Grand Sport (class)

Last updated
BMW M3 Coupe BMW M3 Coupes (6037017595).jpg
BMW M3 Coupe
Ford Mustang GT Barbers02.jpg
Ford Mustang GT

Grand Sport (GS) is a former set of regulations for grand touring race cars, originally by the SCCA for the Canadian Motorola Cup in 1997, [1] then formerly by Grand-Am, and then finally by IMSA, in the Michelin Pilot Challenge (formerly known as the Grand-Am Cup), between 1997 and 2017. It was the quicker of the two classes at the time; the other being the Sport Touring class. Class rules dictated that the cars weigh between 2,900 lb (1,300 kg) and 3,300 lb (1,500 kg), depending on engine displacement, and featured large displacement motors, or smaller motors with forced induction systems. Power output for the class was between about 350 hp (260 kW) and 405 hp (302 kW). The class was later superseded and replaced by more modern FIA GT4 machinery in 2018. Examples of cars that formerly competed in this class include the BMW M3, Pontiac Firebird, Ford Mustang/Mustang SVT Cobra, Nissan 350Z, and the Porsche 996. [2] [3] [4]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touring car racing</span> Motorsport road racing competition

Touring car racing is a motorsport road racing competition that uses race prepared touring cars. It has both similarities to and significant differences from stock car racing, which is popular in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Mustang</span> American car manufactured by Ford

The Ford Mustang is a series of American automobiles manufactured by Ford. In continuous production since 1964, the Mustang is currently the longest-produced Ford car nameplate. Currently in its seventh generation, it is the fifth-best selling Ford car nameplate. The namesake of the "pony car" automobile segment, the Mustang was developed as a highly styled line of sporty coupes and convertibles derived from existing model lines, initially distinguished by "long hood, short deck" proportions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevrolet Camaro</span> Muscle car manufactured by Chevrolet

The Chevrolet Camaro is a mid-size American automobile manufactured by Chevrolet, classified as a pony car. It first went on sale on September 29, 1966, for the 1967 model year and was designed to compete with the Ford Mustang. The Camaro shared its platform and major components with the Firebird, produced by General Motors' Pontiac division that was also introduced for 1967.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buick Regal</span> Mid-sized car model

The Buick Regal is a line of mid-size cars marketed by Buick since 1973. For nearly its entire production, the Regal has served as the premium mid-size/intermediate offering of the Buick product range. Introduced as a submodel of the Buick Century, the model line is currently in its sixth generation. From the 1970s to the 1990s, the Regal served as the Buick counterpart of the Pontiac Grand Prix and Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford small block engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Ford small-block is a series of 90° overhead valve small-block V8 automobile engines manufactured by the Ford Motor Company from July 1961 to December 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Modular engine</span> Engine family produced by Ford Motor Company

The Ford Modular engine is Ford Motor Company's overhead camshaft (OHC) V8 and V10 gasoline-powered small block engine family. Introduced in 1990, the engine family received its “modular” designation by Ford for its new approach to the setup of tooling and casting stations in the Windsor and Romeo engine manufacturing plants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shelby Mustang</span> Motor vehicle

The Shelby Mustang is a high-performance variant of the Ford Mustang built by Shelby American from 1965 to 1967 and by the Ford Motor Company from 1968 to 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lotus Exige</span> Car model

The Lotus Exige is a sports car made by the British company Lotus Cars from 2000 until 2021. Originally a more-hardcore coupé version of the Lotus Elise roadster, since the Series 3 the Exige has been the larger-engined model of the family - using a V6 engine in place of the Elise's straight-four with convertible versions of both available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alpina</span> German automotive manufacturer

Alpina Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH & Co. KG is an automobile manufacturing company based in Buchloe, in the Ostallgäu district of Bavaria, Germany that develops and sells high-performance versions of BMW cars. Alpina works closely with BMW and their processes are integrated into BMW's production lines, and is recognized by the German Ministry of Transport as an automobile manufacturer, in contrast to other performance specialists, which are aftermarket tuners. The Alpina B7 is produced at the same assembly line in Dingolfing, Germany, as BMW's own 7 Series. The B7's twin-turbo 4.4-litre V8 is assembled by hand at Alpina's facility in Buchloe, Germany, before being shipped to BMW for installation, and the assembled vehicle is then sent back to Alpina for finishing touches.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Porsche 911 GT3</span> Porsche sports car

