Porsche iroc series drivers

These are some photos of the 1974 iroc series international race of champions. The brainchild of roger penske one of us motorsports most influential and successful team owners the international race of champions, also known as iroc, was conceived as an offseason competition designed to bring together the worlds best racing drivers. The first iroc camaro was a street car with desire. Porsche 911 rsr porsche cup car amrs round 4 at wakefield park in goulburn nsw. Iroc s first season was such a success, they decided to try it again the next year.

It was designed to place the worlds best racing drivers in identical cars to compete against each other over several rounds at us venues. Launched in 1973, the international race of champion series held annual racing events in the united states, seeing famous race drivers from different disciplines go head to head. The drivers were selected from the four major racing series at the time. The car is 90% complete and requires a fuel cell and roll cage to complete. After iroc s first hiatus after the 1980 season, formula one drivers never returned and the series became a nascar vs. Multidriver cars are welcome, although no passenger spectators are allowed on course during the event. Two time champion in the iroc series just my opinion one of the only drivers to routinely challenge the nascar drivers in this series which my opinion always favored. The chassis used were tube chassis left over from when nascar was the grand national series. After a fouryear hiatus, 1984 would see iroc picking up where it had left off. Not surprisingly, that first season was dominated by drivers mark donohue and george follmer, both porsche hotshoes and 917 drivers. Leh keen driving a 74 porsche rsr in the 2014 lemans classic duration. The international race of champions iroc debuted in october of 1973, pitting star drivers from various forms of motorsport against one another in identically prepared porsche 911 carrera 3.

Porsches were sold following their service in the iroc series. This series the longest running interregional event in pca consists of three autocross events we run with our friends from the motorstadt and michiana regions. Riverside raceway porsche 911 rs automotive logo car logos daytona beach champion racing laughing. In 2007, iroc could not find a sponsor and closed down operations after almost 30 years of competition. This 1974 porsche carrera rsr is an original iroc car.

Although the original iroc series ran porsche carreras in 1973, they switched to camaros in 1974 and ran until 1980. The tenth season in 1986 featured the germans klaus ludwig, hans stuck and jochen mass but other than those three it was guys named unser, elliott. Iroc standings for 1992 click on the driver to see 1992 racelevel statistics for that driver. Iroc series western michigan region porsche club of. As for allisons driving abilities because hes a stock car driver.

Nov 25, 2019 iroc was also unique in that it was a spec series, in which each pilot was handed the same car with an identical setup under the watchful eye of stewards who were experienced racers themselves. I remember watching these as a kid with my dad and brothers and seeing some pelican parts forums. The inaugural international race of champions was held at two tracks over two weekends in. Iroc porsche series australia wakefield park race 2. Iroc series western michigan region porsche club of america. Fifteen factory 911 carreras were produced for 1974, all powered by a 3.

The camaro was irocs car of choice through 1980 until iroc was temporarily discontinued. Iroc international race of champions 1999 iroc champion dale earnhardt was off to a good start when he drew the numberone starting spot for race one of the 2000 series. Although open wheel drivers had numerous successes, as of 2005, drivers from road racing series had only won two races in the history of iroc. Average speed climbed up to just over 182 mph at the talladega superspeedway for the first race that took place on februrary 15, 1985. It was an inspired concept, putting twelve of the worlds premier race drivers into identical race cars and letting the flag fall.

During the camaros first iroc tenure, open wheel drivers would dominate the series. Jun 25, 2019 those races were split between former penske racing porsche 91710 drivers donohue and george follmer, the two drivers that would contend for the title as inaugural iroc champion until the finale. For the first season, a series of 15 porsche carrera rsrs, identical except for their color scheme, were manufactured in germany and delivered to riverside international raceway, for the american series. Mar 22, 2016 peter revsons 197374 iroc porsche 911 carrera 3. Certainly one of the more entertaining races ive been involved in. In 1973, roger penske created a racing series called the international race of champions, or iroc. All the original rsr were sold off at the end of the series and hold a. To see a list of race winners and race results for the iroc series, select a year from the listing below. It was 45 years ago when the first madefortv race series pitted the worlds most famous and successful race car drivers from around the globe against oneanother in the aptly named international race of champions iroc. Over the years cart and the irl drivers, among others also participated. Run between 19742006 with a few scattered years spent on hiatus, iroc would put drivers behind the wheel of a fairly wide range of automobiles. Trophy truck, sports sedan, chevrolet camaro, car show, nascar, race cars, hot rods, classic cars, racing. Most updated information and news on iroc results, stats, drivers, events. The races were contested in porsche carrera rsr race cars.

