1997 North American Touring Car Championship season
Encyclopedia
The 1997 North American Touring Car Championship was the second and final season of the North American Touring Car Championship
. The series was organized by CART
, and ran to Super Touring regulations. 18 rounds at 9 race meetings were organized, all but one (in Savannah, Georgia
) supporting the CART World Series.
Indy Lights' Dixie Crystals Grand Prix was added later.
North American Touring Car Championship
The North American Touring Car Championship was a touring car racing series using the Supertouring formula that raced in North America in 1996 and 1997. The series was funded in part by IndyCar team owner Gerald Forsythe. He appointed his Vice-President of Business Operations, Canadian Roger...
. The series was organized by CART
Cart
A cart is a vehicle designed for transport, using two wheels and normally pulled by one or a pair of draught animals. A handcart is pulled or pushed by one or more people...
, and ran to Super Touring regulations. 18 rounds at 9 race meetings were organized, all but one (in Savannah, Georgia
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
) supporting the CART World Series.
Teams and drivers
| Team | Car | No. | Drivers | Rounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TC Kline Racing | BMW 320i | 1 |  Randy PobstRandy Pobst Randy Pobst also known as "RFP" or "The Rocket" is an American race car driver, born 26 June 1957, in Dayton, Ohio.Currently active in the SCCA World Challenge GT series and the Grand American series' GT class, Pobst is the 2003, 2007, 2008, and 2010 SCCA World Challenge GT champion and is a... |
All |
| 20 | Tom Finneley |
7–10 | ||
| 99 |  Doug Beatty |
11–12 | ||
| Brian Battaglia |
1–4 | |||
| Rod Millen Motorsports | Toyota Camry Toyota Camry The Toyota Camry is a series of mid-size automobiles manufactured by Toyota since 1982, and sold in the majority of automotive markets throughout the world... |
2 |  Rod MillenRod Millen Rodney K. "Rod" Millen is a racing competitor, vehicle designer, and business owner. He has competed in numerous genres of motorsports, including rally racing, off-road racing, hillclimbing, drifting, and super touring.-Personal life:... |
7–8 |
| Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Group is a former racing team owned by Steve Horne that competed in the Indy Lights series and, most notably, the CART series from 1995 to 1998. Tasman was one of the first teams to successfully field a Honda powered entry... |
Honda Accord Honda Accord The Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world.... |
4 |  Neil CromptonNeil Crompton Neil Crompton is a well-known V8 Supercars presenter and commentator for Australia's Channel Seven, having previously worked in a similar role at Network Ten... |
1–6, 9–18 |
| Schader Motorsports | Mazda Xedos | 5 | Bob Schader |
All |
| 6 |  Desiré WilsonDesiré Wilson Desiré Randall Wilson is a former racing driver from South Africa, one of only five women to have competed in Formula One. She entered one Formula One World Championship Grand Prix in 1980 with a non-works Williams FW07 prepared by Brands Hatch Racing, but failed to qualify... |
1–4, 11–12 | ||
| Walter Puckett |
5–6, 9–10 | |||
 Paul Charsley |
15–16 | |||
| PacWest Touring Car Group PacWest Racing PacWest Racing was a Champ Car racing team owned by Bruce McCaw founded in 1993. The team's first full time season was the next year, 1994, with drivers Dominic Dobson and future Indy Racing League co-champion Scott Sharp... |
Dodge Stratus Dodge Stratus The Dodge Stratus was a mid-size 4-door sedan introduced in 1995. It was based on the Chrysler JA platform Cab forward . The Stratus, Breeze, and Cirrus were all on Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list for 1996 and 1997. It received critical acclaim at launch, but ratings fell over time... |
7 | Dominic Dobson Dominic Dobson Dominic Dobson is a German-born former CART and Craftsman Truck Series driver who made 7 starts in the Indianapolis 500 with a best finish of 12th in 1992, over 60 starts in the CART , with a best finish of 3rd at the Michigan 500 in 1994... |
All |
| 8 | David Donohue David Donohue David Donohue is an American race car driver currently active in the Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class for Brumos Porsche.... |
All | ||
| Hartong Motorsports | BMW 320i | 18 | Darren Law Darren Law Darren Law is a Canadian-born American racing driver.At age 14 Law was the International Kart Federation national champion, and shortly thereafter began racing cars in various amateur classes on the west coast of the United States. In 1991 he was a factory driver for Elden Racing Cars' factory... |
