FIA GT races (minimal Audi content and a bit long)

[MSV96@aol.com]

Well, folks I'm recovering from a race fan's weekend of bliss. Since the US
media doesn't tell us much of what's going on in the FIA outside F1 I was not
really aware what a wonderful series championship has grown in such a short
time with the new GT1 and GT2 class cars. That series just wrapped up
yesterday at beautiful Laguna Seca raceway in Monterey, CA. to wrap up the
track's 40'th anniversary season. 

I realized this was my 30'th anniversary year in the middle of this weekend
too ('67 Can-Am was my introduction to this passion I have for motorsports).
I also realized that in all my years as a racing fanatic and P-car lover that
this was the first time I have ever seen the P-car company run their entire
factory team...yes, engines and support for IMSA, CART, and F1, but never the
full on factory team. Add to that the presence of M-sport and AMG and you
have 3 of the 4 big German car mfg.'s going at it. All in all a wonderful
weekend which began at 4:30 am to see Jacques win his F1 title on tv (my
congratulations go out to all our Canadian listers for your guy...almost ours
too here in the US) and ended at sunset watching Buzz Lightyear (Butch
Leitzinger) and John Paul Jr. take yet another win with the R & S dorf Exxon
WSC car. Whatta day that I won't soon forget.

Mandatory Audi content: What was missing from this wonderful event? Audi.
With factory and privateer teams running these "production" (yeah
right...maybe if you're a zillionare!) cars what I sensed was missing was a
presence from my favorite car company. Oh yeah, Hans Stuck was there and
signed my AudiSport cap (from when he drove in trans-am and imsa) but he was
driving a P. Instead of (or in addition to) an F1 motor program...(if that's
what the powers that be are really up to) Audi needs to get involved in
sports car racing at an international level in this series. From what I saw
this latest incarnation of FIA sports car racing seems very real with strong
factory involvement. Can you say Avus???? I doubt quattro is legal but am not
sure. I think it would be really cool to see Audi going after wmb, P-cars,
zbm, Loti, etc. in this venue. Much more "real" than supplying engines for an
F1 program IMO.

Okay folks I'm done. Anyone who wants more details of the cool events I just
witnessed may send my a private e-mail with any questions. And oh yeah...last
bit of Audi content, the 5kcstq ran great to get me there and back for the 2
days I attended.

Mike Veglia
87 5kcstq