Actually the Chrysler viper GTS-Rs and Porsche 911 GT2s were GT2 class cars, not GT1.
**No, the Viper GTS-R was designed as a GT1 car, and competed initially as a GT1 car. However in 1997 they switched to GT2 as they were ware that the Viper could not compete with the CLK-GTR, 911 GT1 etc. As Chrysler wanted to compete with a genuine road they moved to GT2. The 911 GT2 competed in both GT2 AND GT1. The 911 GT EVO was a GT1 version of the car and was often the best of the rest behind the original F1 GTRs. Porsche realised this car could not compete against the F1 GTR and so built the 911 GT1 in 1996.**
The GTP class actually had existed for many years before the 911 GT1, Mercedes CLK-GTR, Toyota GT-One, and Nissan R390 came about. It's just that no one bothered to use it, instead going for open cockpit prototypes. Therefore, the ACO did not turn GT1 class into GTP class, it merely changed the rules and GT1 class became the modern day GTS class with much strictor rules on the production cars used (hence why the Maserati MC12 is being penalized).
**LMPGTP was a new class in 1999 and a direct replacement for GT1. Toyota, Porsche, Mercedes etc. would quite happily have left GT1, and its expensive requirement for road cars, if the LMGTP class was available prior to 1999.**
GT2 class was also made strictor like GT1 had been, meaning that Porsche had to stop using their turbo GT2s and switch to NA GT3s, and the Vipers, which could not be easily restricted down to the new GT rules, merely improved themselves for running in the new GTS class.
**GT2 was the home of the Vipers, 911 GT2, Marcos LM600 etc. The class name was changed from GT2 to GTS around 1999. GT was a new smaller GT class for cars like the 911 GT3-R's, Ferrari 360's, TVR T400Rs etc.**
This rule hasn't really changed, at least until next year. They merely changed the name.
**LMP1 and LMP2 are brand new prototype regulations that have been introduced this year. New cars built to these regulations include the Courage C65, WR and NASAMAX. Only yesterday Luchinni released pictures of there new LMP2 car. Porsche have reportedly been testing a new LMP1 car in Secret, in South Africa recently. The regulations are completely different from the old LMP900 and LMP675 regs. LMP1 and LMP2 cars can now be opan or closed cockpit cars. The ALMS has delayed introduceing these regs for 2 years (although new cars can still compete in the ALMS), but these new regs are in force at Le Mans and in the European based LMES this year.**
And the Mosler MT900 would most likely run in GT class, not GTS. Even though the Mosler is similar to the Saleen S7R, it is not as well suited for GTS class. Hencey why in the JGTC it runs in the lower GT300 class, and in Grand Am it ran in the lower GT class instead of GTO.
**Rollcentre racing are currently building a GTS version of the Mosler. Road car production will soon start. 25 need to be built. ThACO have already visited the team to observe the car/plans etc.**
