Quote:
Originally Posted by Peloton25
So, short tailed GTRs attributed to GTC would be #02R, #04R, #08R, #12R and #15R.
The last race of the '96 JGTC season was held October 27th, 1996. I'd say it is probably very safe to rule out #12R and #15R from fulfilling that task as they were both needed for the Zhuhai round of the BPR GT series the following weekend in China. They were probably getting their Marlboro liveries put on around the time of the Mine race. If that quote above believed, and you agree that #12R and #15R should be ruled out, that leaves just the 1995 GTRs as possiblities for use in Japan.
As Doc pointed out - checking the video from this final race shows that the nose panel and also the wiper position of the #61 LARK car matched the 1996-spec stuff. So, for me that's confirmation right there that at least one 1995 GTR had these features, and lends some credibility to my strange theory I think.
>8^)
ER
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02R was raced by Lanzante in the British GT Championship in 1996 so it was not anymore GTC's car by the time Mine race happened, so it can be also ruled out. To me that leaves 04R and 08R to be considered. Still as I already mentioned, I would really doubt that if they upgraded 08R to '96 spec, why would they have then turn it back to '95 spec later? If you look at the images of 08R in its "West Adrenaline" livery e.g. from Spa 2000 it is in the '95 specs, only having the bigger '96 rear wing that it still today has. So that newer version of that JGTC'96 video clip (much crisper) convinced me that I highly doubt it was 08R after all.
BTW does anyone have better info when was the BMW Motorsport promotional images of 08R taken? I have always thought they've been taken between the BPR'95 and '96 seasons and that's why it was also in that white Gulf-livery in the BPR'96 opener at Paul Ricard. Later as it continued to be the GTC spare car it was re-liveried to Gulf'96 kind of livery but stayed in GTR'95 specs.