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In 1999, the successful Canada GT Challenge Cup entered its third season.
Sanctioned by ASN Canada FIA, it was a twelve-round series of races one-hour in length.
Drivers competed at Mosport International Raceway, Shannonville Motorsport Park and Le Circuit Mont-Tremblant.
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
Shannonville Motorsport Park
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. Round eight of the 1999 Canada GT Challenge Cup championship saw the series return to Mosport International Raceway, where the season's final four races would be contested. During the BARC Grand Prix of Ontario weekend, drivers competed on the ten turn 2.459-mile road course for one hour.
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The reigning Canada GT Challenge Cup GT1 champion, Klaus Bytzek, collected his fourth win of the season at the BARC Grand Prix of Ontario weekend. Bytzek missed the first two rounds of the year when he broke his leg in a starting line incident at race one. At round eight, Bytzek qualified second in the No. 00 BMS Race Team Porsche 911 GT1 Evo. Issues for his main rival, James Holtom, allowed him to cruise to the win. |
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Claiming the victory in the GT2 category was Peter Klutt. Klutt’s No. 46 County Style Chevrolet Corvette was badly damaged in the starting line accident that took Klaus Bytzek out of action for two rounds. He qualified sixth overall at the Grand Prix of Ontario event and started on the class pole. Despite pressure from series front-runners Ahmad Khodkar, Kirk Spencer and Ludwig Heimrath, Klutt captured his second win of 1999. |
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Last year John Brenner finished second in the final GT2 championship standings by a single point. He showed enough speed early this season to be bumped up to the GT1 category. Brenner and his No. 81 Hoosier Tire sponsored Chevrolet Monte Carlo were never a threat to the beat Klaus Bytzek or James Holtom, but his consistency earned him fourth GT1 podium finishes. At round eight, he qualified third fastest and problems for the pole-sitter, James Holtom, allowed him to collect a runner-up result. |
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By round eight of the 1999 Canada GT Challenge Cup season GT2 competitor Ahmad Khodkar found himself battling with sports car veteran Ludwig Heimrath for the championship title. Heimrath led the standings. However, Khodkar, who missed round one, was beginning to outpace Heimrath. He qualified third in class at the BARC event and finished second – two places ahead of Heimrath. |
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Keith Carter began the season driving a GT2 Chevrolet Corvette prepared by Phil Strudwick Motorsports. By round eight, he had switched to a GT1 Chevrolet Camaro. Carter was fifth fastest in the qualifying session. Problems for the pole-sitter, James Holtom, and the retirement of the James Beaton / Barry Coons Oldsmobile Cutlass moved Carter up the race order. At the checkered flag, he captured a third in class. |
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The defending GT2 champion, Kirk Spencer, made his 1999 debut in round two at the BEMC Spring Trophy Races. This event was followed by another two race weekends, with his best result being three consecutive sixth-place finishes. At round eight, Spencer put the No. 24 Spencer Racing prepared Chevrolet Camaro ninth on the grid and fourth in class. At the end of one hour, he earned the final spot on the podium. |
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| FINISH | START | CLASS | DRIVER | CAR / ENTRANT | LAPS | RETIREMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | GT1 | Klaus Bytzek | Porsche 911 GT1 Evo / BMS Race Team | 41 | - |
| 2 | 3 | GT1 | John Brenner | Chevrolet Monte Carlo / Hoosier Tire | 41 | - |
| 3 | 5 | GT2 | Keith Carter | Chevrolet Camaro / Strudwick Motorsports | 40 | - |
| 4 | 6 | GT2 | Peter Klutt | Chevrolet Corvette / Country Style | 39 | - |
| 5 | 8 | GT2 | Ahmad Khodkar | Datsun 240Z / Quest-Tech | 39 | - |
| 6 | 9 | GT2 | Kirk Spencer | Chevrolet Camaro / Spencer Racing | 39 | - |
| 7 | 10 | GT2 | Ludwig Heimrath | Porsche 968 / Heimrath Porsche | 39 | - |
| 8 | 7 | GT2 | Blaise Csida | Chevrolet Corvette / New York Fries | 38 | - |
| 9 | 15 | GT2 | Greg Clifton | Chevrolet Corvette / Strudwick Motorsports | 38 | - |
| 10 | 13 | GT2 | G. Schmidt / P. Carpenko | VW Corrado VR6 SC / Greenbelt Motors | 38 | - |
| 11 | 12 | GT2 | T. Meecham / M. Gray | Chevrolet Corvette / - | 37 | - |
| 12 | 21 | GT2 | Bruno Buso | Eagle Talon Tsi / Milano Biscuits | 37 | - |
| 13 | 20 | GT2 | Jeff Pacey | Mazda RX-7 / - | 37 | - |
| 14 | 17 | GT2 | Alan Jones | Toyota Supra Turbo / - | 37 | - |
| 15 | 18 | GT2 | Mike Palladino | Chevrolet Corvette / - | 36 | - |
| 16 | 22 | GT2 | Mike McCalmont | Chevrolet Camaro / Strudwick Motorsports | 36 | - |
| 17 | 1 | GT1 | James Holtom | Chevrolet Camaro / Scadapack | 34 | - |
| 18 | 25 | GT2 | Terry Fletcher | Chevrolet Camaro / Lubrico Warranty | 29 | - |
| 19 | 4 | GT1 | B. Coons / J. Beaton | Oldsmobile Cutlass / Century Mechanical | 17 | Did Not Finish |
| 20 | 19 | GT2 | Steve Colivaris | BMW M3 / - | 9 | Did Not Finish |
| 21 | 14 | GT2 | Dino Colivaris | Porsche 924 / - | 9 | Did Not Finish |
| 22 | 26 | GT2 | Duane Hoo | Mazda RX-7 / Can-Jam Auto | 9 | Did Not Finish |
| 23 | 16 | GT2 | Jim Harrison | Porsche 911 / Longhill Energy | 6 | Did Not Finish |
| 24 | 11 | GT2 | Paul Massingberd | Chevrolet Corvette / - | 3 | Did Not Finish |
| - | 23 | GT2 | Bob Munro | Porsche 944 Turbo/Canaska | 0 | Did Not Start |
| - | 24 | GT1 | Brent Gates | Dodge Daytona / TMI Racing | 0 | Did Not Start |
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