wow, just realized what BS was talking
very good read tho, thank you for correcting me.
one would imagine that the factory gte cars that race at lemans would actually be faster then the gt3 privateers...but given the technologic developement on gt3's in the last couple of years...
gte cars always looked so much faster and more settled to me...
My apperication for the GTE class just took an hard hit
The final speed of both specs are ultimately determined by the regulations, more specifically the Balance of Performance. Remember, many of the cars in both classes make
less HP than their street counterparts (the GTE Corvette and GT3 12C for instance).
GT3s are, more or less, anything goes. Build whatever you want, it just has to
look like a GT car. Basically, the theory is that they'll balance everyone with restrictor plates and tire compound, so to build a crazy car is pointless since you'll just be made the same speed as everyone else. They also tend to be required to run higher ride heights, so splitters and diffusers are less effective for the same size.
GT2s are more restricted in what you can build in the first place, with rules on dimensions, engine, aero, etc. They're still balanced, but the balancing tends to be more fine tuning, and they allow for about 0.5% of benefit to the best cars before restricting them towards the less developed cars. And on that note, GTE cars do get upgraded throughout the season, while GT3s are locked into the spec they start the year with unless allowed an upgrade (usually for safety reasons).
It's really tough to determine which spec is 'better' in a heads-up competition. Stuff like the Z4 is probably faster in GT3 trim, if you allowed it to run to GTE ride height and engine restriction. GT3 is allowed ABS, GTE is not. GTE is designed (in theory) for pro teams going to Le Mans and are allowed a lot more in the setups and technology (they'll often tune the TC algorithms for each track individually) for each team to try and get whatever benefit they can, while GT3 is designed around amateurs who want a stable car operating on an even playing field.
For reference, though, having less downforce and power doesn't mean GTE cars are slower. At Spa the GTEs are about 4s faster per lap in qualifying, while at Silverstone they're about dead even. Stuff like having works teams, open gear ratios, better tires, and more can make a big difference depending on track.
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