 |
|
Will anybody be able to put these NASTY Ford GT's
in their rear view mirrors en route to the chequered flag? (Source: Bing.com
Images)
|
Cheep' Doubles-Down in his effort to obtain another
Rolex timepiece for his vast collection...
While a total of nine current IndyCar drivers
are contesting this year's Rolex 24, with three in GTD (Daytona) and three in
the B-I-G' BOY DPi (Daytona Prototype International) class, the biggest IndyCar
Stars are part of Ford Chip Ganassi's fleet of Ford GT's, where two past Indy
500 winners will deputize at three endurance events apiece this season, i.e.;
Daytona, Sebring and Petit Le Mans.
(2) BMW Team RLL
Chassis: BMW M6 GTLM
Engine: 4.4-litre V-8 turbo
#19) Bill Auberlen, Alexander Sims, Bruno Spengler and Augusto Farfus.
#24) John Edwards, Martin
Tomczyk, Kuno Wittmer and Nick Catsburg
Have already chronicled Bobby Rahal, Dave
Letterman and Mike Lanigan's BMW No. 19 Canvas-mobile' in my long running nod
to BmW's Artistic impressions. As I'd be tickled pink; Err Orange, green, Blue;
Oh Never Mind! If they're victorious.
AUTOS: Latest BMW Art Car to contest this year's Rolex 24
While Y'all can read what Jonathan Edwards,
the racing driver had to say 'bout testing one of the potent DTM Touren Wagons'
in the second half of that previous story. Where he checked out fellow
co-driver Martin
Tomczyk's daily ride...
(2) Ford Chip Ganassi Racing
Chassis: Ford GT
Engine: 3.5-litre V-6 turbo
#66) Joey Hand, Dirk Muller and Sebastian Bourdais
#67) Ryan Briscoe, Richard Westbrook and Scott Dixon
(2) Ford Chip Ganassi Racing Team UK
Chassis: Ford GT
Engine: 3.5-litre V-6 turbo
#68) Olivier Pla, Stefan Mucke and Billy Johnson
#69) Andy
Priaulx, Harry Tincknell and Tony Kanaan
All eyes will be upon Cheeps' magnificent quartet
'O Ford GT's, looking to dethrone those pesky 'N perpetually winning Bowtie
Brigade, nee Dearborn's rival Corvette Racing, as Ganassi brings the majority
of its two Seester' squad's Driver lineups to Daytona unchanged, including four
IndyCar drivers - with the IMSA squads intact.
As last year's No. 66 Le Mans class winning
trio returns, while the Seester' #67
features the two quickest Roar Before 24 Pilotes.
While the World Endurance Championship (WEC)
No's 68-69 chassis are virtually identical with the substitution of TK'
Follow-your-Schnoz! Kanaan for Dario's 'lil Bro Marino Franchitti.
As pleasantly, I-T was ex-Penske, Ganassi
IndyCar Star Ryan Briscoe heading current Ganassi IndyCar chauffer's Scott
Dixon and Tony Kanaan respectively at the top of the Roar Before Time Sheets.
(2) Corvette Racing
Chassis: Corvette C7R
Engine: 5.5-litre normally aspirated V-8
#3) Jan Magnussen, Antonio Garcia and Mike Rockenfeller
#4) Oliver Gabin, Tommy Milner and Marcel Fassler
The "Fly Yellow" Stingray Vettes'
kept a relatively low profile during the Roar, with the exception of the No. 4
catching on fire during one practice session - Ooh la la! But both Vettes' will
be back ready to Rock 'N Roll when the green flag flies.
As they retain last year's driver lineups
which includes MAGS', aka Jan Magnussen, past Penske IndyCar pilot whose son
Kevin Bacon" Magnussen will race for Americres' Team, nee Haas F1 this
season.
Former 24 Heurs du Mans winner's Marcel Fassler and Mike
"Rocky" Rockenfeller fill-in for the endurance events.
Whilst don't forget I-T was "Ollie"
(Oliver Gabin v Antonio Garcia Mano e Mano just inches apart over the last
10-laps to decide who'd win ahead of his team-mate for Corvette's astounding
1-2 class finish last year, with the margin 'O victory being 0.034-second!
(2) Porsche GT Team Porsche
Chassis: Porsche 911 RSR
Engine: 4.0-litre normally aspirated Flat-six
#911) Dirk Werner, Richard Lietz and Patrick Pilet
#912) Kevin
Estre, Laurens Vanthoor and Frederic Makowiecki
The only two names that sound familiar are
Herr Werner and Lietz,
while the Driver lineup is Chock-Oh-Block 'O
"Frenchie's," with a total of three, with Belgium's Laurens being the
meat in le Ménage Twah between Estre,
and Makowiecki; Hya!
Porsche has just released the latest variant
of its venerable 911 Panzerwagon, with Weissach debuting its first ever
mid-engine 911 variant; excluding the Porsche GT1 which won Le Mans overall. As
the 2017 Porsche 911 RSR's mid-engine layout is intended to keep up with its
competition Ja Volt!
(1) Risi Competizione
Chassis: Ferrari 488 GTE
Engine: 3.9-litre V-8 turbo
#62) Giancarlo Fisichella, Toni Vilander and James Calado
Maranello's represented by the lone entry of its
latest Prancing Horse, campaigned by Houston's Risi Competizione, whom I'm
fairly certain have won Rolex 24 class honours before.
As how can I not root for
"Fishyfellah," nee ex-Formula 1 Ace Fisichella to win aboard la
Scuderia! As Vilander's
simply a BAD ARSE behind the wheel, as I recall him being the Driver bangin' wheels
'N fenders literally! With the losing Porsche drivers complaining bitterly...
While the Finn' was en route to a last lap victory in one of Sports Cars B-I-G'
Races, for which I can no longer remember where I-T was?
Since I can only ascertain that Vilander
has twice won the GTE Pro' category at Circuit de la Sarthe, albeit for fellow
Ferrari runner AF Corse, with Fisichella and ex-Minardi F1 racer Gianmaria Bruni
as co-drivers in 2012 and 2014.
Meanwhile, the third cog in the driver
rotation for the No. 62, nee James Calado is unknown to Mwah...
