My Idea For The Ultimate Sportscar Racing Series

"123456" (ferrari) 10/08/2013 at 11:36 • Filed to: motosport, le mans

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Let's bring back the spirit of Group 7 (Can-Am).

Today's World

Today's GT racing series are over-restricted and governed. Even stupid things like BOP exist so that it really doesn't matter who has the best car. It's all getting silly, and there are few works teams competing outside of endurance events, primarily the FIA WEC. Endurance racing isn't very crowd friendly, and in many places struggles to draw viewers and an on-track audience. (just look at when WEC visited COTA).

The Plan

Let's bring back old school pro-scheme events, for GT cars. No pro-am(just pro), no pitstop, one driver per car. One or two races within a weekend. Short enough to refrain from pitstops, long enough to have space for development throughout the race. So bascially from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Nearly unlimited technical regulation will allow manufacturers to put the latest in technology to the test. I'll go in the regulations point by point in the next paragraph. Plan is to make the series attractive enough for bigger teams so that they see what they can gain from it. Get some big names in too, i.e. Mark Webber in a 911.

The series will only visit known circuits with a reputation for not being boring. Imola, Monza, Spa, Brands Hatch, Laguna Seca, Nürburgring (Nordschliefe 24h ofc) etc. No "Tilkedromes".

The Rules

Here come the regulations. Where there are restrictions, I'll explain the reason for them in a separate section below the bulletpoints.

Cars must be based on an existing production model, it must retain it's original chassis and bodywork. (I.e. no "silouette" racers).

The engine block must be the same layout as the production model. However, you may bore it up or down, add a turbo, add KERS etc. As long as the basic engine is the same as the production car. (So you can't put a V12 in a 458 etc.)

The car may not be wider than a certain width. One width for the bodywork, and one width for the peripheral aerodynamic modifications. (TBA)

Length is unlimited.

Aerodynamics are unlimited. "DRS", Active Aero, HUUGE rear wings, splitter, longtail cars etc.

Transmission is free.

Tyre width and rim selection / size is free.

Series will be run on control fuel. However, teams may apply for exemption. For example Ferrari has strong ties to Shell, so they may apply and have Shell supply their fuel.

Series will have a spec tire, continously being developed for optimum grip. As with fuel, teams or manufacturers may apply for exemption if they have a strong working connection to a separate manufacturer.

The production model the race car is based upon may not have more that 750 HP.

Permanent 4wd is banned. Production cars with 4wd must be converted.

There will be no BOP. No reversed grids. The fastest driver wins. There are no prizes for being effiecent, using the least fuel, being durable. There is one prize, the prize for being on the podium.

One driver per car. It will be a Pro-series. Famous names and famous manufactureres.

Regulations allow cars such as the 599XX EVO, MC12 Corsa, FXX, Zonda R entry.

No budget cap.

No testing restricions.

No minimum weight.

Explaining The Regulations

There is no point using an engine in a road-based racecar that will never see the road. The goal of the series is to push innovation on GT cars. To test the ultimate and latest in technology.

Cars may not be too wide, as they must somewhat resemble a car that can be used on the road. Anything super wide can't be used on the road. No point in developing a super wide car. They have to look more like GTC cars than LMP cars.

The production car may not have more than 750 hp because the series is aimed at cars in the GT / Sport segment. If you allow manufacturers like Koenigsegg in, their cars will not fit in with cars such as the MP4-12c, 458, 911, Z4, SLS, GT-R, R8 etc. etc.

4WD is banned because most sportscar manufacturers produce rear wheel drive cars. There is no point for BMW to produce a 4wd Z4, Ferrari a 4wd 458 etc. So they shouldn't have to develop a 4WD system for the cars.

To Summarize

Wouldn't an "unlimited series" like this be awesome? Twin turbocharged, active aero-fitted, 900-1000 hp GT cars going flat out at the most famous racing circuits in the world? Easy for viewers to follow, short races so their attention won't go away. Famous brands and names to relate too.

What would be your ultimate GT series? What rules and regulations would you run? Let us know in Kinja below!

Hoccy > 123456 10/08/2013 at 11:46

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How many cars do the manufacterers have to produce before it's considered a production model?

And I guess you want to add a lot of safety regulations.

That being said, I'll watch this if it ever becomes a reality.

Z_Stig > 123456 10/08/2013 at 11:46

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I actually wouldn't like this. Without BOP one car would dominate and slowly kill off the series. I don't care for BOP actually, because there's a lot of politics in it, but it would be better to stick closer to the road car's set up.

Sprint races are cool but let's leave that for F1 and touring car racing. Part of the allure of GT racing (Grand Touring) is the endurance aspect. Which manufacturer can produce a car that is quick and reliable?

