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Can Tracy Krohn's new Ligier JSP2 Judd powered (LeMans)
'P2 car upset the "Apple Kart" at this year's Rolex 24? (Image
source: dailysportscar.com)
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And more importantly, who all will show up? Since
when I began trying to prepare this typical yarn from thy lair 'O Tomaso Manor
in Nofendersville, ('Wayback in late November - early December) the details of
who'd eventually be contesting this year's 53rd running of the Rolex 24 were
pretty sketchy...
And, Thanxs solely
to Santa, I'll be pullin' a "FAST EDDIE!" Aka Ed Carpenter, a la his
consecutive I500 Poles; I'll be missing the B-I-G' Race once again for the
second year in-a-row whilst busy enjoying funky 'lil Adult beverage concoctions with umbrellas in 'Dem on the B-I-G' Island!
For Last year's riveting
(and remote) B-I-G' ISLAND Rolex
24preview post, see; ROLEX 24: Changes Abound for2014 running of Daytona endurance classic
And as always,
don't forget to check out those zany "Stick
'N Ball" Sports Guys over at Grab bag Sports for their annual 24hrs live
'round-duh-clock Blogathon - for which I
have NO idea what NARLY '80's racing movie will be their pick 'O thy liter; Err
litter Hya!
BIG BOYZ RACERS
Otay, with the No Fenders Pre-amble outta the
way, sorta, a cursory look at the muddied waters of the Tudor United Sports Cars
championship's "Premiere" class, i.e.; Prototypes, who you'd
naturally ARSE-SUME the races overall winner will come from includes the
following machinery.
Eligible Prototypes
Corvette DP, Riley DP/Ford Ecoboost, (V-6 turbo) P2-Honda/ARX, P2-Ligier/Honda
Twin-turbo, P2-Ligier/Judd, P2-Mazda Skyactive Diesel.
As it's worth noting that IMSA, the
series sanctioning body, and its
competitors, manufacturers, etc, agreed to basically "Grandfather"
the Daytona Prototype chassis for the series first three years, before an all new, P2-ish most
likely chassis becomes the top banana for racers in 2017...
PROTOTYPES
As of Pre "Roar Before" Daytona, the
following entries were listed as contestants in this year's Rolex 24; January
24-25, 2015:
Action Express Racing; Corvette DP, Extreme Speed Motorsports, Honda
ARX-4b, (P2) Michael Shank Racing*, Ligier-Honda Twin-turbo, (P2) Chip Ganassi
Racing, Riley/Ford Ecoboost, (DP) Speedsource;
P2-Mazda Skyactive Diesel.
NOTES
Michael Shank Racing originally intended to run its Riley DP/Ford for Daytona and then switch over to a P2-Ligier
chassis for remainder of the season. Yet with Honda coming onboard, as MSR
basically became the Honda "Works" prototype entry, electing to run a
Honda 2.8-liter V-6 twin-turbo (or is it 3.5?) mated to its Ligier JSP2
chassis, the team decided to begin this new era at Daytona instead...
Action Express Racing and Speedsource were the only teams with two
confirmed entries 'Wayback in November, 2014. Although pretty sure that Scotty
Sharp's Extreme Speed Motorsports (ESM) will campaign a brace 'O Honda
ARX-04b's this year too.
Action Express has bolstered its driver's lineup with the addition of
"MAD MAX" (Papis) while apparently Cheep' (Ganassi) is re-toooling
his Sports Car operation...
MORE PROTOTYPE NOTES
I'd expected to see Scott Dixon and Kyle
Larson at the very least figuring into the Ganassi line-up; whilst it'd sure be
nice to see the usual brace "O red Ganassi chassis on hand, albeit not
sure if this will happen with Target "redirecting" its spending of
its Sponsorship Dinero? As I was right; Tuh Duh! As CGRFS (Chip Ganassi Racing
with Felix Sabates) announced its two car multi driver line-up Dec 18th with
the announcement of the No. 01 being piloted by full season regulars Scott
Pruett and Joey Hand, who'll be joined by Charlie Kimball and Sage Karam.
While the No. 02 will see Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Jamie McMurray and Kyle
Larson at its controls.
