/26/2013 at 14:26

Renault and Nissan, too!

NicoZura > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 14:31

Oh yes, most definitely! The more the merrier. Not to slight the other manufacturers, but Ferrari and LeMans adds this mystique that makes me feel happy. I'm not even a Ferrari fanboy either.

jphamilton > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
12/26/2013 at 14:33

The current problem is how to speed the P2 cars up to match the performance of the upgraded DP. I suspect the P2s will be running, or very close to, ACO spec before Daytona.

The Prep-2 Grand Am cars are all gone. It has been replaced by GT3 entries from just about every manufacturer you can think of. The GT racing alone is going to be epic.

lagwolf > ncasolowork2
12/26/2013 at 14:34

I have my doubts about United Sports Car Racing. It has NASCAR people involved and they seem to be able these days to suck the life out of a racing series and make it a joke (2013 Chase anyone?).

ncasolowork2 > lagwolf
12/26/2013 at 14:36

You obviously didn't pay any attention to the Grand-Am series the last few years. GT Daytona is going to be just as good as GT LeMans. LMP2 and LMP1 in ALMS were awful. Now there are 11 full time prototype entries in the P class plus I think 13 or 14 full time entries in LMPC... and then GTD has like 35 full time entries and GTLM 14 full time entries. The racing is going to be great in all of the classes. Should be fun.

Rob Klyver > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 14:46

Ah thanks
Happy New Year

ScreenShot > ncasolowork2
12/26/2013 at 14:56

Going to be? You've not been watching the same racing I've been witness to for the past few years, obviously.

Better late than never, I suppose :)

ncasolowork2 > ScreenShot
12/26/2013 at 15:00

Can't say it is epic. It hasn't ever existed before.

ItshouldahadaV8 > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
12/26/2013 at 15:01

Im assuming those people standing there getting hit and probably injured by the debris from the car is why there wasn't one. Don't want to show that on TV

Fred (FreddsterExprs) > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 15:15

The WEC right now has only 2 major problems: not enough time on TV and therefore not enough viewers and no budget cap for LMP1. Porsche and Audi are burning incredible amounts of money on their prototypes, and it might scare of manufacturers with less profit and financial stability.

2014 is also going to be interesting for the private LMP1s. They either get of the right foot with some proper competition behind the works teams or will be obsolete sooner or later as LMP2 will be far more attractive.

As for wishes for LMP1 Teams, I really want to see Ferrari and Ford to return. Ferrari for the heritage and the name, Ford because I see them as the only one of the big 3 US manufacturers with enough heritage and funding.

MrBloodMuffins > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 15:18

stevethecurse > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 15:22

I'll believe it when manufacturers start making kick ass road cars for homologation requirements again.

racermd > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
12/26/2013 at 15:24

Audi's decision to NOT use that incident (or any other) is likely intentional. In the best of circumstances, the message could be misconstrued. After all, they'd be showing a horrific crash and, thankfully, the driver walked away. The average viewer, however, is likely to focus on the horrific nature of the crash and associating THAT with Audi.

Lyle Petersminkle > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 16:07

Can someone summarize this long article? Please.

Atomic Buffalo > ncasolowork2
12/26/2013 at 16:20

What network will be broadcasting the races?

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 16:43

I love cars, but I've never had any type of official motorsport which I liked or followed. The problems I have with F1, NASCAR, WRC, Touring Cars, Drag Racing, and even Sports Car Racing are a) the cars in many of them are all homologous, designed to test the engine tuning of the team and the skill of the driver only, which is boring for me, and b) the cars, even in WRC and Sports Car Racing, are very highly modified. I would love to see some big-time racing series for cars which, apart from a roll cage, are bone stock. I know they exist, I just wish they were as big of a public-TV deal as the others. I want to see cars that are like the cars we drive, even if they are Porsches and Ferraris. Basically, I want types of racing like they had a long time ago-stock cars with role cages in them driving around really fast. Even big gas tanks, racing tires, and sponsor stickers are too much for me. One of the rules should have to be "The car is street-legal."

willkinton247 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/26/2013 at 16:49

It's called "Showroom Stock"

Check out the Continental Challenge. The TS class has that format.

