Rolex Sports Car Series
Encyclopedia
The Rolex Sports Car Series is the premier series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association
. It is a North American-based sports car
series that was founded in 2000 under the name Grand American Road Racing Championship to replace the failed United States Road Racing Championship
. Rolex
took over as series sponsor in 2002.
It has run with a mixture of classes of sports prototype
s and Grand Touring-style cars over the years. In 2003, the series debuted their custom prototype chassis, known as Daytona Prototype
s, named after their premiere event, the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
in 1999, the new Grand American Road Racing Association announced their intentions to adopt a format similar to the one used in the USRRC, centering around the 24 Hours of Daytona
. This series was seen as an alternative to the former IMSA GT Championship
, which had since been replaced by the American Le Mans Series
in 1999. The new series would run two classes of Sports Racing Prototypes identical to the rules used in the new FIA Sportscar Championship
in Europe, while Grand Touring-style cars would consist of three classes: GTO for larger production-based race cars, GTU for smaller production-based race cars, and AGT for American tube frame
cars. The league would also acquire the Six Hours of Watkins Glen, giving the league a second endurance race alongside the Rolex 24 at Daytona to compete with the ALMS' 12 Hours of Sebring
and Petit Le Mans
. GTO and GTU would be renamed GTS and GT for 2001 to better match the classes used by the similar American Le Mans Series
.
2003 would see the series go through a radical change, as Daytona Prototype
s debuted for the first time to replace both of the Sports Racing Prototype classes. Although SRPs would be allow to continue until the end of 2003, few were seen while the Daytona Prototypes took over the series. The American GT class was also dissolved with the cars being placed into the similar GTS class.
In 2004, the faster GTS class was abandoned in order to provide a larger gap between the Daytona Prototypes and GT cars. The GTS cars were as fast (if not faster) than the Daytona Prototypes. This meant that the GT class was now the top tier, being joined by the Super Grand Sport (SGS) class moved up from the Grand Am Cup series. This was further streamlined in 2005 with all Grand Touring-style cars being in a single GT class. The Rolex Sports Car Series currently uses these two classes today: DP and GT.
This formula has led to the Rolex Sports Car Series having a large number of competitors at most events, mostly due to the ease of use and low cost of the cars in either class while the Grand American Road Racing Association has been able to keep the competition equalized.
With such high car counts, Grand-Am has had to split GT and DP races at shorter tracks where it is not feasible to put 50 cars on the track at one instance. In each case, the GT cars race on Saturday, and the DP cars race on Sunday. This split format allows drivers to run both races. Each race is the same distance, as it would be if the two classes were running together. This does however make GT races slightly longer than combined events, since GT cars would likely finish several laps behind the winning prototype and thus not cover the full distance.
When the GT and DP races are combined, the two classes use a motorcycle racing-style "wave start," a concept from Roger Edmonson, who had been in motorcycle racing before organising the Grand American series with the France family. In this case, the DP cars will take the green flag first, followed, usually 20–30 seconds later (depending on track length) by the GT cars. By starting the cars separately, the organisers hope for safer starts by having the two classes of cars race separately.
Due to the series' affiliaton with NASCAR
, many Sprint Cup Series drivers have occasionally participated in Rolex Series races, particularly the 24 Hours of Daytona.
is the near-exclusive broadcaster of the RSCS, including coverage of the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen and the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Grand American Road Racing Association
GRAND-AM Road Racing or GRAND-AM is an auto racing sanctioning body that was established in 1999 to organize road racing competitions in North America...
. It is a North American-based sports car
Sports car racing
Sports car racing is a form of circuit auto racing with automobiles that have two seats and enclosed wheels. They may be purpose-built or related to road-going sports cars....
series that was founded in 2000 under the name Grand American Road Racing Championship to replace the failed United States Road Racing Championship
United States Road Racing Championship
The United States Road Racing Championship was created by the Sports Car Club of America in 1962. It was the first SCCA series for professional racing drivers. SCCA Executive Director John Bishop helped to create the series to recover races that had been taken by rival USAC Road Racing...
. Rolex
Rolex
Rolex SA is a Swiss watchmaking manufacturer of high-quality, luxury wristwatches. Rolex watches are popularly regarded as status symbols and BusinessWeek magazine ranks Rolex No.71 on its 2007 annual list of the 100 most valuable global brands...
took over as series sponsor in 2002.
