By 2000, the Canada GT Challenge Cup was in its fourth season. Sanctioned by ASN Canada FIA, it was an eleven-round series of one-hour races. Drivers competed at Mosport International Raceway (8-events) and Shannonville Motorsports Park (3-events). A twelfth race scheduled for Mont-Tremblant was canceled.

A wide range of vehicles was eligible for the series – FIA GT, Professional Sportscar GTS & GT, SCCA Improved Touring, GT1, GT2 & Trans Am and ASA Stock Car. The list of ineligible cars was much shorter – Sports Racers, Ground Effects Cars and Showroom Stock.

There were two classes (GT1 and GT2) based on qualifying and race lap times:

Mosport International Raceway

  • GT1 – Faster than 1:29.999
  • GT2 – Slower than 1:30.000

Shannonville Motorsport Park

  • GT1 – Faster than 1:10.999
  • GT2 – Slower than 1:11.000

If a GT2 driver broke out of the time bracket, they would be moved to GT1.

One or more drivers could compete in a car. However, the second driver had to complete either twenty-minutes or one-third of the total race laps to earn points. The races also included a mandatory one-minute pit stop during green flag conditions.

There was a total event prize fund of over $50,000 and a year-end point’s bonus fund of $45,000 – split between the two classes to attract competitors.

The British Automobile Racing Club hosted round seven of the 2000 Canada GT Challenge Cup during their Canadian Touring Trophy weekend. Teams would compete on Mosport International Raceway’s ten-turn 2.459-mile road course for one hour.

Twenty-five competitors line-up for round seven of the 2000 Canada GT Challenge Cup at Mosport International Raceway. On the pole for the sixth time, this season is the No. 00 BMS Race Team Porsche 911 GT1 EVO of Klaus Bytzek. Sharing the front row with Bytzek is Charles Webster in the No. 95 Pro Fuels Chevrolet Camaro. Behind the leaders are Brent Gates and the Chevrolet Corvette of Coons and Beaton.
The Canada GT Challenge Cup GT1 points leader, Klaus Bytzek, added win number five to his this year’s total. Prior to the event, Bytzek was testing new setups on the No. 00 Porsche 911 GT1 EVO. The team’s efforts must have paid off as he qualified at a 1:19.834 – his fastest lap with the car. In the race, Bytzek sprinted into the lead and opened a comfortable margin on the way to victory.
GT2 competitor Blaise Csida also racked up another victory in round seven of the 2000 season. The win brings the class point leader’s total to five wins. Unlike Klaus Bytzek, Csida started second in his category. His strategy was to pit early for his mandatory stop. Csida moved into the GT2 lead when the pole-sitter, Ted Martin, pitted. Martin pressured Csida for the remainder of the contest but was unable to pass.
The battle for second place in GT1 was hotly contested. Charlie Webster was gridded on the outside of the front row for the start of round seven. Webster, driving the No. 95 C.J. Webster / Pro Fuels Chevrolet Camaro, went unchallenged for second-place until a caution period. A full course yellow allowed James Holtom to catch Webster. The two fought for the runner-up position, but Webster prevailed.
Ted Martin didn’t start his 2000 Canada GT Challenge Cup campaign until round five at Shannonville. It wasn’t until the Canadian Touring Trophy weekend that Martin was up to speed. He was the fastest GT2 competitor in qualifying and started tenth overall in the No. 78 Pontiac Grand Prix. Martin led until the mandatory stop and lost first place to Blaise Csida. Unable to find a way past Csida, he finished second.
To date Greg Clifton has three podium finishes, which has placed him second in the GT2 title chase. The driver of the No. 92 Phil Strudwick Motorsports prepared Chevrolet Corvette was third fastest in class during the qualifying session. Clifton started thirteenth overall but was no match for Blaise Csida and Ted Martin. At the checkered flag, he was third in class but on the same lap as the category leaders.
The first driver to out-qualify Klaus Bytzek during the 2000 Canada GT Challenge Cup season was James Holtom. Holtom started on the pole in the previous event at Shannonville driving the No. 93 Chevrolet Corvette and claimed the victory. At round seven, engine problems in practice prevented him from qualifying. Holtom charged through the field and battled with Charlie Webster and finished third.

FINISHSTARTCLASSDRIVERCAR / ENTRANTLAPSRETIREMENTS
11GT1Klaus BytzekPorsche 911 GT1 EVO / BMS37-
22GT1Charlie WebsterChevrolet Camaro / C.J. Webster37-
325GT1James HoltomChevrolet Corvette / Georgian Bay37-
43GT1Brent GatesNoble Ultima MkIV / TMI Racing37-
59GT1Peter CzepkaPorsche 911 GT2 EVO / Multimatic36-
64GT1Coons / BeatonChevrolet Corvette / Century Mechanical36-
712GT2Blaise CsidaChevrolet Corvette / New York Fries35-
810GT2Ted MartinPontiac Grand-Prix / Georgian Bay35-
98GT1Bentley HammerChevrolet Monte Carlo / Strudwick35-
1013GT2Greg CliftonChevrolet Corvette / Strudwick35-
1117GT2Leblanc / HamelinPorsche 911 RSR / MCL34-
1222GT2Bartling / FranczakPorsche 91134-
1315GT2Jacques GuenettePorsche 911 Turbo / Moto Illimite34-
1420GT2Steve HummelChevrolet Corvette / Tomsoft Racing33-
1519GT2Jim HarrisonPorsche 911 / Longhill Energy33-
1611GT1Larry BarczaPontiac Grand Prix / Barcza Racing31-
175GT1John BrennerChevrolet Monte Carlo / Hoosier Tire27-
187GT1Mackenzie/Von EngelbrechtenNoble Ultima MkIII27Did Not Finish
196GT1Aaron PettipasChevrolet Camaro / Dairy Queen25Did Not Finish
2018GT2Gord VipondChevrolet Camaro11Did Not Finish
2130GT2D & S ColivarisPorsche 924 Turbo11Did Not Finish
2229GT2Ludwig HeimrathPorsche 968 / Heimrath Porsche10Did Not Finish
2323GT2P & N BotsinisBMW M3 / PJC Autoworks Ltd9Did Not Finish
2416GT1Gray / PiresChevrolet Corvette9Did Not Finish
2521GT2Torsten KruegerPontiac Firebird / Kruerger Racing7Did Not Finish


Copyright Notice:
All content (photographs and text) appearing on this website are the exclusive property of © www.zoompics.com and are protected under International copyright laws. The subject matter on this website may not be reproduced, copied, stored or manipulated.

© Copyright 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019

Return to home page.