Now a Prototype series using your reg's would be AWESOME! Prototypes are just that and deserve no rules or regulating.

123456 > Hoccy 10/08/2013 at 11:49

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Good question. Any manufacturer which is recognized by the EU as a car manufacturer is eligble.

Yes, all the mandatory safety equipment would be necessary. HANS, FIA-approved harnesses, seats, suits, rollcages etc.

123456 > Z_Stig 10/08/2013 at 11:52

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Great comment, I definately see your points and they are very valid. My reason for regulation this as a GT series is because, well manufacturers produce road cars. A series where they can test out new technology on GT cars would make it easier to tranfer that new technology, be it effiency, durabilty, or speed to the production model. That's what motorsports is about isn't it? Driving innovation, pushing the boundaries for the car of tomorrow?

Point of this series isn't reliabilty, it's outright speed. Like an F1 qualifying session just with a podium result instead of a top 3 grid place.

jsmizira > 123456 10/08/2013 at 11:54

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i like this idea.

at the other end of the spectrum i also like the idea of a serious budget racing. like lemons but without the bull crap rules that get thrown in there once in a while (read every race). like a production stock race. where vehicle purchase price must be $4000 or something like that and have different classes like displacement with/without forced induction. horsepower and weight caps too and no materials that cost more than $2 per pound or something like that, excluding carbon fiber, titanium, and other spacey-aged material. but chassis mods are open and vehicle bodies must appear to be stock with the exception of areo, which is unlimited.

Hoccy > 123456 10/08/2013 at 11:58

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Okay, at least that means some tuners (Alpina, etc) will be able to enter as well. But what if they only build one car to sell to the "public", and then bases their racecar on that one? I'm just wondering about how many cars they have to produce before the car is "homologated". 50, 100, 500?

Z_Stig > 123456 10/08/2013 at 11:59

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Oh, yes I'm a firm believer in the idea that motorsports tech trickles down to regular road cars. That's why I think a Prototype series based on your rules would be so cool. There could be no limit to the different combo's of engine size and type and body shape. It could also possibly be the only time to see say, a Tesla, compete against a Ferrari.

123456 > Hoccy 10/08/2013 at 12:05

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As I said, EU approval is good enough.

Carbyne > 123456 10/08/2013 at 13:29

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I have a better plan for tracks.
We find/build tracks with shorter straightaways and put in an obscene number of corners. It should help keep the top speed down and encourage creative aero. Plus, could you imagine the battles that could happen with everyone fighting for a different line!

AlleVier > 123456 10/10/2013 at 15:00

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Not digging the no-AWD rule. If the goal is to push innovation on GT cars, then forget about RWD as it's had a lifetime of development. Furthermore, the trend has been to add the option of AWD to traditionally RWD cars and not the opposite. It may be an appealing rule in terms of cost savings, but not much else. If RWD is superior, then it has nothing to fear and favoring it should not be driven by purists' dogma about what a real sports car is.

DavidHH > 123456 10/10/2013 at 22:30

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Herman Smidt,

For the Ultimate Sports-car Racing Series, which is most important, the best crew and builders, or the best drivers?
If you want to know who is the best driver, having identical cars is ideal, the cheaper the car the better the contest. Think International Race of Champions, but no FWD cars like their later years.
Currently a friend is busy in Indianapolis helping build a few multi-million dollar, one season cars. He is involved in a class that the best driver, crew and builders win most of the time. Those who are second rate, can't afford to win, and their sponsors know it, but pay enough to compete for advertisement, but not to win..
I believe that your spec.s will create this type of racing, as there is too many opportunities for money to replace talent in your specs.
Consider one car type / country the race is held in. i.e. Mustang 5 liter for North America, Porsche 911 for Germany, etc. All cars being identical, production models upgraded for racing.

David

Poorsha > 123456 10/11/2013 at 00:13

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I don't know the first thing about starting a racing series, but I really like where you are going with this. It seems like your main objective is bringing the latest technology and development into road going GT cars and that is something I can get behind. I think you might be missing some safety regulations and manufacturing quotas (both simple to add), but this was a very interesting read and something I would love to watch.

123456 > Poorsha 10/11/2013 at 05:24

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Thanks! Safety standards would concur to the current FIA regulations. I.e HANS, full roll cage, harnessess etc.

123456 > DavidHH 10/11/2013 at 07:43

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The focus is on the car. The incentive is to attract famous drivers to compete in the ulimate and latest in technology, with simple races and regulations. Big names draw crowds and attention, be it from GT-racing, WRC, F1, NASCAR.

DavidHH > 123456 10/11/2013 at 14:15

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I suspect this format would suffer from a few sponsors taking over simply because they can afford to build the best cars. And these sponsors will attract the best drivers, and dominate the class.