It has run with a mixture of classes of sports prototype
Sports prototype
A sports prototype, also referred to as simply a prototype, is a form of racing car that is used as a top category in sports car racing. These purpose-built racing cars differ from street-legal and production-based racing cars that also compete in sports car racing.Prototype racing cars have...
s and Grand Touring-style cars over the years. In 2003, the series debuted their custom prototype chassis, known as Daytona Prototype
Daytona Prototype
A Daytona Prototype is a type of sports prototype racing car developed specifically for the Grand American Road Racing Association's Rolex Sports Car Series as their top class of car, replacing contemporary open cockpit sports cars, specifically Sports Racing Prototypes...
s, named after their premiere event, the Rolex 24 at Daytona.
History
Following the failure of the United States Road Racing ChampionshipUnited States Road Racing Championship
The United States Road Racing Championship was created by the Sports Car Club of America in 1962. It was the first SCCA series for professional racing drivers. SCCA Executive Director John Bishop helped to create the series to recover races that had been taken by rival USAC Road Racing...
in 1999, the new Grand American Road Racing Association announced their intentions to adopt a format similar to the one used in the USRRC, centering around the 24 Hours of Daytona
24 Hours of Daytona
The 24 Hours of Daytona, currently known as the Rolex 24 Daytona for sponsorship reasons, is a 24-hour sports car endurance race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is run on a combined road course, utilizing portions of the NASCAR tri-oval and an infield...
. This series was seen as an alternative to the former IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT Championship
IMSA GT was a sports car racing series organized by International Motor Sports Association. Races took place primarily in the United States and occasionally in Canada.-History:...
, which had since been replaced by the American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
in 1999. The new series would run two classes of Sports Racing Prototypes identical to the rules used in the new FIA Sportscar Championship
FIA Sportscar Championship
The FIA Sportscar Championship was a sports car racing series created by John Mangoletsi and was eventually taken control of by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . It was a series similar to the FIA GT Championship, concentrating on two classes of open-cockpit sports prototypes in...
in Europe, while Grand Touring-style cars would consist of three classes: GTO for larger production-based race cars, GTU for smaller production-based race cars, and AGT for American tube frame
Tube frame
Tube frame may refer to:*Tube , a structure designed to act like a three-dimensional hollow tube so to resist lateral loads*Space frame or space structure, a truss-like, lightweight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern*Superleggera, sometimes referred to as a...
cars. The league would also acquire the Six Hours of Watkins Glen, giving the league a second endurance race alongside the Rolex 24 at Daytona to compete with the ALMS' 12 Hours of Sebring
12 Hours of Sebring
The 12 Hours of Sebring is an annual motorsport endurance race for sports cars held at Sebring International Raceway, a former Army Air Force base in Sebring, Florida...
and Petit Le Mans
Petit Le Mans
The Petit Le Mans is a sports car endurance race held annually at Road Atlanta in Braselton, Georgia, USA. It uses the rules established for the 24 hours of Le Mans by the Automobile Club de l'Ouest , which are slightly modified if necessary, mainly to allow additional cars to compete.The race was...
. GTO and GTU would be renamed GTS and GT for 2001 to better match the classes used by the similar American Le Mans Series
American Le Mans Series
The American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón is a sports car racing series based in the United States and Canada. It consists of a series of endurance and sprint races, and was created in the spirit of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Teams compete in one of five classes: LMP1, LMP2 and LMPC...
.
Daytona Prototype
A Daytona Prototype is a type of sports prototype racing car developed specifically for the Grand American Road Racing Association's Rolex Sports Car Series as their top class of car, replacing contemporary open cockpit sports cars, specifically Sports Racing Prototypes...
s debuted for the first time to replace both of the Sports Racing Prototype classes. Although SRPs would be allow to continue until the end of 2003, few were seen while the Daytona Prototypes took over the series. The American GT class was also dissolved with the cars being placed into the similar GTS class.
In 2004, the faster GTS class was abandoned in order to provide a larger gap between the Daytona Prototypes and GT cars. The GTS cars were as fast (if not faster) than the Daytona Prototypes. This meant that the GT class was now the top tier, being joined by the Super Grand Sport (SGS) class moved up from the Grand Am Cup series. This was further streamlined in 2005 with all Grand Touring-style cars being in a single GT class. The Rolex Sports Car Series currently uses these two classes today: DP and GT.