The Porsche 911 GT3 is a high-performance homologation model of the Porsche 911 sports car. It is a line of high-performance models, which began with the 1973 911 Carrera RS. The GT3 has had a successful racing career in the one-make national and regional Porsche Carrera Cup and GT3 Cup Challenge series, as well as the international Porsche Supercup supporting the FIA F1 World Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nissan NX</span> Motor vehicle

The Nissan NX is a front wheel drive 2-door sports car produced by Nissan Motors. The NX was, loosely, an evolution of the Nissan Pulsar NX/Nissan EXA sold from 1987 to 1990 and the Nissan Sunny Coupe lines of the 1970s and 1980s, merging the Nissan B13 and N14 lineages. The NX was released in Japan in 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boss 302 Mustang</span> Motor vehicle

The Mustang Boss 302 is a high-performance variant of the Ford Mustang originally produced by Ford in 1969 and 1970, alongside its more powerful sibling the Boss 429 Mustang. Ford revived the name for another two year production run in 2012 and 2013. In 1969 and 1970, it was originally produced for the Trans Am racing series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ford Mustang FR500</span> Race variant of the Ford Mustang

The Ford Racing Mustang FR500 is a highly tuned race variant of the Ford Mustang, featuring a V8 engine. It is a turn key race car not designed for public roads. Each FR500 model is built with a unique Ford Racing number, instead of a DOT VIN. Each is built to order by Ford Racing. All FR500s are made at the same Flat Rock, Michigan plant as the standard Mustang.

Class 1 Touring Cars refers to two generations of prototype silhouette-style touring car regulations employed by the FIA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Cunningham (racing driver)</span> American racing driver

Peter "P.D." Cunningham is an American race car driver and owner of RealTime R&L, Inc., based in Saukville, Wisconsin and currently competing in the Pirelli World Challenge GT Championship. His name and his team, RealTime Racing, have become synonymous with the Honda and Acura brands. Through 2013, he has claimed 91 professional race wins across 12 different North American road racing series and holds numerous World Challenge records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Le Mans Hypercar</span> Type of sports prototype race car

A Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) is a type of sports prototype race car that competes alongside LMDh entries in the Hypercar class of the FIA World Endurance Championship. It will also compete in the Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) class of the IMSA SportsCar Championship from 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suzuki K engine</span> Reciprocating internal combustion engine

The Suzuki K engine family is a series of automobile engines from Suzuki, introduced in 1994. Displacements range from 0.7 L to 1.5 L. All engines have aluminium cylinder blocks with three or four cylinders in-line. Cylinder heads have two overhead camshafts, driven by chain, and four valves per cylinder. Fuel is gasoline/petrol, metered by multipoint fuel injection or direct injection. Some variants are turbocharged.

The Ferrari 612P, is a purpose-built Group 7 prototype, designed, developed and built by Scuderia Ferrari, specifically intended to be used in the North American Can-Am sports car racing series in 1968 and 1969.

Super Grand Sport is the name of a former classification designated by Grand-Am for grand touring car Rolex Sports Car Series sports car racing championship. The class competed for a single season in 2004, and was an evolution of the former Grand Sport class. These cars were production-based, and moved up from the Grand-Am Cup series. Examples of cars that were eligible to compete included the Ferrari 360, Chevrolet Corvette, and Porsche 911 GT3.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sport Touring (class)</span>

Sport Touring (ST), also known as Street Tuner, is a former set of regulations for production-based race cars, originally by the SCCA, and later by Grand-Am and IMSA, for the Canadian Motorola Cup, between 1997 and 2018. Class rules dictated these cars have smaller displacement engines, with 4, 5 or 6 cylinders, typically producing around 170 hp (130 kW) to 240 hp (180 kW), typically consisting of smaller sedans, hatchbacks, coupes, and convertibles. Examples of cars competing in this class included the Acura RSX, Acura TSX, Chevrolet Cobalt, Lexus IS300, Mazda RX-8, BMW Z3, BMW 330i, Acura Integra Type R Mini Cooper S, and the Subaru Legacy.

References

  1. "autocourse.ca". www.autocourse.ca.
  2. "GRAND-AM 101: The Rolex Series GT Class". www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com.
  3. "2004 Watkins Glen - Grand Am". www.zoompics.com.
  4. "2004 Watkins Glen International - Grand Am Cup". www.zoompics.com.