With some clamoring for 2-class racing, might what we saw at VIR be a good way to go about it?
There is no doubt that this race, featuring the GTLM and GTD classes is representative of what has been called for, but just not this way. While it will never happen this way, you’ve got to give some thought about how interesting things could be if this was a look into the future.
Whatever the future might hold, simply put, this may have been one of the best races that the new IMSA has had this season. One big deal here was that for once the prototype controversy was missing. No worries about the DP vs. P2 differences. Instead it was replaced by a very nice and diverse grid of GT cars – one that would be the envy of most any series in the world. And best of all, for once the GTLM cars had the opportunity to compete for an overall win. An added bonus was that the GTD cars actually were able to feature and take a prominent place on the stage.
While I wasn’t able to travel to this race, it truly was one I regretted missing. The track was spectacular, the race was competitive and full of action and best of all, it was a full field, packed with cars that looked like race cars that stir the imagination.
To be honest, I simply didn’t miss the prototypes at all this time. I’ve become rather bored and frustrated with the prototypes we have on track now. Neither the DPs or P2s are what I consider attractive cars, especially with the fugly fins and the cheap looking holes over the fenders. I’ve liked prototypes through the years, and while the 2014 generation of DPs are better looking than what we had in the past, they’re still lacking. As far as the P2’s, it is sad to say that it appears as if the rule makers have conspired to make them this current batch as unattractive as possible.
But what we had in the GT classes, especially in GTLM was just the right mix of exotic looks combined with a dose of go-fast steroids. These cars are what I’d be drawing on my school work if I was still in middle school. In this instance, the rule makers have done it right – they have let the manufacturers take the best of their designs and add the special tweaks that make the cars look like they’re going 200mph standing still.
I have to admit, when I started to watch the recording of that race, late on Sunday night, I was a bit anxious. I knew the promise was there for a great event – I was just nervous that something would go horribly wrong, much like Sebring. But thankfully none of that happened. Race Control has got their act together and while this race had cautions, they were properly called and executed. For this race, the cautions were simply a pause – a short break to allow you to take a breather, or if you recorded it, simply a chance to fast forward a bit.
Plus, as a race, this one had a little bit of everything – you had flying cars, non-stop action, as well as a battle to the finish between two teams that have had some pretty rough moments this season. It wasn’t quite a Hollywood ending for the Falken guys, but it did show how much heart that team has.
Alas, this will likely only be a one off – a quirk in the jumbled schedule of racing in the TUSCC series. But just for this weekend we were able to witness something that was pretty special. Change can be painful, as this merged series has been at times, but for once, change was something that was actually quite good.
See – I’m not negative all of the time…
Gary Horrocks
