A few Questions
- Thread starter BP
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- GTP_Jordan
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The term Gran Turismo is a direct Italian translation of Grand Touring. Although it is applied to a class of automobiles today, it predates the automobile by a considerable amount of time. In England, as far back as the 17th Century, Peers of the Realm and members of wealthy families would go on long trips to travel the European continent. The journey was called the Grand Tour, and it was an expected part of a young gentleman's education. The Grand Tour could last for several years, and was made by horse-drawn coach. Major continental cities, including Paris, and historic landmarks were stops on the route. The very final destination was always Rome, the center for European art and culture since the Renaissance. There, participants would socialize with their peers and scholars, and enroll in courses of academic study to pursue a classic education. The carriages used for the Grand Tour acquired the name Gran Turismo in Italian. When automobiles replaced horse-drawn carriages as the conveyance of choice for a certain type became popular. It was a fast and light two-seater, but more comfortable and well appointed than a pure sports car. The genre reached it's peak after World War 2, when limited-production and specially-constructed two-seaters became popular with members of royalty, wealthy sportsmen, and movie stars. Many of these cars were raced, and the production car category in European racing became known as Gran Turismo, Grand Touring, or just plain GT. Regulations required two-seat interiors, spaer tires, and luggage capacity, and, in the 1950s at least, GT-class racers could be and were driven to the track, raced, and driven home. Production-based racing classes are still know as GT classes in many racing series today.
Hope that answers your question. 
Hope that answers your question.
Thanks Jordan,
another thing, i was watching a LeMans race on TV one time and noticed that all the cars were totally different unlike F1 and Cart where there all the same.
They had slower cars racing on the same course against faster cars.
Corvettes against porches and vipers and panoz racers all different looking cars.
And they listed different classes like GT.
Is this what a GT racing is?
another thing, i was watching a LeMans race on TV one time and noticed that all the cars were totally different unlike F1 and Cart where there all the same.
They had slower cars racing on the same course against faster cars.
Corvettes against porches and vipers and panoz racers all different looking cars.
And they listed different classes like GT.
Is this what a GT racing is?
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- GTP_Jordan
- GTP_Jordan
Yes. At Le Mans, there are three classes of cars racing on the track: GTS, GTS-R, and Prototypes (don't ask what the S stands for, I don't know 
). Each class of cars goes a little faster than the other, because each class is allowed to perform more and more racing modifications (weight restrictions, engine tuning, aerodynamics, etc.). And, for the prototypes, since they are not production cars, many more modifications (even the entire body, frame, and engine) are allowed. There are many GT leagues around the world, such as the Speedvision GT Series, and larger events such as the American and European Le Mans Series.
). Each class of cars goes a little faster than the other, because each class is allowed to perform more and more racing modifications (weight restrictions, engine tuning, aerodynamics, etc.). And, for the prototypes, since they are not production cars, many more modifications (even the entire body, frame, and engine) are allowed. There are many GT leagues around the world, such as the Speedvision GT Series, and larger events such as the American and European Le Mans Series.
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- GTP_Jordan
- GTP_Jordan
I should also add that these classes are not directly racing against each other. Each class has it's own winner, so it's actually more like three races racing on the same track at the same time. It adds a tremendous challenge to all of the drivers due to the extra traffic and slower/faster cars passing you all the time. Of course, it's not too much of a problem at a long track like Le Sarthe, but in the other series, it can be a challenge.
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They keep changing class designations and classifications, but I think the American Lemans Series uses the Classes GT1, GT2, GT3, and GTS
When you have a car like a Porsche GT2 (rwd twin turbo in 2001) it is factory ready to race in a GT2 race (safety equipment, hp requirements, rwd, etc.)
GTS used to be GTQ which meant that if your car could run fast enough and met saftey specs, and be competitive, you could run it.
Like I said, They keep changing things, and I have been sans speedvision for too long.
When you have a car like a Porsche GT2 (rwd twin turbo in 2001) it is factory ready to race in a GT2 race (safety equipment, hp requirements, rwd, etc.)
GTS used to be GTQ which meant that if your car could run fast enough and met saftey specs, and be competitive, you could run it.
Like I said, They keep changing things, and I have been sans speedvision for too long.
