2024 Watkins Glen International

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 eight of the 2024 Trans Am Championship, presented by Pirelli, was held at Watkins Glen International. Drivers competed in a thirty-lap contest around the eleven-turn 3.337-mile road course.

Twenty-five Trans Am and Grand Touring competitors enter Watkins Glen International's final turn for the start of round eight. On the pole is Chris Dyson's No. 16 Gymweed Ford Mustang. Beside Dyson is the points leader, Paul Menard driving the No. 3 Menards / Master Force Tools Ford Mustang. In the second row are the No. 17 Top Liner / Castrol Chevrolet Camaro of Adam Andretti and Tomy Drissi, driving the No. 8 Lucas Oil Chevrolet Camaro.

The reigning TA class champion is Chris Dyson, who drives the No. 16 Gymweed Ford Mustang. Dyson is currently second in the standings, having earned five podium finishes, one of which was a victory. At Watkins Glen, he kept his title aspirations alive by topping the timesheets in practice and qualifying. Dyson jumped into the lead at the drop of the green, and despite pressure from the points leader, he captured his second win of the year.

The current TA category points leader is Paul Menard. He drives the No. 3 Menards / Master Force Tools Ford Mustang. He has a lot of track time at Watkins Glen, obtained from his NASCAR experience. However, NASCAR does not compete on the long course. Menard encountered a setback when his engine failed in the final practice session. He qualified 0.48 seconds behind Chris Dyson and finished the race in the runner-up position.

The podium for round eight of the Trans Am class at Watkins Glen International. The winner, Chris Dyson, is standing in the center. Dyson is second in the points chase and is seeking his fourth consecutive title. On the left is the current points leader and runner-up, Paul Menard. The final position on the rostrum is occupied by series veteran and third-place finisher Tomy Drissi. Drissi is currently third in the championship standings.

David Hodge has competed in the Trans Am 2 category but made his first Xtreme Grand Touring start at Watkins Glen International. Driving the No. 10 Kaizen Autosport-prepared Lamborghini Super Trofeo, Hodge qualified fourth (last) in class and sixteenth overall. By lap 3, he was second and spent the next eleven circuits chasing down the category leader, Danny Lowry. Hodge passed Lowry on lap 14 for the class victory and finished seventh overall.

Tomy Drissi brings wealth to the 2024 Trans Am championship. He made his series debut in 1999 and captured the 2009 crown. He is currently third in points, with his best results being three third-place finishes. At Watkins Glen, Drissi qualified fourth in the No. 8 Drissi Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro. He maintained the position until lap 22 when Adam Andretti suffered a flat tire. Drissi inherited third and the final spot on the rostrum.

The top three finishers for round eight of the Trans Am Championship's Xtreme Grand Touring (XGT) category at Watkins Glen International. The winner, David Hodge, stands on the top step of the podium. This was Hodge's first foray into the class. On the left is the runner-up, Danny Lowry, who leads the XGT points standing. The final position is occupied by the pole-sitter and third-place finisher, Ricky Sanders.

XGT competitor James Beaton crashed early in the XGT, SGT and GT qualifying session. Due to the time required for track repairs, the session ended with competitors only completing a couple of laps. Lee Saunders did not get up to speed and started last in a field of twenty-five starters. Saunders began his charge early in the No. 84 LandSearch LLC Dodge Viper. He chased down the leader, Kaylee Bryson and passed her on the final lap for the Super Grand Touring win.

The Super Grand Touring (SGT) podium at Watkins Glen International for round eight of the Trans Am Championship. In the center is the class winner, Lee Saunders. Saunders is the winningest driver in the SGT category and has claimed three division titles. On the left is the runner-up, Kylee Bryson. Bryson is the points leader with five top-three results, one of which was a victory. The final position on the rostrum belongs to Joshua Carlson.

Chris Coffey earned his sixth Grand Touring (GT) victory of the season in round eight at Watkins Glen International. Coffey, who drives the No. 97 Norwood Auto Italia / Traffic Grafix Maserati MC GT4, was gridded fifteenth overall and first in class for the thirty-lap contest. He lost two positions early in the race but moved back into the top spot, exchanging the lead with Joey DaSilva. A final lap pass on DaSilva gave Coffey the GT win.

Rookie Kaylee Bryson joined the Trans Am Championship after a stint on the dirt in the Silver Crown Series. She is driving the No. 02 Logical Systems Inc. / Sam Pierce Chevrolet Corvette and leads the Super Grand Touring points chase with a victory at NOLA. In round eight, at Watkins Glen, Bryson qualified second in class and twelfth overall. She grabbed the category lead on lap 11 but lost the top spot on the final lap when she ran out of gas.

The Grand Touring (GT) podium for round eight of the Trans Am Championship at Watkins Glen International. Standing in the center for the sixth time this season is the points leader and class winner, Chris Coffy. On the left is the runner-up, Joey DaSilva. Round eight was his third start of the season. DaSilva was victorious at Lime Rock Park. Completing the top three is Toyota Supra competitor Matt Forbush.

FINISH	START	CLASS	DRIVER	SPONSOR / CAR	LAPS
1	1	TA	Chris Dyson	Gym Weed / Ford Mustang	30
2	2	TA	Paul Menard	Menards/Master Force Tools / Ford Mustang	30
3	4	TA	Tomy Drissi	Drissi Motorsports / Chevrolet Camaro	30
4	5	TA	Boris Said	Weaver Racing / Dodge Challenger	30
5	7	TA	Amy Ruman	McNichols Co. / Chevrolet Corvette	30
6	6	TA	Keith Grant	Drissi Motorsports / Chevrolet Camaro	30
7	16	XGT	David Hodge	Kaizen Racing / Lamborghini Super Trofeo	30
8	13	XGT	Danny Lowry	Bridgehaul / Mercedes AMG GT3	30
9	8	TA	John DeGaynor	Speed Dream'n Racing / Ford Mustang	30
10	26	SGT	Lee Saunders	Landsearch LLC / Dodge Viper	30
11	12	SGT	Kaylee Bryson	LogicalSystemsInc/SamPierceChev / Chevrolet Corvette	29
12	10	XGT	Ricky Sanders	Bridgehaul / Mercedes AMG GT3	29
13	3	TA	Adam Andretti	Top Liner/Go Share / Chevrolet Camaro	29
14	15	GT	Chris Coffey	AR NorwoodAutoItalia/TrafficGrafix / Maserati MC GT4	29
15	17	GT	Joey DaSilva	Ave Motorsports / Toyota Supra	29
16	9	SGT	Joshua Carlson	Enseva/Diercks / Ford Mustang	29
17	18	GT	Matt Forbush	zignyl / Toyota Supra	29
18	23	GT	David Hampton	AR Motorsports / Porsche Cayman GT4 RS Clubsport	29
19	11	TA	Richard Grant	Grant Racing / Chevrolet Camaro	29
20	21	SGT	Milton Grant	Sentry Self Storage / Porsche 991.1 GT3 Cup	29
21	24	GT	Colin Cohen	NorwoodAutoItalia/TrafficGrafix / Maserati MC GT4	20
22	19	SGT	Don McMillon	Salasko Racing / Chevrolet Corvette	14
23	23	SGT	Jenn Krpata	I.B.E.W. Local 25 / Chevrolet Camaro	11
24	25	GT	Jim Gallaugher	AR Motorsports / BMW M3	7
25	20	GT	Michael Saia	Rapid Performance Management / Porsche GT3 Cup 997.1	6
-	14	XGT	James Beaton	Playtime Hot Rods & Motorsports / Chevrolet Corvette	-

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