GT World Challenge America

The GT World Challenge America is a North American auto racing series launched in 1990 by the Sports Car Club of America. It is managed by the Stephane Ratel Organisation since 2018, and is sanctioned by the United States Auto Club since 2017.

GT World Challenge America
CategoryGT3, GT4, TCR, Touring Car
Country United States
 Canada
Inaugural season1984
Tire suppliersPirelli P Zero
Drivers' championGT: Toni Vilander
GTA: Martin Fuentes
GT Cup: Ryan Hardwick
GTS: James Sofronas
TCR: Ryan Eversley
TC: Vesko Kozarov
TCA: Tom O'Gorman
Teams' championGT: K-PAX Racing
GTS: Blackdog Racing
TCR: RealTime Racing
TC:Classic BMW
TCA: TechSport Racing
Makes' championGT: Ferrari
GTS: Panoz, LLC
TCR: Hyundai
TC: BMW
TCA: Subaru
Official website
Current season

The series consists of four driver classifications and five classes of vehicles: GT3, GT4, (Sprint, SprintX, East and West), and Touring Car, consisting of TCR homologated cars, as well as separate TC and TCA classes featuring modified production vehicles, such as the BMW M235iR and the Mazda MX-5 Cup car.

History

The Sports Car Club of America created a "showroom stock" class for amateur club racing in 1972.[1] In 1984, following the success of the Longest Day of Nelson[2] and another 24-hour race at Mid-Ohio, the SCCA combined existing races into a manufacturer's championship. For 1985, the series became a 6-race professional championship with sponsorship from Playboy magazine. Escort radar detectors sponsored the series from 1986 until 1991.[1]

Fans invited to tour starting grid before 2011 season race

In 1990, the series was officially named World Challenge and was restructured to adopt rules similar to the European Group A for homologated production cars. The higher-cost "sports" classes were dropped after 1996, leaving the class format as it would stand until 2010. Speed TV network began sponsoring the series in 1999. With fields growing, the series began separate races for the GT and Touring classes in 2000, which would remain until 2010. In 2010, the series moved away from the partnership with SPEED, and signed a broadcast partnership with Versus (now NBCSN) for coverage. The series moved existing touring cars into a new GTS class, while changing the rules for the touring car class to reduce costs and keep cars closer to stock.[3]

With the SpeedVision television contract, the World Challenge eventually succeeded Trans Am as the SCCA's premier series.

In July 2008, the World Challenge series was purchased by WC Vision, a group of investors. The Sports Car Club of America remained the sanctioning partner of the series.

Starting with the 2011 season, the series signed a partnership with Pirelli and the leading tire manufacturer became the official tire supplier and title sponsor of the series.

In 2014, the Pirelli World Challenge established a GT-A classification similar to the FIA's bronze category.

In 2015, the series established GT Cup, featuring Porsche 991 Cup Cars that ran as part of the overall GT class races. Also, CBS Sports Network and Motor Trend On Demand became the new television partners.

In 2016, the series established SprintX classes of racing featuring two-driver sprint races for several driver classes. As part of the partnership with the SRO, the GTS class was expanded to include GT4 homologations.

For 2017, the Pirelli World Challenge transferred to USAC as its sanctioning body. GT Cup class is expanding to include Cup cars from Lamborghini and Ferrari, while SprintX classes expand in both driver classification specificity and competition-legal platforms.

On May 25, 2018, it was announced that the Stéphane Ratel Organisation had become majority shareholder of WC Vision LLC, and thus majority owner of Pirelli World Challenge.[4]

On September 29, 2018, it was announced the series acquired a new title sponsor as part of the overhaul of the Ratel series. The GT Sprint Cup in Europe and GT Series Asia will now be known as the Blancpain GT World Challenge Europe and Asia, respectively. The current World Challenge will become World Challenge America.