With such high car counts, Grand-Am has had to split GT and DP races at shorter tracks where it is not feasible to put 50 cars on the track at one instance. In each case, the GT cars race on Saturday, and the DP cars race on Sunday. This split format allows drivers to run both races. Each race is the same distance, as it would be if the two classes were running together. This does however make GT races slightly longer than combined events, since GT cars would likely finish several laps behind the winning prototype and thus not cover the full distance.
When the GT and DP races are combined, the two classes use a motorcycle racing-style "wave start," a concept from Roger Edmonson, who had been in motorcycle racing before organising the Grand American series with the France family. In this case, the DP cars will take the green flag first, followed, usually 20–30 seconds later (depending on track length) by the GT cars. By starting the cars separately, the organisers hope for safer starts by having the two classes of cars race separately.
Due to the series' affiliaton with NASCAR
NASCAR
The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
, many Sprint Cup Series drivers have occasionally participated in Rolex Series races, particularly the 24 Hours of Daytona.
Series champions
| Season | Classes | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 2000 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2000 Grand American Road Racing Championship season was the inaugural season of the Rolex Sports Car Series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. The season involved five classes: Sports Racing Prototypes I and II and three Grand Touring classes referred to at GTO, GTU, and AGT... |
SR | SRII | GTO | GTU | AGT |
 James WeaverJames Weaver (racing driver) James Weaver is a British former racing driver. He began his career in the European F3. In 1982 he was the Eddie Jordan Racing team's primary driver, but in 1983 he went back to the European F3. He debuted in the British Touring Car Championship in 1989 at the Oulton Park circuit in March that year... |
 Larry Oberto |
Terry Borcheller Terry Borcheller Terry Borcheller is an American professional racing driver who races in the Grand American Road Racing Association Rolex Sports Car Series and American Le Mans Series.... |
Mike Fitzgerald |
Doug Mills |
|
| 2001 2001 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2001 Grand American Road Racing Championship season was the second season of the Rolex Sports Car Series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. The season involved five classes: Sports Racing Prototype I and II , Grand Touring Sport , Grand Touring , and American GT... |
SRP | SRPII | GTS | GT | AGT |
| James Weaver James Weaver (racing driver) James Weaver is a British former racing driver. He began his career in the European F3. In 1982 he was the Eddie Jordan Racing team's primary driver, but in 1983 he went back to the European F3. He debuted in the British Touring Car Championship in 1989 at the Oulton Park circuit in March that year... |
Andy Lally Andy Lally Andrew Lally is an American race car driver and Street Luge racer. Although Lally has driven partial schedules in all three of NASCAR's premier series he is best known for his road racing expertise in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series as well as the American Le Mans Series... |
Chris Bingham Chris Bingham Chris Bingham is an American racing driver from Kirkland, Washington. He is a noted sports car driver but also competed in eleven Busch Series events in his career.-Early career:... |
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... |
Craig Conway |
|
| 2002 2002 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2002 Grand American Road Racing Championship season was the third season of the Rolex Sports Car Series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. The season involved five classes: Sports Racing Prototype I and II , Grand Touring Sport , Grand Touring , and American GT . 10 races were... |
 Didier TheysDidier Theys Didier Theys is an Belgian sports car driver. He is a two-time overall winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona ; a winner of the 12 Hours of Sebring ; the Sports Racing Prototype driver champion of the Grand-American Road Racing Association and the winner of the 24 Hours of Spa... |
Terry Borcheller Terry Borcheller Terry Borcheller is an American professional racing driver who races in the Grand American Road Racing Association Rolex Sports Car Series and American Le Mans Series.... |
Chris Bingham |
Bill Auberlen Bill Auberlen Bill Auberlen is a race car driver born in Redondo Beach, California, USA on 12 October 1968.Bill joined BMW Team PTG in 1996 after a very successful privateer effort. In 1997, Bill won the IMSA GT3 championship, driving a BMW M3... Cort Wagner |
Kerry Hitt |
| 2003 2003 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2003 Rolex Sports Car Series season was the fourth season of the Rolex Sports Car Series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. The season involved four classes, Daytona Prototypes , Sports Racing Prototype II , Grand Touring Sport , and Super Grand Sport . 12 races were run from... |
