Grand-Am Road Racing: Difference between revisions

Grand-Am Road Racing
Sport	Sports car racing, Touring car racing
Jurisdiction	United States; Canada
Abbreviation	Grand-Am
Founded	2000
Headquarters	Daytona Beach, Florida
President	Ed Bennett

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Grand-Am Road Racing or Grand-Am was an auto racing sanctioning body that was established in 1999 to organize road racing competitions in North America. Its primary focus was the Rolex Sports Car Series, an endurance racing championship series. It sanctioned five auto racing series. The series announced in September 2012 that it would be merging with the American Le Mans Series, which had been Grand-Am's main US competitor since its inception. The two series fully merged in 2014 under the banner of the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, with the International Motor Sports Association.

Overview[edit]

The Grand American Road Racing Association was established in 1999 and was located in Daytona Beach, Florida, near the homes of NASCAR, International Speedway Corporation (ISC), and Daytona International Speedway. Although originated by some members of the NASCAR community, Grand-Am centers on different styles of racing including sports car racing and touring car racing on road racing circuits throughout North America.

On September 4, 2008, NASCAR Holdings announced their buyout of the Grand American Road Racing Association in an attempt to merge communications, research, and marketing resources into a single entity, while allowing each organization to continue to control their own racing series.^[1]

On September 5, 2012, the series announced that they would be merging with the Braselton, Georgia-based American Le Mans Series. Both series stayed current in 2013 and began a combined series in 2014.^[2]

Rolex Sports Car Series[edit]

A field of Daytona Prototypes in Grand-Am's premier championship, the Rolex Sports Car Series

The premiere series of Grand-Am was the Rolex Sports Car Series which originated in 2000 as a successor to the defunct United States Road Racing Championship. Combining classes of Sports Racing Prototypes and Grand Touring-style production-based cars, the series was centered on the Rolex 24 At Daytona but included a wide variety of American, Canadian, and Mexican tracks.

In 2003, the series replaced its Sports Racing Prototypes with new Daytona Prototypes, a custom-built class built specifically for the Rolex Series. These cost-effective race cars offer a relatively economical racing environment in which technology is carefully controlled to ensure close racing and approximate parity between different chassis and engines. For the 2012 season, the Rolex series rolled out Gen-III prototypes with new bodies, engines and chassis. These new chassis were designed to keep costs low while also creating body shapes with more brand characteristics. The new chassis were headlined by Corvette and new Ford prototypes.

The GT classes were also simplified over the years, allowing for a variety of American, European, and Japanese manufacturers to participate including Audi, Chevrolet, Ferrari, BMW, Porsche, Ford and Mazda. Rules allowed tuned production cars or custom tube frame chassis to be used, letting participants save cost if necessary.

In 2013 the GX class were introduced running with alternative fuel and new technology that was not already in use in GT cars. The contending manufacturers were Mazda, Porsche, and Lotus.

Daytona Prototypes and GTs usually shared the track although do occasionally race separately, typically at shorter circuits.

Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series[edit]

Originally based on a Canadian series before being acquired by Grand-Am, the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge (originally known as Grand-Am Cup) is a production-based touring car series. The series is split into two classes known as Grand Sport (GS), intended for large capacity GT-style cars, and Street Tuner (ST), consisting of smaller sedans and coupes, some of which are front-wheel drive. The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge until 2013 supported some Rolex Series races but also headlined some of its own dates. This series continues with the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship The series is somewhat comparable to the old Trans Am Series.

Ferrari Challenge[edit]

Grand-Am was the sanctioning body behind the North American arm of the international Ferrari Challenge series. Using identical race-tuned Ferraris, the series originally ran the F355 then switched to the 360 Modenas before switching to new F430s in 2006 and the 458 Italia in 2010.

Shell Historic Challenge[edit]

Tied together with the Ferrari Challenge series, the Shell Historic Challenge is a series consisting of older Ferrari, Maserati, and Scuderia Ferrari-run Alfa Romeo models. Although a racing series, the competition is more of an exhibition of the classic machinery than a true race.

