Z4 to Replace M3 in ALMS?!

bklynbimmer · 11-02-2012, 09:39 AM

It looks like the Z4 will replace the M3 next year in ALMS....

I'm pretty disappointed, but what are your thoughts?

Fast Forward to 5:15 mark!

Estoril Blue · 11-02-2012, 10:08 AM

There is little business benefit to fund a racing campaign for a car that is not in production.

Porschefile · 11-02-2012, 10:27 AM

That is a bummer. The Z4 is nowhere near the car a M3 is (stock). I root for all of the BMW teams, but the E92 M3 was especially cool.

M3SQRD · 11-02-2012, 10:43 AM

Although I'm sad to see the M3 stop competing in the ALMS but this isn't the first time BMW has stopped racing the M3 after production ends for a model. PTG had a long-term winning relationship with BMW but that ended with the production of the e46 M3.

However, the Z4 does look pretty mean in race trim + s65 V8! I wonder if they'll be using the larger disp version of the s65 in ALMS spec/trim?

bklynbimmer · 11-02-2012, 01:18 PM

The Z4 does look good..... and I'm sure the next gen M3 will be back when it's finally ready!

LiM3y · 11-02-2012, 01:47 PM

I think we'll see the next gen M3 in the 2014 combined sports car series.

I lost touch with ALMS when they went to ESPN, and pretty much lost them completely when they turned up at LRP with 3 prototype cars from 2 teams last year. ALMS's loss was Grand-Am's gain.

paradocs98 · 11-02-2012, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiM3y

I think we'll see the next gen M3 in the 2014 combined sports car series.

I lost touch with ALMS when they went to ESPN, and pretty much lost them completely when they turned up at LRP with 3 prototype cars from 2 teams last year. ALMS's loss was Grand-Am's gain.

Absolutely. Continental Series has been so much more fun to watch--both ST and GS. Very close races, and plenty of argy-bargy.

Samo6556 · 11-02-2012, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paradocs98

Quote:

Originally Posted by LiM3y

I think we'll see the next gen M3 in the 2014 combined sports car series.

I lost touch with ALMS when they went to ESPN, and pretty much lost them completely when they turned up at LRP with 3 prototype cars from 2 teams last year. ALMS's loss was Grand-Am's gain.

Absolutely. Continental Series has been so much more fun to watch--both ST and GS. Very close races, and plenty of argy-bargy.

I would disagree for at least the race I went to at road America. Grand Am race was under caution a ridiculous amount of times and alms was a awesome close race for 4hrs. For me grand am was very boring to watch but more fun to relate to as the cars our closer to our street version.

Richard@M-World · 11-03-2012, 03:38 AM

Well, anything for 2013 will probably be temporary as Grand Am bought ALMS and will be combining Rolex and ALMS together...

M3SQRD · 11-03-2012, 04:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard@M-World

Well, anything for 2013 will probably be temporary as Grand Am bought ALMS and will be combining Rolex and ALMS together...

Absolutely! The ALMS M3 GT is quicker around Mid-Ohio than the GA DP cars - over 1 sec/lap quicker

They'll either have to speed up the GA DP's or slow down the ALMS GT's (or eliminate a class) but then the GT's wouldn't be able to compete at LeMans, at least not without major changes...

Car54 · 11-03-2012, 06:38 AM

Mazda Playboy Cup. Most entertaining racing on TV IMHO.

Gearhead999s · 11-03-2012, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

Absolutely! The ALMS M3 GT is quicker around Mid-Ohio than the GA DP cars - over 1 sec/lap quicker

They'll either have to speed up the GA DP's or slow down the ALMS GT's (or eliminate a class) but then the GT's wouldn't be able to compete at LeMans, at least not without major changes...

Spec tires will fix a lot of the speed differential.The G/A drivers complain a lot about the grip level of the spec Continentals used on the DP cars.

M3SQRD · 11-03-2012, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead999s

Spec tires will fix a lot of the speed differential.The G/A drivers complain a lot about the grip level of the spec Continentals used on the DP cars.

Sounds good and I hope it's simple changes like this to lower DP lap times because the ALMS LMPs are much quicker than the DPs...

Gearhead999s · 11-03-2012, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3SQRD

Sounds good and I hope it's simple changes like this to lower DP lap times because the ALMS LMPs are much quicker than the DPs...

So are the Challenge cars with the stock GM ls3's in them.

M3SQRD · 11-03-2012, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gearhead999s

So are the Challenge cars with the stock GM ls3's in them.

I agree - it's not going to be easy to "equalize" all of these different classes/cars

PrimeBMW · 11-03-2012, 02:49 PM

The Z4 GT3 is one bad ass car. Last time I looked you could buy one for 360,000 euro. ~2700 lb. 4.4 liter V8. I believe 4 finished in the top 10 in Nurburgring 24hr. (didnt double check)
BMW has stated they have gotten absolutely every thing out of the current M3 and would like to go to the Z4 GT3. This change is a good thing! This is the first car I would buy if I had $400,000+ laying around..........

