will be interesting to see it all unfold.
As stated their are blue prints for the current cars. Whilst they run their manufacturers engines, the cars are shortened to the same wheel base etc. The holdens run wishbone front suspension and ford 9 inch solid rear diffs when the production cars run front struts and independent rear sus etc.
So the Nissan will be modified to fit the blue print.
Of course it will be modified. The COTF starts off as a space frame chassis and the custom made body panels are then riveted to it. In fact the current cars have been built this way for a number of years. The idea of the formula is every manufacturer has an equal chance of winning.
Remember Group A? First BMW were untouchable, then the Sierra dominated for years and years (one of the ATCC rounds in 89 or 90 the grid was 99% Sierra's!), then along came 'Godzilla'. BMW and Ford in Europe had already pulled the pin on Group A, so no new cars being homologated and Holden were on a limited program (never turned up to all rounds). Other than Japan Group A was dead at the end of 1992, so a new formula had to be sought for 1993 and the lack of crowds and pathetic TV viewers dictated that. Also Nissan had their own dramas, they shut down their Australian manufacturing in 1991, while at the same time spending a large amount on racing, much to the disgust of the government and sacked workers. Add to the fact they could not sell a GTR in Australia to save themselves, something like 300 imported in 1992, but only 60-70 sold.
Will wait and see what happens. When the Skylines dominated in the 1990's they were largely undeveloped even though they had 600hp. In the Japanese series, the same cars were producing upwards of 1000 to 1100 hp.
That kind of HP was made during Japanese GT, not internation Group A regs, Dick Johnson was screwing 680BHP out of their 2 litre Sierra 'qualifying' engines. The 3 lap hand grenade they called it, an out lap, the qualifying lap and on the in lap the engine would lunch itself. bye bye $70,000!
I don't think it could be more of a yawn. I like V8s but if they're all the same except the paint and panel shape, let's just go back to real production cars. Wins on Sunday, sells on Monday. That would be cheaper still than COTF.
"Wins on Sunday, sells on Monday" has been dead since the 70's and Nissan have proved that by entering the series without even picking a car or engine to race yet. It's all about brand awareness, getting the next generation of car buyers hooked on their brand.
I beg to differ on production cars being cheaper than COTF. 888 would easily spend twice the amount they spend now racing production SS Commodores. Brand new car every round is what the big teams would do!
You only have to look at what amateurs are spending in improved production, hell 15 years ago it cost upwards of $35,000 to build a front running HQ racer and that was a dirty old 202 and 3 speed.
COTF is the right move for professional racing to remain economically viable for manufacturers and teams, plus the cars look and sound like a race car should. Not like a freeway in peak hour!
Bring on Nissan and bring on more makes!
This! I liked the 12 hour, but not many others did. Hence why it's now for international FIA GT3 cars and this years race is going to be a cracker!
and UTE 701. posting photos of NASCAR's on their 'formation' lap does not help your argument.
