With the goal of accelerated development and freedom of design, GT Unlimited LLC is preparing a program to compete in the Grand Touring (GT) classification in the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA). The SCCA, established in 1944, is the premier amateur auto racing organization in the United States, and the largest active motorsports membership organization in the world. Boasting a membership in excess of 40,000 enthusiasts, the SCCA sanctions auto racing events from grass-roots, regional level programs up to national level amateur and even professional series. GT cars are purpose-built, highly modified replicas of series produced sport sedans. The class rules offer great freedom of construction by allowing one-off chassis designs, use of alternate materials, and a multitude of drivetrain and suspension options.
The end goal of the GT project is not just to field a competitive racecar, but primarily to provide a showcase for new technologies that can be applied to the transportation industry. In addition to the competition vehicle, there is an opportunity to apply advanced technologies to the support vehicles as well (eg: tow vehicle and trailer). It is our intention to partner with others, both within and without our immediate industry, in order to offer a development platform for complementary products and engineering concepts in an organized program. In addition to competing, the vehicle would be offered and made readily available for editorial purposes, and to our partners for presentation opportunities such as trade shows and conferences. The materials and applications that the GT project will initially focus on are materials for structural components for chassis and suspension on the GT car and support vehicles, lightweight interior, exterior, and underbody panels, lightweight trailer flooring, trailer walls and roofing, aerodynamic components, and flame resistant materials. Industry partners who have interest in these areas are invited to offer proposals to participate, and interested parties who offer non-conflicting products and/or services are welcome to submit their ideas as well.
Currently, with our focus on developing composite suspension and chassis components, Polystrand, has provided state of the art thermoplastic composite materials and engineering, and PPG Industries has provided generous support as well as supplying the glass fiber reinforcement used in the composite materials. We have also welcomed on board three satellite sponsors from the performance automotive aftermarket – AEM Electronics, Brian Crower, Inc., Action Clutch, HASport, and Cool-X. Initial development occurred at a rapid pace, and the vehicle was debuted at the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Automotive Composites Conference and Exhibition in September of 2014, followed by an appearance as an awards finalist at the CAMX show in Orlando the following October. In addition, the patents pending IRS system was also featured in the PPG hospitality suite at the North American International Auto Show 2015, as well as being featured in the AutoMobili D section of the 2017 North American International Auto Show.
The current stage of development on this unique vehicle has been chronicled in an ongoing editorial series on MotoIQ.com, with the initial four installments generating a high level of interest. Articles have also appeared in WardsAuto, Automotive Engineering (an SAE Publication), Composites World, JEC Composites, the PPG Fiberglass website, and Reinforced Plastics Magazine. (click here for media links)
It is our intention to campaign the GT project in the SCCA Majors national level racing series, which culminates in a championship event held each year in September or October. Our goal is to qualify for both national championship events over the next two years. Competing in the 2016 SCCA Majors resulted in multiple podium finishes, finishing second in the Mid-States Divisional series, as well as an invitation to compete at the SCCA National Championships at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, where the car made a strong mid-pack showing before being sidelined due to a failed drive axle. The event boasts premier sponsorship from companies such as Mazda, Sunoco, BF Goodrich, and Mobil 1, and contingency awards are offered to the participants by dozens of sponsors including OEM manufacturers Nissan, Mini, Fiat, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Toyota, and Volkswagen.
We anticipate that the technologies developed in this program will attract interest from automotive OEMs, as well as Tier suppliers, and we understand that there may be intellectual property developed that may need to be held in strictest confidence. It is our desire to work with our partners to help protect and commercialize these technologies to their benefit.