All |
| Fastech Group | Ford Contour Ford Contour The Ford Contour, and its rebadged variant, the Mercury Mystique, were compact 4-door sedans marketed from model years 1995-2000 by Ford Motor Company in North America... |
27 | David Welch |
All |
| Honda American Racing Team Realtime Racing Realtime Racing is a racing team in the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge. They have a long history with Acura. Their team includes Peter Cunningham, the winningest driver in series history.-Vehicles:*Acura TSX*Acura NSX*Acura RSX*Acura Integra... |
Honda Accord Honda Accord The Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world.... |
42 | Peter Cunningham Peter Cunningham (racing driver) Peter Cunningham is an American race car driver.Cunningham began his professional racing career in SCCA World Challenge in 1990 driving a Honda CRX, finishing second in class. He drove an Oldsmobile Cutlass in the 1991 24 Hours of Daytona... |
9–16 |
| 62 | Forrest Granlund |
1–6, 9–10, 13–18 | ||
| Metalcraft | Pontiac Sunfire Pontiac Sunfire The Pontiac Sunfire was introduced for the 1995 model year as the compact car to replace the Sunbird. Not only was the name changed, but dramatic styling changes were included as well. The new styling was shared with the redesigned Chevrolet Cavalier... |
80 | Dave Jolly |
17–18 |
| 81 | Ron Emmick |
15–18 | ||
| Jonak Brothers Racing | BMW 320i | 99 | Mark Jonak |
1–4 |
| Hertfelder Motorsports | Honda Accord Honda Accord The Honda Accord is a series of compact, mid-size and full-size automobiles manufactured by Honda since 1976, and sold in a majority of automotive markets throughout the world.... |
 Roberto Quintanilla |
9–18 |
Calendar
The initial calendar was released with sixteen races, all supporting CART events. A doubleheader at the Savannah, GeorgiaSavannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
Indy Lights' Dixie Crystals Grand Prix was added later.
| Round | Date | Circuit | Location | Pole position Pole position The term "pole position", as used in motorsports, comes from the horse racing term where the number one starter starts on the inside next to the inside pole. The term made its way, along with several other customs, to auto racing. In circuit motorsports, a driver has pole position when he or she... |
Winning driver | Winning team |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April 17 | Long Beach street circuit |
Long Beach, California Long Beach, California Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257... |
Peter Cunningham Peter Cunningham (racing driver) Peter Cunningham is an American race car driver.Cunningham began his professional racing career in SCCA World Challenge in 1990 driving a Honda CRX, finishing second in class. He drove an Oldsmobile Cutlass in the 1991 24 Hours of Daytona... |
Neil Crompton Neil Crompton Neil Crompton is a well-known V8 Supercars presenter and commentator for Australia's Channel Seven, having previously worked in a similar role at Network Ten... |
Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Group is a former racing team owned by Steve Horne that competed in the Indy Lights series and, most notably, the CART series from 1995 to 1998. Tasman was one of the first teams to successfully field a Honda powered entry... |
| 2 | Peter Cunningham Peter Cunningham (racing driver) Peter Cunningham is an American race car driver.Cunningham began his professional racing career in SCCA World Challenge in 1990 driving a Honda CRX, finishing second in class. He drove an Oldsmobile Cutlass in the 1991 24 Hours of Daytona... |
Neil Crompton Neil Crompton Neil Crompton is a well-known V8 Supercars presenter and commentator for Australia's Channel Seven, having previously worked in a similar role at Network Ten... |
Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Group is a former racing team owned by Steve Horne that competed in the Indy Lights series and, most notably, the CART series from 1995 to 1998. Tasman was one of the first teams to successfully field a Honda powered entry... |
|||
| 3 | May 17 | Hutchinson Island |
Savannah, Georgia Savannah, Georgia Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important... |
Peter Cunningham Peter Cunningham (racing driver) Peter Cunningham is an American race car driver.Cunningham began his professional racing career in SCCA World Challenge in 1990 driving a Honda CRX, finishing second in class. He drove an Oldsmobile Cutlass in the 1991 24 Hours of Daytona... |
Peter Cunningham Peter Cunningham (racing driver) Peter Cunningham is an American race car driver.Cunningham began his professional racing career in SCCA World Challenge in 1990 driving a Honda CRX, finishing second in class. He drove an Oldsmobile Cutlass in the 1991 24 Hours of Daytona... |
