2024 Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course

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 six of the 2024 Trans Am Series presented by Pirelli was held at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Drivers would compete for forty-five laps on the thirteen-turn 2.258-mile road course.

Rain during the race slowed the pace of the contest and resulted in several caution periods. Due to time constraints, the event ended on lap 36.

The first wave of Trans Am competitors enter Mid-Ohio’s ‘Esses’ for lap 1 of round six for the series. Leading the six TA drivers is the pole-sitter, Paul Menard, in the No. 3 Menards / Master Tool Force Ford Mustang. Immediately behind Menard is the third fastest qualifier, Adam Andretti, driving the No. 17 Top Liner / Go Share Chevrolet Camaro. The Corvette of Amy Ruman and Tomy Drissi in a Camaro are trailing the leaders.

The TA points leader, Paul Menard, has an impressive record this season. To date, Menard has three poles and four victories in six starts. It was business as usual for the driver of the No. 3 Menards / Master Tool Force Ford Mustang. Menard started on the pole and led until lap 3 when he pitted for rain tires. He chased the leader, Chris Dyson, until the sixteenth circuit when Dyson went off course. Menard grabbed the lead and won.

The track was dry as the cars sat on the false grid; however, rain started falling on the pace lap. The second-place starter, Chris Dyson, decided to pit for rain tires while the other drivers took the green flag. Dyson moved from last to first place in three laps. He controlled the race until lap 16 when the No. 16 Gym Weed Ford Mustang slid off the track and crashed in corner one. He was able to continue after a pit stop and finished in the runner-up spot.

West Coast GT competitor David Hampton traveled from Bend, Oregon, to race at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. Driving the No. 14 AR Motorsports Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport, Hampton qualified thirteenth overall and second in class. Early in the race, he fell to fourth in his group, but Hampton began his move to the front. By lap 16, he had advanced from fourth in GT to first and held the position to the checkered flag.

The Trans Am podium for round six of the 2024 Trans Am Series at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. On the top step is the current points leader and race winner, Paul Menard. Menard has an impressive four victories in six starts. On the left is the runner-up, Chris Dyson. The three-time series champion is second in the standings. The final position on the podium is occupied by the third-place finisher and series veteran, Tomy Drissi.

The second group enters the ‘Esses’ on the first lap. TA competitor Wally Dallenbach is leading the pack in the No. 4 Ultimate Headers Ford Mustang, who qualified sixth. Trailing Dallenbach is the No. 02 Sam Pierce Chevrolet / Logical Systems Inc. Chevrolet Corvette driven by Kylee Bryson. Behind her is Richard Forsythe in the No. 58 GSpeed / Sambuca Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette and No. 14 AR Motorsports Porsche of David Hampton.

Tomy Drissi, third in the points chase, drives the No. 8 Franklin Road Apparel Chevrolet Camaro with backing from Lucas Oil. Drissi entered his first Trans Am event in 1999 and won the Rookie of the Year title. Drissi qualified fifth fastest at Mid-Ohio but moved into second when Chris Dyson crashed. However, with three laps to go, he went off course. Despite requiring a tow out of the gravel trap, Drissi still managed a third-place result.

The round six podium for the GT category at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course. In the center, making only his second start of 2024 in the National Driver’s division, is the winner, David Hampton. On the left is the runner-up, Chris Coffey. Coffey is the only driver to compete in the first six rounds and has a commanding lead in the championship. Unlike the other teams, the third-place finisher, Jack Rinke, did not pit for rain tires. That is because he doesn’t have any.

The SGT category witnessed several changes for the lead among the top three drivers. The pole-sitter, Kaylee Bryson, led first but was passed by Lee Saunders. Saunders, who drove the No. 84 Landsearch Dodge Viper, stayed on slicks but lost the spot to Bryson on lap 21. Two circuits later, Bryson was passed by the No. 58 GSpeed / Sambuca Restaurant Chevrolet Corvette driven by Richard Forsythe. Forsythe held on for the victory.

The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course podium for round six of the SGT class. Standing on the top step is the winner, Richard Forsythe. The points leader has five podium finishes, of which three are victories. Second in the race and points chase was Kaylee Bryson. Bryson trails Forsythe by fifty markers with five races remaining in the championship. The third-place finisher, Milton Grant, occupies the final position on the rostrum.

FINISH	START	CLASS	DRIVER	SPONSOR / CAR	LAPS
1	1	TA	Paul Menard	Menards/Master Force Tools / Ford Mustang	36
2	2	TA	Chris Dyson	Gym Weed / Ford Mustang	36
3	13	GT	David Hampton	AR Motorsports / Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport	34
4	12	GT	Chris Coffey	AR NorwoodAutoItalia/TrafficGrafix / Maserati MC GT4	34
5	5	TA	Tomy Drissi	Franklin Road Apparel / Chevrolet Camaro	33
6	10	SGT	Richard Forsythe	GSpeed/Sambuca Restaurant / Chevrolet Corvette	33
7	3	TA	Adam Andretti	Top Liner/Go Share / Chevrolet Camaro	32
8	8	SGT	Kaylee Bryson	LogicalSystemsInc/SamPierceChev / Chevrolet Corvette	32
9	11	SGT	Milton Grant	Sentry Self Storage / Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup	32
10	14	GT	Jack Rinke	EdRinkeChevrolet/ChevroletPerf/ Chevrolet Camaro	30
11	15	GT	Colin Cohen	NorwoodAutoItalia/TrafficGrafix / Maserati MC GT4	27
12	9	SGT	Lee Saunders	Landsearch LLC / Dodge Viper	21
13	6	TA	Wally Dallenbach	Ultimate Headers / Ford Mustang	14
14	4	TA	Amy Ruman	McNichols Co. / Chevrolet Corvette	5
15	7	TA	John DeGaynor	Speed Dream'n Racing / Ford Mustang	1

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