Speed World Challenge
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| Speed World Challenge | |
|---|---|
 2009 Speed World Challenge season |
|
| Category | Sports car racing |
| Country or region | North America |
| Inaugural season | 1972 |
| Prototype Classes | |
| GT Classes | Grand Touring Touring Car |
| Current Drivers' champion/s | GT: Brandon Davis TC: Pierre Kleinubing |
| Current Teams' champion | GT: ACS Express Racing TC: RealTime Racing |
| Current Makes' champion | GT: Porsche TC: Acura |
| Official website | World-Challenge.com |
The Speed World Challenge is a North American auto racing series that is sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). It consists of two classes: touring car and grand touring. A second touring car class was announced on June 9, 2009.
The series was founded in 1972, and was called "showroom stock".[1] A revised version of the series came about in 1984. In 1985, the series acquired sponsorship from the magazine Playboy[2]. Escort radar detectors also sponsored the series from 1986 — 1989[3].
Each season usually consists of 10 rounds, with each class running a race at separate times. Each round is started from a standing start, as opposed to a rolling start as seen in NASCAR or the American Le Mans Series.
The series is named for the network that broadcasts it: Speed Channel. Speed Channel commentator Leigh Diffey was the voice of the series until the end of 2004. Beginning in 2005, Diffey was replaced by Greg Creamer.
A rival series organized by the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA), the Firestone Firehawk Racing Series, also featured two similar classes of competition and existed in the 1980s and 90s.
Each race has a 50 minute time limit.
Contents |
[edit] Classes
[edit] Grand Touring
Grand Touring (GT): Includes a variety of production displacements with no maximum. Forced induction is permitted and is used to equalize individual models. Sedans, coupes, roadsters, and two-seaters are permitted. The cars can be rear-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Class horsepower range is 425 - 525 bhp.[4]
[edit] Touring Car
Touring Car (TC): Cars up to 2.8 liters that are naturally aspirated are permitted. Forced induction permitted as if it came that way from the factory. The cars can be front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive. The cars must be able to seat four adults, and roadsters are not allowed. Class horsepower range is 235 - 275 bhp.[4]
[edit] Touring Car 2
A Touring Car 2 (TC2) class was announced on June 9, 2009. It features vehicles with fewer modifications, with tight restrictions on engines and drivetrains.[5] The series also forbids aftermarket aerodynamic devices such as wings and splitters. The power-to-weight ratio is lower than the TC class. Aftermarket racing shock absorbers, swaybars, and springs are permitted.
[edit] Older World Challenge Cars
Starting in 2009, older World Challenge cars became eligible (with minor modifications) for competition in SCCA racing. Under the SCCA's General Competition Rules (GCR), the Super Touring category allows World Challenge GTs to compete in STO and Touring cars to compete in STU.
[edit] Television
In recent years, the Speed World Challenge has been broadcast on weekdays as opposed to the traditional weekends. For 2009, the races have been combined into an hour-long block.[6]
[edit] Seasons
Source:[1] From 1986 to 1989 the series consisted of endurance races where co-drivers were used, often resulting in co-champions. From 1986 to 1996 a variety of prior classification systems were used. Class winners are placed under the heading (GT or TC) of the most similar modern class.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.world-challenge.com/series.php?page=history
- ^ http://www.world-challenge.com/series.php?page=history
- ^ http://www.world-challenge.com/series.php?page=history
- ^ a b SCCA Pro Racing Speed World Challenge - Car Facts
- ^ http://www.world-challenge.com/news/story.php?ID=1319
- ^ http://www.world-challenge.com/news/story.php?ID=1187
[edit] External links
- World-Challenge.com The Speed World Challenge's official website
- SCCA Pro Racing
- World Challenge Drivers Roster
- | Series History
