Why we need to bring back Homologation specials

"Spaze" (spazegun2213) 01/28/2014 at 13:44 • Filed to: None

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As defined by Wikipedia (because who needs Webster's anyways?), Homologation is:

the approval process a vehicle, race track or standardized part must go through to race in a given league or series. The regulations and rules that must be met are generally set by the series' sanctioning body. The word is derived from the Greek homologeo—literally "same words"—for "agree".

How can you not agree with a BMW M1, a Porsche 911 GT1, or a Mercedes CLK GTR? I'm pretty sure I had a poster of each one of these cars in my room as a child. Yes, the spaces on the walls between them were filled with the likes of the F-40, the McLaren F1, and other greats of the time, but they were street cars that were occasionally converted to race on track. However, the M1, 911 GT1, and CLK GTR carry a different distinction - they were originally race cars. This is an important distinction that should not be undermined. These cars were race cars with some semblance of an interior bolted into them and sold to the public. You could actually drive a real road going race car!

The 911 GT1 and CLK GTR were sold in such low numbers, 25 and 26 respectively, that they are some of the rarest cars ever produced. The M1 was clearly a "serious" production car with 456 units being sold, still making it a rare car.

Each of these cars had serious technological advancements that were worlds ahead of anything on the road at the time. Porsche's first water cooled motor was in the 911 GT1. Mercedes modified their M120 V12 motor, which was used for years by Pagani. The M1 was built with a steel space frame and an RFP body in 1976. All of this technology was wrapped up with nice little bow and could be purchased from the factory. All of this technology was used to try and win races at the top level of FIA sports car racing.

Today, the top tier of FIA sports car racing is comprised of various styles of Prototypes. Here in the good ol' US of A, we have the new TUDOR United SportsCar Championship (TUSCC) that combines both LMP style prototypes with Daytona styles. While both are very fast, have a ton of cool technology (sorry Ford, but adding turbo is not "new" technology), but have absolutely NOTHING to do with street cars aside from having four wheels. Yes, there are companies like Radical, that produce road going cars that look like prototypes, but they are a far cry from the purity of homologation specials from the factory..

I've been avoiding the one serious flaws these cars have - their price tags. The CLK GTR at the time was the most expensive production car ever and fetched nearly $1.6 Million dollars when new, making the 911 GT1 a bargain at a little under $1 Million. For the more frugal types, I present to you the Mercedes 190e Evo II and the BMW M3 Sport Evolution.

Ok, Ok, you got me. Neither were originally race cars, but they were still homoligation specials. Both were fitted with bespoke motors, amazing looking aero bits, and were the road-going siblings of their DTM brothers.

So you may be asking yourself, "Why is this idiot going on about these cars?" It's because they are boy racer cars for the road. With no APC stickers, wings, or hella flush wheels needed, these cars are the real deal. They are as close to race cars as manufacturers were able to produce, and they are simply striking. Yes, traction control (although in my last article may seem to indicate otherwise), direct injection, and other technologies that have made their way from the top tiers of racing.

BUT I WANT MORE! I want a car sitting in my garage that is actually from the top tier of racing, though more likely than not, I'll be drooling over one at Cars and Coffee. I want to be able to see, touch, and feel all of that technology and racing goodness, not have those very bits and pieces diluted by number crunchers in order to satisfy NTSB regulations or appeal to their target demographic. I want the good old days back where the manufacturers built these special cars to dominate the top levels of sports car racing.

There is clearly a market for this, cars like the F-50, Enzo FXX, Pagani Zonda R, and GT3 RS, and many others would never make it past the drawing board. All of these cars are great cars, but they watered down excuses for the homoligation specials.

Forgetful > Spaze 01/28/2014 at 13:48

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Battery Tender Unnecessary > Spaze 01/28/2014 at 13:48

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I'll be the first to say that race versions of cars should be based as closely as possible on the road version (increased safety changes are fine). It's why I never understood why they still use of the word "stock" in stock car racing besides trying to be funny. Bring back homologation rules and the cars that came with them.

Spaze > Forgetful 01/28/2014 at 13:49

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Also good choices

gometz > Spaze 01/28/2014 at 13:49

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I'm ashamed to admit this, but I seem to constantly forget about the 911 GT1.

Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. > Spaze 01/28/2014 at 13:53

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Yeah!
Give me my 190E Evo II!

On an unrelated note, if i'm not mistaken you can buy a homologation special ducati/honda bikes, with the same specs as their Superbike racers..

