Lou & Co finished 8th in their GT2 category at this past weekend's race in Florida, primarily due to a malfunctioning wheel speed sensor that forced them to take the traction control system offline. As you can see in the video, when they're really able to get the hammer down in a straight line they have the power and braking to overtake Ferraris (5:15), but coming out of corners without traction control (especially the kinks, turns 3 and 9a according to Lou) makes it very difficult to even keep up (1:30). Even with the TC, Lou doesn't think they'll be as fast as the front of the GT2 pack until Kumho gets the tire compound worked out - the race in Utah will be a new tire compound.
We also asked Lou about the car and he said the new Cobalt brakes were great and that the overheating issue from Sebring was solved by reducing compression slightly.
Being the second time this car has raced this is not at all a shot at Lou and the team at Riley Technologies, but this really shows how well the Pratt & Miller team prepares the GT1 cars for every race. Other than the occasional drivetrain explosion, the cars are incredibly reliable.
Is Lou Ready for St Pete?
December 31 1969 07:00:00 PM EST
photo - LG Motorsports
While we're pretty sure "dirt in the radiator" wasn't the only thing causing the LG Motorsports C6 Corvette to overheat at Sebring, it certainly didn't help in a 12 hour race in 90F heat... or that the car started testing less than 1 week before race day.
We haven't heard about any other issues discovered at Sebring, but after the race the car was taken back to Riley Technologies for some retooling:
* Windtunnel testing for the shorter track at St Pete
* New Cobalt brakes installed
* Driveline dyno testing to reduce drivetrain losses
* New AC unit - the electric compressor used at Sebring cut out from time to time due to the heat in the car. The new compressor and evaporator from GM run directly off the transmission - same as the C6R's?
The car was also back out on a test track 1 week after the race at Sebring and we're told everything is looking good. Lou has experience at St Pete from his World Challenge days and says he's looking forward to the race.
GT2 Lou UPDATE
December 31 1969 07:00:00 PM EST
photos - lgmotorsports.com
New pics from LG Motorsports as the car takes shape, the carbon intake pieces arrive at the shop to find their way onto the engine, and the first pic of the full paint job on the nose makes its debut.
As with his World Challenge car, Lou Gigliotti will continue his Corvette Flames look. No truth to the rumor that he was inspired by Dale Jr. [OK, that wasn't fair, but we couldn't resist the connection. ......We joke with love, from BBV].
Lou plans on heading down to Sebring Friday, cutting it a little close only 8 days before the race...
We asked our new BadBoy friend Lou Gigliotti of LG Motorsports for some pictures of the progress of his GT2 Vette. Here's what we got back-
“These photos are [of] various chassis. But, the final build is taking place on the red chassis. Not allowed to release other photos as Riley is still keeping things close to the vest.
We plan to test on the way down to the 12hr, then will hit Sebring next Sat / Sunday.
[Drivers] Doug Peterson and I got fitted to the seat today, as well as Marc Goossens. FYI- The pedals are on an electric servo so the "Tall Guy" drivers can fit the car with a touch of a button. I am 5'6, the perfect driver size, while my teammates suffer from being 6'1".
Check out the CRD-built Ferrari-killer LS3 engine! More pictures next week! This GT2 C6 by Riley Technologies will be a sight to behold when complete.”
'GT2 Lou' also hinted that the front splitter will be dramatic. IT IS! What we also see is a stout chassis, individual cross-flow intakes similar to the GT1 LS7.R, and unique bodywork. Note the shapes of the fender tops. They seem more rounded than the sharp edges of the GT1 front fenders. One shot looks like a NACA duct is being fitted to the nose [engine intake?] and the nose itself is sporting very distinctive air mgt. aerodynamics......