Joey Hand, an ex-Ganassi racer, most recently
contesting the DTM for BMW replaces Pruett's longtime co-driver Memo Rojas,
who's left Ganassi after apparently plateauing, as I'll be interested to see
where the multi-times Daytona Prototype champion lands at next? Whilst
reportedly the Target red will be replaced by Ford's blue oval colours in what
apparently could lead to an assault upon le Circuit de la Sarthe in 2016?
Le Hanburgular, aka SeaBass, nee Sebastain
Bourdais has been confirmed to drive for Action Express Racing in the
"Enduros, nee North American Endurance Cup (NAEC) events...
Wayne Taylor Racing and Spirit of Daytona
Racing will field full season TUSC
efforts, with Taylor's Corvette "skinned" DP perched upon a Dallara
chassis, with the latter Spirit of Daytona team using the dominant Coyote
platform instead.
Ryan "Razzle-Dazzle" Dalziel has
joined Extreme Speed Motorsports along with John "CCR" Fogarty, who'll be running
the Endurance races, i.e.; Tequila Patron Endurance Cup events. (NAEC) With Fogarty
being a transplanted Pacific Northwest Boy living in Bend, Oregon for awhile
now...
As I'm most interested to see; Uhm, hear; Err
read how the "slower" P2 chassis do, most notably the Ligier JSP2
cars, albeit I'd expect the MSR car to have potential teething issues? But it'd
be funny to see a P2 car defeat the mighty Corvettes and Ford "Eco
Boost" mobiles!
Whilst a few Dark-horse candidates have to be
considered, as look for a few Riley DP bodied Dinan-BMW's to make
"Hay" at this year's Rolex
24...
PROTOTYPE CHALLENGE
(PC)
Only "Spec-series" category in
TUSC, with all competitors utilizing Oreca FLM09 chassis propelled by naturally
aspirated 6.2-liter "Bowtie" (Chevrolet) LS3 V-8 lumps.
Indy Cars
A.J. Foyt Racing's "Union Jack" (Hawksworth) is slated to
contest the class once again at 'DayToner...
GT LE MANS (GTLM)
As always, this category will most likely be
dominated by Porsche 911 Panzerwagons going Hammers 'N Thongs;' Err Tongs;
Hooah! vs. Ferrari 458 Italias, while I'm ARSE-sumin' that the factory C7R
'Vettes (Corvette) will run too "Works" efforts again... Most likely
with Antonio Garcia, "MAGS," (Jan Magnussen) "Ollie"
(Oliver Gavin) and Tommy Milner making up the core driving roster, while
perhaps Ryan Briscoe will become a new fulltime addition in '15?
Forgot to mention Meesh's favourite Sports
Car owner Bobby Rahal's Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing team and their two car
"Works" BMW Z4 squad, whose stout driver line-up includes longtime
ultra BAD ARSE' BMW Factory Hotschue Bill Auberlen and John
Edwards, along with Germany's Lucas
Luhr and Dirk Werner...
 |
| Look for "Dr. McDreamy," aka Patrick Dempsey aboard his No. 58 Porsche 911 in this year's GTD category. (Image source: 3.bp.blogspot.com) |
GT DAYTONA (GTD)
This will be another fun category to watch
with its diversity of Tintops; as I'm guessing that the Audi R8 will be the car
to beat, as interestingly, longtime Porsche 911 runners Flying Lizards
have gravitated to this chassis. And did I read that right? Porsche stalwarts, and past Daytona 24hrs overall
winner TRG is now racing Aston Martins? While surely there'll be plenty 'O
911's and rival 458's to keep the class leaders honest.
First GTD squad outta duh box to announce
their driver line-up was Scuderia Corsa, 'Wayback in November, 2014, with Indy
500 racer and "Peacock-lite" (NBCSN) IndyCar Booth Boy Townsend Bell
pairing with Bill Sweedler
aboard the No. 63 Ferrari 458 Italia.
While apparently I didn't get the Memo, as
indeed, The Racer's Group (TRG) has been campaigning an Aston Martin Vantage
GT3 powered by a burly six-liter normally aspirated V-12 in the GTD Class since
2014...
And reportedly TRG's 2015 entry will see two
thirds of its driver strength consisting of 'Aussie James Davidson and
Denmark's Christina
Nielsen. Hmm? While that name immediately made me
think of past 24 Heurs du Mans winner Jon Nielsen and those iconic Silk Cut
Jaguars; yet Christina's
the daughter of racer Lars Eric Nielsen, not Jon. As NO idea if there's any relation here?
