WHAT IF?

By Peter M. De Lorenzo

Detroit. There's something missing in major league sports car racing here on this continent. Maybe it's the fact that the upcoming prototype rules aren't all that appealing for any number of reasons, or maybe it's the fact that over the years we got used to the notion of having a little bit of an outlaw quality to our sports car racing. Back in the day, GTX - for Grand Touring Experimental - was based on the FIA Group 5 rules, which allowed turbos and big horsepower. It was a category that was flat dominated by the brutal and purposeful Porsche 935 and the many variations on that theme, and it was a lot of fun to watch.

As I see teams struggle with the onset of the prototype rules taking effect for 2017, I have to wonder if things wouldn't be be better off for everyone if there was an all-new class to consider. One that started with the inherent goodness of the current GTLM/GTE Pro class - which has provided the best and most competitive road racing in the world, bar none, for several years now - and added more horsepower and more speed.

I polled some very high profile people who are currently active in the thick of the IMSA scene, people currently affiliated with a top-ranked sports car team - and who must remain nameless for obvious reasons - and asked, "What if?" As in, what if there was a new GTX class, what would it look like and how much faster would it be than the current GTLM machines?

And the answers were direct and to the point. First of all, the idea of an "unlimited" run-what-you-brung class was shot down as being totally impractical, because it would require such a top-level buy-in from all of the major manufacturers that the likelihood of it happening would be slim and none. The engine development costs alone would be staggering. Besides, if the major manufacturers were going to consider doing that, they'd just go butt heads with Porsche, Audi and Toyota at Le Mans and call it good.

But there is something about the idea of a GTX class that was intriguing to them. What kind of rules would come into play for a GTX class? First of all, the rules package would start with a displacement vs. weight formula, and that would determine the size of the restrictors. The target? 650-700 horsepower. Sticking to the current aero rules to curb costs and using the same tire package, a properly turned-out GTX machine would qualify at around 1 minute, 58 seconds at Road America, and race at around 2:00. This would be a noticeable increase in speed over the GTLM class, not to mention a substantial bump over the upcoming GT3 class, which will replace GTD.

To me, the beauty of a GTX class is that it allows for a little bit of an outlaw flavor to major league sports car racing here in North America. Yes, the FIA and the French have a lock on the WEC and Le Mans, and if teams want to embrace that it's perfectly fine, but a GTX class over here would add a huge dollop of hot sauce to the proceedings.

Oh, and one more thing? I would kick off the GTX class with inaugural invitational GT races at Road America and Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in the fall of 2016, featuring three-hour timed races with a hefty, big money purse at stake.

It wouldn't be a run-what-you-brung event like I've envisioned in past columns, but it sure would be a blast to watch.

 

Editor's Note: Many of you have seen Peter's references over the years to the Hydrogen Electric Racing Federation (HERF), which he launched in 2007. For those of you who weren't following AE at the time, you can read two of HERF's press releases here and here. And for even more details (including a link to Peter's announcement speech), check out the HERF entry on Wikipedia here. -WG

Publisher's Note: As part of our continuing series celebrating the "Glory Days" of racing, we're proud to present another noteworthy image from the Ford Racing Archives. - PMD

(Courtesy of the Ford Racing Archives)
Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, August 20, 1983. The No. 6 Zakspeed Roush Ford Mustang GTP driven by Bobby Rahal and Geoff Brabham in the pits during practice for the Budweiser 500 IMSA race. Tim Coconis/Klaus Ludwig (No. 06 Zakspeed Roush Ford Mustang GTP) won the race, giving the Mustang GTP its only victory, with Tony Adamowicz/Don Devendorf (No. 83 Electromotive Racing Activision Datsun 280ZX Turbo) finishing second. Rahal/Brabham came in third.

Publisher's Note: Like these Ford racing photos? Check out www.fordimages.com. Be forewarned, however, because you won't be able to go there and not order something. - PMD