(Chevrolet image)
Chevrolet has unveiled its Camaro GT4.R racer to run in the 2017 IMSA Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge (GS category). It will also be eligible for the Pirelli World Challenge (GTS class) as well as additional GT4 series across the world. The Camaro GT4.R is a fully race-ready variant of the sixth-generation Chevrolet Camaro built to global GT4 regulations. Developed with technical partner Pratt & Miller Engineering, the Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R is built off the Camaro ZL1 road car platform. The race-tuned, dry-sump 6.2L LT1 V8 small-block engine – developed and validated by Chevrolet Racing – delivers its power through a race-proven, six-speed Xtrac sequential transmission with pneumatic paddle shift and adjustable traction control. Other notable features unique to the GT4.R include: Xtrac racing limited-slip differential; two-way adjustable Ohlins Racing coil-over dampers; adjustable ABS featuring Brembo brakes with six-piston aluminum monobloc calipers in the front; and aerodynamic improvements developed in the wind tunnel including a new rear wing, front splitter and front diveplanes.
(John Thawley ~ Motorsports Photography @ www.johnthawley.com ~ 248.227.0110)
The 55th running of the Daytona 24 Hours (Rolex 24), the opening round of the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, was made even longer by twelve hours of very cold temperatures, steady rain and 21 caution flags, which combined to make the night hours of the longest endurance sports car race in North America miserable for drivers and crew. The Prototype class, which featured all-new cars this season, was dominated by the three GM supported "Cadillac" branded DPi-V.R entries. Joao Barbosa, Christian Fittipaldi and Filipe Albuquerque (No. 5 Mustang Sampling Cadillac DPi) battled long and hard with the No. 10 Wayne Taylor Racing Konica Minolta Cadillac DPi driven by brothers Ricky and Jordan Taylor, longtime co-driver Max Angelelli (in his final race), and four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, in his first Rolex 24 since his debut here in 2007. With just seven minutes to go, Albuquerque was leading, with Ricky Taylor on his tail. At the end of the long front stretch, leading into the fast left Turn One, Taylor took the No. 10 car low and inside of Albuquerque. When the No. 5 set up for the left turn, Taylor hit the car in the rear, spinning it out. Albuquerque recovered quickly and at the end, finished only 0.671 seconds behind Taylor. The incident was reviewed by IMSA officials who decided to take no action against Taylor (wrong decision, by the way), which did not go down well with Albuquerque. “I don’t race like that, to be hit in the back. He didn’t even wait for me, he just took off,” Albuquerque said. “Clearly I was hit in the back. It was not a clean move. I think everyone saw that.” Even team owner Wayne Taylor was nervous, as TV cameras showed him burying his head in his hands after the No. 5 spun, likely anticipating that it would be a controversial call. Regardless, Jordan Taylor said the win was a “relief. We’ve come close so many times. I’m just proud of my brother. He made it happen today.” Third place went to Marc Goossens, Renger van der Zande and Rene Rast (No. 90 Visit Florida Racing Multimatic/Riley Gibson LM P2). “No one expected us to last for 24 hours,” Goossens said. “That just shows how strong this little team is. Right now we have to look at the big picture.” Check out the scintillating images by longtime Autoextremist contributor and ace lens man John Thawley, who brings you a gallery from the 2017 Rolex 24 here.
(John Thawley ~ Motorsports Photography @ www.johnthawley.com ~ 248.227.0110)
James French, Kyle Masson, Nicholas Boulle and 17-year-old Patricio O’Ward (No. 38 Performance Tech) dominated the Prototype Challenge class, winning by 22 laps. “Twice around the clock, a lot can go wrong,” French said. “And to come here and win it was amazing. But we kept it clean and here we are.”
(John Thawley ~ Motorsports Photography @ www.johnthawley.com ~ 248.227.0110)
Joey Hand, Dirk Mueller and IndyCar star Sebastien Bourdais (No. 66 Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Ford GT), the same trio that took the class victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, won the GTLM class at Daytona. The Ford entry finished three seconds ahead of Patrick Pilet, Dirk Werner and Frederic Makowiecki (No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR) in second place, after 652 laps on the 3.56-mile Daytona International Speedway infield road course. James Calado, Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander (No. 62 Risi Competizione Ferrari 488 GTE) finished third, and Antonio Garcia, Jan Magnussen and Mike Rockenfeller (No. 3 Mobil 1/SiriusXM Chevrolet Corvette C7.R) finished fourth. The fastest lap by all four of those cars was less that one half-second apart, and the top seven cars in GTLM were all on the lead lap.
(John Thawley ~ Motorsports Photography @ www.johnthawley.com ~ 248.227.0110)
Carlos de Quesada, his son Michael, Jesse Lazare, Daniel Morad and Michael Christensen (No. 28 Alegra Motorsports Porsche 911 GT3) won the GT Daytona class. Christopher Mies, Jules Gounon, Connor De Phillippi and Jeffery Schmidt (No. 29 Land-Motorsport Audi R8 LMS GT3) finished second, just 0.293 seconds behind the winning Porsche. Ben Keating, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Mario Farnbacher and Adam Christodoulou (No. 33 AMG-Team Riley Motorsports Mercedes-AMG GT3) finished third. Coming up next for the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship is the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fueled by Fresh From Florida, March 15-18.
(Photo by Brian Cleary)
Chip Ganassi, a former race-car driver who is now one of the most successful and innovative race team owners in the world, was honored by the Road Racing Drivers Club with the 2017 Phil Hill Award. RRDC president Bobby Rahal made the presentation at the annual RRDC members' dinner on Jan. 25 prior to the running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona, the season opener of the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.
(Volkswagen images)
Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross has unveiled the liveries for its pair of Beetle GRC racing machines for the 2017 Red Bull Global Rallycross championship. Back-to-back series champion Scott Speed will drive the red, white, and green No. 41 Oberto Circle K Beetle GRC for the majority of the season, while two-time GRC champion Tanner Foust will return to action with his No. 34 Rockstar Energy Drink Beetle GRC, featuring a new graphic look. Last year, Speed won his second-consecutive Red Bull GRC title, while Tanner Foust set a record of 25 consecutive Heat wins on his way to a second-place championship finish. The Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross team won eight of twelve races in 2016, a second-consecutive driver’s title for Scott Speed and earned Volkswagen its first ever Red Bull Global Rallycross Manufacturer’s Championship. The 2017 Red Bull Global Rallycross championship will consist of twelve races spread across eight venues in North America. The season will begin Saturday, April 29, in Memphis, TN.