Grand-Am iRacing.com Online Sports Car Series[edit]

Grand-Am also sanctioned an online racing series through the racing simulator iRacing.com. This series raced digital versions of a Riley Daytona Prototype and the McLaren MP4-12C, mirroring the Rolex series. ^[3]

Series defunct before the merger[edit]

Formula Renault 2000[edit]

Grand-Am initially sanctioned the North American arm of the Formula Renault series under the 2.0 Litre formula. However the series was later reorganized and came under the control of the National Auto Sport Association (NASA) where it currently runs under the Formula TR name.

Ford Racing Mustang Challenge[edit]

A Ford Mustang FR500S which competes in the Mustang Challenge

The Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup was a series which started in 2008. A one-make series similar to the Ferrari Challenge, this series used identical Ford Mustang FR500S cars co-developed by Ford Racing and Larry H. Miller, owner of Miller Motorsports Park. The series featured amateur drivers in 45 minute sprint events.

The series held its final event September 12, 2010 at Miller Motorsports Park.^[4] In the announcement, the series predicted that the FR500S Mustang "will continue to be eligible for competition in a variety of series." The FR500S chassis are now eligible for competition in the GTS class of the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge, with several modifications to bring their level of performance equal with the other cars in the class.^[5] Six Mustang Challenge competitors entered their first event as GTS cars at the Mid Ohio race August 7 and August 8, 2010.^[6]

SunTrust Moto-ST Series[edit]

Two classes of bikes used in the SunTrust Moto-ST Series

The only motorcycle series run by Grand-Am, the SunTrust Moto-ST Series was an endurance racing series launched in 2007 for production-based motorcycles. Races ranged from three hours to eight hours. Motorcycles were four-stroke, two cylinder models and broken into classes depending on power and weight. Teams of riders were used to run an endurance event. From 2009 the series was sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association.

References[edit]

^ "NASCAR Holdings Announces Plan to Acquire GRAND-AM". Grand American Road Racing Association. 2008-09-04. Archived from the original on 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2008-09-04.
^ "GRAND-AM: ALMS Merger Made Official". Archived from the original on 2012-11-23. Retrieved 2013-07-21.
^ "GRAND-AM to Sanction Multi-Class Online Racing for iRacing.com". grand-am.com. October 25, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-01.
^ "Mustang Challenge // Series News". Archived from the original on 2010-07-25. Retrieved 2010-09-25.
^ FR500S Vehicle Technical Specifications^{[permanent dead link]}, SCCA Pro Racing, 11/16/2011, accessed 1/30/2012
^ "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on 2010-08-21. Retrieved 2010-09-07.

Grand-Am, American Le Mans Series Merger Details

External links[edit]

Grand-Am Official Website

[Buyout-1] "NASCAR Holdings Announces Plan to Acquire GRAND-AM". Grand American Road Racing Association. 2008-09-04. Archived from the original on 2008-09-07. Retrieved 2008-09-04.

[2] "GRAND-AM: ALMS Merger Made Official". Archived from the original on 2012-11-23. Retrieved 2013-07-21.

[iracing-3] "GRAND-AM to Sanction Multi-Class Online Racing for iRacing.com". grand-am.com. October 25, 2010. Retrieved 2010-11-01.

[4] "Mustang Challenge // Series News". Archived from the original on 2010-07-25. Retrieved 2010-09-25.