Format

2011 GTS and Touring cars brake after first straight, Miller Motorsports Park

Each season consists of upwards of 11 event weekends and between 5 and 16 rounds or races. Some rounds or races use a standing start, as opposed to the all rolling starts seen in other sports car racing series. Blancpain GT World Challenge races consist of two-driver, 90-minute SprintX format races with two races per weekend. GT4 America is divided into two race formats, single driver, 50-minute Sprint races and two-driver 60-minute Sprintx races. The Touring Car America championship involve separate TCR 40-minute sprint races and 40-minute TC & TCA races.

Blancpain GT World Challenge America

The allowed body styles within this class are coupe, sedan and convertible. The cars permitted in GT are typically sold in the market as “sports” cars, “sport-touring” cars, or performance versions of “luxury” cars. Forced induction is permitted on cars that come equipped with forced induction stock, or on cars that the series has determined need help reaching the target horsepower range. Power output ranges from 500 hp to 600 hp. Weight varies depending on power output and tire size. All of the vehicles in GT are rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive. FIA GT3 class cars are now approved to compete in the class starting in 2013.

Pirelli GT4 America

The allowed body styles within this class are coupe, sedan and convertible. The cars permitted in GTS are typically marketed as “sports cars”, “sport-touring cars” or performance versions of “luxury” cars but at a lower permissible preparation level than GT. Forced induction is permitted on cars that come equipped with forced induction stock. Power output ranges from 300-400 hp. Weight varies depending on power output and tire size. Front-wheel, rear-wheel, and all-wheel drive configurations are permitted. As of 2017, the class rules fully mimic the FIA GT4 formula. Models include the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Acura TSX, Audi TT, Porsche Cayman, Kia Optima, Nissan 370Z and Scion FR-S.

SprintX

In 2016 an extended sprint format series was added as a standalone championship in addition to its existing Sprint format racing series. SprintX races are 60 minutes in length and feature mandatory driver and tire changes.[5]

GT4 East & GT4 West

Beginning in 2019, GT4 America began two regional series integrated into its Sprint X Championship. The regional series consist of five rounds each in the eastern and western sides of North America in a two-driver, pro-am format.

TC America

TCR Touring Car (TCR)

The TCR class is based on the international TCR Touring Car class employed by a multitude of series worldwide. All TCR cars are based on 4 or 5 door production vehicles, and are powered by 2.0 litre turbocharged engines. While the bodyshell and suspension layout of the production vehicle is retained in a TCR car, and many models use a production gearbox, certain accommodations are made for the stresses of the racetrack including upgraded brakes and aerodynamics. Competition vehicles are subject to Balance of Performance (or BoP) adjustments to ensure close racing between different vehicles.

Touring Car (TC)

The allowed body styles in this class are coupes, hatchbacks, wagons, sedans. Power output ranges from approximately 300 hp. Weight varies depending on the power output of the individual drivetrain configurations. Front-wheel, rear-wheel, and all-wheel drive configurations are permitted. Forced induction may be allowed on cars that have forced induction systems available from the manufacturer which do not void the factory warranties.

Touring Car A (TCA)

Established in 2014, this class is an evolution of the current TC class with an emphasis on maintaining cost effectiveness while providing an easy avenue to entry into professional racing. Performance modifications will be limited to mainly chassis tuning. Front wheel and rear wheel drive configurations are permitted. Target power output is 220 crank hp from non-modified stock engines. Forced induction maybe allowed on cars that have forced induction systems available from the manufacturer as a stock engine option. Examples of eligible cars include the Honda Civic SI, Mazda MX-5, Ford Focus, Scion FR-S and Kia Forte.

Former Classes

GTA

A "GTA" ("GT Amateur") driver class debuted in 2014.[6] It was a designation to recognize gentlemen drivers that competed in the GT class.

GT Cup

This spec class debuted in 2015 featuring Porsche 991 Cup Cars that ran as part of the overall GT Class races, with a separate victory circle presentation alongside that of the GT/GT-A class winners. In 2017 the class was expanded to include Lamborghini Huracan Super Trofeo and Ferrari 488 Challenge cars.

