24 Hours of Daytona: GXP.R's finish 2nd and 4th in Debut

[funkietowne]

How could it be that the GT title at the 2007 Rolex 24 at Daytona would come down to a last hour shoot out, in front of the largest Rolex 24 crowd in 20 years, between the #07 Banner Engineering Pontiac GXP and the Alegra Racing Porsche 997?



When Paul Edwards followed Jean-Francois Dumoulin’s Porsche down pit road for the final pit stops for both it was going to come down to a shoot out in the pits and on the track.

Dumoulin carried a 13 second lead over Paul Edwards in the #07 Banner Pontiac GXP as he headed down pit road for the final time with about 50 minutes remaining in the race. The #22 Porsche came in first and exited first as the pit stop portion of the competition was about even.

http://www.leightonreese.com/newsrac....asp?newsid=22

[funkietowne]

Not bad for "new" cars with a new team. The Porsche's had the top end speed advantage all race as well due to the huge frontal area and high ride height of the GXP.R.

[MCGARRETT]

I assume that these things are RWD?

[eb110americana]

Funny, I thought the 2007 GXP-Rs looked like this:

Originally Posted by General Motors Press Release

Pontiac unveiled the GXP.R racecar, which will compete in the GT class of the 2007 Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve. The GXP.R hits the track running later this month at the famed Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona race in Florida.

Source:
http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/to...c-G6-GXP-R.htm

[5.3Avalanche]

Originally Posted by MCGARRETT

I assume that these things are RWD?

It looks to be riding on the G6 (epsilon) platform. So I would say it's probably FWD, but I don't know.

[GotAWD]

as far as i know its based off the old GTO cars with different bodies. even if it is FWD thats somethign quite extrodinairy to beat out a Porsche. Congrats to the "new" GXP-R waiting to see more of it. or what i can on TV.

[johnd89]

cool!
I need more details about this car: what engine, fwd, rwd?

thx!

[eb110americana]

LS2 V-8, 450 hp, RWD race chassis.

[funkietowne]

Originally Posted by eb110americana

Funny, I thought the 2007 GXP-Rs looked like this:

I assume that's the "new" bodywork that the team will be getting before the next series event. The scoops and larger grilles would have slowed the cars down even more on the top end, especially at Daytona.

Yes, it's built on the old GTO.R's purpose built tube chassis.

[mbukukanyau]

Is this a RWD??

[FenixII]

Even though he wasn´t driving a GM car, I´m happy because a colombian won !!! Congratulations Montoya.

[Rick 2000]

No Corvettes ?????

[L88-ZR1-Z06]

"LS2 V-8, 450 hp, RWD race chassis."

This is another achevement for the small block chevy engine and GM. This shows us GM is serious about bring us quality V8 RWD cars. I think there are trying to make us want one and i think it's working!!

[Turbo aufgelade]

They said, that it was having some trouble keeping up with the porsche.
I'm very upset that the GXP stock car only has 255hp, that just sucks.
Has GM every heard of a turbo-charger.
I'm also very upset that you can buy the same motor in a luxury car, GM is leaving performace behind.
The cts better beat the Lexus and Infiniti in 0-60!
sry getting of the subject, 450hp in the GXP-R what can you say.

[rueben44]

Come on in stock form the car is FWD it needs no more power or else people will be screaming about torque steer.