Live - 40. ADAC Zurich 24h-Rennen am Nürburgring - Nürburgring Livestream and many cams to ride with!!
But let's not forget that the SCG 003 is like a LMP prototype built to GT3 regulations, but allowed to race against modified street cars. I would expect it to dominate in any case. Not sour grapes, but just mentioning a fact. The VLN may review it's rules in future to redress the unfair advantage.
Unfair advantage? Are you sure of what you are saying? 2 cars from a private team opposite to 30 or 40 cars with full support from major factories like BMW, Audi, Mercedes and Porsche seems to you an unfair advantage? Are you really thinking what you are saying? To see only German cars competing already exists the DTM. I like the SCG 003, I like the variety, I like the different, I would like to see more different cars like the Glickenhaus.
Most VLN cars are production based, the SCG 003 is not. GT3 cars are based on street cars built to a budget, and then developed for racing. Jim Glikenhaus by-passed that process by starting from a clean sheet of paper without any commercial constrains or need to satisfy habitability needs, luggage space, etc... The SCG is 4 times more expensive than the cars it compete against. It costs more than a LMP2!!!!
Full disclosure: I'm an SCG fan boy through and through. I've spent three N24s with the team (2012, 2015, 2016) and have forged some great friendships with members of the team. So knowing that, here's my perspective: I think you can argue it both ways. In my opinion SCG is without a doubt David to the Mercedes/Audi/BMW/Porsche Goliaths. While the SCG does cost more and have arguably better aero than the other GT3s, it's also a completely in house built car made by a small team at a fraction of the budget of the big brands. Those companies spell millions, if not tens of millions of euros and it shows. SCG doesn't have an engine dyno or a chassis rig that can simulate a 24 race. They also don't have a huge R&D team. If the SCG was continually wiping the floor with the other teams I would concede that it has an unfair advantage but it's simply not doing that. The team continues to race and develop the car but it's really ad hoc. In the waning final hours of the N24 last year, I was hanging out with some of the engineers in the SCG trailer and one of them was showing me a part that failed on both cars earlier in the race. He was saying that when something breaks on an R8 during a race, Audi and their customers basically have a manual telling them what to do. SCG doesn't. My hope is that the team continues to race and Jim sells cars and realizes the goal of a Le Mans entry. Then it will be an even greater story of David versus Goliath.
This is exactly what I felt and the explanation is very clear, I hope that William will understand that he has a wrong thinking. I like the SCG 003 and I would like to see more different cars like this.
~17 hours to go and SGC is in 25th place OA about 2.5 laps behind the leader. Last lap was 8:28, quickest car on the track.
Back from the Ring at 5am in the morning and a big big thank you to Team SCG for their kind and relaxed hospitality. Jim was kind enough to show us around the pits, explain the car and was the best host you could imagine. His crew is second to none in friendliness & enthusiasm. I won´t get too much into the whole costs/performance/road based/blabla discussion now but honestly, the factory backed GT3 cars have as much in common with the legal road cars as a RC plane with a Cessna Citation. Putting a privately backed race car on pole against 40 factory backed cars is an achievement on it´s own and has my deepest respect. I´ve raced the Ring a few times and did the 24 hours - this is no kindergarten but highly professional multi-million-dollar business for Audi, BMW, AMG etc. Even them can´t buy a podium at the 24 hours. Anyway, unfortunately #704 dropped out of the race in P10 with just 4 hours to go, crash at Flugplatz. #702 left in the game, currently P20, the 488 Rinaldi Ferrari on P10. Whatever the final position will be, Team SCG did a great show for the fans, the freaks out on the camping grounds kept firing fireworks at night every time both cars passed by.
Few pictures from around 1am Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Mercedes did not have a chance due to BoP regulation 2017 race. BoP is a difficult matter. SCG cars are in a SP-X class; experimental
Glad you were able to experience the N24 with the team. It really is quite surreal being there and taking it all in from that perspective.
First victory for WTM Racing with the Ferrari 488 GT3 in VLN https://m.facebook.com/vln.de/photos/a.350625738315060.87300.328952860482348/1612499958794292/?type=3&source=48