Series May Change, but a Good Livery Lives On

"Turner Motorsport" (TurnerMotorsport) 09/24/2013 at 09:43 • Filed to: BECAUSERACECAR

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This weekend is the last Grand-Am race weekend. No more Grand-Am. Ever. It is absorbed along with ALMS to form United Sports Car Racing. So what? Series change names and change rules, but there will be sports car racing in 2014 and time rolls on. Still, we got to thinking. Could this really be the last weekend an M3 ever races as a professional GT car?

ALMS GT cars now carry the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! of the season. Converting a current GT M3 to USCR specs (GTD class) is unlikely. So with that, we look back on over a decade of Turner Motorsport race history for inspiration.

Our E46 3-series campaigned for years in the SPEED World Challenge series, and 2003 was the last year we ran the livery you see here. This was also taken at Lime Rock Park, where incidentally, we happen to be racing this Saturday.

To celebrate our multi-year competitive run of M3's, we are bringing some nostalgia to Lime Rock Park this weekend with a throwback livery on our #97 GS car.

Whatever the direction sports car racing continues in years to come, for now it just seems appropriate to make a nod to the past.

We will have an action packed weekend with two GT cars and two GS cars competing, including the #97 here. Come by to hang out in the paddock and reminisce about series past, and speculate about what is next.

Oh and don't forget... if you're broken up about seeing our GT M3's on track for the last time, consider your options. !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! for your personal enjoyment!

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ncasolowork2 > Turner Motorsport 09/24/2013 at 09:50

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Turner looking at Z4's for next year, other options, or is that still up in the air?

Also since I haven't paid too close attention... GTLM and GTD... will there be a reasonable speed difference between the two classes that they won't interfere with each other on track next season?

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Turner Motorsport 09/24/2013 at 10:07

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NOOOO.
The Turner M3s and other e46s were a huge part of my life. I grew up at Lime Rock, and have been going routinely since I was a year old (I'm 17). I can't see Turner in anything besides an M3. Hell, just seeing Auberlain in the Z4 felt wrong.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH 09/24/2013 at 10:42

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Alright Kinja, don't letme edit my stupidity. *Auberlen

magman007 > Turner Motorsport 09/24/2013 at 11:39

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How much does bimmerworlds livery piss you guys off? Its difficult for the layperson to tell the 2 apart on track.

BullManUGA > ncasolowork2 09/24/2013 at 13:02

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Yes. GTD will be just a little slower than they are now and be around ALMS GTC speeds next year. At Road America, the fastest GTC car qualified .700 slower than the fastest GAGT car, so it's rather negligible.

Who needs sway bars anyway > Turner Motorsport 09/24/2013 at 13:37

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I was hoping to be able to come out to see you guys race this weekend, but I'm as broke as it gets Good luck! . Another Huge disappointing fact, Lime rock will no longer play host to Either ALMS or Grand am cars. Going to lime rock for the ALMS race has been the one thing that I look forward to ALL year. That and steak tips are the only reason I get up in the morning. I hope they find a good race series to take the place of them, I would also hate to see the loss of revenue from the two races put the track in a tight spot.

Mikeado > Turner Motorsport 09/25/2013 at 15:53

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It's a nice livery. It reminds me of a BTCC car from 1997, when I first started watching the series:

Hope it goes (or went) well.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Who needs sway bars anyway 09/25/2013 at 20:49

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http://unitedsportscar.com/wp-content/upl…

Oh God, OH GOD!?!?!?!?! SO they abandon New England?!?

Who needs sway bars anyway > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 09/25/2013 at 21:19

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Looks like it, rumors are that the Pirelli world challenge, which was there for this years ALMS will take the place on the 4th weekend. Other than that it looses like the closest sports car race will be at Watkins Glen.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Who needs sway bars anyway 09/25/2013 at 22:58

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What's going fill the gap? hmmm

Indy car could use a New England track. Or given the local populations car buying choices DTM would fit right in. Lime Rock partnering with BMW would work nicely.