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The 2016 Ford GT racing car. (Source: Bing.com
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Whilst I most definitely did not get thee
Memo over Nissan's unscrupulous cancellation of its radical LMP1 programme last
December 22nd; SHEISA!
Nissan pulls the Plug upon it's LMP1 program
Hence we're left with a trio less of ultra
complex and technology savvy top flight LMP1 racecars this year with Nissan's
withdrawal, while the sport's second-most overall winning Audi's seem quite
potent this year, albeit being disqualified from victory at the season opener
at Silverstone! But Audi rebounded by winning an attrition filled Spa
Francorchamps race, the final round prior to Le Mans.
thus look for the Audi R18 E-tron Quattro's
to potentially play a game of endurance Cat 'N Mouse, as their drivers insist they're
not the quickest cars currently, ranking
themselves P3.
Meanwhile the Toyota TS050 seems quick since
it held a one-lap lead at Spa before it "DONE BLOWN UP!" When Kazuki
Nakajima was forced to bring the smoking Toyota onto Pitlane to retire.
And the Porsche 919's theoretically hold the
upper hand regarding overall pace, provided their hybrid system doesn't go
wonky! Which means we should probably look for one of its two entries upon the
podium's top step come Sunday afternoon.
With Porsche's entry down from three last
year apparently due to the FIA's scheduling clash with Formula 1's European
Grand Prix race at Baku.
LMGTE Pro Mania...
But for Mwah, my interest is squarely focused
upon the Le Mans GT "Pro" category, specifically those Uber Narly
Ford GT's, which over 6,500 wealthy patrons are gleefully shilling out $450k
for the road going Supercar; Aye Karumba!
As Y'all surely know by now is the basis for FoMoCo's vaunted 50th Anniversary
celebration of defeating Il Commendatore's
(Enzo Ferrari) Scuderia Ferrari Stranglehold upon Circuit de la Sarthe!
Yet the Ford GT Programme, spearheaded by
Chip Ganassi and his lieutenant General Mike Hall, along with their European
World Endurance Championship (WEC) compatriots, 'Oh KanaDuh's Multimatic Motorsports
will certainly have their hands full vs. their arch rivals.
As this year's Battle Royale will see the
quartet 'O Feurds' faceoff vs.
those
BAD ARSE multi-times class winning Fly Yellow Corvette C7R's. Along with la
Scuderia's (Ferrari) newest Stallion, the potent twin turbo 488GTE, whilst last
but certainly not least. Y'all can never count out
Porsche and its venerable 911.
Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Team UK
#66) Olivier Pla; France; Stefan Mucke, Germany; Billy Johnson, USA.
#67) Marino Franchitti, UK; Andy Priaulx, UK; Harry Tincknell; UK.
I'll admit I'm really not familiar with the
European WEC side of Thy Cheepsters' (Chip Ganassi) operation which reportedly
is being spearheaded by Multimatic, a proven race winning Canadian
organization, most notably with Scott Maxwell Me Thinks?
And the drivers are an interesting bunch with
proven winners, as Yeah, that's Dario "REO Speedwagon" Franchitti's
'lil brother Marino whilst I've never heard of this Billy Johnson Cat. Although
just learned he's a multi-times winner in the Continental Sports Car Challenge
as well as a test driver for Ford, Multimatic and Roush Fenway Racing.
And although Mucke gave the Ford GT its first high
speed race crash due to a cut tyre, which I'm ARSE-Sumin' he's fully recovered
from. Nonetheless, the Seester' #67 gave Ford it's maiden WEC podium by
finishing runner-up in class at Spa...
Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Team U.S.
#68) Joey Hand, USA; Dirk Muller, Germany; Sebastian Bourdais, France.
#69) Ryan Briscoe, Australia; Richard Westbrook, UK; Scott Dixon, New
Zealand.
Although I've failed to keep track of Cheeps'
Stateside Ford GT concern, for which features one of my past favourite IndyCar
drivers, that Oh, So Affable 'Oz Bloke Ryan Briscoe. Nonetheless, I do know
that Indy Cars Top Banana; Err Kiwi Scott Dixon made his Ford GT debut at this
year's 12 Hours of Sebring, the car's second ever race outing. And will make
his Le Mans debut shortly.
Hmm? Wisely, or perhaps shrewdly? Messer
Floyd Ganassi has inserted le 'Hamburgular, nee SeaBass, aka Sebastain Bourdais
behind the wheel of one of his four entries, since after all Monsieur Bourdais
is French Wee-Wee. Hailing from some small town named Le Mans NO less!
Joey Hand's a Daemon behind the steering
wheel of any Tintop, having previously raced a Works BMW in the German Touring
Car series, not to mention racing Daytona Prototypes with Scotty Scooter'
Pruett.
"Westie," aka Richard Westbrook's
name is familiar due to his past association with rival's Corvette for which he
won the 2013 12 Hours of Sebring for, and has also stood on the podium at Le
Mans previously. And Richard's also a four times series champion behind the
wheel of Porsche 911's.
and also know I've heard the name Dirk Muller
before, probably from his winning the 2011 American Le Mans Series GT
championship with somebody named Joey Hand! As Herr Muller's got massive
Tintops experience with past Porsche Cup & ALMS GT titles along with having
piloted rival RLLR's BMW's plus Factory DTM Saloon's.
So All-in-all, I'd say the Ford GT's driver
lineup's very stout, yet as typical they'll face fierce Competizione from the
likes of the Factory Backed Vettes' of Ollie Gavin, Jan Magnussen, Antonio
Garcia, Tommy Milner and "The Brothers Taylor," nee Ricky &
Jordan Taylor. Not to mention the lightning quick Ferrari's and those Uber
dependable Porsche Panzerwagons...
LMP2 All Americana'
Also of interest will be the IMSA interlopers
competing in the "Junior" Prototype class led by this year's Rolex 24
and Sebring 12 Hours winning Extreme Speed Motorsports (ESM) double pronged
attack, with its #30-31 Ligier JSP2's now fitted with rival Nissan lumps'.
Tracy Krohn and his Krohn Racing #40 Ligier JSP2 Nissan will once again most
likely be sporting its traditional Florissant green? And lastly, making their
Le Mans debut will be Michael Shank Racing with its #49 Ligier JSP2 Honda,
which was previously utilized by ESM at Daytona & Sebring...
Also just noticed on
the entry list the erstwhile "Ageless" Johnny O's (O'Connell) filling
in as the "Pro" in the Amateur sandwich aboard the No. 57 Team AAI
Corvette C7R, reportedly one of last year's factory Vettes'...