[5] FR500S Vehicle Technical Specifications^{[permanent dead link]}, SCCA Pro Racing, 11/16/2011, accessed 1/30/2012

[6] "Untitled Document". Archived from the original on 2010-08-21. Retrieved 2010-09-07.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|North American auto racing series}}
 {{Infobox sport governing body
 |name= Grand-Am Road Racing
 |abbrev = Grand-Am
+|logo=2012 Grand Am Road Racing Logo.jpg
-|logo=
-|sport=[[Sports car racing]], [[Touring car racing]], [[Motorcycle racing]]
+|sport=[[Sports car racing]], [[Touring car racing]]
 |founded = 2000
+|closed = 2013
 |image =
 |size =
@@ Line 14: / Line 16: @@
 |key staff =
 |chiefexec =
-|url =www.grand-am.com
 }}
-'''Grand-Am Road Racing''' or '''Grand-Am''' is an [[auto racing]] sanctioning body that was established in 1999 to organize [[road racing]] competitions in [[North America]]. Its primary focus is the [[Rolex Sports Car Series]], an [[Endurance racing (motorsport)|endurance racing]] championship series. It currently sanctions five auto racing series. The series announced in September 2012 that it will be merging with the [[American Le Mans Series]], which had been Grand-Am's main US competitor since its inception. The two series will fully merge in 2014 with a new name that has yet to be disclosed.
+'''Grand-Am Road Racing''' or '''Grand-Am''' was an [[auto racing]] sanctioning body that was established in 1999 to organize [[road racing]] competitions in [[North America]]. Its primary focus was the [[Rolex Sports Car Series]], an [[Endurance racing (motorsport)|endurance racing]] championship series. It sanctioned five auto racing series. The series announced in September 2012 that it would be merging with the [[American Le Mans Series]], which had been Grand-Am's main US competitor since its inception. The two series fully merged in 2014 under the banner of the [[TUDOR United SportsCar Championship]], with the [[International Motor Sports Association]].
 ==Overview==
-The Grand American Road Racing Association was established in 1999 and is located in [[Daytona Beach, Florida]], near the homes of [[NASCAR]], [[International Speedway Corporation]] (ISC), and [[Daytona International Speedway]]. Although originated by some members of the NASCAR community, Grand-Am centers on different styles of racing including [[sports car racing]] and [[touring car racing]] on road racing circuits throughout North America.
+The Grand American Road Racing Association was established in 1999 and was located in [[Daytona Beach, Florida]], near the homes of [[NASCAR]], [[International Speedway Corporation]] (ISC), and [[Daytona International Speedway]]. Although originated by some members of the NASCAR community, Grand-Am centers on different styles of racing including [[sports car racing]] and [[touring car racing]] on road racing circuits throughout North America.
-On September 4, 2008, NASCAR Holdings announced their buyout of the Grand American Road Racing Association in an attempt to merge communications, research, and marketing resources into a single entity, while allowing each organization to continue to control their own racing series.<ref name="Buyout">{{cite web | url = http://www.grand-am.com/rolex/news/index.cfm?cid=19123 | title = NASCAR Holdings Announces Plan to Acquire GRAND-AM | publisher = Grand American Road Racing Association | date = 2008-09-04 | accessdate = 2008-09-04}}</ref>
+On September 4, 2008, NASCAR Holdings announced their buyout of the Grand American Road Racing Association in an attempt to merge communications, research, and marketing resources into a single entity, while allowing each organization to continue to control their own racing series.<ref name="Buyout">{{cite web|url=http://www.grand-am.com/rolex/news/index.cfm?cid=19123 |title=NASCAR Holdings Announces Plan to Acquire GRAND-AM |publisher=Grand American Road Racing Association |date=2008-09-04 |access-date=2008-09-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907032046/http://www.grand-am.com/rolex/news/index.cfm?cid=19123 |archive-date=2008-09-07 }}</ref>
-On September 5, 2012 the series announced that they will be merging with [[American Le Mans Series]]. Both series will stay current in 2013 and will have a combined series in 2014.<ref>http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/grand-am-alms-merger-made-official</ref>
