Semi-related question: Does anyone know how to get MINI JCW team swag aside from actually being at the track? I reached out to the team via email and haven't heard back.
I found this if it helps. http://miniracefan.com/2016/08/24/mini-crew-shirts-available-for-a-limited-time/
Both the Six-Six shop and the http://teamminiac.com/ site are closed. "Sorry, this shop is currently unavailable." :mad2:
a few from Road America - sorry, I only have one or two frames of the Mini and so far that hasn't made the edit cut Curb Cleanup GTLM winner in the zone Nismo on top at Road America Barbosa under a cloud Messing with your head
Roger Penske and the car at the unveiling: [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBn1CI_mbnE"]RACER: Roger Penske on Acura ARX 05 Unveiling - YouTube[/ame] And Acura's advertising version: [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cblkk4d9YMw"]Acura - ARX-05 - Prototype Race Car Teaser - YouTube[/ame]
IMSA will slow them down if they are too fast. The reality of BoP means you cannot dominate for more than a few races, then you get slammed with some restrictions. The car is virtually the same Nissan and Cadillac are running, with minor changes to get them a unique look. Basically a kit car that'll get a 3.5 L turbo.
They have to choose a chassis from one of the four approved LMP2 constructors and can then modify some of the body work and use their own engine. While Acura chose to use the Oreca chassic, Cadillac went with Dallara, Nissan uses Onroak and Mazda used Riley/Multimatic.....I think that's right. I've not heard this discussed so I'm not certain, but a scan of the 2017 technical regulations (find them here ... if you're a masochist) leads me to believe the four constructors aren't just all building the same car. Looks like the guidelines are fairly restrictive but they allow development space rather than forcing them to all build the same pre-designed car. So, there are, basically, 4 different chassis, etc, though the restrictive regs force them to be somewhat similar. Manufacturers that want to build DPi cars have to each select a constructor to work with based in part on their preferred chassis design as homologated by that constructor. Extract from a Q&A published by IMSA some time ago:
I think I will make it after all. My dealer is hosting a hospitality tent in the Mini Corral with lunch and beverages provided. And, Vets get a 50% discount at the gate. The high temp is forecast at 78º so if that holds, it should be a good day for racing.
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NblFPMLA5Uw"]VIR Preview: GT Teams Try to Weave Their Way to a Victory - YouTube[/ame]
I wasn't planning to go to the Sunday race, but after watching the video I'm rethinking it. I went to a lot of races there when I was in high school in the early mid 60's, but have only attended a handful since they reopened.