End of Trans-Am...For now?
 

I found this to be an interesting twist in US sports car racing.... Trans-Am no more

Article: “We have elected not to renew the licensing agreement with the Trans-Am Series,” Champ Car president Steve Johnson stated. “Any further comment on the matter should come from Trans-Am.”


Looks as if Champ Car has decided to drop the Trans-Am series as it's primary support race for the 2006 season. I find it VERY strange that new President of Champ Car Steve Johnson dropped the series immediately after taking on this new job, (he was the SCCA chief up until moving to Champ Car). In fact, I seem to recall sitting at a meeting at the Atlantis Casino in Reno 2 years ago, in whick Steve Johnson made it very clear that Trans Am was a huge focal point for the SCCA, and it's survival was important to american sports car racing.

My hope is that perhap the SCCA will take the Trans Am name, and assign it to SPEED GT, that would make the most sense. Trans Am in it's current state is the lowest rated of the major US touring series, yet still fields some incredible race teams. I would think that the Jaguar, Mustang and Corvette teams that make up the primary field in Trans Am wouldn't have too hard a time making Speed Gt spec, however, the new "Tube Chassis" friendly GT class in the Rolex Series seems like an even easier fit. Perhaps the Rolex Series will be the new Trans-Am...

I guess we'll find out soon enough.

Man. I hope they have at least one Trans-Am race next season, or their streak of what, like 20+ years, will end!

I don't see that happening unless the name gets fully adopted, I think the teams are already scrambling to find new series.

Well, "Trans Am Cup" would compliment "Grand Am Cup" pretty well in the Rolex series...

Plus, remember how odd it sounded that Rolex was going to suddenly add a tube-frame class when their series already seemed pretty well balanced... something tells me the deal was already in the works.

/me bets Trans-Am will be a supporting series for Rolex next season.

That's exactly what I was thinking...

Trans-Am, like Champ Car as well, seems to have been hanging by a thin thread for the last 2-3 years... not really surprising.

It looks like Champ Car is battling back though. New investors, new president, and some of the teams that jumped ship for the IRL are making their way back. I think people are realizing that open wheel oval racing only series sucks nuts, and Champ Car still puts on a good show.

Road Course racing is booming....Look at the entry list for teh Daytona 24 this year../wow

ALMS could pick them up... That would be cool...

I just read that next season (if there is a next season) would be the 40th year run! :eek: