2024 Canadian Tire Motorsport Park

The Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) introduced the Trans Am series in 1966. The championship was created during the introduction of Detroit's 'American Pony Car' period. The Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro proved to be very popular with consumers and the best way for manufacturers to demonstrate their potential was 'To race on Sunday and sell on Monday.'

In 1966, vehicle classification and rules were based on the SCCA's A and B Sedan amateur classes. A Sedan was called the Over 2.0-Liter category. The cars competing in the group were limited to a 5.0-liter engine and provided a platform to showcase the new 'Pony Cars.' The Under 2.0-Liter category included BMW, Alfa Romero, British Leyland and Porsche vehicles.

The Trans Am series and its regulations have evolved over time. The championship has changed the race formats, vehicle eligibility and rules governing the cars.

Currently, the races are 100-miles in length with no opportunity for a pit stop to change drivers or tires and refuel the car. Teams can also compete in two championships – Trans Am Championship and Trans Am West Coast Championship.

Trans Am Championship

February 22-25 - Sebring International Raceway
March 21-24 – Road Atlanta
April 11-14 – NOLA
May 10-11 – World Wide Technology Raceway
May 24-27 – Lime Rock Park
June 7-9 - Pittsburgh International Race Complex
June 20-23 - Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course
June 27-30 – Road America
July 19-20 – Lime Rock Park
August 21-25 – Watkins Glen International
August 29 - September 1 – Canadian Tire Motorsport Park
October 3-6 – VIRginia International Raceway
October 31 - November 3 – Circuit of the Americas

Trans Am West Coast Championship

March 1-3 – Thunderhill Raceway
April 18-21 – Sonoma Raceway
May 2-5 – WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca
July 26-28 – Portland International Raceway
October 18-20 – Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch
October 31 - November 3 – Circuit of the Americas

In 2024, there are five classes – Trans Am, Trans Am 2, Xtreme Grand Touring, Super Grand Touring and Grand Touring. Trans Am, Xtreme Grand Touring, Super Grand Touring and Grand Touring compete in the same event. Tran Am 2 drivers have their own race.

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, Cadillac CTS-V, Chevrolet Corvette and Dodge Challenger.
Trans Am 2 (TA2) – These are also 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. To keep expenses down, the series officials set the maximum price for shock absorbers, wheels, brake pads, and calipers. For example, shock absorbers are limited to $850 each. This category is also restricted to using a four-speed manual transmission with no overdrive. 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 and Dodge Challenger are also eligible.
Xtreme Grand Touring (XGT) – This class was created to give former FIA GT3 cars a place to race. The category is open to a wide range of GT3 vehicles - Audi R8 LMS, Porsche 991.2 GT3 Cup, Mercedes AMG GT3 and Chevrolet Corvette.
Super Grand Touring (SGT) – In 2019, TA3 was renamed SGT and included many production-based vehicles. Unlike TA and TA2, which are restricted to North American models, European manufacturers may compete in this division. As a result, the list of vehicles eligible for SGT is long and ranges from the BMW M3 to the Dodge Viper. Some cars are fitted with restrictor plates or carry additional weight to maintain parity.
Grand Touring (GT) – The Grand Touring was previously called TA4. A wide range of European and American vehicles are also eligible to compete in this group – the list is not as lengthy as the Super Grand Touring category. This is viewed as an entry-level category that only allows limited preparation. To equalize performance, some cars may carry additional weight or the engine may be fitted with a restrictor place.

Trans Am launched the Trans Am Pro/Am Challenge in 2021 as a new crossover program to introduce SCCA drivers to Trans Am. The Trans Am Pro/Am Cup Challenge allows SCCA drivers to compete in Trans Am using the same basic SCCA road racing trim for their cars, making the transition back and forth between the SCCA Road Racing program and Trans Am seamless.

Round nine of the 2024 Trans Am Championship, presented by Pirelli, and race ten for the 2024 CUBE 3 Architecture TA2 Series were held at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Drivers competed in a forty-one-lap contest around the ten-turn 2.459-mile road course.

For the first time this season the TA, TA2 and GT categories were combined in a single race.

The start of round ten for the TA2 category and race nine for the TA and GT classes. Twenty-six competitors enter Canadian Tire Motorsport Park's turn one on the opening lap. Trans Am category drivers Paul Menard in the No. 31 Menards / Master Force Tools Ford Mustang, the No. 16 Gymweed Ford Mustang driven by Chris Dyson, and Tomy Drissi in the No. 8 Lucas Chevrolet Camaro sprint into the lead, followed by the remainder of the field.

Last week at Watkins Glen, the Trans Am category points leader, Paul Menard, chased Chris Dyson to a runner-up finish. At Canadian Tire Motorsport Park, the driver of the No. 31 Menards / Master Force Tools Ford Mustang qualified on the pole. At the drop of the green flag, he jumped into the lead, followed by Dyson. On lap 34, Dyson was drafted by Menard for the lead. However, five circuits later, Dyson spun, and Menard collected his fifth victory of the year.

Rafa Matos visited Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for the first time twenty years ago in the Star Mazda series. That weekend, he started on the pole and finished in the runner-up position. On his second visit to the track, Matos would improve on that result. He put the No. 60 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang on the Trans Am 2 (TA2) pole. Despite pressure from last week's winner, Thomas Merrill, Matos went flag-to-flag for the victory.