For Sweden > Spaze 01/28/2014 at 13:53

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They're car makers, not a charity.

I'd rather have race cars without homologation than have no automakers in racing.

KnifeKnut > Spaze 01/28/2014 at 14:21

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Neither were originally race cars, but they were still homoligation specials.

Squid > Spaze 01/28/2014 at 14:33

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I was in love with both the 911 GT1 and CLK GTR, in fact I still dream of the CLK GTR. . . I have basically declared that to be my lotto car if I ever win, it will be a CLK GTR and a collection of Vipers for me. . . hahaha.

But seriously I agree that the homologation rules were awesome at driving creativity and putting some ridiculous cars in the hands of the, albeit wealthy, public. Some of the most beautiful cars were produced because of homologation but those same rules have screwed manufacturers before i.e. BMW M1. If the FIA could get a set of rules and make the bones of them binding and guaranty the series wouldn't disappear the next year or the regulations would vary wildly and disqualify a car that was in development for years with hundreds of millions invested in it. There seems to be a major issue with the governing bodies and over regulation with bonehead shot callers making auto racing less and less lucrative for manufacturers to be involved in.

The main issue now is that there is very little R.O.I. with racing programs and many of the racing series that exist are spec programs like DTM where only the body and aero work differ. I love auto racing, but the state that it is in now with very little based of the prestige of winning for the manufacturers, there seems to be no incentive for them to develop homologation cars any more.

JGTC, which like DTM produces some wild looking race cars have very little in common with the road going versions. Those two series have more in common with the road cars than the laughable spectacle that is NASCAR though. I would much prefer NASCAR to get rid of those damn ugly ass bodies and force the manufacturers to use the production cars like the old days. I laugh that it is still referred to as "stock car racing" when no parts from the stock cars are on them at all. Sure the speeds would go down and it would be funny to see a front wheel drive camry racing against the rear wheel drive challenger, but out of all the series that I could see a homologation rule actually being of benefit would be NASCAR.

Spaze > Aya, Almost Has A Cosmo With Toyota Engine Owned by a BMW. 01/28/2014 at 14:52

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I'm pretty sure bikes like the 1199 and the RSV's are nearly homoligation specials. But then again, why not produce them! I feel like street motorcycles are closely related to say WSBK bikes and that lot, or more so than cars.

Spaze > Squid 01/28/2014 at 14:56

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haha, if I win the lotto its a GT1 for me... something about those cars. But I would like one of those flying CLK race cars ;)

That being said I think there would be a market for a series with homoligation specials with realistic horsepower, weight, and tire rules. (say ~300, 2800lbs, and 275s) You could leave things like traction control, suspension layout and other things free to increase innovation. I'm sure someone would create a wicked little sports car for that class and it would be reasonably priced.

McMike > Spaze 01/28/2014 at 15:02

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POST ALL THE HOMOS (assuming these are some)

AM3R > Spaze 01/28/2014 at 15:54

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If you have $1.175 million there's a CLK GTR for sale in Florida

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > McMike 01/28/2014 at 16:09

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MOAR HOMO!

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Spaze 01/28/2014 at 23:00

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I have mixed feelings. On one side it would destroy many of the smaller teams. On the other hand it it mean Audi, Porsche, Toyota would then be entering multiple GT1 versions, instead of the jsu tthe 2-3 they typically bring. Hmmmm... interesting question.

Spaze > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas 01/29/2014 at 10:49

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Just think of if this way, this class or set of classes would be a breeding ground for the next 10 years of AMAZING sports cars. Look at the Audi R8 and the R8 gt3 car... they are NEARLY the same (minus body work). So much so they are made in the same factory by the same factory workers. That is what I'm aiming for really. Sure the audi is a 100K plus car, but what about something cheaper, the brz maybe?

crowmolly > Spaze 01/30/2014 at 11:43

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You missed a big one.

All those people crying foul about the new Z/28 being so expensive for an "everyman's option" need to brush up on their history. GM went back to its roots.

Spaze > crowmolly 01/30/2014 at 12:31

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I'll be honest I was leaning more towards the top tier of sports cars. GM did not produce the Z/28 for that in mind. Granted it was (and now is again) an amazing car.

crowmolly > Spaze 01/30/2014 at 12:35

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I figured I was reaching. The Z is nowhere near the upper end stuff you posted. I just saw the Superbird and the hatchbacks and thought I'd add it in, as it is a homologation car.