DP | SRPII | GTS | GT | |
| Terry Borcheller Terry Borcheller Terry Borcheller is an American professional racing driver who races in the Grand American Road Racing Association Rolex Sports Car Series and American Le Mans Series.... |
Steve Marshall |
Tommy Riggins Dave Machavern |
Cort Wagner Brent Martini |
||
| 2004 2004 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2004 Rolex Sports Car Series season was the fifth season of the Rolex Sports Car Series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. The season involved three classes, Daytona Prototypes , Grand Touring , and Super Grand Sport... |
DP | GT | SGS | ||
 Max PapisMax Papis Massimiliano "Max" Papis is a racing driver who has competed in several top-level motorsports events such as Le Mans 24 Hours, Formula One and Champ Car. He has three Champ Car victories. He is the son-in-law of Emerson Fittipaldi. His son's godfather is fellow Italian Alex Zanardi... Scott PruettScott Pruett Scott Donald Pruett is an American race car driver who has competed in NASCAR, Champ Car, IMSA, Trans-Am and Grand-Am. He and his wife Judy have three children, and are children's book authors.... |
Andy Lally Andy Lally Andrew Lally is an American race car driver and Street Luge racer. Although Lally has driven partial schedules in all three of NASCAR's premier series he is best known for his road racing expertise in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series as well as the American Le Mans Series... Marc Bunting |
Bill Auberlen Bill Auberlen Bill Auberlen is a race car driver born in Redondo Beach, California, USA on 12 October 1968.Bill joined BMW Team PTG in 1996 after a very successful privateer effort. In 1997, Bill won the IMSA GT3 championship, driving a BMW M3... Boris SaidBoris Said Boris Said is an American race car driver from Carlsbad, California but considers his hometown to be Stamford, Connecticut. His father, Bob Said, was a Formula One race driver and US Olympic bobsled driver in 1968 and 1972. He drove the #26 Ford Fusion for Latitude 43 Motorsports in the NASCAR... |
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| 2005 2005 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2005 Rolex Sports Car Series season was the sixth season of the Rolex Sports Car Series run by the Grand American Road Racing Association. The format was reduced to two classes, Daytona Prototypes and Grand Touring . 14 races were run from February 5, 2005 to November 5, 2005. Laguna-Seca... |
DP | GT | |||
| Max Angelelli Max Angelelli Massimiliano Angelelli is an Italian race car driver.His career begun in Italian Formula Alfa Boxer in 1987 and continued for 15 years. His only championship win as the 1992 Italian Formula Three title...  Wayne TaylorWayne Taylor Wayne Taylor is a South African sports car racer. He won the 1996 and 2005 24 Hours of Daytona, and the 2005 Rolex Series. He co-drives for SunTrust Racing with Max Angelelli... |
Craig Stanton |
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| 2006 2006 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2006 Rolex Sports Car Series season was the seventh season of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve. The 15-race championship was competed with Daytona Prototype and Grand Touring class cars. It began January 28, 2006 and ended September 2, 2006.... |
 Jörg BergmeisterJörg Bergmeister Jörg Bergmeister is a race car driver from Germany.His father, Willi Bergmeister, owns a workshop and dealership where Michael Schumacher learned his trade as a car mechanic in the 1980s.... |
Andy Lally Andy Lally Andrew Lally is an American race car driver and Street Luge racer. Although Lally has driven partial schedules in all three of NASCAR's premier series he is best known for his road racing expertise in the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series as well as the American Le Mans Series... Marc Bunting |
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| 2007 2007 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2007 Rolex Sports Car Series season was the eighth season of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve. The 15-race championship for Daytona Prototypes and GT cars began January 27, 2007 and concluded on September 15, 2007. Alex Gurney and Jon Fogarty shared... |
Alex Gurney Alex Gurney Alex Gurney is an American professional auto racing driver, currently driving for GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. Gurney drives the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Pontiac Riley, pairing with Jon Fogarty... Jon FogartyJon Fogarty Jon Fogarty is an American professional auto racing driver . Fogarty currently drives the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Daytona Prototype for GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. He won his first Grand-Am race, the 2007 Mexico City 400k, in March 2007... |
Dirk Werner |
