Photo Credit: IMSA
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With just over a week before the opening of the Roar Before the Rolex 24 tests at the Daytona International Speedway, the most attention in the silly season chatter has definitely been in the grand touring divisions of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. Both the GT Le Mans division, featuring factory-backed entries and largely professional drivers on every team, and the GT Daytona class with an even split of professional and amateur drivers involved, have produced competitive nose to tail racing in the two years since the reunification of sports car racing occurred. For today’s focus, the upper GTLM group will be the primary attraction.
Last season saw three camps control the proceedings. Corvette Racing won the opening two rounds at Daytona and Sebring, Rahal BMW won the next two, while the second half was thoroughly controlled by Porsche North America, who along with Patrick Pilet claimed the team and driver’s titles respectively. The question though from last season looking ahead to this year is simple: will short term success from last year, prove to be a detriment in the long term? The technical regulations were changed during the off season and several teams may have abandoned potential success in 2015, in order to be ready to take control in 2016. So with several new cars and engines to mix into the GTLM pot for the new season, here are my initial rankings for the professional grand touring class.
- Porsche North America (Porsche 911 RSR): We will learn quickly whether the short term accolades earned in the second half of the 2015 campaign, including an amazing overall win at Petit Le Mans to close out the season, will indeed put them a little off the pace to start 2016. Unlike Corvette Racing, the CORE autosport-run operation did not get a start on a car for the new regulations until almost a month after Petit Le Mans, nor was their program confirmed for 2016 until that time. In addition to the late start, the plate is a little heavier this year too as the team will be called upon to run a two-car program at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as Porsche is not running a GT program in the FIA World Endurance Championship this season. Assuming the car issues are not a factor, the driving lineup is among the strongest that any division in IMSA has to offer. Reigning GTLM driving champion Patrick Pilet, is paired up with Le Mans overall winner Nick Tandy and former McLaren factory ace Kevin Estre. The second car is equally stout with the other half of the Le Mans triumph Earl Bamber being supported by Fred Makowiecki and Michael Christensen. While it is doubtful that Porsche will crush the competition in the form they did last season, it would be foolish to discount them as a potential Rolex 24 at Daytona winner just because of the late start for this year.
- Corvette Racing (Chevrolet Corvette C7.R): While Doug Fehan’s operation claimed three wins in major enduros last season (Daytona, Sebring, Le Mans), the team seemed to suffer a major setback when their primary entry was forced to withdraw from the French classic due to a major accident in practice. Although the secondary machine still won, the incident seemed to knock the team out of their comfort zone. After winning early in 2015, the second half of the season saw the millennium yellow liveried monsters struggling just to earn podium finishes. Part of the problem was the performance of the Porsche 911s, as well as the fact that they were kind of fighting a two-front war. Part of the focus was on the 2015 title fight, the rest was on producing a car for 2016 that would be capable of holding its own against a grid dominated by single and twin turbo propelled engines. The Roar tests will give an early tell on whether the normally aspirated V-8s can cut it or not, but regardless of that concern the proven durability of the C7.R should at least keep the Pratt & Miller cars in the conversation for the win at both Daytona and Sebring. The primary driving team of Antonio Garcia and Jan Magnussen, has been bolstered for the first two rounds by the addition of Audi Sport Team Joest pilot Mike Rockenfeller. Although more known for his prototype exploits, the German has ample experience with Audi in the German DTM Touring Car Championship, so the learning curve in terms of handling the Corvette should be very minimal. The second car is also capable of reaching the top step of the podium, with Tommy Milner and Oliver Gavin, being joined by Marcel Fassler, who rejoins Fehan’s operation after a seven-year absence. Corvette certainly licked their wounds in the second half of 2015, but as with Porsche North America one should not discount the American marque’s chances to bounce back next month at Daytona.
- BMW Team Rahal (BMW M6 GTLM): Initially as silly season began, it looked BMW’s new challenger would be limited to GT Daytona competition only. However, after having a change of heart the “Beemer Brigade,” elected to design a GT Le Mans eligible car as well. The late confirmation of the decision of course, has put them a little bit behind in terms of testing time as opposed to a team like Corvette, but the potential horsepower edge with a four liter, twin-turbo V-8 engine under the hood is very intriguing. The question now centers on durability over the course of a 24 hour race. If the car can pass the challenge lay out before them, there is no reason why they cannot duke it out with both Porsche and Corvette for the outright win in GTLM in one month’s time. As with the above two outfits, the driving teams do not lack for anything. The primary entry of Lucas Luhr and John Edwards, will also feature 2014 GTLM Drivers champion Kuno Wittmer and Graham Rahal, who is coming off his best season to date in the IndyCar Series. Longtime American workhorse Bill Auburlen and German veteran Dirk Werner, will be joined by DTM regular Augusto Farfus and Canada’s Bruno Spengler, creating a strong second chance at victory. Certainly, Rahal Letterman have to be viewed as best of the rest behind the top two entering the new year at Daytona International Speedway.
