TOPEKA , Kan. (July 2, 2004) – SCCA Pro Racing Ltd. announced today several competition adjustments to its SPEED World Challenge GT Championship field, effective immediately.
The adjustments come off the heels of the second-consecutive one-two finish for the Audi RS 6 at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, June 27. The Audi received an additional 50lbs to its base weight as well as a 200 rpm reduction (to 6800) and a reduction from 1.7-bar to 1.55-bar (approximately 10.3psi to 8.1psi).
In addition to the adjustment to the Audis, SCCA Pro Racing announced across-the-board adjustments to the top cars to reduce the overall performance level of the category in order to control costs, ensure durability of production components and ensure continued growth.
The Chevrolet Corvette C5/ZO6, Dodge Viper Competition Coupe, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (2003-2004) and Saleen SR each received a 20 percent air restrictor to reduce horsepower.
The Cadillac CTS-V, already believed to be adequately restricted on power to the new level, received an adjustment of rear-weight bias from a maximum of 49 percent to 48 percent. This change is to bring some of the car’s other characteristics in line with the remainder of the field.
“With the great teams we have, we’re constantly on our toes to reach an acceptable level of parity between vastly different cars,” SCCA Pro Racing VP and General Manager Mitch Wright said. “We’re close, and believe these changes will not only help bring the current competition closer together, but reinforce our commitment to provide a future playground for a variety of cars.”
In addition to the competition adjustments, SCCA Pro Racing removed the rule section s tating that changes must be done 14 days prior to an event for the remainder of the season. The rule was new for 2004, and will be re-evaluated for 2005.
A summary of the changes:
Car Change
Audi RS 6 +50lbs base weight, -200 rpm (to 6800), -0.15bar boost (to 0.55bar)
Cadillac CTS-V -1% rear weight distribution maximum (to 48%)
Chevrolet Corvette 20 percent air restrictor
Dodge Viper Comp Coupe 20 percent air restrictor
Porsche 911 GT3 (03-04) 20 percent air restrictor
Saleen SR 20 percent air restrictor
I agree with everything except for this restriction:
The Chevrolet Corvette C5/ZO6, Dodge Viper Competition Coupe, Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (2003-2004) and Saleen SR each received a 20 percent air restrictor to reduce horsepower.
Why are the penalizing the other cars? It seems to me that the only cars that are an issue are the Caddy's and the Audi's.
It looks like they brought the CTS-V in line, but the Audi's were way too dominate. I'm glad that they added more weight to them.
They're trying to slow the cars down. They're crushing the cars like the BMW and have pretty much outclassed a lot of cars that where around a season or two ago. It should make for a lot better racing. You also should now see that sweet looking GTO up front (it was going to get there eventually with some more development) and those all so sweet Volvo's which should be appearing soon. I miss cars like the Porsche 928 that was running a couple years ago and the Real Time NSX. That 928 had the sweetest v8 sound to it. Sounded really exotic. Plus all the other misc. cars that have been around like a Supra, Camaro's, and the like.
I think that WC is definitely becoming a bigger race series than it used to be. It's going to be increasingly tougher for the privateers to compete in the series.
Slowing down the Corvette's, Vipers, GT3's and Saleen's is going to let the backmarkers compete with these guys, but who is going to compete with the Caddies and Audi's?
Slowing down the Corvette's, Vipers, GT3's and Saleen's is going to let the backmarkers compete with these guys, but who is going to compete with the Caddies and Audi's
I don't buy that. We'll have to see. I think that they'll either have to reverse this change or slow the Caddies and Audi's down more.
Lou G has given them fits all season. He's just had some bad luck when it comes to getting an uneventful race in. It seems like something always happens that just hampers his efforts (though he always comes back to finish very well, I can't wait to see what could happen when everything goes as planned). Also if you watched the race, you would see how much more power the Saleen has compared to the Caddy. One of the reasons they had Heinricy race is because they wanted to show how much of an advantage Audi had. So Heinricy wasn't racing with the rewards weight. The only thing that saved the Audi's though was that caution. Their tires where toast. Add some more weight, plus the rewards weight and they'll be cooking those tires. Plus they are running less hp.
First of all they shouldn't have let Caddy build those cars up the way they did. They're closer to Trans Am cars than hopped up production cars. It is a lot different from Lou's perspective and he is RIGHT. I've been looking at it from a fan point of view. I really hope the SCCA fixes this mess.
It has I believe only the trunk, hood, door skins and fenders are carbon fiber. Also it's what you would call semi tubbed chassis. They basically take the stock frame and build around that. The Caddies have the engine mounted 6 inches back into the chassis, I'm not exactly sure what the Corvettes are. http://www.world-challenge.com/competitors/ here are the rules.
First of all they shouldn't have let Caddy build those cars up the way they did. They're closer to Trans Am cars than hopped up production cars. It is a lot different from Lou's perspective and he is RIGHT. I've been looking at it from a fan point of view. I really hope the SCCA fixes this mess.
I agree. The Caddies take it one step further with the lower body panels than the stock car, position of the engine and the driver moved back, etc...
Would these rule changes be mid-season? I personally don't think that's right! Also, not to discount the talent of all of the drivers (because I'm good friends with at least one WC driver), but I think that two of the reasons that Audi and Cadillac are high on the manufacturers points is because of their drivers and due to very good manufacturer support. I think that, esp with Cadillac, they're only racing in order to sell their CTS-V just like BMW had huge manufacturer support last year to help them sell their cars. I enjoy the WC racing the most when they fix the rules for the season and limit manufacturer support to give the privateers a fighting chance. (I could be wrong on this, but just my opinion.)
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