 |
|
Can Quattro le Femmes aboard the No. 57 Meyer shank
Racing Acura NSX GT3 Evo be victorious at Daytona? (Image source: sportscarillustrated.com)
|
Ah, it's time to G-O Racing once again, with thou
traditional Winter Kickoff at Day-Toner', albeit taking place upon the 3.56
mile "Road Course."
Due to the GTD (Daytona) class being the
largest entity in the field, Hence with a reported 23-entries Pre-Roar Before',
as think that's what I read? I'll not attempt covering every single Bloody entry
(A la last year) in detail) especially since they'll presumably be somewhat
fluid up to Race Day.
Instead I'll just
cover some of the various efforts that peaked my Attenzione when scourin' thou
entry list, with NO Disrespect to anybody left out...
Manufacturer
Entries
(2) Acura, (4) Audi, (1) BMW, (3) Ferrari, (5)
Lamborghini, (2) Lexus, (2) Mercedes and (4) Porsche.
Acura NSX GT3 Evo
Engine: 3.5-litre V-6 turbo
Team: Meyer Shank Racing
Meyer Shank Racing, which for Mwah's still
Michael Shank Racing (MSR) will return with its brace of Acura's, albeit I've
missed another Memo. Since MSR announced last fall that they'd be running an
All Female entry this season.
As Thy Leggy Juan', nee Katherine Legge will
lead the team's renumbered No. 57 with new Full-season Co-Driver Jackie Heinricher.
With Tres Femme Fatales joining Legge for the
Rolex 24, Nye multi GTD Class Champion Christina Nielsen and one of CARPETS'
Favourite ex-IndyCar Pilotes' BIA', nee Ana Beatriz, plus ex-IndyCar Driver
"Symona-Symona," aka Simona de Silvestro rounding out this Heady Quartet
of le Femmes sharing Seat-time, as Heinricher will sit-out Daytona due to a
Back injury.
whilst the team's familiar #86 will feature such
luminaries as the Dinger', aka A.J. Allmendinger alongside Mario Farnbacher, Justin Marks and Trent Hindman. As No idea if A.J. will be
doing any commentary work during the race, before moving to NBC Sports
Broadcast Booth.
Ferrari 488 GT3 Evo
Engine: 3.9-litre V-8 turbo
Teams: Scuderia Corsa, Spirit of Race and Via
Italia Racing
A new entity Flying the Brazilian Flag that I
know Nothin' about, called Via Italia Racing will run the "lucky" No.
13. While the #51 Spirit of Race's entry's Driver's lineup was denoted as TBA
prior to The Roar Before pre-Rolex 24's Mandatory test.
Former Two Times consecutive IMSA GTD Class
champion Scuderia Corsa returns with its well known No. 63 sporting another
revamped lineup, as Cooper
MacNeil, the only holdover from last season is joined by Dominik Farnbacher, Toni
Vilander and the relatively unheralded Jeff Westphal.
Lamborghini Huracan GT3 Evo
Engine: 5.2-litre normally aspirated V-10
Ebimotors, GRT Grasser
Racing, Magnus Racing, Paul Miller Racing and Precision Performance Motorsports
Lamborghini, , utilizing the same 5.2-litre
normally aspirated V-10 lump powering the Audi's, since after all their owned
by the same company, i.e.; Volkswagen. (VW) Stirred up quite a Hurricane in the
GT Daytona Class last year.
As GRT Grasser Racing with its No. 11, which
won last year's Rolex 24, giving Lamborghini its first 24 Hours victory ever,
returns again to defend its Class Honours with Drivers Mirko Bortolotti and Rolf Ineichen
looking to claim another wristwatch.
Magnus racing swaps Audi Sheet-metal in
favour of the Raging Bull this year. As the #44 with Andy Lally, John Potter
and Spencer Pumpelly behind the Keyboard is definitely a Contenda'.
Ebimotors
is a new concern from Italy, which I know very little about, although seem to
recall trying to find info about them on Zed Internetz' last year, possibly for
Le Mans? As they'll run the No. 46 entry. Whilst I definitely Didn't know
anything about the #47 Precision Performance Motorsports team before scribblin'
this rant.
But
after accidently learning 'bout Linus Lundqvist's North
Americre' Endurance Racing debut, his prize for winning the Sunoco/Whelen
challenge prize. I've learned that the Defending British F3 Champion will be
driving for the outfit that previously contested comca$t's NASCAR Xfinity Series before transitioning
to Sports Cars last year., after closing their RASSCAR' Operation. As believe
this is Thar Rolex 24 Debut?
And the
Paul Miller Racing #48 which won last year's GTD Championship returns with an
altered line-up. With just Bryan Sellars returning Fulltime, joined by Cory
Lewis and Ryan Hardwick.