+On September 5, 2012, the series announced that they would be merging with the [[Braselton, Georgia]]-based [[American Le Mans Series]]. Both series stayed current in 2013 and began a combined series in 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/grand-am-alms-merger-made-official |title=GRAND-AM: ALMS Merger Made Official |access-date=2013-07-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121123044924/http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/grand-am-alms-merger-made-official |archive-date=2012-11-23 }}</ref>
+==Rolex Sports Car Series==
-==Current series==
-===Rolex Sports Car Series===
 [[Image:Porsche 250, July 2006.jpg|thumb|250px|A field of [[Daytona Prototype]]s in Grand-Am's premier championship, the [[Rolex Sports Car Series]]]]
-{{main|Rolex Sports Car Series}}
+{{Main|Rolex Sports Car Series}}
-The premiere series of Grand-Am is the '''[[Rolex Sports Car Series]]''' which originated in 2000 as a successor to the defunct [[United States Road Racing Championship]]. Combining classes of [[Le Mans Prototypes|Sports Racing Prototypes]] and [[Grand Touring]]-style production-based cars, the series is centered around the [[Rolex 24 At Daytona]] but includes a wide variety of American, Canadian, and Mexican tracks.
+The premiere series of Grand-Am was the '''[[Rolex Sports Car Series]]''' which originated in 2000 as a successor to the defunct [[United States Road Racing Championship]]. Combining classes of [[Le Mans Prototypes|Sports Racing Prototypes]] and [[Grand Touring]]-style production-based cars, the series was centered on the [[Rolex 24 At Daytona]] but included a wide variety of American, Canadian, and Mexican tracks.
-In 2003, the series replaced its Sports Racing Prototypes with new [[Daytona Prototype]]s, a custom-built class built specifically for the Rolex Series. These cost-effective race cars offer a relatively economical racing environment in which technology is carefully controlled to ensure close racing and approximate parity between different chassis and engines.  For the 2012 season, the Rolex series rolled out Gen-III prototypes with new bodies, engines and chassis. These new chassis were designed to keep costs low while also creating body shapes with more brand characteristics.  The new chassis were headlined by [[Chevrolet Corvette|Corvette]] and new [[Ford]] prototypes.
+In 2003, the series replaced its Sports Racing Prototypes with new [[Daytona Prototype]]s, a custom-built class built specifically for the Rolex Series. These cost-effective race cars offer a relatively economical racing environment in which technology is carefully controlled to ensure close racing and approximate parity between different chassis and engines.  For the 2012 season, the Rolex series rolled out Gen-III prototypes with new bodies, engines and chassis. These new chassis were designed to keep costs low while also creating body shapes with more brand characteristics.  The new chassis were headlined by [[Chevrolet Corvette|Corvette]] and new [[Ford Motor Company|Ford]] prototypes.
-The GT classes have also been simplified over the years, allowing for a variety of American, European, and Japanese manufacturers to participate including [[Audi]], [[Chevrolet]], [[Ferrari]], [[BMW]], [[Porsche]], Ford and [[Mazda]]. Rules allow for tuned production cars or custom [[tube frame]] chassis to be used, letting participants save cost if necessary.
+The GT classes were also simplified over the years, allowing for a variety of American, European, and Japanese manufacturers to participate including [[Audi]], [[Chevrolet]], [[Ferrari]], [[BMW]], [[Porsche]], Ford and [[Mazda]]. Rules allowed tuned production cars or custom [[Space frame|tube frame]] chassis to be used, letting participants save cost if necessary.
+In 2013 the GX class were introduced running with alternative fuel and new technology that was not already in use in GT cars. The contending manufacturers were Mazda, Porsche, and [[Lotus Cars|Lotus]].
-Daytona Prototypes and GTs usually share the track although do occasionally race separately, typically at shorter circuits.