Touring Car B-Spec

Based on the Sports Car Club of America class of the same name, these were smaller cars with small, efficient, naturally aspirated motors (target HP is 125). Modifications were limited to manufacturer specified performance spring and shocks to keep overall cost down. Cars competing in TCB were prepared to the SCCA Club Racing B Spec rules. Cars that were eligible included the Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta, Mazda 2, Mini Cooper, Chevrolet Sonic, Honda Fit, Kia Rio, and Nissan Versa.[7] The class was discontinued after the 2017 season, a year after sanctioning of the series changed from SCCA to USAC.[8] These cars are still eligible to participate in the SCCA Runoffs.

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),[9] the Super Touring category allows World Challenge GTs to compete in STO and Touring cars to compete in STU. In 2013 the STO class was merged into the T1 and GT2 classes.[10]

Circuits

Races part of SRO America's series as of the 2019 season. Red dots are venues hosting all three categories of GT World Challenge, GT4, and TC, yellow dots are venues hosting GT World Challenge and GT4, blue dots are venues hosting GT4 and TC, green dots are GT4 only. Laguna Seca is an eight-hour GT endurance contest as part of the Intercontinental GT Challenge with a GT4 support race.

Television

Speed TV network televised the World Challenge starting in 1996, with the series being called the SPEED World Challenge until 2010.

Near the end of the broadcast partnership with SPEED, the World Challenge had 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, Versus (now NBC Sports Network) announced they would televise 90-minute broadcasts beginning in the 2010 season.[12] Each broadcast featured all the races from each round. The entire 2010 season was shown on the channel. The series later returned to weekend telecasts.[13]

Starting in 2015, CBS Sports Network announced that it acquired television rights to the series. Torque.TV, later Motor Trend On Demand partnered with CBS Sports Network for the race broadcasts to stream all races live on their website as well as on World-ChallengeTV.com. CBS Sports Network will have at least 1 race with live television coverage with Detroit being the first round announced to have live coverage.

The series has also established a section on its official site where fans can watch archived race and in-car video, as well as an increasing amount of archived television broadcasts of events prior to the 2016 season.[14] The website currently has coverage from as far back as 2008.

Tyres

On October 4, 2010, the series announced that Pirelli would replace longtime partner Toyo Tires as the exclusive tyre supplier for the series.[15] For the first time in series history, teams competed on racing slicks (Pirelli P Zero) rather than the DOT competition tyres in use for much of its history. In January 2014, Pirelli Tire North America and WC Vision extended the partnership for an additional five years. The extension of the partnership between the tyre brand and the top production car-based racing series will run through the 2018 season.

