Alfa to enter Ugly Duck Racing

[bt52b]

http://pix.nofrag.com/5b/3e/5400b2c3b3e705c163ea4b7b9742.jpg (http://pix.nofrag.com/5b/3e/5400b2c3b3e705c163ea4b7b9742.html)

Stumbled on to this. Isn't it just plain wrong that Alfa could consider racing among one of the most horrible collection of race cars. Grand Am is the backside of sportscar racing :D
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/sport/mehr_motorsport/hxcms_article_502091_14136.hbs

Not sure how this would work if they also did GT as reported else where.

Gabriel

[IMSAFAN1]

how can you say that the Rolex Series is the backside of sportscar racing? Alfa is there to sell cars. Take a look at the fields and compare them to ALMS.
Look at the quality of drivers and teams at the 24 hours of Daytona. Alfa is going where the future is and where they're going to attract future buyers. ALMS is not a good platform for them. Grand-am is the future of sportscar racing,not ALMS. The car does need some tweeking but it will work out fine.

[bt52b]

"Backside" in that I hate the sight of most of the Grand Am cars, although they are improving a bit lately.

[tannat]

From a marketing point of view, this makes absolutely no sense unless AR plan a comeback to the American market.....

[harvick#1]

how can you say that the Rolex Series is the backside of sportscar racing? Alfa is there to sell cars. Take a look at the fields and compare them to ALMS.
Look at the quality of drivers and teams at the 24 hours of Daytona. Alfa is going where the future is and where they're going to attract future buyers. ALMS is not a good platform for them. Grand-am is the future of sportscar racing,not ALMS. The car does need some tweeking but it will work out fine.

you do know, that most of those people only show up to see the NASCAR, IRL guys right.

yeah ALMS may be suffering right now, but look at the LMES. they are having to reject entries because the field in so large in all 4 classes

[luvracin]

From a marketing point of view, this makes absolutely no sense unless AR plan a comeback to the American market.....

Well then, it does make sense.

[BrentJackson]

From a marketing point of view, this makes absolutely no sense unless AR plan a comeback to the American market.....

Which they are. ;)

[racefanfromnj]

I my self could care less which NASCAR or IRL driver shows up to race .. I tune in to watch the racing of both series'

[IMSAFAN1]

racefanfromnj.....you've made my day. I'm glad to see someone watch's sportscar racing because of what it is not just because Nascar and IRL drivers are in it. when I worked for Jim Downing during the heydays of IMSA people came out to see the cars that were in the field. I was also there when IMSA went down the drain. See IMSA then was based on factory teams..Grand-Am is based on privateers entering cars....for a company like AR to come in and want to race and sell customer cars is awesome. AR is going to sell more cars in Grand-Am then in ALMS because Grand-Am reaches out to a broader group of people.

[tannat]

Well then, it does make sense.

Are they planning such?
I know of nothing...

[harvick#1]

racefanfromnj.....you've made my day. I'm glad to see someone watch's sportscar racing because of what it is not just because Nascar and IRL drivers are in it. when I worked for Jim Downing during the heydays of IMSA people came out to see the cars that were in the field. I was also there when IMSA went down the drain. See IMSA then was based on factory teams..Grand-Am is based on privateers entering cars....for a company like AR to come in and want to race and sell customer cars is awesome. AR is going to sell more cars in Grand-Am then in ALMS because Grand-Am reaches out to a broader group of people.

just to let you know, AR is making a GT2 car that should be ready by 2008 in the ALMS

[bt52b]

how can you say that the Rolex Series is the backside of sportscar racing?


When ever I think of Grand Am cars, it makes me think of the Skoda 110R or the Rapid
http://pix.nofrag.com/6e/2a/e455d7b5e9351824d733d9d869a2t.jpg (http://pix.nofrag.com/6e/2a/e455d7b5e9351824d733d9d869a2.html)

abit like when in Reginald Perrin, whenever his dreaded mother-in-law is mentioned, Reggie involuntarily visualises a huge hippopotamus trotting along. :D
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fall_and_Rise_of_Reginald_Perrin

[bt52b]

"NEW PICCHIO DAYTONA PROTOTYPE Ancarno, 15 February 2007 Picchio has completed the first feasibility studies for its new Daytona Prototype, and is going to install a body derived from the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione on its in-house developed Grand Am-compliant tubular chassis"

http://www.picchio.com/english/popnews.asp?id=169

http://www.picchio.com

[FormerFF]

racefanfromnj.....you've made my day. I'm glad to see someone watch's sportscar racing because of what it is not just because Nascar and IRL drivers are in it. when I worked for Jim Downing during the heydays of IMSA people came out to see the cars that were in the field. I was also there when IMSA went down the drain. See IMSA then was based on factory teams..Grand-Am is based on privateers entering cars....for a company like AR to come in and want to race and sell customer cars is awesome. AR is going to sell more cars in Grand-Am then in ALMS because Grand-Am reaches out to a broader group of people.

I'm not sure how you can say that, considering the miniscule attendance at almost all G-A races, other than the 24 Hours of Daytona.

[IMSAFAN1]

I learned very quickly working in this sport that the tail that wags the sportscar dog is TV. I used to sit in front of a TV and count the seconds in which our sponsor was mentioned. I then transfered that into advertising dollars. Like all motorsports...the real money comes from TV. You have to separate your head from your heart..Yes i love ALMS but I love what Grand-Am does to attract sponsors. It's all about costs.

[Mark in Oshawa]

IMSA fan...you may have swerved into the reality. Alfa want to sell cars, they know more people will buy their product to run in Grand-Am. The fact it would be the first really decent looking DP would be an asset, although I must confess I don't mind the lines of the Crawford chassis, but of course, it is the Riley that is the chassis that seems to be dominating. Bob Riley don't care about looks, only performance, and his track record of winning tends to prove his theories right more often than not...So while Alfa may have a good looking DP, will it beat the Riley's, Doran's and Crawfords?

[IMSAFAN1]

Mark...I don't think that it can beat the Riley's....but it will beat the Doran. Yes I do love the lines of the Crawford and I love the looks of the Fabcar. I think with the new rules in Grand-Am this will open the door for others.

[cybersdorf]

When ever I think of Grand Am cars, it makes me think of the Skoda 110R or the Rapid
http://pix.nofrag.com/6e/2a/e455d7b5e9351824d733d9d869a2t.jpg (http://pix.nofrag.com/6e/2a/e455d7b5e9351824d733d9d869a2.html)

...which was successfully raced and rallied.

http://www.skoda-classic-racing.de/bilder/2006lausitzring2wl/original/2006lausitzring2wl002.jpg

[racefanfromnj]

excuse me formerff have been to a grand am race in person? i have been to a few also a few alms and swc races the crowds seem about even to me. this alms vs ga vs who ever is just counter productive. live and let live

[Danske]

[...]I love the looks of the Fabcar.

Well, they done changed the FABCAR on you. ;)