Frogger49 > Atomic Buffalo
12/26/2013 at 16:52

All the races will be on FOX Sports 1 and 2. They have a TV deal through 2018.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 17:04

After taking a quick look at it, it's not perfect, but it's the closest I've seen. I'll have to watch a few races to know for sure. Thanks!

PTRagonetti > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 18:03

After reading "Go like hell" My love of sportscar racing grew so much more. I already have attended the 24 hour du LeMans and several sports car races in the states. But I would love to see manufacturers battling it out like the good old days.

ScreenShot > ncasolowork2
12/26/2013 at 19:15

Not existed? GRAND-AM and the ALMS have existed and the USCP is just a merger with a combined/new name - if you liked the two series before (I did) you'll have a good idea of what you can like in 2014.

BullManUGA > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 19:18

Maybe in Europe. Not in the US when the P1 class only makes one appearance on the continent.

Pessimippopotamus > BullManUGA
12/26/2013 at 20:06

ALMS was never a big playground for P1 LM Prototypes, but United series or whatever has killed off any chance of me seeing P1 monsters ever again. Such a stupid thing to happen.

Rich J > Frogger49
12/26/2013 at 20:43

Exactly. I don't get FS2, so there probably goes most of the races. FIA WEC streamed live, free. I'm sticking with the P1's.

Corduroy Club. > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 21:52

Le Mans: Yes

WRC: Yes

FIA GT: Yes

F1 : NO

WTCC : NO

BTCC: Always

V8's : Always

that's everything that matters!

Bakkster, touring car driver > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/26/2013 at 21:52

Watch the World Challenge touring car races. The TC class is upgraded, but TCB is cheap cars with roll cages, slicks, and OEM sports shock/spring upgrades that must be drop in.

Bakkster, touring car driver > Pessimippopotamus
12/26/2013 at 22:04

Blame the WEC, instead. The manufacturers were always going to compete there, neither the FIA nor IMSA wanted joint races anymore (the last joint Sebring was a farce), and the few P1 privateers remaining are also looking for world championships. Especially with a brand new P1 formula for this year, which is why Rebellion abandoned their ALMS campaign.

Their days in the regional series were already numbered, ALMS held out longer than ELMS but there really was no sustainable plan for more than 3 cars in the states for a season. I doubt they would have kept P1 for very long even without the merger. Too expensive and not enough advertising exposure. You'll always have Austin.

BBlades > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
12/26/2013 at 22:14

The P2 cars are going to be running ACO spec or very close to ACO spec. It just chaps some people's ass that it just took some aero bits and 50hp to catch the DP's up. I would also ask you to name one team running a formerly Grand Am prep 2 (tube frame) car in the GT Daytona class. No Pontiacs, but plenty of participation by Aston Martin, Porsche, Viper, Ferrari, BMW, and Nissan... not to mention possible entries from Bentley and Mclaren in the future.

Axis Of Oversteer > willkinton247
12/26/2013 at 22:40

Of course LdM says Ferrari will return to Le Mans every 18 months or so. He also said IF they do it it will be only if they can go to Le Mans, win and pack it up after the first try... I'll leave you to translate that

Pessimippopotamus > Bakkster, touring car driver
12/26/2013 at 23:56

:....(

Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman. > willkinton247
12/27/2013 at 00:08

Now, isn't part of USSC part of the contract that has brought DTM and Super GT together? Or am I confusing some other American series?

bariki > willkinton247
12/27/2013 at 04:10

A true next golden age of road racing will require the current recession ending.
You can't call it a golden age when an increasingly smaller group of increasingly rich (in terms of the money spent) people are only ones in high-level road racing.

There needs to be be an explosion of grass-roots and mid-level pro racing for it qualify for that term, and there need to be vastly more full-time jobs for working in the race industry. And most importantly, more driver's seats. Which requires more sponsorship dollars, which require a better economy.

