2012 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

Trans-Am, America's oldest professional road racing series, dates back to 1966. The championship was successful for many years, but in 2005 the series stopped. There were two major primary reasons that organizers ended the Trans Am championship - automotive manufacturers were no longer supporting the series and there was a lack of interest among the competitors.

The championship was revived in 2009 with cars prepared to the Sports Car Club of America's GT1 rules to keep costs down and encourage amateur racers to participate.

Since the end of the 1979 season, when Category I and II were eliminated, only one class has been competing in the series. As of 2012, there are three categories – Trans-Am, Trans-Am 2 and Global GT.

Trans-Am (TA) – This is the series quickest class. These tube-frame race cars are powered by a naturally aspirated 366-cu.in. pushrod V8 engine, which produces over 850-horsepower. From a technological standpoint, the vehicles are kept relatively simple – no superchargers, turbochargers, anti-lock braking systems or traction control. The body styles used are the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Jaguar XKR and Chevrolet Corvette.
Trans-Am 2 (TA2) – These are also purpose-built tube-frame chassis cars. Unlike the TA category, these vehicles use electronic fuel injection and intake restrictor plates to limit the horsepower to approximately 490. The series officials set the maximum price for shock absorbers, wheels, brake pads, and calipers to keep expenses down. Many of the chassis parts are based on circle track technology and components. This category is also restricted to using a four-speed manual transmission with no overdrive. They run on a ten-inch wide tire. Teams are also prohibited from using superchargers, turbochargers, anti-lock braking systems or traction control. The most common body style is the Chevrolet Camaro, but the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Monte Carlo, and Chevrolet Impala SS are also eligible.
Global GT (GGT) – This class is for international cars like the Porsche GT3 Cup and Ferrari 430 Challenge. The performance of these vehicles is consistent with TA2. The rules make it relatively easy for club racers to cross over to the Trans-Am series.

The 2012 season consisted of ten rounds - opening in May at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and ending at Road Atlanta. Brainerd International Raceway and Road Atlanta hosted doubleheader weekends.

May 20 - Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
May 26 - Lime Rock Park
June 10 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
July 1 - New Jersey Motorsports Park
July 8 - Watkins Glen International
August 19 - Road America
September 2 - Brainerd International Raceway
September 3 - Brainerd International Raceway
November 3 - Road Atlanta
November 4 - Road Atlanta

The 2012 SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series opening round was held at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park during the Victoria Day Speedfest Weekend. Drivers would compete in a 100-mile contest around the ten-turn 2.459-mile road course.

The race was cut short by a non-related race fire requiring track access.

Doug Peterson, a Star Mazda and World Challenge series veteran, drove the No. 87 3Dimensional.com Chevrolet Corvette. Peterson was the third fastest in the qualifying session. He moved into second place early in the race. On lap-14, the series defending champion and race leader, Tony Ave, suffered a flat left rear tire. Peterson grabbed the top spot and collected his first Trans-Am series victory.

Joining the TA2 category this season was Pete Halsmer. Halsmer enters the series with a racing resume that includes wins in Super Vee, Indy Cars, IMSA GTP cars and Grand Am. This year he is driving the No. 12 Ctech Chargers Chevrolet Camaro. Halsmer qualified eleventh overall and second in class. Midway through the race, he passed the category leader, Bob Stretch, and finished seventh overall for the TA2 victory.

Finishing in the runner-up position was Ian Patterson. Patterson piloted the No. 74 Canadian Heros Chevrolet Corvette. During the qualifying session, he recorded the ninth fastest time. Patterson moved up the race order when the first and second-place starters Tony Ave and Blaise Csida encountered issues. By lap-23, he caught and passed Simon Gregg for second place and would finish 2.686-seconds behind the winner.

The defending race winner and TA2 champion, Bob Stretch, was the fastest in practice and qualified on the class pole in driving the No. 98 Fix Rim Mobile Wheel Repair Chevrolet Camaro. By midway through the race, he was under pressure from the second-fastest qualifier in TA2, Peter Halsmer. Halsmer would relegate Stretch to second and in the shortened contest, there was no opportunity for him to challenge Halsmer.

The No. 08 Wilson's Carpets Chevrolet Monte Carlo was driven by Michael Wilson. 2012 would mark Wilson's first year in the series. He started the 100-mile contest in the final row in seventeenth place and sixth in TA2. Wilson dropped to last place initially, but he inherited positions when Mike Miller and Tom Sheehan had contact. Passes on Kurt Roerhig and Mel Shaw were rewarded with a third in-class finish.

Series veteran Simon Gregg drove the No. 59 Derhaag Motorsports prepared Chevrolet Corvette. Gregg is the son of a two-time series champion, Peter Gregg, and finished second in last season's final standings. He opened his 2012 campaign by qualifying fourth fastest at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Gregg moved into second in the race when Tony Ave and Blaise Csida retired. A pass by Ian Patterson resulted in a third-place finish.

The Canadian Tire Motorsport Park podium for round one of the SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series. Standing in the center for the first time in his Trans-Am career is the winner, Doug Peterson, from 3Dimensional.com. On the left is a first-time visitor to the Trans-Am podium and the runner-up, Ian Patterson. Completing the rostrum is the third-place finisher from Derhaag Motorsports, Simon Gregg.

FIN.	START	DRIVER	CLASS	CAR	LAPS	RETIREMENTS
1	3	Doug Peterson	TA	Chevrolet Corvette	34	-
2	9	Ian Patterson	TA	Chevrolet Corvette	34	-
3	4	Simon Gregg	TA	Chevrolet Corvette	34	-
4	7	Andrew Romocki	TA	Ford Mustang	34	-
5	8	David Jans	TA	Ford Mustang	34	-
6	5	Amy Ruman	TA	Chevrolet Corvette	33	-
7	11	Pete Halsmer	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	33	-
8	10	Bob Stretch	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	33	-
9	15	Michael Wilson	TA2	Chevrolet Monte Carlo	32	-
10	16	Jonathan Brett	TA	Chevrolet Corvette	32	-
11	13	Kurt Roerhig	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	32	-
12	17	Mel Shaw	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	31	-
13	6	Allan Lewis	TA	Chevrolet Corvette	25	-
14	2	Blaise Csida	TA	Chevrolet Corvette	20	-
15	14	Tom Sheehan	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	18	Mechanical
16	1	Tony Ave	TA	Chevrolet Corvette	16	Mechanical
17	12	Mike Miller	TA2	Chevrolet Camaro	3	Accident
18	18	Cliff Ebben	TA	Ford Mustang	0	Did Not Start

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