Gts

[Edmonton]

Is the GTS class now like what GT1 was like in 95 and 96?

[Chevyguy]

GT1 was not a production based class in a true sense of the word "production". GT1 required only one road version of the car be built, and I think the regs were more like GTP's in terms of weight and horsepower. Interestingly enough though, the Viper GTS-R began it's life as GT1 car. I think the GTS cars of today are closer to GT type cars, but it's my opinion that the GTS will evolve into what GT1 was within the next few years.

[slicktsax]

actually th old GT1 class was for production based race cars, not homlogation specials, remember the mclaren F1 raced in the GT1 class and the mclaren started out as a road car first. in an interview gordan murry intended the mclaren to be the ultimate road car, he said don't ask me to make a race version out of it. but he ended up making race version because there were so many requests for one. but it was porsche who made the GT1 class into a prototype homolagation special class when they introduced the 911 GT1. porsche found loop holes in the rules so they were able to make a race version first then a street version off the race version. it was porsche who turned it into a prototype class and even the mighty mclaren couldn't keep up. thus other manufacturers had to follow the same road as porsche. interesting to note that when BMW did the exact same thing with it's M3 GTR in the GT class in 2001 porsche cried fowl play. the reason why chrysler decided to switch the viper from the GT1 class to the GT2 is because the viper couldn't keep up with all the homologation specials like the porsche 911 gt1 and then the clk GTr.

[JAG]

Theres a big difference between making a prototype GT1 car, and a prototype GT class car.

Pre 1997 all the GT1 cars were true production cars.

The problem for the likes of Porsche was that nothing in their, or any other manufactuers road car range, could touch the Mclaren F1.

Therefore they were forced to build a homologation special.

Nowadays the likes of Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Pagani etc. have road cars capable of challeging the F1.

The F1 was simply 10 years ahead of its road car competition.

[slicktsax]

actually when the mclaren F1 debuted in 95 gordon murry wasn't sure how it would stack up against the ferrari F40 GTE's and the other machinery. he was a bit skeptical about the pace of his mclarens. well obviously he was proven wrong but i still feel porsche didn't need to make it's homologation special. ferrari actually did make a GT1 car out of it's Ferrari F50 but decided not to pursue the project because of porsche's 911 GT! and the spiraling costs after the 911's introduction to make the cars competative against the porsche. even gordon murry had to slightly redesign his might mclaren after the 911 gti was introduced, that's why the mclaren long tail was born, to go up against the 911 gt1.

[RobweenerPI]

You guys aren't answering his question. The current GTS cars are slower than the Fastest of the later GT1 cars. Martin Brudle I believe had the fastest lap ever in GT1 at leman in the Toyota at 3:29 and change(GTS is now at Low 3:50's). The Toyota was about as fast as the R8 ever went. But yes the car built to the original intent of GT1 were closer to what GTS is today in speed.

[slicktsax]

lol actually we did answer the question and u have to remember the toyota wasn't around in 95' and 96'. remember came out in 98' so of course it would be faster