Stray Kat Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 Hey gang I'm a little disappointed that there will only be two Ford GTLM cars in the 24 hours at Daytona. In fact the car count in GTLM is way down with only nine cars entered. I don't quite understand this. Last year Team Ganassi brought four cars and won their class. Also there again no Ford powered cars in the top Prototype class. The Prototype class has over twenty cars this year almost half of which are Cadillac badged LS powered vehicles. The GTD class looks very promising with plenty of teams entered and cars of all makes EXCEPT most notably, Ford. The coverage will obviously be concentrated on the thriving classes and I doubt you'll see too much about GTLM progress. The silver lining to all this is in the Continental Tire GS and ST race there are seven Mustang GT4's entered in the GS class. I believe they are the most prolific vehicle type in that race. These include several "customer cars" aquired through Ford Performance's road race program. Anyways enjoy if you're a fan. I know I will. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 The other 2 cars are based in Europe so maybe it’s a cost cutting move or maybe they’re doing different testing in preparation for LeMans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stray Kat Posted January 26, 2018 Author Share Posted January 26, 2018 Yes you're correct but it wasn't all that long ago that Ford was competing for the overall in a DP car. Years ago there were strong runs by Fords in the now defunct GTO class. Two cars in a 24 hour race is slim pickings for Blue Oval fans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 I think the Ecoboost prototype was really just a test platform for the GT engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMSA-XJR9 Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 The main goal was to win LeMans in GTLM, which they did. Everything else is gravy. I believe I have read that FMC/Multimatic may offer the GTs to private teams next season. I'd like them to bump the GT4 GT350s to GT3 specs, or create a GT3 specific Mustang. That would open the door for teams in GTD. Until the FIA and IMSA can agree to the future of LMP1/2 I don't believe we will see a factory effort for FIA WEC and IMSA, but I could be wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 The main goal was to win LeMans in GTLM, which they did. Everything else is gravy. This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stray Kat Posted January 26, 2018 Author Share Posted January 26, 2018 Though the Mustangs did pretty well in today's race they lack straight line speed. This is the same problem that the GT's have in GTLM. Always seems like when a sanctioning body "equalizes" the competition, Fords get equalized just a little more. Watch the Cadillac DP's on Sat and Sun. They dominated in 2017 and I'll bet they keep right on trucking this year. When the GT's showed strong at their debut it took the WEC and IMSA about one week to drop the anchor on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stray Kat Posted January 27, 2018 Author Share Posted January 27, 2018 Well guys? How about some banter? You think Ford fancies themselves as a company that builds cars that perform in all aspects of driving? I think the Mustangs did very well considering in GT4 yesterday. Sure would be nice to see some in GTD today or I guess otherwise know as GT3 cars to the rest of the world. Are two GT's enough? Time will tell but 24 hours is a lot of exposure to racing mishaps. If there is a calamity at the start it could sure be a long night and day. Discuss? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 I think Ford and Ganassi view Daytona as more of an extended real world test session for LeMans than as a race to win. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMSA-XJR9 Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 (edited) As much as I like the Ford GTs, I'd really like to see Mustangs in GTLM and GTD. But I understand Ford's methodology. And I too would like to see Ford's race in the prototypes or at least a few private teams run Ford power. Edited January 27, 2018 by IMSA-XJR9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stray Kat Posted January 27, 2018 Author Share Posted January 27, 2018 Isn't TVR going to run LeMans with Coyote Ford power this year. I think the engines are being tuned by Cosworth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMSA-XJR9 Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 Not sure they gave a date to get back in, but that new Griffith has a nasty sounding Coyote in it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stray Kat Posted January 27, 2018 Author Share Posted January 27, 2018 Remember the Formula 5000 style cars that were being developed in Australia with 5.0 Coyote power? Haven't heard much about that but the Coyote could with some concerted effort gain even more popularity with the left and right crowd. The Gm LS engine is pretty much taking over Oval track racing. It is becoming the "spec" engine in many series. In traditional Ford fashion the Ford V8 seems to excel on road courses. It would be huge if the Coyote could catch on in an open wheel series here in the States. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fuzzymoomoo Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 Remember the Formula 5000 style cars that were being developed in Australia with 5.0 Coyote power? Haven't heard much about that but the Coyote could with some concerted effort gain even more popularity with the left and right crowd. The Gm LS engine is pretty much taking over Oval track racing. It is becoming the "spec" engine in many series. In traditional Ford fashion the Ford V8 seems to excel on road courses. It would be huge if the Coyote could catch on in an open wheel series here in the States. I think it would be a good fit in Indy cars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMSA-XJR9 Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 Remember the Formula 5000 style cars that were being developed in Australia with 5.0 Coyote power? Haven't heard much about that but the Coyote could with some concerted effort gain even more popularity with the left and right crowd. The Gm LS engine is pretty much taking over Oval track racing. It is becoming the "spec" engine in many series. In traditional Ford fashion the Ford V8 seems to excel on road courses. It would be huge if the Coyote could catch on in an open wheel series here in the States. There were two competing series for Formula 5000, then they merged and they should be racing later this season . . . I think, and they should be using the Coyote! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMSA-XJR9 Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 (edited) I do wish at the 24/12 hours races they'd turn up the wicks on all cars and let them run wide open. The old GT1 cars were damn fast, and would have been even more so unhinged!! Edited January 28, 2018 by IMSA-XJR9 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMSA-XJR9 Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stray Kat Posted January 28, 2018 Author Share Posted January 28, 2018 I really like the looks of the Prototype cars now. Several years ago the exterior designs looked kind of dumbed down. They look really sophisticated and nearly a rival to the all out Prototypes that run in the WEC. It would be seriously bitchin' to see a Ford Prototype with Mustang styling cues and Ecoboost power to compete for the overall in addition to a half dozen Mustangs in GTD. If only Ford had an unlimited amount of resources to devote to auto racing like Gm does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bdegrand Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 (edited) Ford team #66/#67 leading in GTLM Class with 30 minutes to go.(11th/12th Overall) Edited January 28, 2018 by bdegrand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
akirby Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 1/2 finish. Absolute domination by Ford and Ganassi Racing. I’m sure they’re already working on the BOP adjustments....... I can’t find any mention of the UK Ganassi Ford GTs or if they’re still fielding a team in Europe for 2018. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbone Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 Im glad to see they got the one-two punch! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stray Kat Posted January 29, 2018 Author Share Posted January 29, 2018 Overall a great week for Ford. Got the 1-2 in GTLM and a 2nd in the Continental Tire GT4 race. Hopefully they don't trounce the GT's with the BOP. Daytona is a lot different than any of the other tracks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blksn8k2 Posted January 30, 2018 Share Posted January 30, 2018 I was listening to the Sirius/XM NASCAR channel on Sunday morning while the race was going on and one of the talk show hosts (Mike Skinner) made a comment about Ford changing their engine strategy on the GT. Any idea what he was referring to or was that just sour grapes from a professed Corvette fan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMSA-XJR9 Posted January 31, 2018 Share Posted January 31, 2018 (edited) 1/2 finish. Absolute domination by Ford and Ganassi Racing. Im sure theyre already working on the BOP adjustments....... I cant find any mention of the UK Ganassi Ford GTs or if theyre still fielding a team in Europe for 2018. http://amp.timeinc.net/thedrive/start-finish/15889/ford-wec-program-confirmed-for-2018-2019-super-season? Edited January 31, 2018 by IMSA-XJR9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blksn8k2 Posted February 1, 2018 Share Posted February 1, 2018 I thought Nair was the one who conceived and pushed through the latest GT, not Pericak? Unless the author is only referring to the GT racing program.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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