ˆ ALMS could scrap GT1 class as Corvette drops to GT2

tags : alms , alms gt1 , almsgt1 , american le mans series , americanlemansseries , aston martin , aston martin alms , astonmartin , astonmartinalms , c6.r , c6r , corvette alms , corvette c6.r , corvette c6r , corvettealms , corvettec6.r , corvettec6r , gt1 , le mans , le mans series , lemans , lemansseries

GT1-class racing is one of the most hotly contested in Europe, with cars like the Aston Martin DBR9 and Maserati MC12 competing among others for top honors in the Le Mans Series and FIA GT Championship. Here in the American Le Mans Series, however, officials are considering the possibility that they'll have to shut down the class altogether. This season, the Corvettes have had the category all to themselves, which has made the class uninteresting, with predictable outcomes. Bell Motorsports announced their intention to run Aston Martins to compete with the Corvettes for GT1 victory, but that may be another case of too little too late. Itching for a good fight, GM is reportedly dropping down to the paradoxically more competitive GT2 series. Not anxious to run another season of an empty GT1 roster, ALMS could very well cut the class out altogether.

posted : 10/2/2008 @3:26:30 PM

ˆ Corvettes back in ALMS in 2009 with GT1 and GT2 programs

tags : american le mans , american le mans ser... , american le mans series , american le mans series green challenge , americanlemans , americanlemansser... , americanlemansseries , americanlemansseriesgreenchallenge , corvette c6-r , corvette c6.r , corvette c6r , corvettec6-r , corvettec6.r , corvettec6r

As the 2008 American Le Mans Series season winds down with only two races left, teams are starting to make announcements about the 2009 season. One of the question marks over the last several years has been the future of the Corvette Racing program. With no really competition to speak of, one has to wonder why GM stays in the GT1 ranks. This year, they switched fuels and now run on cellulosic ethanol. Today, the team announced that 2009 will be a transition season as the GT1 C6Rs continue in limited competition. The GT1 cars will run at Sebring and Long Beach before going for a sixth class victory at Le Mans. After Le Mans, a new GT2 Corvette will debut running the rest of the season in preparation for 2010. New international GT class rules take effect in 2010 and are closer to current GT2 rules. The new C6R will be based on the body and chassis of the ZR1 and cars will be run by the factory team, as well as being available to independent teams. A 6.0-liter version of the LS7.R from the GT1 car will be used in GT2 competition next year, while the 2010 car gets a new 5.5-liter version of the production engine. Like the current GT1 car, the new GT will keep running on cellulosic E85.

posted : 9/22/2008 @11:41:32 PM

ˆ Behold, the first Pratt & Miller C6RS Convertible!

tags : c6rs , chevrolet , convertible , corvette , corvette c6rs , corvettec6rs , pratt and miller , pratt and miller c6rs , prattandmiller , prattandmillerc6rs

Just days after we became enamored with Jay Leno's E85-powered C6RS Corvette at SEMA this past year, Pratt and Miller announced it would be producing the cars for the public, providing you had a Corvette and $185,000 to do the conversion. Included with each C6RS is carbon fiber bodywork, an adjustable suspension, upgraded brakes, and a 600-horsepower 500ci V8, among many other modifications. Pratt and Miller set availability of the C6RS for April of this year, but the first has already been delivered in the form of a yellow convertible. Who's the lucky customer? None other than Jim Miller, co-owner of Pratt and Miller. We guess if anybody deserves the first one, it's him. Thanks for the tip, Fletcher!

posted : 2/26/2008 @6:09:06 PM

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