+Daytona Prototypes and GTs usually shared the track although do occasionally race separately, typically at shorter circuits.
 ===Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge Series===
-{{main|Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge}}
+{{Main|Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge}}
-Originally based on a Canadian series before being acquired by Grand-Am, the '''Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge''' (originally known as Grand-Am Cup) is a production-based [[Touring car racing|touring car]] series. The series is split into two classes known as Grand Sport (GS), intended for large capacity GT-style cars, and Street Tuner (ST), consisting of smaller sedans and coupes, some of which are [[front-wheel drive]]. The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge supports some Rolex Series races but also headlines some of its own dates. The series is somewhat comparable to the old [[Trans Am Series]].
+Originally based on a Canadian series before being acquired by Grand-Am, the '''Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge''' (originally known as Grand-Am Cup) is a production-based [[Touring car racing|touring car]] series. The series is split into two classes known as Grand Sport (GS), intended for large capacity GT-style cars, and Street Tuner (ST), consisting of smaller sedans and coupes, some of which are [[front-wheel drive]]. The Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge until 2013 supported some Rolex Series races but also headlined some of its own dates. This series continues with the [[TUDOR United SportsCar Championship]] The series is somewhat comparable to the old [[Trans Am Series]].
 ===Ferrari Challenge===
-Grand-Am is the sanctioning body behind the North American arm of the international '''[[Ferrari Challenge]]''' series. Using identical race-tuned [[Ferrari]]s, the series originally ran the F355 then switched to the [[Ferrari 360 Modena|360 Modena]]s before switching to new [[Ferrari F430|F430]]s in 2006 and the 458 Italia in 2010.
+Grand-Am was the sanctioning body behind the North American arm of the international '''[[Ferrari Challenge]]''' series. Using identical race-tuned Ferraris, the series originally ran the F355 then switched to the [[Ferrari 360 Modena|360 Modena]]s before switching to new [[Ferrari F430|F430]]s in 2006 and the 458 Italia in 2010.
 ===Shell Historic Challenge===
-Tied together with the Ferrari Challenge series, the '''[[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] Historic Challenge''' is a series consisting of older [[Ferrari]], [[Maserati]], and [[Scuderia Ferrari]]-run [[Alfa Romeo]] models. Although a racing series, the competition is more of an exhibition of the classic machinery than a true race.
+Tied together with the Ferrari Challenge series, the '''[[Royal Dutch Shell|Shell]] Historic Challenge''' is a series consisting of older Ferrari, [[Maserati]], and [[Scuderia Ferrari]]-run [[Alfa Romeo]] models. Although a racing series, the competition is more of an exhibition of the classic machinery than a true race.
 ===Grand-Am iRacing.com Online Sports Car Series===
-Grand-Am also sanctions an online racing series through the [[sim racing|racing simulator]] [[iRacing.com]]. This series races digital versions of a Riley [[Daytona Prototype]] and the [[Ford Mustang FR500#FR500S|Ford Mustang FR500S]], mirroring the Rolex and Continental Tire series.<ref name="iracing">{{
+Grand-Am also sanctioned an online racing series through the [[sim racing|racing simulator]] [[iRacing.com]]. This series raced digital versions of a Riley [[Daytona Prototype]] and the [[McLaren MP4-12C]], mirroring the Rolex series.
+<ref name="iracing">{{
 cite web
 |url        = http://www.grand-am.com/news/index.cfm?series=r&cid=40249
@@ Line 55: / Line 57: @@
 |publisher  = grand-am.com
 |date       = October 25, 2010
-|accessdate = 2010-11-01
+|access-date = 2010-11-01
 }}</ref>
+==Series defunct before the merger==
-==Former series==
 ===Formula Renault 2000===
@@ Line 65: / Line 67: @@
 ===Ford Racing Mustang Challenge===
 [[Image:Ford Mustang FR500S 19.JPG|thumb|right|A Ford Mustang FR500S which competes in the Mustang Challenge]]
