NASCAR and Hendrick Motorsports announced today plans to compete in the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2023 with a Next Gen stock car.
You read that correctly.
In collaboration with IMSA, Chevrolet and Goodyear, the plan is to compete using a “specially prepared” Camaro ZL1 from the NASCAR Cup Series.
The announcement indicates that more details, including the team’s driver …
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Watching the feed now. Breaking news.
tuna55
MegaDork
3/17/22 1:51 p.m.
Yes please. More of this can only be good for both series.
In reply to tuna55 :
Agreed. Putting stock cars on the same track as GT3 cars means we don't have to use iRacing to compare the two anymore.
I guess that will test the transaxle well enough. I'd imagine that car should work quite nicely. Drop redline down to 8000 or so and go nuts.
jb229
New Reader
3/17/22 2:15 p.m.
Hopefully this starts a tradition for garage 56, where if it's empty they just invite a car from a random series. Aussie supercars or BTCC next!
You bet! I'd love to see how stock cars perform at LeMans and Sebring, for example. Bring it on!
mageep
New Reader
3/17/22 2:47 p.m.
In reply to tuna55 :
There needs to be much more of this type of thing. This might be the first time I watch a NASCAR turning laps in years.
I think they should open it up to DTM, BTCC, Australian supercar, all of it. What could possibly go wrong?
Um, NASCAR's don't have headlights or taillights so I don't think this is a good idea, they should think this through more /s
JAdams
Reader
3/17/22 2:54 p.m.
They know there are right turns, correct?
jb229
New Reader
3/17/22 3:12 p.m.
mageep said:
In reply to tuna55 :
There needs to be much more of this type of thing. This might be the first time I watch a NASCAR turning laps in years.
I think they should open it up to DTM, BTCC, Australian supercar, all of it. What could possibly go wrong?
Super GT GT500 vs LMP2 coming when?
mageep
New Reader
3/17/22 3:17 p.m.
In reply to jb229 :
can we all at least agree that we draw the line at NHRA?
tuna55
MegaDork
3/17/22 3:19 p.m.
mageep said:
In reply to jb229 :
can we all at least agree that we draw the line at NHRA?
No. No we can't. I want to see a pro mod that sorta handles come off the corner.
In reply to tuna55 :
old school Mulsanne straight at 350 mph makes up for a lot of crappy turns
tuna55
MegaDork
3/17/22 3:37 p.m.
95 Customs said:
In reply to tuna55 :
old school Mulsanne straight at 350 mph makes up for a lot of crappy turns
We're way off topic now, but someone should slap purple crack to the corners of one and do it (open track) just to see. It would be really entertaining. Imagine the lap traces on data acquisition on a 3500 hp Pro Mod versus a spec Miata.
I wonder if they've talked to the Automobile Club de l'Ouest. It's one thing to say they want to run at Le Mans, it's another to get approved.
adam525i said:
Um, NASCAR's don't have headlights or taillights so I don't think this is a good idea, they should think this through more /s
There's no possible way for them to figure that out in time...
In reply to stuart in mn :
They are a Garage 56 entry, they are already approved. Or they will be, they don't have to conform to a specific class per Garage 56 rules. Anyway, the way the announcement reads it's pretty much a done deal.
It actually makes sense when you consider the ties between IMSA , the ACO and LeMans going forward with the LMDh class, and that IMSA is basically owned by NASCAR now(France family).
tuna55 said:
95 Customs said:
In reply to tuna55 :
old school Mulsanne straight at 350 mph makes up for a lot of crappy turns
We're way off topic now, but someone should slap purple crack to the corners of one and do it (open track) just to see. It would be really entertaining. Imagine the lap traces on data acquisition on a 3500 hp Pro Mod versus a spec Miata.
Well considering they rebuild the engine every quarter of a mile. , I'm not sure they could do that on the side of the track. 5 seconds to go 1/4 of a mile, coast another 1/4 of a mile, then 2 hours to rebuild the engine.