While Diehard Indy Lights and IndyCar fans
will recognize the name James Davidson who's made three IndyCar starts, most
notably in last year's Indy 500 where he appropriately ran the No. 33 for KV
"Whats Yuh Muh-Callit" in deference to his being the races thirty-third
entry.
Davidson made his first two IndyCar outings in
2013 for Dale Coyne on the "Twisty" circuits Mid-Ohio and Sonoma, his
first Open Wheel Racing endeavours since 2009 when he finished runner-up in
that year's Indy Lights championship for Vision Racing, for which I believe he
was romantically involved with TG's daughter Lauren George once upon a time...
LAST MINUTE NOTES
Dorsey Schroeder, 1989 Trans Am champion and
longtime Sports Car TV commentator will come out of the broadcast booth after
12yrs to fill-in for Brian Johnson of "AcaDaca" (AC DC) fame, who's
currently on tour in the 50+ Highway to Health's Riley-BMW DP.
Don't be surprised to see "Simone
Pagenoe", aka "Pageantry," nee Team Penske's Simon Pagenaud
behind the wheel of one of the Corvette Racing's C7R's, or DP's? As not sure
where he'll land, but rumours claim he'll be driving a Bowtie during the Rolex
24 and Sebring 12 Hours before concentrating on his "Day Job" for 'El
Capitano's first ever four car IndyCar team.
TELEVISON
Once again, I'm ARSE-sumin' Fox Sports-1
(FS1) will be airing the race live,
albeit couldn't find any information when posting this... Thus, NO FREAKIN' idea
actually when they'll be broadcasting or how many hours? Or what the air-times
will be, whilst I'm guessing some will only be available via web-stream? So as
always, CHECK your local listings...
WILD ARSE PREDICTIONS
Otay, I'm not exactly going out on a limb here, as I'd
ARSE-SUME that it'll be either one of the Corvettes or Ford DP's in victory
lane...
OVERALL
Naturally the "FoMoCo" Man in Mwah
would wish for one of Chip Ganassi's "Ford's" to win... While I'm a
huge believer in Massimiliano "MAD MAX" Papis, along with always
liking "Razzle-Dazzle" and "Born On the Bayou" John CCR'
Fogarty, whilst how could Yuhs bet against the potent trio of Fittipaldi,
Barbosa and Bourdais, eh?
Although I'd LUV' reading that the ESM Boyz had
surprised the IMSA Stalwarts, while I'd also enjoy the MSR team to be
victorious, but just don't see I-T happening in their debutant race
chassis-wise, ditto for Tracy Krohn's "Grabber Green" Ligier-Judd...
1) #1/2: Scott Sharp, Ed Brown , Ryan Dalziel & John Fogarty
2) #02: Scott Dixon, Tony Kanaan, Jamie McMurray & Kyle Larson
3) #31: Max Papis & Co
GTLM
This is the class I know the least about;
still awaiting info on the Corvette C7R's prior to the Roar Before, whilst I'd
like seeing John Edwards, "The Driver" atop the classes podium's top
step...
1) #24/25: John Edwards, Bill Auberlen, Lucas Luhr & Dirk Werner
2) #3/4: MAGS', Ollie, Garcia & Co.
3) #911: Earl
Bamber & Co.
GTD
Otay, going the sentimental route here,
albeit suppose A-L-L of my picks are that, eh? But think it'd be nice to see
Townsend Bell winning, although not sure if he'd be showing off his watch the
rest of the year during his IndyCar TV Gig, like Hey 'PT, (Paul Tracy) Betcha
DON'T have one of these Buddy! Uhm? Does anybody know what time it is; Hya!
Whilst I'll, along with the rest 'O thee Paparazzi,
will be curious to S-E-E how "Dr. McDreamy," aka Patrick Dempsey does?
As I'm ARSE-sumin' he'll be racing in the GTD ranks aboard his No. 58 Dempsey/Right
Motorsports Porsche 911 RSR with Madison Snow and Jan "Van
Hagar" Heylen...
1) #63: Townsend Bell, Bill Sweedler, Jeff Segal & Anthony Lazzaro
2) #58: Madison Snow, Jan Heylen & Patrick Dempsey
3) #007: James Davidson, Christina
Nielsen, TBA
As let's GO RACING! Enjoy the race Y'all, and may
the best team win!
Aloha,
Tomaso