Pirelli World Challenge vs TUSC GTD. What is the difference?

[Danathar]

Can anybody explain to me what the essential differences are between the cars in Pirelli World Challenge vs GTD in TUSC?

I'm trying to understand why this series has taken off (not that it's bad, seems like a cool series). Why would an owner choose to race in one vs the other?

[Accident]

I think the main reason someone would choose PWC over GTD is that PWC is sprint racing so there is only one driver per car to pay (or a paying driver) and obviously less cost for fuel/tires/etc without endurance races.

As for the exact technical differences between the cars I'm not sure, other than a few obvious things like BoP and the spec wing in GTD and spec tires. I know a few years ago the cars couldn't be tube-frame chassis but cars like the ACS Express Mustang got away with being nearly a full tube-frame by sticking hacked up pieces of the original chassis here and there.

[BullMan]

PWC GT3 is full spec GT3 cars as they come off the "showroom" floor. About as fast as the GTE cars. They've got traction control, ABS, and stability control, I believe.

The GTD cars have all the aero bits stripped off and replaced with worthless Crawford items. They remove/disable ABS, TC, and SC. The GTD cars also have those NASCAR-style windscreen braces on the top.

PWC races are 50 sprint races. They usually have two in a weekend, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Most TUSC races are longer, for now.

[Danathar]

Originally Posted by BullMan

PWC GT3 is full spec GT3 cars as they come off the "showroom" floor. About as fast as the GTE cars. They've got traction control, ABS, and stability control, I believe.

The GTD cars have all the aero bits stripped off and replaced with worthless Crawford items. They remove/disable ABS, TC, and SC. The GTD cars also have those NASCAR-style windscreen braces on the top.

PWC races are 50 sprint races. They usually have two in a weekend, one on Saturday and one on Sunday. Most TUSC races are longer, for now.

Does anybody have any fastest lap time comparisons between similar models in PWC vs GTE/GTLM on the same track? (do they race on any of the same tracks?)

[BullMan]

Originally Posted by Danathar

Does anybody have any fastest lap time comparisons between similar models in PWC vs GTE/GTLM on the same track? (do they race on any of the same tracks?)

2014 is the first year that PWC has allowed GT3 cars unmolested. I believe in 2013 they gimped them just a little so the Caddy and Volvo didn't have to make any changes.

Here are links to PWC and ALMS at Long Beach:

http://www.world-challenge.com/image...on-GRID-GT.PDF

http://www.alms.com/sites/default/fi...l%20Grid_0.pdf

Looks like ALMS GTE is about 3 seconds a lap faster at Long Beach.

[jasonjessica09]

My hope is that GTD evolves year by year and that IMSA will let them become closer to full FIA GT3 spec. I agree that all you need is Pro-Am rules, spec tires, and maybe a shorter fuel flow or something like that. This concept that each class has to be a certain speed percentage apart from each other is silly. I think it would great to see GTLM cars mix it with P's and LMPC's and same thing for GT3's in their amongst GTLM cars.

Watch International GT Open, where you do have GTE cars racing against GT3's. Its good stuff. One of my favorite series to watch on Youtube in 2013 along with Blancpain, WEC and ALMS.

[NaBUru38]

I think that IMSA is doing the right thing by forbidding traction control and anti-lock brakes. North America's premier sports car champiopnship should have no driver assists.

[Victor_RO]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

I think that IMSA is doing the right thing by forbidding traction control and anti-lock brakes. North America's premier sports car champiopnship should have no driver assists.

LMP and GTE cars all have engine-based traction control.

[Aurora]

Originally Posted by NaBUru38

I think that IMSA is doing the right thing by forbidding traction control and anti-lock brakes. North America's premier sports car champiopnship should have no driver assists.

Also it's worth remembering that GTD is a Pro/Am class so we're not talking top ranked sport sports car drivers here unlike GTLM.

[jeast]

Has anyone heard anything about what will become of the Caddy and volvo program? Are they done?

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by jeast

Has anyone heard anything about what will become of the Caddy and volvo program? Are they done?

No official releases from both yet I believe but this statement suggests Cadillac will be back but Volvo won´t. One has to wonder if that´ll leave K-Pax to go (back) to Porsches again???

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

No official releases from both yet I believe but this statement suggests Cadillac will be back but Volvo won´t. One has to wonder if that´ll leave K-Pax to go (back) to Porsches again???

That's too bad, I enjoyed watching the Volvos out there. I thought I remembered hearing Pobst has a drive for Daytona, but I can't find the story at the moment.

[Speed-King]

Yeah, he's with Muehlner, but he usually is doing the 24 so I don't know if that'll be a full season gig or just a one off.

[JacobP]

I actually like the idea of no electronic aids as specified in GTD rules. Sports cars should rely on the skills of drivers to go fast.

[JoestForEver]

Well....anti-lock brakes and traction control are more like safety features to me, attracting am and gentleman driver, who are desperately needed by this sport. What's more, I never really enjoyed the GT1 cars before 2009 locking up every corner with smoke.

[Speed-King]

Originally Posted by JoestForEver

Well....anti-lock brakes and traction control are more like safety features to me, attracting am and gentleman driver, who are desperately needed by this sport. What's more, I never really enjoyed the GT1 cars before 2009 locking up every corner with smoke.

Judging by the number of full season entrants in GTD, IMSA doesn't seem to be all that desparate...