World Challenge Evolves GTS Class

[NewsBot]

The GTS class in The World Challenge racing series will be changed to include a mix of production sports cars and sport sedans. Currently dominated by Acura and BMW entries, series organizers are opening the way for additional cars to participate, including the new generation of "Pony Cars."


Images: Mark Weber/World Challenge

At the end of July, World Challenge organizers released information on the future direction of the GTS class. According to World Challenge Director of Operations, Scott Bove, "When GTS was announced for 2010, we knew this would be a transitional year, providing a place for the more radical 2009 Touring Cars while building a platform to build upon for years to come. As GTS moves forward, it will fill the clear void between the Touring Car and GT classes, offering great racing by some of the marketplace’s hottest and most popular cars."

The updated GTS class will provide a ready-made place for pony cars like the Ford Mustang, Dodge Challenger and Chevrolet Camaro. It will also offer a place for current-model domestic, European and Japanese cars, including the Audi S4 and S5, BMW 335 and M3, Cadillac CTS-V, Mercedes CLK V-8, Infiniti G37, Nissan 370, Lexus ISF, Mitsubishi EVO and Subaru WRX STi.



The new GTS cars will maintain a stock body, with no carbon fiber body panels permitted while maintaining the stock unibody chassis. With exceptions allowed to equalize the performance the machines, GTS cars will use stock transmissions and pickup points. Only the cars grandfathered in, such as the Acura TSX and BMW 328i, will be able to use sequential gearboxes. Wings and splitters will continue to be used, but no exotic suspension components will be permitted.

As in the current GT and Touring Car classes of World Challenge, performance leveling will be attained through ballast and engine restrictor adjustments.

The World Challenge series this season consists of twelve races at nine different tracks, ranging from St. Petersburg, FL, to Long Beach, CA . Several events are double headers, as was the most recent one at Mid-Ohio.




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