Champions

Season GT Champion Car TC Champion Car
SCCA / Escort Endurance Championship
1986 Paul McIntosh (GT)
Bobby Archer & Tommy Archer (SS)
Porsche 944
Chevrolet Corvette
Garth Ullom & Tim Evans (SSA)
Scott Gaylord & Lance Stewart (SSB)
Dodge Shelby Charger
Honda CRX
1987 Steve Saleen & Rick Titus (GT)
Bobby Archer & Tommy Archer (SS)
Saleen Mustang
Chevrolet Corvette
Ray Kong & Mike Rutherford (SSA)
Alistair Oag & Peter Schwartzott (SSB)
Mitsubishi Starion
Volkswagen GTI
1988 Stuart Hayner Chevrolet Camaro Pepe Pombo (SSA)
Peter Cunningham (SSB)
Nissan 300ZX
Honda CRX
1989 Don Knowles & John Heinricy Chevrolet Camaro Bobby Archer & Tommy Archer (SSA)
Peter Cunningham & Scott Gaylord (SSB)
Eagle Talon
Honda CRX (3)
SCCA World Challenge
1990 R. K. Smith Chevrolet Corvette Bobby Archer (2) Eagle Talon
1991 Lou Gigliotti (SS)
Shawn Hendricks (World Challenge)
Chevrolet Camaro
Chevrolet Corvette
Mitch Wright Eagle Talon (3)
1992 R. K. Smith (Class A)
Lou Gigliotti (Class B)
Chevrolet Corvette (5)
Chevrolet Camaro
Dave Jolly Oldsmobile Achieva
1993 Elliott Forbes-Robinson (Class A)
Willy Lewis (Class B)
Nissan 300ZX
Eagle Talon
Ron Emmick Oldsmobile Achieva
1994 Price Cobb (World Challenge)
Neil Hannemann (Touring Car)
Porsche 911
Eagle Talon
Dave Jolly (2) Oldsmobile Achieva (3)
1995 David Murry (Sports)
Neil Hanneman (Touring) (2)
Porsche 911
Eagle Talon (3)
Peter Cunningham Honda Prelude
1996 Martin Snow (S1)
Almo Coppelli (S2)
Lou Gigliotti (T1)
Porsche 911 (3)
Callaway Corvette
Saleen Mustang
Michael Galati (T2) Honda Prelude (2)
1997 Peter Cunningham Acura NSX Pierre Kleinubing Acura Integra
1998 Terry Borcheller Saleen Mustang (3) Michael Galati Acura Integra
1999 Bobby Archer Dodge Viper Michael Galati (3) Acura Integra
2000 Jeff McMillin BMW M3 Pierre Kleinubing Acura Integra
2001 Michael Galati Audi S4 Pierre Kleinubing Acura Integra
2002 Michael Galati (2) Audi S4 (2) Peter Cunningham Acura Integra (6)
2003 Randy Pobst Audi RS6 Bill Auberlen BMW 325i
2004 Tommy Archer Dodge Viper (2) Bill Auberlen (2) BMW 325i (2)
2005 Andy Pilgrim Cadillac CTS-V Sedan Peter Cunningham Acura TSX
2006 Lawson Aschenbach Porsche 911 GT3 Pierre Kleinubing Acura TSX
2007 Randy Pobst Porsche 911 GT3 Jeff Altenburg Mazda 6
2008 Randy Pobst Porsche 911 GT3 Peter Cunningham (6) Acura TSX
2009 Brandon Davis Ford Mustang GT Pierre Kleinubing(4) Acura TSX (4)
2010 Randy Pobst (GT) (4)
Peter Cunningham (GTS)
Volvo S60
Acura TSX
Robert Stout Scion tC
2011 Patrick Long (GT)
Paul Brown (GTS)
Porsche 911 GT3 (4)
Ford Mustang Boss
Lawson Aschenbach Honda Civic
2012[16] Johnny O'Connell (GT)
Peter Cunningham (GTS) (2)
Cadillac CTS-V
Acura TSX (3)
Michael Cooper (TC)
Jonathan Start (TCB)
Mazda3
Fiat 500
2013 Johnny O'Connell (GT) (2)
Lawson Aschenbach (GTS)
Cadillac CTS-V (2)
Chevrolet Camaro (5)
Ryan Winchester (TC)
Robbie Davis (TCB)
Honda Civic (2)
MINI Cooper
2014 Johnny O'Connell (GT) (3)
Michael Mills (GTA)
Lawson Aschenbach (2) (GTS)
Cadillac CTS-V (3)
Porsche GT3R
Chevrolet Camaro (5)
Michael DiMeo (TC)
Jason Wolfe (TCA)
Brian Price (TCB)
Honda Civic (3)
Kia Forte Koup
Honda Fit
2015 Johnny O'Connell (GT) (4)
Frank Montecalvo (GTA)
Colin Thompson (GTC)
Cadillac ATS-V (4)
Mercedes SLS
Porsche 911
Michael Cooper (GTS)
Corey Fergus (TC)
Jason Wolfe (TCA) (2)
Johan Schwartz (TCB)
Ford Mustang
Porsche Cayman
Honda Civic (4)
Chevrolet Sonic
2016 Álvaro Parente (GT)
Martin Fuentes (GTA)
Alec Udell (GTC)

Brett Sandberg (GTS)

