The World Sportscar Championship (named as World Championship for Makes for the mid '70s) was the world series run for sports car racing by the FIA from 1953 to 1992. The championship evolved from a small collection of the most important sportscar, endurance and road racing events in Europe and North America with dozens of gentleman drivers at the grid, to a professional racing series where the world's largest automakers spent millions of dollars per year. The official name of the series changed throughout the years, however it has generally been known as the World Sportscar Championship from its inception in 1953.
From 1976 to 1981 the series was open to Group 5 Special Production cars and other production based categories including Group 4 Grand Touring cars and it was during this period that the nearly-invincible Porsche 935 Turbo dominated the championship.
MAKES
1976
(DE) Porsche
95
(DE) BMW
85
(IT) DeTomaso
18
1977
(DE) Porsche
140
(DE) BMW
55.5
(IT) DeTomaso
12
1978
(DE) Porsche
120
(IT) DeTomaso
8
(US) Chevrolet
4
1979
(DE) Porsche
140
(IT) Ferrari
30
(IT) DeTomaso
6
1980
(DE) Porsche
160
(IT) Lancia
40
(IT) Ferrari
12
1981
(DE) Porsche
100
(DE) BMW
52
(IT) Ferrari
15
DIVISION1 (under 2.0lt)
1976
(US) Ford
75
(DE) BMW
55
(FR) Alpine
12
1977
(DE) BMW
90
(US) Ford
32
(IT) Fiat
20
1978
(DE) BMW
120
(DE) Porsche
12
(IT) Fiat
10
1979
(IT) Lancia
50
(DE) BMW
32
(US) Ford | (DE) Porsche
30
1980
(IT) Lancia
160
(DE) BMW
59
(DE) Porsche
15
1981
(IT) Lancia
100
(DE) BMW
22.5
(DE) Opel
5
European Touring Car Championship (ETCC)
The European Touring Car Challenge, as it was originally known, was started in 1963 by Willy Stenger, who created the series at the behest of the FIA. Cars competed under FIA Group 2 Improved Touring Car regulations which allowed a variety of touring cars of different sizes and engine displacements to race together.
Following the 1973 oil crisis the '74-'75 seasons had few entrants. It was only in 1977 that the situation was normalised with the return of factory teams. Rules allowed Group 2 and Group 1B "National" cars to compete together.
DRIVERS
1974
(DE) Hans Heyer
76
(BE) Alain Peltier
68
(DE) Klaus Ludwig
56
1975
(DE) Siegfried Muller (BE) Alain Peltier
80
(IT) Martino Finotto
54
(DE) Hans Heyer
42
1976
(BE) Jean Xhenceval (BE) Pierre Dieudonne
125
(BE) Hughes de Fierlant
112
(IT) Amerigo Bigliazzi
78
1977
(AT) Dieter Quester
125
(IT) Carlo Facetti
119
(BE) Jean Xhenceval (BE) Pierre Dieudonne
119
1978
(IT) Umberto Grano
135
(DE) Willi Bergmeister (CH) Jorg Siegrist
96
(IT) Carlo Facetti (IT) Martino Finotto
83
1979
(IT) Carlo Facetti (IT) Martino Finotto
160
(BE) Jean Xhenceval (BE) Pierre Dieudonne (BE) Raijmond van Hove
134
(IT) Umberto Grano (BE) Eddy Joosen
111
1980
(DE) Siegfried Muller Jr (DE) Helmut Kelleners
107
(IT) Umberto Grano
88
(AT) Harald Neger (AT) Heribert Werginz
86
1981
(IT) Umberto Grano (DE) Helmut Kelleners
123
(DE) Willi Bergmeister (ES) Jaime de Madrid
69
(IT) Enzo Calderari (IT) Marco Vanoli
53
International Motor Sports Association (IMSA)
The series was founded in 1969 by John and Peggy Bishop and Bill France - racing debuted in 1971. It was originally aimed at two of FIA's stock car categories running at two different classes, the GT (Group 3 and 4) and Touring (Group 1 and 2) cars. The first race was held at Virginia International Raceway; it was an unexpected hit with both the drivers and a handful of spectators who attended.
For the following year, IMSA founder John Bishop brought in sponsor R. J. Reynolds and in 1975, introduced a new category called All American Grand Touring (AAGT). In 1977, the series would go through a series of major changes. IMSA permitted turbocharged cars for the first time as well as introducing a new category called GTX for cars based on the Group 5 rules.
GTX class
GTO class
GTU class
1974
-
(US) Peter Gregg Porsche 911 RSR
(US) Walt Maas Datsun 240Z
1975
-
(US) Peter Gregg Porsche 911 RSR
(US) Bob Sharp Datsun 240Z
1976
-
(US) Al Holbert Chevrolet Monza
(US) Brad Frisselle Datsun 240Z
1977
-
(US) Al Holbert Chevrolet Monza
(US) Walt Maas Porsche 914/6
1978
(US) Peter Gregg Porsche 935 Turbo
(US) Dave Cowart Porsche 911 RSR
(US) Dave White Porsche 911 RS
1979
(US) Peter Gregg Porsche 935 Turbo
(US) Howard Meister Porsche 911 RSR
(US) Don Devendorf Datsun 240Z
1980
(UK) John Fitzpatrick Porsche 935 Turbo
(DR) Luis Mendez Porsche 911 RSR
(US) Walt Bohren Mazda RX7
1981
(UK) John Fitzpatrick Porsche 935 Turbo
(US) Dave Cowart BMW M1
(US) Lee Mueller Mazda RX7
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft (DRM)
Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft (translated as German Racing Championship) or simply DRM as it was known, was a Touring car and Sportscar racing series. It is the predecessor of the current DTM as Germany's top national series.
The DRM began in 1972 as a Group 2 touring car and Group 4 GT racing series. In these years, the same or similar cars were also entered in the European Touring Car Championship. Races were run separately as big Division 1 (for 2 to 4 liter) and small Division 2 (under 2 liter) in a sprint format.
In 1977, Group 5 cars were admitted into the series, making the series better supported with Gr.5 cars than the World Championship of Makes they were intended for. These fast and spectacular turbocharged cars with wide fenders and wings had many fans. Especially the Porsche 935 Turbo outpowered F1 cars. During common testing sessions at Circuit Paul Ricard, 935 passed them on the long Mistral straight. In 1979, the Rennsport Trophae (Racing Trophy) was introduced for the cheaper original series protagonists, the Group 2 and 4 cars. It consisted of combined races with the DRM until 1981.