This is the most exciting form of stock car racing. All the races feature standing starts, just like Formula 1.

Pettit Racing is going to prepare RX-8 race cars for this series.

http://www.world-challenge.com


Sebring GT Race:

__ Position ______ Car

____ 1 ______ Corvette Z06

____ 2 ______ Porsche 911

____ 3 ______ Audi RS 6

____ 4 ______ BMW M3


Watch the race on SPEED channel - March 29 5pm ET.

Corvette Z06 & Porsche 911 GT3

http://www.3r-racing.com

Audi RS 6: This is a 4-Wheel-Drive car.

http://www.champion-motors.com

BMW M3

http://www.ptgracing.com

Mosport GT Race:

Position ______ Car

___1_____ Corvette Z06

___2_____ Saleen Mustang SR351

___3_____ Audi RS6 Turbo

___4_____ BMW M3

___13____ Mazda RX-7 Turbo


Watch the Touring Car and GT races on SPEED channel - May 24 4pm & 5pm ET.

http://www.speedtv.com

http://www.rx8club.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=47921#post47921

...wow... Pettit's got balls... i have no idea how they're going to make an RX-8 competitive...

...then again, if Audi (with VAG's factory backing) can do it... *snicker*

i really don't know how they're gonna pull that off... no info on the site that i saw.

Originally posted by Supercharger
This is the most exciting form of stock car racing.


amen!
they actually came thru the NE and had a stop at limerock park in CT last summer...i missed it tho

=\

Originally posted by joofntool


amen!
they actually came thru the NE and had a stop at limerock park in CT last summer...i missed it tho

=\ They are returning to Lime Rock this weekend, and racing is on Saturday and Monday (none on Sunday, Blue laws...).

---jps

Just out of curiosity, how modified are these cars from stock form? Are they completely gutted to just the shell and custom built back up or are they a lightened reinforced version of the street car with a few tweaks.

damn it ! now to back peddle out of plans with teh GF

Originally posted by cueball1029
Just out of curiosity, how modified are these cars from stock form? Are they completely gutted to just the shell and custom built back up or are they a lightened reinforced version of the street car with a few tweaks.

i don't know the rules (Super?) but it appears that the chassis are stockish (the Audi probably has the rear doors welded... and i hope the RX-8 could have that done as well) with roll cages, but the powertrain (the 4wd systems, engines, tranny's) are all hard-core race, it seems, right along with the brakes, tyres, body panels, windows, aero, etc...

Here's a link to the rules.

http://www.speedvisionwc.com/carfacts.html

Looks to me as though the RX-8 can compete in Speed Touring class.

Here's a link to facts about the series.

http://www.speedvisionwc.com/seriesfacts.html

Sounds like REAL stock car racing to me, not like that boring, circle track bull called NASCAR. Why do people even like NASCAR anyway? The cars bear absolutely no resemblance to the cars they are supposedly based on, all they do is drive in circles, and they're slow compared to other oval track racers. I just don't get it.

You guys NEED to check this out! Mazda is currently in 5th and 6th place with two Protege ES in the Touring Car class! Their drivers are Roger Froo and Chuck Hemmingson. The RX-8 will DEFINITELY be competitive in this class!

http://www.world-challenge.com/2003/standings.html

OK, I'm going to stop posting now. :)

Originally posted by Schneegz
Here's a link to the rules.

http://www.speedvisionwc.com/carfacts.html

Looks to me as though the RX-8 can compete in Speed Touring class.

I believe Mazda is positioning the RX-8 for GT class racing.

can you say boost?

and yes this is probably the biggest PRODUCTION car racing series in the US right now.