Iroc logo as used for the porsche 911rsr 1974 international race of champions. With drafting help from tony stewart, earnhardt made the winning pass on jeff burton to claim his 11th iroc win, typing al unser jr. These events help you learn how to properly maneuver your car around a course of pylons in a parking lot. Despite its name, the iroc was primarily associated with north american, ovaltrack racing. The porsche 911 rsr was the very first car to be driven in iroc competition before series organizers decided that an americaoriented field would resonate better with television viewers.

During the development of the motor for the 917, german porsche engineers often asked donohue if the motor finally had enough power. In 2006, road courses were reintroduced to the iroc series with the cars competing on. The last nonnascar based champion of the series was al unser, jr. The concept being to put top drivers from each racing series in identically prepared cars to determine the true driving champion. Once upon a time, many years ago, there was a real race of champions, known as the international race of champions, or iroc, and i had the pleasure of covering the fourrace series through its formative years, starting at riverside in october of 1973 the iroc was the brainchild of roger penske, who was able to sell porsche on the idea of providing a brace of cars for four star drivers each. While deciding on a car to serve as the basis for the iroc series, penske consulted with his star driver, mark donohue. It was considered to be a rookie of the year winner by numerous auto publications and was featured in car and drivers ten best list in 1985. If penske wanted a strong, fast, reliable and consistent racing car, the only reasonable choice was a porsche. To see a list of race winners and race results for the iroc series, select a. One of only 15 purposebuilt by penske for the iroc series, it has been through a threeyear noexpensespared restoration, retaining its original matching numbers 3. These cars were factory built along side every other camaro but removed from the production line before completed and sent out to get race modified for the series. International race of champions iroc was a north american auto racing competition, created by les richter, roger penske and mike phelps, promoted as an equivalent of an american motorsports allstar game. It was 45 years ago when the first madefortv race series pitted the worlds most famous and successful race car drivers from around the. Apr 06, 2010 the group 5 modding team has released their maiden mod project for gtr2, allowing sim racers to drive the legendary iroc porsche 911 rsr.

I remember watching these as a kid with my dad and brothers and seeing some. The most recent model of car used in iroc was the pontiac firebird trans am, which began competition in 1996. Ranking the iroc cars from best to worst hagerty media. In october 1973, twelve of the top drivers in the world were invited to compete in iroc, the international race of champions. The first iroc camaro was a street car with desire hagerty. During the development of the motor for the 917, german porsche engineers often asked donohue if. Although iroc employed former nascar drivers to set up the cars for these races, the series invited drivers from different fields of auto racing to compete. The idea was to pit the worlds top race drivers against. Irocs first season was such a success, they decided to try it again the next year. Instructors are available and we always welcome and encourage new drivers. May 24, 2016 proud to present the 1974 porsche 911 3. The drivers were selected from the four major racing series at the time, formula one, nascar, scca, and usac, and included names such as mark donohue, george follmer, a. For the first time in iroc history, the series champion was determined in a tiebreaker after the last race.

New classic rs cup vintage racing series recalls the debut. Dale earnhardts former iroc racer is most likely the only one left in. On this occasion, the new driver lineup for the 2017 season was announced. It was run with a small field of invited drivers 612 from all the major racing series including nascar, scca, fia and usac. The series name was international race of champions abbreviated to iroc. Car and driver feb 74, bobby allison tests new 911s. Iroc standings for 1990 click on the driver to see 1990 racelevel statistics for that driver. Iroc historically employed former nascar drivers dave marcis, dick trickle and jim sauter to prepare the setups for their cars. International race of champions iroc was a north american auto racing competition. Great drivers, and porsche, starred in the original international race of. The roster of drivers and final points standings were as follows. Four years later, iroc was reinstated and they selected the new camaro z28 as their competition vehicle. The cars used in the first year were porsche carrera rsrs. This was the only iroc to be contested entirely on road courses.

