Group D Production Sports Cars
Encyclopedia
Group D Production Sports Cars was a CAMS
motor racing category current in Australia
from 1972 to 1981.
The Group D category catered for series-production type automobiles, other than those eligible to compete as Touring Cars, which were:
Bodywork could be of an open or closed type and was required to provide adequate accommodation for a minimum of two persons. The original design of the cylinder-block, cylinder-head, transmission and suspension had to be retained and forced induction was permitted only if fitted as standard by the manufacturer. Minor changes to bodywork, mudguards and interior trim were permitted. A 5000cc engine capacity limit which was applied at the time of the introduction of the category was latter raised to 6000cc.
Cars from the Group D Production Sports Cars category were eligible to compete in Australian Sports Car Championship
races alongside those from the Group A Sports Cars
category from 1972 to 1975 and in May 1975, Production Sports Cars contested the revived Australian Tourist Trophy
held at Calder Raceway. In 1976, Group D became the sole category to contest the Australian Sports Car Championship, a situation which applied through to 1981. The category was discontinued at the end of that year and the Group D designation was applied to a new category for GT Cars
from 1982.
Confederation of Australian Motor Sport
The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport , has been the governing body of Australian motorsport since 1953. It is affiliated with the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile ....
motor racing category current in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
from 1972 to 1981.
The Group D category catered for series-production type automobiles, other than those eligible to compete as Touring Cars, which were:
- Recognised by the FIA as Group 3Group 3 (racing)The Group 3 racing class referred to a set of regulations for Grand Touring Cars competing in sportscar racing and rallying events regulated by the FIA. These regulations were active, in various forms, from 1957 to 1981-1957 to 1965:...
or Group 4Group 4 (racing)The Group 4 racing class referred to regulations for cars in sportscar racing, GT racing and rallying, as regulated by the FIA. The Group 4 class was replaced by Group B for the 1983 season.-Production requirements:...
cars, or - Of a type of which at least 50 examples existed in Australia, or
- Of a type which CAMS deemed to be eligible
Bodywork could be of an open or closed type and was required to provide adequate accommodation for a minimum of two persons. The original design of the cylinder-block, cylinder-head, transmission and suspension had to be retained and forced induction was permitted only if fitted as standard by the manufacturer. Minor changes to bodywork, mudguards and interior trim were permitted. A 5000cc engine capacity limit which was applied at the time of the introduction of the category was latter raised to 6000cc.
Cars from the Group D Production Sports Cars category were eligible to compete in Australian Sports Car Championship
Australian Sports Car Championship
The Australian Sports Car Championship was the CAMS sanctioned national title for Sports Car drivers in the years from 1969 to 1988. Each championship was contested over a series of races with the exception of the 1975 title, which was awarded on the results of a single race held at the Phillip...
races alongside those from the Group A Sports Cars
Group A Sports Cars
Group A Sports Cars is an Australian motor racing category that CAMS formulated for sports car racing in Australia. Introduced in 1964, it continues today under the name Group 2A Sports Cars....
category from 1972 to 1975 and in May 1975, Production Sports Cars contested the revived Australian Tourist Trophy
Australian Tourist Trophy
The Australian Tourist Trophy is a CAMS sanctioned national motor racing title for sports car drivers. The title was awarded for the first time in 1956 and then annually from 1958 until the introduction by CAMS of an Australian Sports Car Championship for 1969...
held at Calder Raceway. In 1976, Group D became the sole category to contest the Australian Sports Car Championship, a situation which applied through to 1981. The category was discontinued at the end of that year and the Group D designation was applied to a new category for GT Cars
Australian GT Championship
The Australian GT Championship is a CAMS-sanctioned national title for drivers of GT cars, held annually from 1960 to 1963, from 1982 to 1985 and from 2005. Each championship up to and including the 1963 title was contested over a single race and those after that year over a series of races...
from 1982.