The last few years I found it interesting that the F body was still being used as the platform even though it was out of production. Not that this race series was used to promote sales of a vehicle(in recent years). But almost as if they were just waiting for the return of the Camaro.

With the 5th gen coming I hope it is well received and utilized as the platform.
There is a long history with Camaros being the car of choice in this race series. Just a couple of dark years there, Porche in the 70's and those Daytona things.

 

For a long time it was Camaro's they raced. Then some Porches, then they raced Dodge Daytona's, then Dodge Vipers, Dodge Avengers, and then they went back to the F-Bod with the Firebird. I think the reason Jay Signore hasnt used a new car yet because its cheaper. Plus racing the Firebird offers a certain neutrailty to the series.

 

Not going to happen. The licensing rights are too pricey for GM to pick back up as a sponsor.

Granted a revived IROC-Z would be huge since the name recognition is still strong.

I doubt the IROC series will be around much longer...they've been struggling mightily the last few years.

 

Actually it was Porsches first, but only for the first year, 1974.
In 1975 it switched to Camaros.

And for anyone else that cares, the IROC race cars:
Porsche Carrera RSR: 1974
Chevrolet Camaro: 1975 - 1989
Dodge Daytona: 1990 - 1993
Dodge Avenger: 1994 - 1995
Pontiac Trans Am: 1996 - 2005 (and more?)

 

IROC? That series is still around?


What I'd really like to see return in the Trans Am series!

Real "Stock Car" racing, with production based cars and engines.

Since we have the Mustang, soon to be the Challenger, and finally the Camaro, I think this series is completely doable again..... as long as it isn't diluted into oblivion like NASCAR ended up.

I suspect there would be manufacturers involvement because this would actually be a chance for some serious durability testing.

 

The IROC series is still around on life support. Sadly it isn't what it use to be, now due to contracts and time commitments it's just a bunch of nascar guys racing around on ovals with a few open wheel guys and the token road racer mixed in.

I would love to see a reborn trans-am with rwd couples from all the big three. Many would love to see it like it was back in the late sixties but Trans-Am also had a bit of return to glory in the late 80's-early 90's when you had the big three plus multiple outside manufacturers participating.

If GM was going to go road racing with the camaro I would say it would probably go for something like the Speed GT series.

 

The Speed World Challange is exactly what you describe. Actually, the Cadillac CTSv's were performing testing for the LS7 engine during their first season. The first race that they were in, they were almost a full lap faster than any other car. The SCCA ammended the rules to slow them down after that. It would be great to see the Camaro perform in the GT class.

 

This is what IROC should have been:

http://www.raceofchampions.com/

 

Don't you get that in Speed World Challenge?

 

I've pretty much always thought that IROC was a really dumb, boring series. Especially when thet stopped using real cars.

Speed World Challenge is cool, but for me, nothing even remotely compares to the original Trans Am series. Nothing.

You (the car manufacturer, that is) want to use some exotic induction system or engine block for your race car.....well no problem, just make it available on the production car to homologate. Simple as that. Unlike the Speed World Challenge, where you can petition to slow down the faster cars that just beat you....in the old days of Trans Am, your only choice was to build a faster race car....which meant a better street car for people like us.

Not only was the original Trans Am series thrilling to watch and follow, as the factories spent millions to develop cars and win glory, but the enthusiasts who bought these cars from the dealer on Monday had all this racing tech filter down into their street cars.

I mean Jeeeze, 35 years later, here we are, still talking about it.

 

Oh BTW....


Does anyone remember the American Touring Car series? As far as I'm concerned it was extremely exciting to watch. Edge of your seat exciting. It was based on World Touring Car rules. Too bad they couldn't get it off the ground in 1996 (even with factory support from Dodge, for one)....because it was great racing, for the few events they had.

American Touring Car made NASCAR look about as exciting as watching paint dry....probably one of the reasons it was killed in it's first season....if you catch my drift.

 

I remember seeing one of the first Touring Car races at Lime Rock in 1996 - something like 2.0 or 2.5 liter limit, and drivetrains had to be the same layout as factory- it was pretty cool, esp when one of the front-drive cars broke the rear suspension but still managed to pull itself off the track!

 

I remember that as well.

I had such high hopes for the American racing scene.......

 

I seem to remember that each event was a series of three 10 lap heats, with a short period in between them to make repairs.

It was 10/10ths racing from the moment the green flag dropped. I can remember cars three abreast, fighting to get into the same corner apex. Man, that was racing!

 

That would be awesome. I think you are right. Be a good "test" mule for the car companies to test w/o too much involvement...