Honda American Racing Team Realtime Racing Realtime Racing is a racing team in the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge. They have a long history with Acura. Their team includes Peter Cunningham, the winningest driver in series history.-Vehicles:*Acura TSX*Acura NSX*Acura RSX*Acura Integra... |
| 4 | May 18 | Peter Cunningham Peter Cunningham (racing driver) Peter Cunningham is an American race car driver.Cunningham began his professional racing career in SCCA World Challenge in 1990 driving a Honda CRX, finishing second in class. He drove an Oldsmobile Cutlass in the 1991 24 Hours of Daytona... |
Peter Cunningham Peter Cunningham (racing driver) Peter Cunningham is an American race car driver.Cunningham began his professional racing career in SCCA World Challenge in 1990 driving a Honda CRX, finishing second in class. He drove an Oldsmobile Cutlass in the 1991 24 Hours of Daytona... |
Honda American Racing Team Realtime Racing Realtime Racing is a racing team in the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge. They have a long history with Acura. Their team includes Peter Cunningham, the winningest driver in series history.-Vehicles:*Acura TSX*Acura NSX*Acura RSX*Acura Integra... |
||
| 5 | June 8 | Belle Isle Park Detroit Indy Grand Prix The Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix presented by shopautoweek.com is a weekend of professional auto racing held at the Renaissance Center and later the Belle Isle in Detroit, United States. It has been held from 1989-01, 2007–08, and is scheduled for 2012 and beyond... |
Detroit, Michigan Detroit, Michigan Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River... |
David Donohue David Donohue David Donohue is an American race car driver currently active in the Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class for Brumos Porsche.... |
David Donohue David Donohue David Donohue is an American race car driver currently active in the Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class for Brumos Porsche.... |
PacWest Touring Car Group PacWest Racing PacWest Racing was a Champ Car racing team owned by Bruce McCaw founded in 1993. The team's first full time season was the next year, 1994, with drivers Dominic Dobson and future Indy Racing League co-champion Scott Sharp... |
| 6 | David Donohue David Donohue David Donohue is an American race car driver currently active in the Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class for Brumos Porsche.... |
Dominic Dobson Dominic Dobson Dominic Dobson is a German-born former CART and Craftsman Truck Series driver who made 7 starts in the Indianapolis 500 with a best finish of 12th in 1992, over 60 starts in the CART , with a best finish of 3rd at the Michigan 500 in 1994... |
PacWest Touring Car Group PacWest Racing PacWest Racing was a Champ Car racing team owned by Bruce McCaw founded in 1993. The team's first full time season was the next year, 1994, with drivers Dominic Dobson and future Indy Racing League co-champion Scott Sharp... |
|||
| 7 | June 21 | Portland International Raceway Portland International Raceway Portland International Raceway is located in Portland, Oregon, USA's, Delta Park complex on the former site of Vanport, just south of the Columbia River. It is west of a light rail station and less than a mile west of Interstate 5.... |
Portland, Oregon Portland, Oregon Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States... |
David Donohue David Donohue David Donohue is an American race car driver currently active in the Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class for Brumos Porsche.... |
Peter Cunningham Peter Cunningham (racing driver) Peter Cunningham is an American race car driver.Cunningham began his professional racing career in SCCA World Challenge in 1990 driving a Honda CRX, finishing second in class. He drove an Oldsmobile Cutlass in the 1991 24 Hours of Daytona... |
Honda American Racing Team Realtime Racing Realtime Racing is a racing team in the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge. They have a long history with Acura. Their team includes Peter Cunningham, the winningest driver in series history.-Vehicles:*Acura TSX*Acura NSX*Acura RSX*Acura Integra... |
| 8 | David Donohue David Donohue David Donohue is an American race car driver currently active in the Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class for Brumos Porsche.... |