McLaren 650S GT3

Ferrari 458 Italia GT3

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup

KTM X-Bow GT4

Toby Grahovec (TC)

Elivan Goulart (TCA)

Tom O'Gorman (TCB)

BMW M235i Racing

Mazda MX-5 Cup

Honda Fit

2017 Patrick Long (2) (GT)
James Sofronas (GTA)
Yuki Harata (GTC)

Lawson Aschenbach (3) (GTS)
George Kurtz (GTSA)

Porsche 911 GT3 R

Porsche 911 GT3 R

Lamborghini Huracán LP 620-2 Super Trofeo

Chevrolet Camaro GT4.R
McLaren 570S GT4

Paul Holton (TC)

Matt Fassnacht (TCA)

P.J. Groenke (TCB)

Audi RS 3 LMS

Mazda MX-5 Cup

Chevrolet Sonic

2018 Toni Vilander (GT)
Martin Fuentes (GTA)

James Sofronas (GTS)
Drew Staveley (GTSA)

Ferrari 488 GT3
Ferrari 488 GT3

Audi R8 LMS GT4
Ginetta G55 GT4

Ryan Eversley (TCR/TCA)

Vesko Kozarov (TC)

Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8)

Nissan 370Z

2019 Toni Vilander (Overall)
Martin Barkey & Kyle Marcelli (Pro-Am Cup)
Martin Fuentes (Am Cup )
Honda Civic Type R TCR (FK8)

Nissan 370Z
Ferrari 488 GT3

  • Source:[17]
  • 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.

Manufacturer Champions

Season GT/GT3 Champion GTS/GT4 Champion TCR Champion TC Champion TCA Champion TCB Champion
1999 Porsche Acura
2000 Porsche Acura
2001 Audi BMW
2002 Porsche Acura
2003 Audi BMW
2004 Audi BMW
2005 Cadillac Acura
2006 Porsche Acura
2007 Cadillac Mazda
2008 Porsche Acura
2009 Porsche Acura
2010 Volvo Acura Scion
2011 Porsche Ford Honda
2012 Cadillac Acura Honda Honda
2013 Cadillac Chevrolet Honda
2014 Cadillac Kia Honda Kia Honda
2015 Porsche Ford Mazda Honda
2016 McLaren Ford Mazda Mazda
2017 Porsche Chevrolet BMW Mazda
2018 Ferrari( Overall)
Porsche GT Sprint - (Overall)
Ferrari (GT Sprint. GTA) Hyundai Nissan Honda
2019 Bentley ( Overall) Acura (Pro-Am Cup) Ferrari (Am Cup)

See also

References

  1. "SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge - history". SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge. Sports Car Club of America. Archived from the original on 10 April 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  2. "The Longest Day of Nelson". Nelson Ledges Road Course. Archived from the original on 2 June 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  3. "World Challenge Car Facts". SCCA Pro Racing Speed World Challenge. Sports Car Club of America. Archived from the original on 24 July 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
  4. "SRO Motorsports Group becomes majority shareholder in WC Vision LLC". Pirelli World Challenge. Pirelli World Challenge. Retrieved 2018-08-07.
  5. "Pirelli World Challenge to add 'extended sprint' races in 2016". Motorsport.com. 28 May 2015. Retrieved 24 December 2015.
  6. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-11. Retrieved 2013-12-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-01-21. Retrieved 2012-01-09.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. http://world-challenge.com/results/tc-class/pwc-adds-new-touring-car-division-2018/
  9. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-27. Retrieved 2013-10-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  10. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-08. Retrieved 2015-01-16.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-03-16. Retrieved 2009-04-02.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-16. Retrieved 2010-01-06.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-01-25. Retrieved 2010-01-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  14. http://world-challenge.com/video/
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-10-05. Retrieved 2010-10-11.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. Smith, Steven Cole (December 24, 2012). "Another Great Show". Autoweek. 62 (26): 68.
  17. "Pro Racing Archives". Sports Car Club of America. Archived from the original on 19 August 2010. Retrieved 24 July 2010.
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