The round nine podium for the 2024 Trans Am Championship at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Standing in the center is the points leader and race winner, Paul Menard. On the left is the runner-up, Chris Dyson. Dyson who is second in the championship standings and has extensive experience at the track. Completing the rostrum is Trans Am veteran Tomy Drissi. Drissi made his first start at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park in 2000 and finished third.

Chris Dyson was one of a handful of drivers with experience at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. He was fresh off a victory a week earlier at Watkins Glen International. In qualifying, he was 0.224 seconds slower than the polesitter, Paul Menard, and started on the outside of the front row in the No. 16 Gymweed Ford Mustang. He moved into the lead on lap 34, but five circuits later, Dyson spun in corner five and finished in the second spot.

The championship leader in the Super Grand Touring (GTS) category is Kaylee Bryson, the driver of the No. 02 Sam Pierce Chevrolet / Logical Systems Chevrolet Corvette. Bryson almost collected her second class victory of the season at Watkins Glen International; however, she lost the lead on the final lap when the Corvette ran low on fuel. Bryson dominated the proceedings at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park for her second win of 2024.

The Trans Am 2 (TA2) podium at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park for round ten of the series. The current points leader and class winner, Rafa Matos, stands in the center. This was the fifth victory of the year for the two-time category champion. On the left is the runner-up, Thomas Merrill. The 2022 title holder dominated the previous round at Watkins Glen International. Finishing in the third position was the early season points leader, Tyler Gonzalez.

Cope Race Cars' Thomas Merrill drove the No. 26 HP Tuners Ford Mustang. Merrill, who is second in the Trans Am 2 (TA2) standings, collected victories at Road Atlanta and in the previous round at Watkins Glen International. At Canadian Tire Motorsport, he qualified fifth overall and second in class. During the forty-one-lap contest, Merrill chased the eventual winner, Rafa Matos. Unable to challenge Matos, he finished second.

Barry Boes is the Trans Am 2 Pro/Am leader. He drives the Team SLR-M1 Racecars-prepared Ford Mustang. He entered round ten at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park with five class victories and a commanding points lead. Boes qualified fifteenth overall and third in Pro/Am behind Canadians Aaron Pettipas and Roberto Sabato. Pettipas and Sabato were eliminated in a first-lap incident, allowing Boes to collect another win.

Tyler Gonzalez finished third in Trans Am 2 (TA2) at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. Gonzalez led the TA2 standings earlier in the year; however, his season ended after NOLA due to a lack of funding. Seven rounds later, he returned driving the No. 40 Nitro Motorsports Ford Mustang. Gonzalez was quickest in practice and qualified fourth in class. An error by Ben Maier allowed him to grab the final position on the class podium.

The Super Grand Touring podium for round nine at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park. On the top step is the winner, Kaylee Bryson. Bryson has a background on the dirt and success in the Silver Crown Series where she became the first woman to qualify on the pole and win a USAC National Series feature race. On the left is the runner-up, David Hampton. The third-place finisher, Milton Grant, is another driver who has competed at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park.

FINISH	START	CLASS	DRIVER	TEAM / CAR	LAPS
1	1	TA	Paul Menard	Menards/Master Force Tools / Ford Mustang	40
2	2	TA	Chris Dyson	Gym Weed / Ford Mustang	40
3	3	TA	Tomy Drissi	Drissi Motorsports / Chevrolet Camaro	40
4	1	TA2	Rafa Matos	Nitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang	40
5	2	TA2	Thomas Merrill	HP Tuners/Cope Race Cars / Ford Mustang	40
6	4	TA2	Tyler Gonzalez	Nitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang	40
7	5	TA2	Thomas Annunziata	Bayshore Mortgage/Nitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang	40
8	7	TA2	Josh Hurley	Greenlight Simulation / Ford Mustang	40
9	8	TA2	Jake Drew	SLR-Silver Hare Racing / Chevrolet Camaro	40
10	3	TA2	Ben Maier	Nitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang	40
11	6	TA2	Julian DaCosta	Team SLR-M1 Race Cars / Chevrolet Camaro	40
12	9	TA2	Adrian Wlostowski	CMI/Spot-On-Service / Ford Mustang	39
13	2	TA2PA	Barry Boes	Team SLR-M1 Racecars / Ford Mustang	39
14	3	TA2PA	Jared Odrick	Nitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang	39
15	11	TA2	Hallie Deegan	Nitro Motorsports / Ford Mustang	39
16	12	TA2	Eric Cayton	Ray Skillman Auto Group / Ford Mustang	39
17	6	TA2PA	Jim Gallaugher	Regulator by Waypointe / Ford Mustang	39
18	1	SGT	Kaylee Bryson	LogicalSystemsInc/SamPierceChev / Chevrolet Corvette	39
19	7	TA2PA	Doug Winston	Bring Back The Trades/D&M Elec / Ford Mustang	38
20	8	TA2PA	Leroy Micallef	Greenlight Simulation / Ford Mustang	38
21	4	TA2PA	Tom Sheehan	VixenMotorcycle/LTKInsulation / Ford Mustang	38
22	2	GT	David Hampton	AR Motorsports / Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport	37
23	3	SGT	Milton Grant	Sentry Self Storage / Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup	36
24	10	TA2	Boris Said Jr	HendrickCars.com/Silver Hare / Chevrolet Camaro	18
25	1	TA2PA	Roberto Sabato	6th Gear Racing / Ford Mustang	1
26	5	TA2PA	Aaron Pettipas	Pettipas Racing / Chevrolet Camaro	1

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