Quote:
Originally Posted by Seamus
Seems to me that the "heritage" of racing is endangered with the current 911. If you saw the race this past weekend, the GT3RS won its first race of the year here in the Rolex at Mid Ohio, but likely due to the rain and a number of accidents to others, e.g., Speedsource RX-8s and the Pontiac GTRs (which are unfairly IMHO in GT since they are tube frames and not street cars). When the new M3 hits the circuit, watch out. I don't expect Porsche to give up, but there is an argument for the Cayman to be here with the 3.6 or 3.8 engine. Sure there is a problem with the Pirrellis, but clearly a mid engined car would own this series in GT. But, it will be oh so hard for Porsche to give up on its "cash cow" and likely they won't do it until they a completely trounced by the others. The mere fact that they won't support privateers says that they know the Cayman is capable of beating the 911s if properly set up.
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First, I must admit that I am a Porsche "fanboy" from the get go, but I think you are spot on with the comment you made suggesting that the tube frame cars are unfairly allowed to run against the GT3RS which is really just a street car. To me, the "real" racing is in ALMS. Last year, the Porsches were taking a licking from the mid-engined Ferraris in ALMS, but Porsche did their homework during the off-season and this year the 997 GT3 RSR is more than competetive against the Ferraris. Recently I read somewhere that when the GT3RSR is run on the same track that the GT3RS has been run, the RSR is something like 3 to 5 mph faster (if somebody has a more accurate number than I, please correct me, but I know the RSR is quicker). So, you can't count Porsche out just yet. And who knows, Porsche may surprise us and show up to a race with some uber-Caymans. It sure wouldn't be the first time that Porsche does the exact opposite of what they said they were going to do! I think Porsche also enjoys shock value. I remember when Porsche showed up with 25 917's out of the clear blue skies. It was a very nice surprise for Porsche fans like me. And, don't forget how they sprung the Carrera GT on us a few years back. We just need to sit back and let them do what they do best.