Any controversy with the Pontiac GXP-R? How does it qualify for GT?
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Any controversy with the Pontiac GXP-R? How does it qualify for GT?
I realize that none of the cars out there bear much relationship to their street car roots; but Pontiac doesn't even make anything remotely related to the GXP. If you go to their web site, the designation "GXP" refers solely to a "line" like AMG or S-line and is not a model.
I guess it's just a way for Pontiac to recoupe their wasted investment in the GTOs.
I guess it's just a way for Pontiac to recoupe their wasted investment in the GTOs.
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Grand Am has provisions for two types of GT cars in the Rolex series, Prep 1 and Prep 2...
Prep 1 cars are either built up street cars or factory built race cars and include all of the 911 Cup cars, Ferrari Challenge cars, and M3s, while there are also Prep 1 350Zs and Vettes. Prep 2 cars are tube frame cars designed to provide a competitive car for a manufactuer which would not otherwise have one. The Pontiac GTOs last year were Prep 2 cars, and the GXP.Rs are basically rebodied versions of the GTO.R. The RX-8s, Mustang, G35, and most (all but one I believe) of the Vettes, and maybe the 350Z(s?) in this year's 24 were Prep 2 cars. In the Grand Am rulebook there are actually entries for the following Prep 2 cars:
Acura TL
Cadillac XLR
C5 and C6 Corvettes
Dodge Stratus Coupe
Ford Mustang
Infiniti G35
Jaguar XK8R
Lexus IS350
Lexus SC430
Mazda RX-8
Mercedes CLK 430
Mercedes SL
Nissan 350Z
Pontiac GTO, Grand Prix, or Grand Am
Toyota Celica GTS,
Toyota Solara
Prep 2 cars are all rear wheel drive for the sake of competitiveness, and may use alternative engines from the same manufacturer, which most of them do (the 3 rotor RX-8, V8 GXP.R, V8 Infiniti).
Acura TL
Cadillac XLR
C5 and C6 Corvettes
Dodge Stratus Coupe
Ford Mustang
Infiniti G35
Jaguar XK8R
Lexus IS350
Lexus SC430
Mazda RX-8
Mercedes CLK 430
Mercedes SL
Nissan 350Z
Pontiac GTO, Grand Prix, or Grand Am
Toyota Celica GTS,
Toyota Solara
Prep 2 cars are all rear wheel drive for the sake of competitiveness, and may use alternative engines from the same manufacturer, which most of them do (the 3 rotor RX-8, V8 GXP.R, V8 Infiniti).
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The GXP's are just the GTO-R's of last year, rebodied and sold to new owners. Same exact chassis
and numbers.
As for cars not resembling their street selves, the 911 Cup Cars are very similar to the street cars.
The motor is just slightly hopped up, and all the parts bolted on could be bolted to a street car, really, including the aero package, suspension, etc. It would just suck as a street car.
The Mazda RX8, the Infiniti and the Pontiac are, as D all over wrote, Prep 2 cars.
IMO, prep 2 cars are only fair when you are driving one! Purpose built race cars are not fair to be raced against street cars in most cases. Porsche built 12 "Grand Am" spec 997's to defeat the Prep 2 cars, and they did this year. These cars had an estimated 40 more hp.
Mike S
As for cars not resembling their street selves, the 911 Cup Cars are very similar to the street cars.
The motor is just slightly hopped up, and all the parts bolted on could be bolted to a street car, really, including the aero package, suspension, etc. It would just suck as a street car.
The Mazda RX8, the Infiniti and the Pontiac are, as D all over wrote, Prep 2 cars.
IMO, prep 2 cars are only fair when you are driving one! Purpose built race cars are not fair to be raced against street cars in most cases. Porsche built 12 "Grand Am" spec 997's to defeat the Prep 2 cars, and they did this year. These cars had an estimated 40 more hp.
Mike S
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The GXP.R will merely be a beefed up G6
<a href="http://www.caranddriver.com/autoshows/10939/2007-pontiac-g6-gxp-concept.html" target="_blank">Whorehouse red leather seat inserts don't quite match candy apple gauge accent rings and shift **** trim. </a>
hahahah
They will move off the GTO.R platform to an actual GXP.R built platform during the season IIRC.
hahahah
They will move off the GTO.R platform to an actual GXP.R built platform during the season IIRC.
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I don't like Prep 2, or silhouette race cars in general.
It's a slipperly slope from Prep 2 to Nascar homogeneity and Trans Am irrelevance.
There's already a class for purpose built race cars in the Rolex series. And it seems just sad if a manufacturer can't get one of their chassis competitive in GT through modifications built into the Grand Am spec for their particular model, without resorting to tube frame production fakes.
There's already a class for purpose built race cars in the Rolex series. And it seems just sad if a manufacturer can't get one of their chassis competitive in GT through modifications built into the Grand Am spec for their particular model, without resorting to tube frame production fakes.
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This seems like a rules problem, it doesn't have to be that way
I don't begin to understand the politics of this, but to not have the Viper comp coupe legal in the Rolex series seems insane. The one full bore production-based factory GT racecar made in the US is not legal in either ALMS or Rolex. WTF?
It would not be hard to build a ruleset where a production corvette (and other marques) run comparable to a GT3 Cup car with a similar budget. Speed WC has found a formula that works, Grans Am could too if the France family wanted to.
Goes to show you just can't trust the French ;-)
It would not be hard to build a ruleset where a production corvette (and other marques) run comparable to a GT3 Cup car with a similar budget. Speed WC has found a formula that works, Grans Am could too if the France family wanted to.
Goes to show you just can't trust the French ;-)
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I bet if somebody lobbied enough they could get the Viper signed off for Rolex, but I'm sure it
would have to run some obscene minimum weight because of all the power. F430 Challenge cars have to run at 2800lbs, so I'd think the Viper would be at least 3000lbs.