GT World Challenge America
 | This article needs to be updated. (January 2010) |
Template:Infobox Sports Car Championship
The SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge (previously 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 "GTS" class has been announced for 2010.
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 uses a standing start, as opposed to a rolling start as seen in NASCAR or the American Le Mans Series. Prior to each race, a coin is tossed, with the polesitter calling the toss. If he loses the toss, the grid inverts. If he wins, the grid remains the same.
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.
Classes
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]
GTS
A new "GTS" class has been announced for 2010.[5] It will feature mostly sports cars, but touring cars are also eligible.[6] In particular, vehicles previously ineligible for the World Challenge will be allowed.[7]
Touring Car (TC)
Cars up to 2.8 liters that are naturally aspirated are permitted. Forced induction is permitted, provided it is not aftermarket. 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] For 2010, the class has been altered to place more restrictions on engine, drivetrain, and aerodynamic modifications.[8] Cars will still be allowed aftermarket racing shocks, swaybars and springs. This comes out of the merger with the Touring Car 2 class, which was established in 2009 but failed to take off.[9]
Vehicles[10]
GT
- Acura NSX
- Aston Martin DB9
- Cadillac CTS-V
- Chevrolet Corvette
- Dodge Viper
- Ford Mustang Cobra
- Ford Mustang GT
- Lamborghini Gallardo
- Lotus Exige S
- Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 772 GT
- Pontiac GTO
- Porsche GT3 Cup
- Saleen SR
- Volvo S60
Touring Car
- Acura Integra Type R
- Acura TSX
- BMW 325
- BMW 328i
- Dodge SRT-4
- Ford Focus
- Honda Civic
- Honda Civic Si
- Lexus IS300
- Mazda3
- Mazda6
- Subaru WRX
- Volkswagen Jetta TDI
Touring Car 2
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.
Television
Speed Channel has televisied the World Challenge since its inception, with the series being called the Speed World Challenge until 2010.
In recent years, the World Challenge has been broadcast on weekdays as opposed to the traditional weekends. For 2009, the races were combined into an hour-long block.[11]
On January 4, 2010, Vs. announced they would televise 90-minute broadcasts beginning in the 2010 season.[12] Each broadcast will feature all the races from each round.
Champions
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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.
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=1522
- ^ http://www.world-challenge.com/files/competitors/Appendix_A_Ver_1.pdf
- ^ http://www.world-challenge.com/news/story.php?ID=1524
- ^ http://www.world-challenge.com/news/story.php?ID=1518
- ^ http://www.world-challenge.com/news/story.php?ID=1524
- ^ http://www.world-challenge.com/drivers/
- ^ http://www.world-challenge.com/news/story.php?ID=1187
- ^ http://www.world-challenge.com/news/story.php?ID=1522