This is definitely good news. New competitors for a dying class. While ACO's GT1 is all but gone, at least FIA's carrying on with it, although they have changed the regulations rather drastically by banning limited production supercars from 2010.
Matech Ford GT1
Matech won last year's GT3 Championship with its Ford GT. This new car completes the Ford GT trio, with the American built GT2 class race car running in ALMS and JGTC. This car carries Ford's 5.0L Cammer engine, fettled to produce 600hp and 472lb ft of torque.
Matech will enter two cars. One with 2009 specification, and the other with 2010 specification, not elligible for points.
NISMO GT-R GT1
Return of the NISMO GT-R LM? Like its Super GT counterpart, it does not run the production twin turbo V6, but a 5.6L V8, based on the same block found in the Nissan Armada and Titan. It also has a different gearbox, and it has been converted to RWD as per regulation. It's nice to see some variety in the GT series.
There is a question of homologation, however. The race version has a different engine and a different drivetrain, which means a road legal homologation special should be produced to make it "legal". They need to make just 3 road cars per 1 race car to make it elligible. But then again, it's possible that FIA's new regulations may allow special conditions for cars like the GT-R. Either way, other constructors aren't going to be happy. Either from the fact that GT-R is a big threat to their points, or just by the fact that they hate special homologation (as they did with the Maserati MC12) especially from a major manufacturer.
-Heilsvenska
New Matech Ford GT1 and Nissan GT-R GT1 for FIA GT series!
Threaded Mode