Originally posted by Schneegz
You guys NEED to check this out! Mazda is currently in 4th place with a Protege ES in the Touring car class! Their driver is Shauna Marinus from the US. The RX-8 will DEFINITELY be competitive in this class!

http://www.world-challenge.com/2003/entrylist-tc.html

OK, I'm going to stop posting now. :)

yes Mazda has been quite successful the past 2 years in the Touring class with the Protege :)

hence the reason the RX-8 needs to be placed in the GT class, so they can cover both levels of competition :)

Originally posted by ZoomZoomH


yes Mazda has been quite successful the past 2 years in the Touring class with the Protege :)

hence the reason the RX-8 needs to be placed in the GT class, so they can cover both levels of competition :)

yeah, i think that to have the RX-8 lumped in with Integras, Civics, and other FWD cars would be bad publicity...

anyways, the Protege is widely regarded as having the best engine in that series by far (yes, even against the Hondas, Toyotas, etc)... don't ask me why, but i'd love to know too... well, Mazda is racing. :)

Originally posted by wakeech


yeah, i think that to have the RX-8 lumped in with Integras, Civics, and other FWD cars would be bad publicity...

anyways, the Protege is widely regarded as having the best engine in that series by far (yes, even against the Hondas, Toyotas, etc)... don't ask me why, but i'd love to know too... well, Mazda is racing. :)

read the latest Car and Driver (w/ the Evo and STi on the cover) and you'll see why they have the strongest motor....

hint: it's called 'leveling the playing field' ;)

The Mazdaspeed supercharged RX-8 could race in the GT class.
It would be interesting to see how much boost is allowed.

... i dunno... if they allowed P-ports, then hell, they'd all better look out... but if they relegate them to stay on the side plates, well... *shrug*

Originally posted by ZoomZoomH
hint: it's called 'leveling the playing field' ;)

???

i'm not in the habit of buying car magazines, but i'll check this out today... why would the playing field need to be leveled?? they're all OHC, 2.0L (or whatever) FWD 4 bangers... :confused:

Short answer to the rules, the cars are gutted on the interior, and a full race roll cage installed, fuel cell, and proper seats. A dash needs to stay, and the IP in the normal position. Stock mirrors are used on the outside, and a wing and front dam added according to the SCCA rules.

Suspension and brakes are also tweaked, such as replacing rubber bushings with metal ones, but the suspension geometry needs to stay the same.

The dam and wing are different per car, to keep things even between the cars. The engines are likewise different to keep things level, but all cars have the engines that come from the factory. Depending on how SCCA is leveling things, that engine could be rebuilt with certain parts, and in some cases an SC could be added (boost added/restricted on factory turbo cars). But the engines will still be based on what is available from the factory (I.E. the NSX engine is the same V6, but built, with a centrifugal SC and air/water intercooler, and the different models of BMW sedans/coupes have the same engine and displacement).

According to insiders who were involved with the Protege' engine development, expect them to enter the RX8 into the GT series.

---jps

Originally posted by wakeech


???

i'm not in the habit of buying car magazines, but i'll check this out today... why would the playing field need to be leveled?? they're all OHC, 2.0L (or whatever) FWD 4 bangers... :confused:

let's just say they allow a HECK LOT MORE internal modifications to the engine for the Protege's 2.0L than the RSX's 2.4 or BMW's famed inline 6 ;)

basically they spec out each model of competing vehicles in a way such that everyone will be close to each other in terms of performance.

I mean, stock to stock, do you really think a $15000 Protege will run side by side with a $28000 325i ;)

let's just say they allow a HECK LOT MORE internal modifications to the engine for the Protege's 2.0L than the RSX's 2.4 or BMW's famed inline 6

ZoomZoomH:

RSX's 2.4? Whadayamean? The RSX uses a 2.0L I-4.

you are correct, RSX has a 2.0L

I got it confused with CRX's 2.4 :o

shows how much i care about hondas :D

Originally posted by ZoomZoomH




hint: it's called 'leveling the playing field' ;)

Another thing they do is give you penalty weight. If you win, they add weight to your car, nice penalty eh?
If there is ever a Speed WC race on at the same time as a Winston Cup Race, I always get into an arguement with my step-dad about which one to watch (I love Speed World Challenge). He is originally from South Carolina though . . .

Lime Rock GT Race 1:

Position ______ Car

__ 1 _______ BMW M3

__ 2 _______ BMW M3

__ 3 _______ Audi RS6 Turbo

__ 4 _______ Corvette Z06

__ 13_______Mazda RX-7 Turbo


Watch SPEED channel on May 31, 3 - 6 pm ET