- Ford Performance Chip Ganassi Racing (Ford GT): The new kids on the GT block are far from being sports car racing novices. With many overall wins at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, plus multiple Daytona Prototype championships in the Rolex Sports Car Series already on their resume, the question is not whether they will be successful, more of the matter of how long it will take them to be? While a win right out of the box at the Rolex 24 at Daytona next month would be a major surprise considering the opposition, the Ford GT certainly is capable of getting there. Unlike some of the other new mounts, the power plant is not as big a worry as the Ford EcoBoost V-6 turbo engine used the two past seasons in the Prototype division is basically being carried over to this marque, so getting the full 24-hour distance next month should be in the cards. The driving lineup is good enough to keep the rivals honest, as GT veterans Joey Hand and Dirk Mueller are confirmed in one machine, while the other will feature former Corvette Racing drivers Richard Westbrook and Ryan Briscoe. The team will also feature the services of Sebastien Bourdais and Stefan Mucke. While a solid finish would be considered a win for them, it is clear Ganassi may very well have set a higher target to shoot for in the Ford GT’s official maiden voyage.
- SMP Racing (Ferrari 488 GTE): Of the three Ferrari camps set to challenge for GTLM honors at Daytona, the Russian-based runners may have the best shot to hit the podium. The team last year won the GTE-Amateur division at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, after pressuring the factory Aston Martin throughout the race, until the latter crashed out late. The Italian home base has had several test laps with the new marque this past summer and fall, even having multi-time Formula One World Driving champion Sebastian Vettel take a turn at the wheel. However, the big issue is that the three teams at the time of press have either not received the car or just have done so. With that fact on the table, durability becomes the chief concern for Daytona. The pace of the turbo Ferrari V-8 engine was apparent as the former Ferrari 458 was best of the rest at several events behind Porsche North America in the second half of last year. As for SMP Racing in the driving department, the team has acquired two of Ferrari rival AF Corse’s top two drivers in Gianmaria Bruni and James Calado to join up with SMP’s talented amateurs Viktor Shaytar and Andrea Bertolini. They will be worth watching, but whether that will be in the thick of the battle at the front, is the question mark.
- Risi Competizione (Ferrari 488 GTE): After ending the 2015 IMSA season on a high note with several competitive outings, the Giuseppe Risi-led organization is still putting the pieces of its 2016 attack together in Italy as OnPitRoad.com went to press. The lateness of getting their new 488 ready will prevent them from taking part in the Roar Before the Rolex 24 tests at Daytona, so a lack of testing miles could prove a detriment in the early days. Also in the dark at this point is who will be tapped to drive. 2015 regular driver Pierre Kaffer has joined a team in the GT Daytona division for Daytona, while the prospects of Giancarlo Fisichella returning are not clear at this time. It is harsh to hang the tag “development year” on a team with the success Risi has had, but with so much disarray present a month out from the season opener, the saying unfortunately fits the team well at this time.
- Scuderia Corsa (Ferrari 488 GTE): While mainly a regular in GT3 (GT Daytona) related pursuits, the team did make a positive impact at last year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, taking a GT2-based Ferrari 458 to a podium finish in the GTE-Amateur division. Keep in mind though, that none of the three drivers from that squad will be present at Daytona. The supporting cast for the Rolex 24 is not meager however. Aggressive Italian Alessandro Pier Guidi, who almost single-handed claimed the GT Daytona race win at Daytona two years ago, leads a strong trio with Daniel Serra and Alexandre Premat also providing solid experience and talent. The last minute addition of three-time Rolex 24 overall winner Memo Rojas could move them further into contention on race weekend. Like at Le Mans this past June, the team faces an uphill climb, but the result in France proved the team is capable of getting there.
Stay tuned to OnPitRoad.com for our final pre-Roar power rankings list, as I look to wade through the ever growing division known as GT Daytona.
