I was looking at the SpeedTV Touring Car entries for 2003 and it is going to be an exciting year with so many different cars... Integra R's, RSX-S, Proteges, Mercedes C-Coupe, BMW 3's, Lexus IS, Subie Impreza RS, etc. etc. Not sure how many will be competitive, but the racing will be amazing. I can't wait until March 29 for the first TV showing of Sebring.

I still think the Integra R's will be hard to beat, unless they are so loaded down with race winning weight that it pushes them to the back. Even so, the ITR's have such great drivers, they may pull off a few wins.

I think I am definitely going to check out the races when they come to Lime Rock for Memorial Weekend.

 

I don't think the Type R's will do much this year. The only one's that are/were consistently good last year were the Realtime cars and they're suppose to be exclusive to the RSX-S this year. If Realtime does ever show up with one of their old R's than I take that back! I'm very interested in how the Realtime RSX-S will do this year. After the good finish's the RSX-S got in the last two races last year with "one-time" drivers, I think they will be very good.

I am soooooo pissed that they aren't coming back to Mid-Ohio this year! The greatest race weekend Mid-Ohio had last year consisted of ALMS, Trans-Am, and World Challenge all in one weekend - now why exactly would they not want that back?

 

Yeah man, WC isn't coming to Mid-Ohio or VIR this year! I know the reason VIR isn't on the schedule is that SCCA Pro and VIR couldn't reach an agreement on the sanctioning fees. I don't know whose greediness f-ed everything up but either way it sucks. Probably the same case with the Mid-O race.

 

Dont forgot that King Motorsports is going to be running a RSX in SWC this year.

 

A cynic would say that Mazda's support of SCCA club racing (okay, and the pro teams) all but ensures a lock on the WCT title. I might be a cynic...

Kirk

 

Is Mazda doing something in 2003 that they didn't in 2002? AFAIK, their support of the Proteges is continuing as in 2002 (independent teams, with Sunbelt as a single-stop engine supplier, and Mazda Motorsports as a single-stop for other parts).

Or are you saying SCCA Pro will make it easier on the Proteges with more favorable weights? BTW - I could see that happening as well, I just hope it doesn't.

 

another great tiding for the series is the behind-the-scenes support that top teams are getting from the manuf. They finnally realized that we, then fans, are a great market!! I've heard rummors of support levels on par with privaters running in ALMS. It's going to be a great season.

 

Does anybody know what other marques are lending big-time support to teams? Are any teams on par with Mazda's effort?

From what I understand, Mazda stopped short of a true factory backed effort, but did hire Sunbelt to do drivetrain development for any Protege team that asked. And Mazda Motorsports has their normal parts and contingency deals in place.

 

I've heard the same stuff as your post as well as some scuttle about BMW's effort and even an Audi rumor or two...

 

I am most excited to see the factory BMW effort. Should be awesome! Also, the new Audi RS-6 as shown here:
http://www.fastdetails.com/index.htm

 

There was a time when we used to joke that you didn't want to pick your next Showroom Stock car until you saw what Doug Reed (then manager of club racing) had in his parking spot.

The "don't bite the hand that feeds you" thing has a long-standing tradition in motorsports.

K

 

I will be at the first race of the year. I can't wait! My first WC race

mike

 

I can't wait until the season starts and the broadcasts start on TV. There is so much NASCAR stuff on, I think I am beginning to like NASCAR

But when you think about it, WC cars are true stock-type cars as oppossed to NASCAR.

I can't see the RSX's doing very well this year. The Mazda's have more development time and probably better drivers. I may be betting on an old horse, but I am still hoping for the Realtime Tegs to do well.

 

I'm not, and its not because I dont like bmw (see avatar). I am afraid that factory participation in WC is going to ruin it. Up til now well funded privateer teams have been able to do ok, meaning on any given weekend one of many teams running many different types of cars might win.

With factory support there's a good chance WC might turn into another ALMs. Lets see, whos gonna win the ALMs prototype race this weekend? Audi, or maybe Audi, or even Audi?

At any rate, thats my fear. Hope it doesn't turn out that way.

joel

 

Joel, that's a great point, that issue is one all motorsports face at some point. If the SCCA keeps it fair thru award weight and regulations then the privateers do still stand a chance. Then again, look what happened when Porsche came to Can-Am! I love the series and truly hope your preditictions are wrong, however if history teaches lessons then your (and my) fears could come true...but lets hope not!

 

Expect Audi and BMW to dominate GT this year, but it isn't because of the factory backed cars so much. It's because between those two factory teams you have Michael Galati, Randy Pobst, Bill Auberlein, and Boris Said. 4 of the best drivers in the US at the moment! PD is also an amazing driver, and you are fooling yourself if you don't think RealTime gets major support from Honda. However, with PD being the only person using an NSX, there is a blur between what the car can do, and what PD can do. If there were a few other NSXs out there (lower in the standings), PD would be punished with rewards weight, but the car wouldn't be choked down as much because the SCCA would realize that the speed came from the driver, not the car.

My prediction for GT - Randy Pobst will be all but untouchable. I wouldn't be surprised to see Auberlein, Galati, Said, and PD all slugging it out for 2nd place, but I think Randy is just too damn good not to win the championship. He almost did it last year despite missing about 1/3 of the races!


Matt

 

I agree with everything that Matt said about GT, except I would look for the big power V8's to have a bit better showing this year because they finally got a wider rear tire to put the power down. 2nd place in GT could be almost wide open this year, and I can't wait to see how the change to the RA-1s from the T1-S changes the character of the cars.

But I am more interested in seeing King Motorsports kick Real Time's ***! I think there are 4 new touring teams this year! Horay for SCCA Pro Racing! Speed channel would be stupid to stick this season in the same damn random time slots they did last year, with coverage a month or more after the event.

 

You are right about this. Vipers and Vettes are coming out of the woodwork suddenly because they have a chance again. Let's not forget John Young's Saleen!

2003 Speed World Challenge Telecast Schedule

Speed Touring Car Championship
Sebring Sat, Mar 29 4pm
Mosport Sat, May 24 4pm
Lime Rock Sat, May 31 3pm
Washington, DC Sat, Jul 12 3pm
Sears Point Sat, Aug 2 4pm
Road America - Race 1 Sat, Sep 6 3pm
Road America - Race 2 4pm
Laguna Seca Sat, Sep 20 2pm
Road Atlanta Sat, Nov 8 4pm

Speed GT Championship
Sebring Sat, Mar 29 5pm
Mosport Sat, May 24 5pm
Lime Rock - Race 1 Sat, May 31 4pm
Lime Rock - Race 2 5pm
Washington, DC Sat, Jul 19 5pm
Sears Point Sat, Aug 2 5pm
Road America Sat, Sep 6 5pm
Laguna Seca Sat, Sep 20 3pm
Road Atlanta Sat, Nov 8 5pm

All times Eastern.
Check listings for replays.


Matt

 

Don't worry, they will/are! The first races are being televised like three or four weeks after the event on Saturday. At least they're doing it in the afternoon when I might actually be at home. Seriously, who the hell is home from 8-10 on a Friday night?