See the Viper made the grid for LeMans. They just had their first practice session for the ALMS 12 hours of Sebring. They were .3 off the fast time, looks like though they are pretty close to the racepace. Nice to see considering it's basically a new car! I doubt they will dominate like they did the last time they ran, but should be interesting.
They didn't run 1/2, they ran 4 events which were all intended as shakedown events for the car and team. You can argue pedantics, but the car is based on the new Viper that was unveiled for the 2013 business year. For all intensive purposes the car is brand new.
The same way if you only run a few races in a season as a rookie you can be considered a rookie the next season in a lot of different championships.
With the competition levels found in GT spec racing they needed the events to shake everything out and try to get a car ready for LeMans and to be remotely competitive in ALMS this season.
When the car hasn't changed though, it's still the same car, therefore not a new car nor entry. It would be like saying the DeltaWing is new, when it clearly isn't.
They obviously want to make the same impression in the USA that they did in the 80s although realistically that level of awesomeness will not be matched by Audi.. or anyone else for that matter.
whats the big difference between GT3 and GTE? I know that Rolex GTE allows space frame silhouette cars (RX-8, M6, Mazda Speed6), but which changes have to be made to somewhat "race ready" cars like the 911 and the R8?
GT3 is a class without technical rules basically, where cars are ballanced to each other thanks to balance of performance. GTE is actually just the new name of GT2, with minor changes to the rules. Rolex Sports Car Series has a GT class, which should not be mixed up with GTE, which is Run in all Le Mans series. GTE are the Grand Tourers racing at Le Mans. In comparison to GT3, the Rolex GT has way less aerodynamics being in use. Although the Ferrari and the Audi were based on its GT3 alikes, they have about 30% less downforce if I remember it correctly in Grand Am.
still not sure why Audi needs to build an "all new engine" for the car. Or do they simply mean adjusting the V10 to whatever restrictor GTE needs.
I know that GT3 allows almost anything as long as the cars produce comparable lap times. Thats why the tank-like Camaro GT3 is allowed to run its 8 litre 700hp monster V8.
btw, not too long till the 2013 VLN season starts. Very varied starter list as usual (includes ~6 GT86s and a few oddballs, besides a few dozen 911s and M3s) This is not the starter list for the 24h.
Btw ESM making the move to LMP2 with two HPD. Finally LMP2 isn't dead in ALMS. Hopefully Level 5 will then come back to ALMS. Conquest Racing still thinking about P2 so hopefully LMP2 will interest more teams.
I think that some LMPC teams should try to make such a move as well would be great ^^