M3SQRD · 11-03-2012, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrimeBMW

The Z4 GT3 is one bad ass car. Last time I looked you could buy one for 360,000 euro. ~2700 lb. 4.4 liter V8. I believe 4 finished in the top 10 in Nurburgring 24hr. (didnt double check)
BMW has stated they have gotten absolutely every thing out of the current M3 and would like to go to the Z4 GT3. This change is a good thing! This is the first car I would buy if I had $400,000+ laying around..........

It sure would be nice to have $400k sitting around because I agree with you - the Z4 GT3 is an awesome looking, and performing, factory-built racecar

Richard@M-World · 11-05-2012, 01:13 AM

Two interesting articles. Looks like ACO and FIA are combining GTE (ALMS M3, Porsche RSR, etc) and GT3 classes by 2015.

http://www.racintoday.com/archives/38768
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/worl...15-303977.html

11-02-2012, 09:39 AM	#1
bklynbimmer Private First Class 10 Rep 145 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NYC iTrader: (2)	Z4 to Replace M3 in ALMS?! It looks like the Z4 will replace the M3 next year in ALMS.... I'm pretty disappointed, but what are your thoughts? Fast Forward to 5:15 mark!
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11-02-2012, 10:08 AM	#2
Estoril Blue First Lieutenant 74 Rep 386 Posts Drives: 2006 M3 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	There is little business benefit to fund a racing campaign for a car that is not in production.
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11-02-2012, 10:27 AM	#3
Porschefile Major 59 Rep 1,250 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Tennessee iTrader: (7)	That is a bummer. The Z4 is nowhere near the car a M3 is (stock). I root for all of the BMW teams, but the E92 M3 was especially cool.
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11-02-2012, 10:43 AM	#4
M3SQRD Major General 2083 Rep 5,472 Posts Drives: E92 M3,G20 330ix,F22 240iX,F82 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mid-Atlantic iTrader: (11)	Although I'm sad to see the M3 stop competing in the ALMS but this isn't the first time BMW has stopped racing the M3 after production ends for a model. PTG had a long-term winning relationship with BMW but that ended with the production of the e46 M3. However, the Z4 does look pretty mean in race trim + s65 V8! I wonder if they'll be using the larger disp version of the s65 in ALMS spec/trim?
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11-02-2012, 01:18 PM	#5
bklynbimmer Private First Class 10 Rep 145 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NYC iTrader: (2)	The Z4 does look good..... and I'm sure the next gen M3 will be back when it's finally ready!
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11-02-2012, 01:47 PM	#6
LiM3y Major 70 Rep 1,339 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (5)	I think we'll see the next gen M3 in the 2014 combined sports car series. I lost touch with ALMS when they went to ESPN, and pretty much lost them completely when they turned up at LRP with 3 prototype cars from 2 teams last year. ALMS's loss was Grand-Am's gain. __________________
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11-03-2012, 03:38 AM	#9
Richard@M-World 78 Rep 684 Posts Drives: NASA TTA #92 M3 Join Date: May 2011 Location: TX/IL iTrader: (0)	Well, anything for 2013 will probably be temporary as Grand Am bought ALMS and will be combining Rolex and ALMS together... __________________ Authorized AiM Dealer - Solo/Solo DL \| SmartyCam HD \| www.m-world.us
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11-03-2012, 06:38 AM	#11
Car54 Captain 36 Rep 927 Posts Drives: 2014 M-Sport Wagon - EBII Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lutz, FL iTrader: (1)	Mazda Playboy Cup. Most entertaining racing on TV IMHO. __________________ Craig Brickner Click to Join: BMWCCA # 366493
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11-03-2012, 02:49 PM	#16
PrimeBMW Major 662 Rep 1,424 Posts Drives: E46 M3+S62, E92 M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	The Z4 GT3 is one bad ass car. Last time I looked you could buy one for 360,000 euro. ~2700 lb. 4.4 liter V8. I believe 4 finished in the top 10 in Nurburgring 24hr. (didnt double check) BMW has stated they have gotten absolutely every thing out of the current M3 and would like to go to the Z4 GT3. This change is a good thing! This is the first car I would buy if I had $400,000+ laying around..........
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-05-2012, 01:13 AM	#18
Richard@M-World 78 Rep 684 Posts Drives: NASA TTA #92 M3 Join Date: May 2011 Location: TX/IL iTrader: (0)	Two interesting articles. Looks like ACO and FIA are combining GTE (ALMS M3, Porsche RSR, etc) and GT3 classes by 2015. http://www.racintoday.com/archives/38768 http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/worl...15-303977.html __________________ Authorized AiM Dealer - Solo/Solo DL \| SmartyCam HD \| www.m-world.us
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