And there need to be new teams trying their hand at F1 every year, not just the same old teams being bought and sold and having their names changed.

TPA8580 > willkinton247
12/27/2013 at 05:16

LMP 1 is making huge come back. Here is to hoping that Jaguar Ferrari and Brands like Mazda and Nissan make a real come back as well. What a field that would be.

ncasolowork2 > ScreenShot
12/27/2013 at 08:12

Correct. Not existed. There has never been a United Sports Car race before. There was Grand-Am and there was ALMS. The two have combined to be the one series. It is going to be great. You can't say it is great because there hasn't ever been a race with all of these cars on track together. If you're going to try and correct me on a technical word choice I'm going to correct you on the technical fact that the series has never existed before now and has never run a race.

Shane Gardner > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
12/27/2013 at 08:16

May I also suggest Pirelli World Challenge, the SCCA equivalent of the other suggestion.

Shane Gardner > Pessimippopotamus
12/27/2013 at 08:21

Everyone loves to place the blame on ALMS / IMSA for the so called 'death' of LMP1 in America. When you look at the normal "Blame America" trend the Internet seems to have a hard on for it is not surprising.

But in the real world the issue IMO really leads back to the formation of WEC. The manufacturers went for the overall championship and the co-op races between WEC and the likes of ALMS, ELMS, etc...didn't go off too well. WEC not being pleased with the fact it got out done by ALMS in Texas during the double header didn't help relations either. Typical FIA pride.

willkinton247 > TPA8580
12/27/2013 at 08:41

Ian Callum joins you in your sentiment about Jaguar.

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FormerInstants > willkinton247
12/27/2013 at 10:54

Good article. I am truly excited for the coming years of the WEC, but I only wish the rules would allow the cars to look better. I'm not a fan of the too-big front wheels and associated fenders.

As for USCR, I have been skeptical of it from the start, and I still have my doubts. It doesn't seem to fit well into the existing World Championships, and continues to reinforce America as an outlying island in the greater motorsports world.

Most of all I just want GT1 back, somewhere for Paganis and Koenigseggs to go duke it out on track.

Pessimippopotamus > Shane Gardner
12/27/2013 at 11:01

Of course, it's true. I'm just lamenting the fact that there's not even a room for P1 cars in United SCC.

willkinton247 > Lyle Petersminkle
12/27/2013 at 11:03

...

Bakkster, touring car driver > Pessimippopotamus
12/27/2013 at 12:30

A little sad, yes. But I look at it more as putting the dying class out of its misery here in the states. It was already dying, better it end now than struggle along another few years with just two cars that were rarely on the same lap.

IMO,we want to be looking forward to the 2017 P2 specs. They'll be some mix of P2 and DP, if they work out right we'll have even more variety in the class, with the speed and tech of the P2s with the manufacturer branding of DP to both look cool and support OEMs. If we're lucky, they also won't be burdened by the fuel restrictions like P1.

Bakkster, touring car driver > Shane Gardner
12/29/2013 at 21:23

Indeed. Why doesn't anyone blame the ELMS?

Bakkster, touring car driver > Spiderman, Non-Italian Imposter of Italian Spiderman.
12/29/2013 at 21:26

DTM and SuperGT merged on their own. NASCAR has been looking to bring DTM-spec cars to the US for a while, their plans changed to a year after the merger is completed there to try a US series.

Personally, I still doubt that ever sees the light on day in the states. Too expensive, too spec, and the racing is too much like F1 which we know Americans don't flock to.

Bakkster, touring car driver > Drakkon- Most Glorious and Upright Person of Genius
12/29/2013 at 21:29

You must not have noticed, but the P2s have gotten a 5% larger intake restrictor and are still down on laptimes and top speeds of the new DPs.

And of course the GTD cars are slower and lower tech, that's the whole point (despite over half the field being GT3s which are just as high tech before they put the GTD spec ECU in). A GTD car also costs half as much to race, why do you think that's where all the privateers are?