Current racing series nascar cup series xfinity series gander outdoors truck series arca menards west series arca menards east series arca menards series. Drivers raced identicallyprepared stock cars set up by a single team of mechanics in. Only the top 6 finishing drivers competed in all four races. In some years, no sports car drivers were even invited. Iroc was conceived to pit just 12 of the worlds best racing drivers against one another, in identicallyprepared cars at some of americas most challenging tracks, all managed by a single crew of mechanics and engineers. I was reading the post on the history of iroc and noticed that everywhere you look, there is not much info on the actual cars that ran in the series or at least what ive been able to find, and as an owner of three of the 3rd gen camaro race car bodies from the actual iroc race series, i thought id post what i know about them. What kind of cars did nascar use for the iroc series answers. Back in 1974 when this porsche was new, mark donohue was at the zenith of his career. Porsche has paid tribute to the outstanding achievements of teams and drivers during 2016 at the night of champions motorsport gala in weissach. Auto racing road racing pontiac cars trans am my opinions paint schemes just me le mans nascar. All five iroc race cars will be offered at the same time as buyers choice with proceeds to benefit the michael fux foundation iroc series pontiac trans am race car. Apr 17, 2015 the iroc series called upon drivers from varied racing disciplines. The roof skin, front windshield, bumper skin and the door skins are actually authentic pieces that have been equipped on the iroc race cars.

Essentially the rs edition of the 911 coupe featuring a 320hp version of its 3. The iroc challenge series is an australian motor racing series featuring the 911 rs 3. It is one of fifteen built by the porsche factory for the iroc series. Thats more than an oval track, just as sonoma is also more than oval where current nascar drivers hall series hide left and right. Its being buit to spec for gt group 5 hsr and was being completed in stages and used for pca des until ready to race. Historic sportscar racing jochen mass porsche iroc series classic rs cup. Porsche 911s for a new racing series called the international race of champions, or iroc.

Ground up restoration to create a replica of the black 911 iroc race car that was raced in 74 in the first iroc series. Under iroc rules, harry grant was declared champion because he finished higher in the final race. George follmer came from scca racing and remained with iroc as a development driver throughout the series. Are the first iroc series races 197374 available on videotape or dvd. In the 197475 iroc, four drivers came from nascar winston cup, four from formula 1, and three from usac champ car. Instead of porsche 911s, however, they decided to go with specially prepared chevrolet camaros. Apr 28, 2012 denne video er uploadet fra en androidtelefon. Dec 27, 2019 this wasnt just another racing series. Equally ambitious and unique in concept, the iroc series aimed to place the worlds best racing drivers in identical cars to compete against each other over several rounds at leading u. The werks will be a worldclass build for the discriminating driver who wants. The only surviving iroc race car owned by dale earnhardt.

He was the reigning canam champion in the fearsome, 820kw, 12cylinder porsche 91730 he helped develop, had won the indianapolis 500 in 1972 and had two transam championships and a 24 hours of daytona victory on his extraordinary cv. May 10, 2018 iroc, of course, stands for international race of champions, an allstar series started in 1973 that invited the worlds top 12 drivers from sports car, ovaltrack, and formula 1 racing to compete against each other in identicallyprepared cars. Chevrolet however, decided to create a commemorative camaro to celebrate the return of the iroc series and the iroc z28 was born. In 1985, the original iroc z featured top notch specs that were a not only performance driven but eye catching as well. Need to research this one but it is from a german series size. Sure, the iroc was shortlived and made brief appearances outside the series it was created for, but the fact that it was driven by the most successful racing drivers of the early 1970s was enough. The iroc series was conceived by penske productions. Jochen mass was a factory porsche driver in the early years of the group c formula taking second at le mans in 1982 in a porsche 956. Sunday, september 29, 2019 iroc iii western michigan region wmr us 1 motorsports park, 1249 12th st.