-The '''Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup''' was a series which started in 2008. A one-make series similar to the Ferrari Challenge, this series used identical [[Ford Mustang]] [[Ford_Mustang_FR500#FR500S|FR500S]] cars co-developed by [[Ford Racing]] and [[Larry H. Miller]], owner of [[Miller Motorsports Park]]. The series featured amateur drivers in 45 minute sprint events.
+The '''Ford Racing Mustang Challenge for the Miller Cup''' was a series which started in 2008. A one-make series similar to the Ferrari Challenge, this series used identical [[Ford Mustang]] [[Ford Mustang FR500#FR500S|FR500S]] cars co-developed by [[Ford Racing]] and [[Larry H. Miller]], owner of [[Miller Motorsports Park]]. The series featured amateur drivers in 45 minute sprint events.
-The series held its final event September 12, 2010 at Miller Motorsports Park.<ref>[http://www.mustangchallenge.com/index.php/news/series/entry/ford_racing_mustang_challenge_set_to_close_at_miller_motorsports_park/]</ref> In the announcement, the series predicted that the FR500S Mustang "will continue to be eligible for competition in a variety of series." The FR500S chassis are now eligible for competition in the GTS class of the [[SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge]], with several modifications to bring their level of performance equal with the other cars in the class.<ref>[http://www.world-challenge.com/files/VTS/Ford_Mustang_FR500S_Ver_9.pdf FR500S Vehicle Technical Specifications], SCCA Pro Racing, 11/16/2011, accessed 1/30/2012</ref> Six Mustang Challenge competitors entered their first event as GTS cars at the Mid Ohio race August 7 and August 8, 2010.<ref>[http://www.world-challenge.com/news/story.php?story=1803]</ref>
+The series held its final event September 12, 2010 at Miller Motorsports Park.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mustangchallenge.com/index.php/news/series/entry/ford_racing_mustang_challenge_set_to_close_at_miller_motorsports_park/ |title=Mustang Challenge // Series News |access-date=2010-09-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725112012/http://www.mustangchallenge.com/index.php/news/series/entry/ford_racing_mustang_challenge_set_to_close_at_miller_motorsports_park/ |archive-date=2010-07-25 }}</ref> In the announcement, the series predicted that the FR500S Mustang "will continue to be eligible for competition in a variety of series." The FR500S chassis are now eligible for competition in the GTS class of the [[SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge]], with several modifications to bring their level of performance equal with the other cars in the class.<ref>[http://www.world-challenge.com/files/VTS/Ford_Mustang_FR500S_Ver_9.pdf FR500S Vehicle Technical Specifications]{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, SCCA Pro Racing, 11/16/2011, accessed 1/30/2012</ref> Six Mustang Challenge competitors entered their first event as GTS cars at the Mid Ohio race August 7 and August 8, 2010.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.world-challenge.com/news/story.php?story=1803 |title=Untitled Document |access-date=2010-09-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821084739/http://www.world-challenge.com/news/story.php?story=1803 |archive-date=2010-08-21 }}</ref>
 ===SunTrust Moto-ST Series===
@@ Line 74: / Line 76: @@
 ==References==
-{{reflist}}
+{{Reflist}}
-[http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/grand-am-details-of-alms-unification-emerge Grand-Am, American Le Mans Series Merger Details]
+[https://web.archive.org/web/20121012030507/http://auto-racing.speedtv.com/article/grand-am-details-of-alms-unification-emerge/ Grand-Am, American Le Mans Series Merger Details]
 ==External links==
 * [http://www.grand-am.com Grand-Am Official Website]
+{{Rolex Sports Car Series years}}
-[[Category:Auto racing organizations in the United States]]
+{{Authority control}}
-[[Category:Grand-Am]]
+[[Category:Grand-Am| ]]
-[[de:Grand American Road Racing Association]]
+[[Category:Auto racing organizations in the United States]]
-[[es:Grand-Am]]
+[[Category:Sports car racing]]
-[[fr:Grand-Am]]
+[[Category:Sports organizations established in 2000]]
-[[nl:Grand American Road Racing Association]]
+[[Category:Organizations disestablished in 2013]]
-[[sv:Grand American Road Racing Association]]