Classic Motorsport Photos
- Thread starter Liquid
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Did they want to replace Group A outright or did Ecclestone just try and create his own rules in an attempt to extend his sphere of control? ProCar was designed to be an exclusive F1 support series, so obviously Ecclestone wanted to have touring cars (loose definition with a 3.5L V10, yes) "his way" or on his terms.
I think it would have tried to put the WTCC/ETCC/ATCC out of business rather than replace it. Similar to how he killed the WSPC and Group C when its popularity encroached on F1.
I think it would have tried to put the WTCC/ETCC/ATCC out of business rather than replace it. Similar to how he killed the WSPC and Group C when its popularity encroached on F1.
Pete05
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From what I can recall deep within the grey matter, by the end of 1987 into 1988, Group A was destined to become 'formula Sierra' and did for the most part.
The Group A class had a variety of makes & decent manufacturer support into the inaugural World Touring Car Championship of 1987. The problem was a decent number of non-Ford teams backed away when faced with a full year of being an also-ran. The factory Alfa team pulled the pin at the end of the European season & didn't even complete 1987. The BMW M3 that was an outright contender, was relegated to a Class car at best from 1 August when the Sierra RS500 evolution gained homologation. As a result, the WTCC was dead after 1 year.
Ultimately, I believe Jean-Marie & Bernie were happy for Group A to fall back to a domestic level & have the new ProCar class as their premier tin-top series.
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And in the last place still plugging away with Group A because there was more than one manufacturer, Australia, the Nissan came along and definitively ended Formula Sierra, having already killed the JTCC at home.
Irony being of course that the Sierra wasn't an Australian car either but the Skyline was the so-called foreign menace.
Irony being of course that the Sierra wasn't an Australian car either but the Skyline was the so-called foreign menace.
Pete05
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Dick Johnson Racing (DJR) developed the fastest Sierras in the world & it took Gibson Motorsport to develop the fastest Nissan GT-Rs in the world to knock them off. In fact, it was still winning at 1500kg. 140kg above its homologated weight!
The whinging was all centered around the Nissan being a 4wd but, credit to Nissan, they read the Group A rulebook back-to-front & made a bigger, better mousetrap.
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- RandomCarGuy17
I got this from the Japanese Racing Cars FB page I've been following.
1994 Fuji JGTC race, between the Zexel and Unisia Jecs R32 Skylines.
1994 Fuji JGTC race, between the Zexel and Unisia Jecs R32 Skylines.
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- Sick_Cylinder
Dan Gurney racing a Beetle in what the Facebook poster described as "1963 Bahama VW Race".
Sorry for being late to the party!
These shots are from the "VW Grand Prix" - a support race for the 1963 "Nassau Speed Weeks". If you look at the extreme left of the first photo, you can see a Formula Vee single seater - this race featured two classes with a "Le Mans" style start for the VW saloons; the single seaters had a grid start one minute later from further back - hence you can see part of a Formula Vee.
Charlie Kolb won the Formula Vee class (completing 103 miles) while Dan Gurney won the VW saloon class by a full minute! His car was so fast that it was stripped post race, but was found to be within the regulations - his car dated from 1956 and reputedly had already completed 250,000 miles!
The race was held on the 4.5 mile Nassau circuit on New Providence Island on 7th December 1963. The main event races that year, the Nassau Trophy and the Governor's Trophy were both won by AJ Foyt (Scarab MK4 Chevrolet) with Pedro Rodriguez 2nd (Ferrari 250P).
Below a few pictures from Nassau - the races were started in 1954 to boost tourism / extend the tourist season - generous incentives ensured the attendance of top drivers and mouth watering cars!
Above - Stirling Moss loved the location so much that he built a holiday house on the island so he could escape the dreary UK winter weather. In 1958 he could not agree terms with the race organisers so lent a hand in the Aston Martin pits - shown working on the DBR2/1 driven by George Constantine to 2nd place in the Governor's Trophy - 1st place Lance Reventlow in his Scarab MK1 Chevrolet.
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Below BSCC (BTCC) - blast off 1963 ! 7 litre Ford Galaxie's v 3.8 Jaguar Mark 2's v Cortina's V Mini's v Anglia's v Riley 1.5's
Above BSCC (BTCC) 1958 - Austin Westminster v Ford Zephyr.
Above BSCC (BTCC) 1958 - Austin Westminster v Ford Zephyr.
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Maki F1 1974 The Most Frightening. Driver Hownden Ganlay British GP
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Yeah, I normally supply as much info as I can but this photo appeared captionless. Would be interesting to know more about an Escort that was raced as a touring car.
Edit: Rafael Barrios won the production class of the 1994 Spanish Touring Car Championship using an Escort Cosworth.
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- Player_7421
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Haven’t cropped it to show credit. But thought this was pretty cool!
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Fiat Uno Turbo I.E Rally Limone Piemonte Moggia i Think its the CIR (Championship Italian Rally) 1987
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GP Monza 1988 Brace Ferrari Whit Michele Alboreto And Gerhard Berger.Mclaren Defeated Both