Lexus RC F GT3
Engine: 5.0-litre normally aspirated V-8
Team: AIM Vasser Sullivan
Perhaps Toy-Yoter' was not impressed by Paul
MEATHEADZ' Gentilozzi's Unscrupulous Antics and decided to not renew his
contract over this?
As the new AIM Vasser Sullivan (AVS) Squad
Flies the Kuhnaidiun' Flag in deference to AIM Motorsport heading the Show.
While Yeah, it's the Same Vasser Sullivan of IndyCar Fame, nee "Top
Jimmy" (Vasser) and James "sully" Sullivan who are Co-partners
with Dale Coyne and his Sealmeister B' (Bourdais) #18 IndyCar entry.
(Townsend) T' Bell and Frankie Montecalvo who drove for Scuderia
Corsa last year move to the new Lexus Squad for the entire Weathertech
SportsCar Championship season. With Indy Lights racer Aaron Telitz and Jeffrey
Segal in the No. 12 entry.
As
Telitz has signed to contest all four Endurance rounds this season, and Messer
Segal is a longtime Sports Car racing veteran, who I know from his past
exploits with Patrick Dempsey and Team Seattle.
Whilst Jeffrey's name always makes me recall
thy late Awntie' Harriet's Bellowing that Steven Seagull was a Fat Head; Hya!
Union' Jack Hawksworth of past IndyCar fame
leads the way in the Seester' #14 entry, with Richard Heistand Fulltime. And Austin
Cindric, son of Penske Racing President Tim Cindric returns to Enduro' duty
alongside Kiwi' newcomer Nick "NOT DAVID!" Cassidy.
As Surely? Don't Call me Shirley! Nic's
heard of that 'Ol Partridge Family Heart rob, thee late David Cassidy, Righto?
Porsche 911 GT3R
Engine: 4.0-litre Flat-Six, normally aspirated
Teams: Black Swan Racing, Faf Motorsport, Herberth
Motorsports and Park Place Motorsports
A new Porsche GTD Class entry from North of
thee Border called Faf Motorsport, with not One, but Two Hosers - NOT Bob &
Doug McKenzie; Hya! On its Driving Rolls will see Scott Hargrove and Zach Robichon as
half of the contingent behind the wheel of the #9 Porsche.
Meanwhile, Patrick Long, America's only
Factory Porsche Driver takes refuge this year aboard the long running #73 Park
Place Motorsports ride, with Co-Drivers Patrick Lindsey and Nick Boull.
Whilst the #99 Herberth Motorsports entry from Germany
is completely foreign to Mwah, Ja-Ja! And the No. 540 Black Swan Racing, which
I've heard of before also
had its Drivers listed as TBA. Although I'm
guessing that Madison Snow will return there.
Other
Entrants...
Once again, Audi returns with a brace of its
R8 LMS chassis, propelled by the same 5.2-litre normally aspirated V-10 lump
powering Lamborghini.
Returning to IMSA competition this year,
Starworks Motorsport in its traditional No. 8 takes the green flag as an Audi
GTD entry Headlined by perennial Sports Car Ace "Razzle-Dazzle," aka Ryan
Dalziel.
The #19's now being campaigned under the
MoreSpeed banner in Audi trim after running as the Seester GRT Grasser Racing
Lambo' entry last season, with an 'Ol Formula 1 Flash-in-the-Pan' named Marcus
Winkelhock on its Driver roster.
Fascinating F1 Fact No. 8
And the #29 Montaplast by Land-Motorsport, which
contested last year's Rolex 24 returns for another shot at victory.
Whilst another of the many Kuhnaidiun' Flagged
entries is the newly formed Audi Sport Experience WRT Speedstar No. 88, which
is unknownst to Mwah. Although I do recognize driver Ian James name from his
past Team Seattle exploits.
Meanwhile, longtime Sports Car entrant Riley
continues their latest project with Mercedes, campaigning the AMG GT3 normally
aspirated 6.2-litre V-8 Audubon cruiser, once again sporting the No. 33 under
the Team Riley Motorsports banner.
Another Merc' entry called P1 Motorsports,
which made its Daytona 24 Hours Debut last year, returns with its No. 71 entry.
Whilst their Barbarian rivals sees longtime
BMW runners Turner Motorsports once again fielding a lone BMW M6 GT3 Coupe
powered by a 4.4-litre V-8 turbo engine. As perennial Factory BMW Pilote; Err
Brand Ambassador Bimmer Billy', nee Bill Auberlen who made his Werks' Driver Swan
Song Curtain Call last January. Now anchors the #96's Ultimate Driving
Experience, as the 50yr old Californian returns to Fulltime action...