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| 2008 2008 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2008 Rolex Sports Car Series season is the ninth season of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. The 14-race championship for Daytona Prototypes and 13-race championship for Grand Touring cars began January 26, 2008 and will conclude on September 20, 2008... |
 Memo RojasMemo Rojas Guillermo "Memo" Rojas, Jr. is a Mexican professional race car driver. Successful in American sports car racing, Rojas is a two-time series champion in the Rolex Sports Car Series and a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona... Scott PruettScott Pruett Scott Donald Pruett is an American race car driver who has competed in NASCAR, Champ Car, IMSA, Trans-Am and Grand-Am. He and his wife Judy have three children, and are children's book authors.... |
Paul Edwards Kelly Collins |
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| 2009 2009 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2009 Rolex Sports Car Series season is the tenth season of the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. It is a 12-race schedule beginning at the Rolex 24 at Daytona and ending at Homestead-Miami Speedway... |
Alex Gurney Alex Gurney Alex Gurney is an American professional auto racing driver, currently driving for GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. Gurney drives the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Pontiac Riley, pairing with Jon Fogarty... Jon FogartyJon Fogarty Jon Fogarty is an American professional auto racing driver . Fogarty currently drives the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Daytona Prototype for GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing in the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series. He won his first Grand-Am race, the 2007 Mexico City 400k, in March 2007... |
Leh Keen Leh Keen Lehman McGrath Keen III is an American-born racecar driver born in Dublin, Georgia who currently competes in the Rolex Sports Car Series for Brumos Racing.... Dirk Werner |
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| 2010 2010 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2010 Rolex Sports Car Series season was the 11th season of the Grand Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16. It began on January 30 with the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona... |
Scott Pruett Scott Pruett Scott Donald Pruett is an American race car driver who has competed in NASCAR, Champ Car, IMSA, Trans-Am and Grand-Am. He and his wife Judy have three children, and are children's book authors.... Memo RojasMemo Rojas Guillermo "Memo" Rojas, Jr. is a Mexican professional race car driver. Successful in American sports car racing, Rojas is a two-time series champion in the Rolex Sports Car Series and a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona... |
Emil Assentato Emil Assentato Emil Assentato is an American racing driver born in New York City.His career has seen him competing in the SCCA Formula Ford competition from 1973-1976 in local as well as National events. In that time he had four podium finishes and won the 1974 New York Region Formula Ford class... Jeff Segal |
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| 2011 2011 Rolex Sports Car Series season The 2011 Rolex Sports Car Series season was the twelfth season of Grand Am's premier series. Continental Tire became the official tire supplier for Grand-Am... |
Scott Pruett Scott Pruett Scott Donald Pruett is an American race car driver who has competed in NASCAR, Champ Car, IMSA, Trans-Am and Grand-Am. He and his wife Judy have three children, and are children's book authors.... Memo RojasMemo Rojas Guillermo "Memo" Rojas, Jr. is a Mexican professional race car driver. Successful in American sports car racing, Rojas is a two-time series champion in the Rolex Sports Car Series and a two-time winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona... |
Leh Keen Leh Keen Lehman McGrath Keen III is an American-born racecar driver born in Dublin, Georgia who currently competes in the Rolex Sports Car Series for Brumos Racing.... Andrew DavisAndrew Davis Andrew Davis is the name of:* Andrew Jackson Davis , American spiritualist* Andy Davis , Washington Redskins player* Andrew Davis , American film director* Andrew M... |
Television
Speed ChannelSPEED Channel
Speed , is a cable and satellite television network broadcast to various parts of North America, but primarily the United States...
is the near-exclusive broadcaster of the RSCS, including coverage of the 6 Hours of Watkins Glen and the 24 Hours of Daytona.
See also
- Daytona PrototypeDaytona PrototypeA Daytona Prototype is a type of sports prototype racing car developed specifically for the Grand American Road Racing Association's Rolex Sports Car Series as their top class of car, replacing contemporary open cockpit sports cars, specifically Sports Racing Prototypes...
- the sports prototypes used in the league - Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge- the league's support series
External links
- Official Homepage
- World Sports Racing Prototype – Rolex Series history and results