Nocturn
11-02-2004, 04:02 PM
Pontiac to send GTO racing in 2005
Alex Law
Auto123
http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/31232/inline_01.jpg
A pair of hopped-up two-door coupes bearing the Pontiac GTO name will compete in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series half-way through the 2005 season, with teams and drivers to be announced later.
After the GTO race car is developed to GM's tastes, says Doug Duchardt, GM's racing director, the company plans to sell it to racing teams.
''We've found the right type of racing venue to demonstrate the performance capabilities of the GTO,'' says Duchardt. ''Pontiac has already achieved success in the Daytona Prototype class of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, and next year will expand its involvement to the GT division.''
Duchardt says Pontiac will be the first manufacturer to produce cars to meet the series' new GT regulations, retaining the stock body design and ''production-based LS2 small-block V-8 engines.''
The new 6.0-liter LS2 engine that powers the production 2005 GTO ''provides a strong foundation for the racing version,'' says Duchardt, since in stock trim it cranks out 400 hp.
''With only minor modifications developed by GM Powertrain,'' Duchardt explains, ''the LS2 easily achieves the 450-hp maximum output specified by Grand American regulations,'' with a max torque of 410 at 5,200 rpm. Open exhaust headers, a free-flowing induction system, a competition camshaft, and a road racing dry-sump oiling system are the only changes from the stock mechanicals.
Duchardt points out that this is not the first time that the LS2 engine has gone racing, that it indeed ''the most successful production-based engine in motorsports.''
The road racing group manager for GM Racing, Harry Turner, says the company sees ''great potential for the GT class in the Grand American Series. GM Racing will be an active participant in that growth by providing highly developed yet affordable vehicles. We will also provide comprehensive technical support for Pontiac teams.''
Turner says the use of production-based powertrains and body panels on the race track ''will provide opportunities to demonstrate the GTO's virtues against an international field of competitors that includes Ferrari, Porsche and BMW.''
"These programs closely align with one of GM's strategies of racing vehicles that have clear relationships with their production counterparts,"says Duchardt. "It is important for both marketing and engineering reasons to have strong links between the products that we race and the products that we sell to our customers. These programs provide opportunities to improve both GM's production and racing vehicles through the two-way exchange of technology, personnel and processes."
Full Article Here: http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news...rtid=31232&pg=1
Alex Law
Auto123
http://www.auto123.com/ArtImages/31232/inline_01.jpg
A pair of hopped-up two-door coupes bearing the Pontiac GTO name will compete in the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series half-way through the 2005 season, with teams and drivers to be announced later.
After the GTO race car is developed to GM's tastes, says Doug Duchardt, GM's racing director, the company plans to sell it to racing teams.
''We've found the right type of racing venue to demonstrate the performance capabilities of the GTO,'' says Duchardt. ''Pontiac has already achieved success in the Daytona Prototype class of the Grand American Rolex Sports Car Series, and next year will expand its involvement to the GT division.''
Duchardt says Pontiac will be the first manufacturer to produce cars to meet the series' new GT regulations, retaining the stock body design and ''production-based LS2 small-block V-8 engines.''
The new 6.0-liter LS2 engine that powers the production 2005 GTO ''provides a strong foundation for the racing version,'' says Duchardt, since in stock trim it cranks out 400 hp.
''With only minor modifications developed by GM Powertrain,'' Duchardt explains, ''the LS2 easily achieves the 450-hp maximum output specified by Grand American regulations,'' with a max torque of 410 at 5,200 rpm. Open exhaust headers, a free-flowing induction system, a competition camshaft, and a road racing dry-sump oiling system are the only changes from the stock mechanicals.
Duchardt points out that this is not the first time that the LS2 engine has gone racing, that it indeed ''the most successful production-based engine in motorsports.''
The road racing group manager for GM Racing, Harry Turner, says the company sees ''great potential for the GT class in the Grand American Series. GM Racing will be an active participant in that growth by providing highly developed yet affordable vehicles. We will also provide comprehensive technical support for Pontiac teams.''
Turner says the use of production-based powertrains and body panels on the race track ''will provide opportunities to demonstrate the GTO's virtues against an international field of competitors that includes Ferrari, Porsche and BMW.''
"These programs closely align with one of GM's strategies of racing vehicles that have clear relationships with their production counterparts,"says Duchardt. "It is important for both marketing and engineering reasons to have strong links between the products that we race and the products that we sell to our customers. These programs provide opportunities to improve both GM's production and racing vehicles through the two-way exchange of technology, personnel and processes."
Full Article Here: http://www.auto123.com/en/info/news...rtid=31232&pg=1