Randy Pobst Randy Pobst Randy Pobst also known as "RFP" or "The Rocket" is an American race car driver, born 26 June 1957, in Dayton, Ohio.Currently active in the SCCA World Challenge GT series and the Grand American series' GT class, Pobst is the 2003, 2007, 2008, and 2010 SCCA World Challenge GT champion and is a... |
TC Kline Racing | |||
| 9 | July 13 | Burke Lakefront Airport Grand Prix of Cleveland The Grand Prix of Cleveland was an open wheel automobile racing event in the Champ Car World Series, held annually at Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, Ohio, United States of America. The 2006 race, held on June 25, marked the 25th anniversary of the event... |
Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border... |
Dominic Dobson Dominic Dobson Dominic Dobson is a German-born former CART and Craftsman Truck Series driver who made 7 starts in the Indianapolis 500 with a best finish of 12th in 1992, over 60 starts in the CART , with a best finish of 3rd at the Michigan 500 in 1994... |
David Donohue David Donohue David Donohue is an American race car driver currently active in the Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class for Brumos Porsche.... |
PacWest Touring Car Group PacWest Racing PacWest Racing was a Champ Car racing team owned by Bruce McCaw founded in 1993. The team's first full time season was the next year, 1994, with drivers Dominic Dobson and future Indy Racing League co-champion Scott Sharp... |
| 10 | Dominic Dobson Dominic Dobson Dominic Dobson is a German-born former CART and Craftsman Truck Series driver who made 7 starts in the Indianapolis 500 with a best finish of 12th in 1992, over 60 starts in the CART , with a best finish of 3rd at the Michigan 500 in 1994... |
Peter Cunningham Peter Cunningham (racing driver) Peter Cunningham is an American race car driver.Cunningham began his professional racing career in SCCA World Challenge in 1990 driving a Honda CRX, finishing second in class. He drove an Oldsmobile Cutlass in the 1991 24 Hours of Daytona... |
Honda American Racing Team Realtime Racing Realtime Racing is a racing team in the SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge. They have a long history with Acura. Their team includes Peter Cunningham, the winningest driver in series history.-Vehicles:*Acura TSX*Acura NSX*Acura RSX*Acura Integra... |
|||
| 11 | July 19 | Exhibition Place Exhibition Place Exhibition Place is a mixed-use district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, by the shoreline of Lake Ontario, just west of downtown. The 197–acre area includes expo, trade, and banquet centres, theatre and music buildings, monuments, parkland, sports facilities, and a number of civic, provincial,... |
Toronto Toronto Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from... , Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... |
Dominic Dobson Dominic Dobson Dominic Dobson is a German-born former CART and Craftsman Truck Series driver who made 7 starts in the Indianapolis 500 with a best finish of 12th in 1992, over 60 starts in the CART , with a best finish of 3rd at the Michigan 500 in 1994... |
Dominic Dobson Dominic Dobson Dominic Dobson is a German-born former CART and Craftsman Truck Series driver who made 7 starts in the Indianapolis 500 with a best finish of 12th in 1992, over 60 starts in the CART , with a best finish of 3rd at the Michigan 500 in 1994... |
PacWest Touring Car Group PacWest Racing PacWest Racing was a Champ Car racing team owned by Bruce McCaw founded in 1993. The team's first full time season was the next year, 1994, with drivers Dominic Dobson and future Indy Racing League co-champion Scott Sharp... |
| 12 | Neil Crompton Neil Crompton Neil Crompton is a well-known V8 Supercars presenter and commentator for Australia's Channel Seven, having previously worked in a similar role at Network Ten... |
Neil Crompton Neil Crompton Neil Crompton is a well-known V8 Supercars presenter and commentator for Australia's Channel Seven, having previously worked in a similar role at Network Ten... |
Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Group is a former racing team owned by Steve Horne that competed in the Indy Lights series and, most notably, the CART series from 1995 to 1998. Tasman was one of the first teams to successfully field a Honda powered entry... |
|||
| 13 | August 9 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course is a road course auto racing facility located in Troy Township, Morrow County, Ohio, United States, just outside of the village of Lexington... |
Lexington, Ohio Lexington, Ohio Lexington is a village in Richland County in the U.S. state of Ohio. It is part of the Mansfield, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,822 at the 2010 census, an increase from 4,165 in 2000.... |
