Trans-Am Championship
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| Category | Sports car racing |
|---|---|
| Country |
 United States
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| Inaugural season | 1966 |
| Official website | www.gotransam.com |
 Current season
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The 'Trans-Am Series' is an automobile racing series held in North America.
The 'Trans-Am series' was created in 1966 by Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) President John Bishop. Originally known as the Trans-American Sedan Championship, the name was changed to the Trans-American Championship for 1967 and henceforth. The series has in fact gone by a variety of different names through the years (too many to list), some linked to sponsors, some not. It has evolved over time from its original format as a Manufacturers' Championship series for modified passenger sedans and Coupés to its current form as a Drivers' / Manufacturers' Championship Series that is open to GT style racecars. Champion drivers have been officially recognized, and Drivers' Championships awarded since the 1972 season.
Over the years, the series has raced on a variety of different types of race tracks (Permanent and temporary road courses / street circuits / airport circuits) all over the country, as well as at venues in Canada, Mexico, and even San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2003. Since 2015, Trans Am has been a national series (Continental U.S. only), racing at tracks primarily throughout the East Coast, South, and Midwest. In 2017, the new stand-alone West Coast Championship Series raced at four tracks—three on the West Coast, and one in Texas that was a 'shared event' with the Trans Am Championship Series. For 2018, the Willow Springs, CA race was dropped from the schedule, Sonoma, CA was added, and a shared race with the main series was added at INDY. Each Championship Series is independent of the other.
In 2017, Pirelli became the exclusive tire supplier (replacing Hoosier) and presenting sponsor for the Trans Am Series, and all classes use Pirelli P ZERO radial ply racing slicks. All Trans Am by Pirelli races go on even if it rains, in which case competitors may pit and change over to softer, treaded rain tires. The change from bias ply tires to Pirelli P ZERO radial tires has been very well received, and has resulted in faster average speeds and improved lap times in all four classes.
A minimum of two functional brake lights in their approximate stock locations are required on all cars competing in the Trans Am Series. They must be plainly visible, unobscured, and function just as they would on a production car. Starting in 2018, all cars competing in the Trans Am Series must also have "...a minimum of two fully operational rain/tail lights to be used during rain/fog sessions, and/or during twilight sessions." They must be used when the track is wet enough to produce spray, and also under foggy / twilight conditions.
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