Group C
Group C was a category of
.It was designed to replace both Group 5 special production cars (closed top touring prototypes like Porsche 935) and Group 6 two-seat racing cars (open-top sportscar prototypes like Porsche 936). Group C was used in the FIA's World Endurance Championship (1982–1985), World Sports-Prototype Championship (1986–1990), World Sportscar Championship (1991–1992) and in the European Endurance Championship (1983 only). It was also used for other sports car racing series around the globe (All Japan Sports Prototype Championship, Supercup, Interserie). The final year for the class came in 1993.
Broadly similar rules were used in the North American
History
The roots of the Group C category lie in both FIA Group 6 and particularly in the GTP category introduced by the ACO at
While the consumption requirement meant that cars needed to conserve fuel early in the race, manufacturer support for the new regulations grew steadily with each make adding to the diversity of the series. With the new rules, it was theoretically possible for large naturally aspirated engines to compete with small forced induction engines. In addition, all races were to be contested over at least 1000 km — usually lasting more than six hours — so it was possible to emphasize the "endurance" aspect of the competition as well.
Ford (with the
With costs increasing, the FIA introduced a new Group C Junior class for 1983. This was intended for privateer teams and small manufacturers and it limited cars to a minimum weight of 700 kg and a maximum fuel capacity of 55 liters. With competitors limited to five refueling stops within a 1000 kilometer distance, the cars were effectively allowed 330 liters per 1000 kilometers. As in Group C, engines had to be from a recognized manufacturer which had cars homologated in Group A or Group B. Although it was originally expected that C Junior cars would use two-litre normally aspirated engines, in practice most cars used either the 3.5l
Rise and fall
By 1989, the Group C series popularity was nearly as great as Formula One.[citation needed] When C1 cars were found to be breaking over the 400 kilometres per hour mark at Le Mans' Mulsanne Straight — the WM-Peugeot recorded the highest 405 km/h (252 mph) during the 1988 event[3] — the FIA revolutionized the class by attempting to turn it into a formula series to replace the C2 category (after they proved to be unreliable at endurance races)[citation needed]. The new formula restricted the performance of cars built to the original rules (such as the Porsche 962 used by many privateers) and benefited teams using F1-sourced 3.5 L engines — these latter teams being effectively the large manufacturers alone, as the new formula cars were more expensive than the C1 cars. What followed was the quick downfall of Group C, as the new engines were unaffordable for privateer teams like Spice and ADA. A lack of entries meant the 1993 Championship was canceled before the start of the first race. However, the ACO still allowed the Group C cars to compete (albeit with restrictions) at 24 Hours of Le Mans. Nevertheless, the race still witnessed protests against the new state of affairs, as spectators placed cloth banners in fences expressing their feelings[citation needed].
The 1994 24 Hours of Le Mans was the last one in which Group C cars were permitted. A new category formed especially by race organizers also saw modified Group C cars without roofs. In fact, a former C1 car disguised as a road-legal GT car which was entered in the GT1 category, the
Group C series
The FIA's Group C formula was designed primarily for the World Endurance Championship which included the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, several smaller series also adapted the Group C regulations. The Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft allowed Group C cars to compete alongside various other types of cars from the 1982 season until 1985, when the series was reformed as the ADAC Supercup. Under the new Supercup series, only Group C cars would be allowed to compete. This series lasted until 1989.
In Great Britain, the
In Japan, the
List of Group C Sports Cars
References
- ^ "Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG". 70 years of Porsche Sports Cars. Archived from the original on 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
- ^ "Group C2". www.sportsracers.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-26.
- ^ Fuller, Michael J. "Mulsanne's Corner: Maximum Speeds at Le Mans, 1961-1989". www.mulsannescorner.com. Archived from the original on 2015-11-03. Retrieved 2016-10-03.