David Donohue David Donohue David Donohue is an American race car driver currently active in the Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class for Brumos Porsche.... |
David Donohue David Donohue David Donohue is an American race car driver currently active in the Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class for Brumos Porsche.... |
PacWest Touring Car Group PacWest Racing PacWest Racing was a Champ Car racing team owned by Bruce McCaw founded in 1993. The team's first full time season was the next year, 1994, with drivers Dominic Dobson and future Indy Racing League co-champion Scott Sharp... |
| 14 | David Donohue David Donohue David Donohue is an American race car driver currently active in the Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class for Brumos Porsche.... |
David Donohue David Donohue David Donohue is an American race car driver currently active in the Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class for Brumos Porsche.... |
PacWest Touring Car Group PacWest Racing PacWest Racing was a Champ Car racing team owned by Bruce McCaw founded in 1993. The team's first full time season was the next year, 1994, with drivers Dominic Dobson and future Indy Racing League co-champion Scott Sharp... |
|||
| 15 | August 31 | Concord Pacific Place Molson Indy Vancouver Molson Indy Vancouver was an annual Champ Car race held in a street circuit near B.C. Place and running past Science World in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada held in July or August from 1990 to 2004.... |
Vancouver Vancouver Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,... , British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858... |
David Donohue David Donohue David Donohue is an American race car driver currently active in the Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class for Brumos Porsche.... |
Neil Crompton Neil Crompton Neil Crompton is a well-known V8 Supercars presenter and commentator for Australia's Channel Seven, having previously worked in a similar role at Network Ten... |
Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Group is a former racing team owned by Steve Horne that competed in the Indy Lights series and, most notably, the CART series from 1995 to 1998. Tasman was one of the first teams to successfully field a Honda powered entry... |
| 16 | David Donohue David Donohue David Donohue is an American race car driver currently active in the Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class for Brumos Porsche.... |
Neil Crompton Neil Crompton Neil Crompton is a well-known V8 Supercars presenter and commentator for Australia's Channel Seven, having previously worked in a similar role at Network Ten... |
Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Group is a former racing team owned by Steve Horne that competed in the Indy Lights series and, most notably, the CART series from 1995 to 1998. Tasman was one of the first teams to successfully field a Honda powered entry... |
|||
| 17 | September 7 | Laguna Seca Raceway |
Monterey, California Monterey, California The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of... |
David Donohue David Donohue David Donohue is an American race car driver currently active in the Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class for Brumos Porsche.... |
Neil Crompton Neil Crompton Neil Crompton is a well-known V8 Supercars presenter and commentator for Australia's Channel Seven, having previously worked in a similar role at Network Ten... |
Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Group is a former racing team owned by Steve Horne that competed in the Indy Lights series and, most notably, the CART series from 1995 to 1998. Tasman was one of the first teams to successfully field a Honda powered entry... |
| 18 | David Donohue David Donohue David Donohue is an American race car driver currently active in the Grand-Am's Rolex Sports Car Series Daytona Prototype class for Brumos Porsche.... |
Neil Crompton Neil Crompton Neil Crompton is a well-known V8 Supercars presenter and commentator for Australia's Channel Seven, having previously worked in a similar role at Network Ten... |
Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Tasman Motorsports Group is a former racing team owned by Steve Horne that competed in the Indy Lights series and, most notably, the CART series from 1995 to 1998. Tasman was one of the first teams to successfully field a Honda powered entry... |
Drivers Championship
EWLINE
|
EWLINE
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Manufacturers Championship
EWLINE
|
||||||||||||||||||||
External links
- Results & points
- http://www.driverdb.com/standings/639-1997/