Koni Challenge

ilmor · 07-17-2007, 06:08 AM

Are you road race fans keeping up with how great the Mustangs are doing in the Koni Challenge series?

Here is a link to the latest news....

http://www.fordracingparts.com/announcements/news63.asp

PonyGT2005 · 07-20-2007, 10:19 PM

Yep, the Mustangs are doing good in KONI and there are a lot of them out there. On the other hand the sole entry in Rolex is the Blackforest #15 and has yet to podium....they had a great run for 4th place not too long ago though. Totally different series though but I would like to see more Mustangs in Rolex. Anyone got a quarter million lying around?

David_K · 07-22-2007, 10:03 AM

mustangs cant compete in rolex or world challenge they are poorly built and have no technological advantage. look at the RX8 in the rolex series, slow as **** on the street but they pull away from the gxp.r and the gt3s like they are standing still.

PonyGT2005 · 07-22-2007, 09:13 PM

You can't argue with the results. The Mustang has the worst results of any car with 7 or more races this year.
With 7 or8 different winners this year, the GXP-R, 997s and RX-8 are all pretty consistent. Actually the Banner racing GXP-Rs are the most consistent team. The TRG group has abouit 5GT3s but only Lally is really doing anything and he'll be moving the NASCAR soon.

The street RX-8 and the Cup RX-8 are no more similar than a stock S197GT and the FR500C but I do agree that the Ford entry has limitations. Not to mention that the Cup specs for the RX-8 have it at 2250lbs vs the FR500C at 2700lbs - but then most of the other cars are just as heavy - it just hurts the Mustang more.

With that weight difference, progressively poor brake performance and tire management have been a top issue with the Mustangs ETs this year w/o a doubt if you watch their qualifying and race performance - the brakes just go away and so do the rear tires.

If GA would let the FR500C get more than just a Brembo 4 pot brake upgrade over what astock GT hasit might stand a chance - something like PFC's ZR33s up front which I think the Corvette prep 2 cars are running. It might be worth taking on an intake restrictor just to be able to late brake....not a whole lot of passing on the straights anyway.

Regardless, I think it is more of a numbers game. After Ian James convinced the Blackforest team to change their setup, the car placed 4th. Blackforest has qualified in the top 10 in almost every race they competed (11 and 13 the other two races)...I think the Blackforest drivers are OK, but when you see what someone like James can do when he gets in the same car its a different story.

That means they are more competitive than half of the cars out there which include 997s, GXP-R, Corvette and of course the lowly 350Z and occasional Infiniti and M3.

Add another 5 or 6 Mustangs into the mix and it would at least be interesting.

Any thoughts on the FR500GT going into GT3 next year?

David_K · 07-22-2007, 09:53 PM

the fr500gt is currently in the world challenge i belive. and the fr500c already have an intake restrictor

David_K · 07-22-2007, 09:58 PM

the gt will run gt3 next year

im pretty imprssed with the 997 GT3 its a blast to drive (ive only ridden in a gt3rs) and amazingly smooth. im looking for a used one hopefully in orange cuz i hate the green

PonyGT2005 · 07-23-2007, 06:24 PM

I knew the 997 had a restrictor in Rolex GT but I thought they let the Mustang go w/out it - it does run one in Koni though - and they have to run 3300 lbs in Koni as well..and still get the sucky brakes. But they are doing better there.

I have not drivena 997 GT3 (I have been in a 996 though) but it seems from driving behind a few - yep, behind, never in front

- that it steps out pretty easy. Not your experience?
Maybe just a factor of the driver, but I have noticed on some televised GT races that they do get loose quite often. That 40/60 weight distribution no doubt comes into play when the tires start to go.

David_K · 07-23-2007, 08:18 PM

heres the thing with a gt3. my father has a 996 gt3 and if you stomp to early or too quickly on the throttle on corner exit it tends to want to step out on youbut if youstay in the throttle it balances back out. that is the reason im in love with the gt3. it took me a year of track events to begin to reach the limits of a stock GT3. i have two M3s that i need to sell and then say hello to a gt3 rs

David_K · 07-23-2007, 08:19 PM

lifting off the throttle even slightly is very dangerous in a rear engined car thats probably why you see alot of slip angle from those porsches you play with. any car steps out with buttery tires though

my cobra loves to start doing it around 35 min into a race