MOORESVILLE, N.C. — We had the opportunity to check out the Blancpain GT World Challenge America at Las Vegas Motor Speedway and a solid paddock, featuring entries from Ferrari, Porsche, Acura, Mercedes, BMW and Bentley, gave fans plenty to see.
While talking to a variety of team principals in the garage area, we learned that almost every car in the GT3 category, the top tier in the series, has a price tag around $500,000. In addition to the car, we were told it takes another $1.5 million to be competitive.
For top-level sports car racing that’s pretty reasonable these days. The tour runs seven weekends with two races per weekend.
The DXDT Racing squad, which runs a Mercedes-AMG GT3 for George Kurtz and Colin Braun, likes the flexibility of working with SRO Motorsports Group, which organizes the series.
Team members praised SRO officials for their willingness to listen and work with each team on their individual needs. This helps make competing in the series not only a success on the track, but off of it as well with business-to-business opportunities.
– The K-Pax Racing Bentley Continental GT3 is one of the most unique race cars in the series. Although the second-generation Continental is big in size, it doesn’t weigh any more than its competitors.
One reason is the carbon-fiber body. Bentley did a great job with the balance of the car, but the aero package is spectacular. Massive tunnels at the rear of the car give the big Bentley an aero advantage.
By the way, like a true British car, the Bentley race car is right-hand drive.
– Nate Vincent, who was second in the TC America standings behind his teammate Michael Hurczyn heading into the season finale, took us for a thrilling ride around the LVMS road course aboard his Team FCP Euro Volkswagen Golf GTI TCR.
The two-liter, four-cylinder turbo cranks out 350 horsepower and propels the 2,800-pound car to speeds north of 150 mph.
The cars come off of the Volkswagen assembly line and get shipped to Spain where they are prepped for racing. The Golf GTI doesn’t have ABS brakes but is equipped with a sequential gearbox and front-wheel drive.
The cars are delivered ready to race for around $140,000.
– The racing portion of Bike Week at Daytona Int’l Speedway has evolved significantly over the years.
For decades, the legendary Daytona 200 was the most prestigious motorcycle road race in North America. Factory race teams and their high-profile riders traveled from all over the world to Florida each March looking to add a Daytona victory to their résumés.
With the demise of AMA Superbike, the premier motorcycle road racing series in the United States, the Daytona 200 lost some of its luster and it’s not on the schedule for MotoAmerica, currently this country’s top level of motorcycle road racing.
Now, DIS officials have paired the Daytona 200 and the American Flat Track Series season opener to run on the same day — March 14.
The road racers will hit the big road course in the afternoon, with the flat trackers under the lights at night.
The doubleheader will provide a full day and night of racing. However, for those of us who remember the halcyon days of the Daytona 200, it’s more evidence it’s not the prestigious race it once was.
The biggest and most prestigious event of Bike Week is now the Daytona Supercross, which celebrates its 50th running next year.
– It’s rare when Porsche and Corvette racers see eye to eye. However, longtime Porsche wheelman Darren Law and well-known Corvette factory driver Johnny O’Connell are teaming up with their new Performance Track Day program.
The program is a fantasy camp for those who want to find the limits of their personal car and themselves. The first event is Dec. 8 at Apex Motor Club in Maricopa, Ariz., near Phoenix.
O’Connell and Law will attend each event, providing maximum coaching opportunities for drivers of all skill levels. If interested, visit performancetrackday.com.
– While hosting a special presentation honoring the late Jim Perkins for Hendrick Motorsports, I visited with Rick Hendrick about the new C8 Corvette.
Hendrick’s personal collection of Corvettes is one of the finest in the world.
When asked if he planned on bidding for serial No. 1 of the new eighth-generation Corvette during the upcoming Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Ariz., he paused and said, “I might have buyer’s remorse if I get that one.”
Hendrick believes serial No. 1 of the new mid-engine Corvette could go as high as $2.5 or $3 million.