Pirelli World Challenge is the best racing you have never seen

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LEISURE / AUTOS & MOTORCYCLES / CAR & TRUCK ENTHUSIASTS
See also: car & truck enthusiasts, racing, pirelli world challenge, mazda raceway laguna seca
Pirelli World Challenge is the best racing you have never
seen
December 15, 2015
7:38 AM MST
On Sunday, September 13th of this year, the best racing in the western hemisphere concluded its season at nearby Mazda Raceway
Laguna Seca but few actually witnessed it. Why is it so good? Because the Pirelli World Challenge GT cars are closely related to what is
sold to the public, it is a 50 minute sprint, and the action is fierce. The short race duration means it is easy to follow without a
scoreboard, there is no pit stop, driver change or fueling strategy. It is intense and spectator friendly.
San Jose Cars Examiner
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The problem is awareness, competition from another series, lack of a timely broadcasts on a major network and overall malaise
regarding auto racing in the US. Imagine seeing your favorite exotic and performance cars racing neck and neck in a big group of twists
and turns. These are not overweight, under-tired, under-braked special construction cars that go around in circles with no relation
whatsoever to what is on the street.
This series features raced prepped models such as: Ferrari 458, Porsche GT3, McLaren 650S, Mercedes SLS, Audi R8, Bentley
Continental, Nissan GT-R, Aston Martin Vantage, Dodge Viper, Lamborghini Gallardo, BMW Z4, Cadillac ATS-V* and Acura TLX*. The last
two are notable because of the extreme modifications to allow them to participate and be competitive. The ATS-V is essentially a
purpose-built race car with the engine relocated much further back in the chassis. Same with the Acura but all wheel drive is added. So
neither translates well at all to the street version, but manufacturer involvement is always good and the racing is close.
For some reason there are no privateers racing Corvettes unlike past years. The base LT1 engine would need modifying and the Z06
LT4 engine is unsuitable for motorsport circuit racing because it is supercharged. Next year will likely see the Lamborghini Huracan
making an appearance. And soon the Ferrari 488 GTB will show up as well, but detuned like the McLaren, down to roughly 550hp to
keep parity. Parity is always a topic of debate, the desire to keep the racing close yet still let the cars do the talking. Since the Viper,
McLaren, Ferrari are all over 600hp stock now, and Porsche has had 600hp-plus production engines, it would be a good time to let the
cars run at stock power levels instead of de-tuned.
The series had multiple support races occurring over the weekend as well as some vendor booths for the fans that always have some
San Jose Cars Examiner
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really cool clothes, memorabilia, artwork and more. The Maserati Trofeo race sounds and looks great, but isn’t the fastest. Unfortunately
the Pirelli World Challenge (PWC) series is diluted with multiple, slower classes that make tracking and caring the results too
complicated. GTS, GTA, TC, TCA, TCB etc. is just too much. Granted amateurs should be recognized as well as the pros, but this many
classes just makes for a big, “Who cares?” Most fans just want to know the finish order, not what classes did what. It was purer when it
was just GT and Touring Car only.
The final race was an exciting one, with hard charger Olivier Beretta moving up from 12th in his Ferrari 458 GT3 challenging Johnny
O’Connell in the factory Cadillac ATS-VR GT3 for 3rd place with 10 laps to go. A bad pass attempt by Beretta spun them both, and a
drive-through penalty still had Beretta ahead of O’Connell for the series championship but unfortunately contact with the wall 4 laps
before the finish gave the championship O’Connell and Cadillac, their 4th consecutive one. Just shows what a great race car Cadillac
built and what a great race car driver Johnny O’Connell is. Even if you scoff at a factory effort, special construction car competing against
the exotics, it is still a notable accomplishment.
Next year Nissan will be involved with the GT-R (one of the taller race cars), the aforementioned Ferrari and Lamborghini will appear as
well as the Mercedes AMG GT. The Pirelli World Challenge series will be in the Bay Area twice in 2016. First at Sonoma Raceway the
weekend of September 17th & 18th and back at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca October 8th & 9th. Don’t miss it this time!
Robert Eckaus
San Jose Cars Examiner
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