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Oliver
Gavin leads ahead over Chevrolet Corvette C7.R team-mate Antonio Garcia to
less-than-a-car-length victory in the 2016 Rolex 24 at Daytona. Photo by LAT
PHOTOGRAPHIC (Image source: autoweek.com)
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But they'll have to slay those Nasty Blue Oval runners
who've won the past two years outings, as Corvette hasn't won since 2016...
Per Tipicali, I began studying the lower tier
GT Daytona runners first due to Thar being the largest contingent, albeit not
'til after New Year's Day, since every year I start later 'N later; but I
digress...
Hey, You try analyzing some 50 Bloody Car/Driver/Team combinations;
SHEISA!
As thee Big Brother Grand Touring Le Mans
(GTLM) Class has the second least Competizione, and typically the most stable Driver
line-ups, albeit Thars a fair Bitamyte 'O movement this season.
With this year's GTLM Scrum once again
destined to be another Bloody 'Ol fashion Donnybrook,! Whilst the most
intriguing entry will be the #24 BMW M8GTE Coupe with thou legendous' El Zorro'
at the controls.
(2) Corvette Racing
Chassis: Corvette C7.R
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 "General's" kept Thar signature
"Fly Yellow" Stingray Vettes' Driver lineups intact a further year,
while also soldiering on with the dated C7.R's.
As MAGS' (Jan Magnussen) and Antonio Garcia
are the Defending GT LM Class Champions. With the two cars retaining past Overall 24 Heurs du Mans winner's Marcel Fassler and Mike
"Rocky" Rockenfeller for the endurance events.
As the mid-engine runners Porsche, and to
lesser extent Ferrari, and especially the "Blown" turbo entries of
Ford All seemed to have the legs' upon the Vettes' who haven't won in three
years, yet their reliability and precision Pit stops should never be overlooked.
Not to mention they've won the Class championship
the past three consecutive years, and the drivers surely know their familiar mounts
inside 'N out.
(2) BMW Team RLL
Chassis: BMW M8 GTE
Engine: 4.0-litre V-8 Turbo
#24) John Edwards, Jesse
Krohn, Chaz Mostert and Alex Zanardi
#25) Connor
De Phillippi, Philipp Eng, Tom Blomqvist and Colton Herta
Yeah, BMW Team RLL is Spearheaded by the very
same Bobby Rahal, Dave Letterman and Mike Lanigan of IndyCar Fame, who Debuted
the then brand new BMW M8 GTE coupe at last year's Rolex 24.
Team RLL retains 50% of last year's Daytona
24hrs lineup, with John Edwards, Connor De Phillippi, Jesse Krohn and Philipp Eng returning.
New
recruits Tom Blomqvist and Colton Herta need no introducing. As Blomqvist is a
former Red Bull Junior Academy Driver, who I've mentioned many times finished
ahead of some Maximus Hothead' in Formula 1, nee Max Verstappen in the 2014
European Formula 3 Championship.
He's
also the son of past Swedish World Rally Champion Stig, who won BMW's
"shootout" to replace departing Deutshce Tourenwagen Masters Werks
Pilote Joey Hand, where he's spent the past three years racing for BMW.
Whilst
Herta's the son of Indy Cars Andretti Herta Autosport's co-owner
Bryan
"High Speed Hurdles" Herta. Who'll be making his full season rookie
IndyCar campaign for Harding Steinbrenner Racing this year.
Know
absolutely Nothin' about Chaz Mostert - Other than he's from Down Under Mates!
As the OZ' native competes in the Australian V8 SuperCar series and has won the
2014 Bathurst 1000 Rally, along with the 2010 Australian Formula Ford
Championship.
Yet
All eyes will be focused upon the return of El Zorro', aka Alex Zanardi, whom
BMW announced over a year ago would be contesting this year's event in a
specially equipped Hand Controls variation of the M8GTE racecar.
(1) Risi Competizione
Chassis: Ferrari 488 GTE
Engine: 3.9-litre V-8 turbo
#62) James
Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi, Davide Rigon and Miguel Molina
Once again, Maranello's represented by the
lone entry of its latest Prancing Horse, campaigned by Houston's Risi
Competizione, as la Scuderia really should at least have another Ferrari on the
grid in order to be on equal footing with its competitors.
The Driver's lineup remain three-quarters
same, with Messer's Rigon, Pier
Guidi and Calado
returning for another crack at victory. As Davide is a
Scuderia Ferrari test driver.
And Alessandro's another Factory Ferrari Driver whilst James is
the only Bloke from thou Bloody UK. With Spain's Miguel Molina the sole
newcomer on the squad.
As
Molina is a former Audi Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters driver (DTM) making his
Rolex 24 Debut, who replaces the departing Toni Vilander, who's driving for Scuderia
Corsa aboard their #63 GTD Ferrari entry.
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| Ford Chip Ganassi Racing will run two Throwback liveries in Honour of IMSA's 50th Anniversary at this year's Rolex 24. (Image source: automobilsport.com) |
(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
The Cheepster', nee
Chip Ganassi returns as the Defending GT Le
Mans Class winner, going for an unbridled Hat Trick; Err Three-Peat' this year,
aiming for Thar third consecutive W', effectively being thou "rubber
Match" between the two entries. As the #66 & #67 have won one Rolex 24
apiece.
As Cheeps' regular contingent 'O IMSA Sports
Car Aces are all back. Joined by Thar usual Duo of current IndyCar chauffeurs,
with Ganassi's Number One Man, 5-times IndyCar Champion Scott Dixon in the No.
67, the reigning GT LM winner. Whilst le Hamburgular', nee SeaBass', whom I now
call Sealmeister B', aka Sebastain Bourdais tinkles thou No. 66's "ivories."
(2) Porsche GT Team
Chassis: Porsche 911 RSR
Engine: 4.0-litre normally aspirated Flat-six
#911) Nick
Tandy, Patrick Pilet and Frederic Makowiecki
#912) Earl
Bamber, Laurens Vanthoor and Mathieu Jaminet
Like BMW, Porsche now has a year's racing
experience underneath it's Belts; Err Bonnet with Thar latest iteration of the
venerable 911 racing platform.
As was surprised to discover when learning
the most I've ever known about CORE Autosport, that they're also running the
two car North American Porsche GT Le Mans Factory programme alongside Thar
B-I-G BOYZ' Nissan DPi Prototype effort, all housed in Rock Hill, South Carolina.
Won't repeat my Messer Tandy being the meat
in le Ménage Twah between Pilet
and Makowiecki; Hya!
Joke here.
As it
appears the only Driver change between the two Porsche's is Gianmaria "Jimmy"
Bruni being slotted out for French newcomer Mathieu Jaminet instead.