Champion Motorsports presents you the 1971 Virtual World Sportscar Championship (VWSC 1971 Series) season! After 50 years, it's time to go back. 1971 was the year that saw major changes in the World Sportscar Championship - the precursor to today's WEC. Porsche's rise to dominance was being challenged by both Alfa Romeo and Ferrari, all with cutting edge cars. It was an era of new transmission technologies and saw other enhancements such as the Porsche 917K using a hollow, extruded frame that was filled with nitrogen to lighten the car. Chevrolet teamed up with British motorsport brand Lola, which Jackie Stewart ran for some monumental victories in the class. The 11 FIA races spanned the globe and were filled with excitement, fierce competition, and incredible finishes. It also saw 7 fatalities before the final race. These cars were able to produce top race speeds unrivaled until the following century. These were truly amazing machines, brilliant engineers, and fearless drivers. Now, thanks to the passionate work by Apex Modding, Chief Wiggum, CrossPly, George Angelidis, Jon Uyan, and the CMS Beta testers, the cars from this time have been brought together in a single mod and series to relive the legend that was the 1971 WSC season Sportscar 5.0 Liter class. Racers can choose between the Ferrari 512M, Porsche 917K, Alfa Romeo T33/TT/12 and the Lola T70 Mk3B. All with unique car characteristics and all balanced to be competitive. The work on these cars is nothing short of brilliant. You will feel the thrill, excitement, and subtle terror that the real drivers felt piloting these monsters. 11 championship races of variable lengths all over the world, live weather, and a test race to let us test all things and procedures. Allowed driving aids should offer the best conditions to newcomers and old timers to great battles on track and hopefully build upon those off track with the great community of Champion Motorsports. Further information can be found in our discord channel and website: https://discordapp.com/invite/4ckmjPX https://cmsracing.com/saturday/ S 5.0 Class The cars: Alfa Romeo T33/TT/12: The T33/TT/12 [Tipo 33 (Type 33)/ Telaio Tubolare (Tubular Chassis)] was actually the 1974-1975 car that was based on the T33/3 car of 1971. The body is wider and different, yet the basic chassis and suspension is similar. The engine is different however: the 1971 was a 3.0L V8 (Alfa decided to use a 3.0L instead of the maximum allowed 5.0L while still entering the S 5.0 class), but in 1973 it moved to a Flat 12 (engine in the mod) making 500 HP. Also Slicks became popular after Matra’s success and mostly all cars used slicks in 1974. To compensate for all those, we beefed the engine and increased the wear on the tyres to balance the car. Ferrari 512M: The 512M (‘M’ for Modificata, meaning modified) was a modified version of the 512S from 1970. The 512S was “weak” with the 5.0L V12 producing “only” 550 HP and was plummeted by reliability issues thus the more powerful/updated 512M came along. 512S was still raced though in 1971, but uncompetitively. The 512M extracted another 60 HP (610 HP) and was a much more mature racecar to battle the 917K. In our mod we used 512M performance to match the Porsche but still have the 512S body. If Apex Modding finishes the 512M body, we can potentially upgrade to that style. Lola T70 Mk3B Spyder Chevrolet: Mechanically the Mk3B was fairly similar to its predecessors (Mk3 and Mk2). Powered by the same “good ol’ V8” by Chevrolet making 600 HP out of a 5.0 L the suspension geometry was altered to suit the new generation of much wider tyres. The Mk3B also sported larger brakes, a weak point on previous versions. Many of the British customers replaced the open T70s with the Mk3B Coupes. Close to 50 kg was shaved off the weight making the Mk3b the closest 1:1 power/weight ratio car known (600HP/600kg). The body was revamped to be closed cockpit for the 1971 season. Still the open “Spyder” cockpit was raced more notably at Le Mans and Watkins Glen by Jackie Steward. We only have the open cockpit option in this mod. Porsche 917K: The Porsche 917K ('K' for Kurzheck, meaning short-tail) was an improved version of the 917 from 1969. The Porsche 917 didn't work as well on the racing track as it looked to work on the drawing boards. For some reason, the handling was terrible (later attributed to flow separation at the tail of the car) and many thought the car was undriveable, unstable and too much for the lightweight frame. Weight was everything so Porsche used a hollow, extruded frame that was filled with nitrogen to lighten the car. Porsche redesigned the car with a short-tail that seemed to handle a lot better than the regular coupes. The original car was created when engineers picked up a saw and cut off the rear section of the tail. A career changing action! The 917K was the most successful and dominant racecar in the WSC having a Top Speed of 354 km/h and setting the Le Mans Distance Record that was only broken 39 years later… Provisional Calendar: 12/26/2020 | TBD by Voting – TEST RACE 01/09/2021 | 100 Minutes of Buenos Aires (Historic) (Argentina) 01/16/2021 | 2.4 Hours of Daytona Beach (USA) -24 hour cycle 03/06/2021 | 1.2 Hours of Sebring (USA) -12 hour cycle 04/03/2021 | 100 Minutes of Brands Hatch (Great Britain) 05/08/2021 | 100 Minutes of Spa (Historic) (Belgium) 05/22/2021 | 2.4 Hours of Le Mans (Historic) (France) -24 hour cycle 07/31/2021 | 3 Giri di Targa Florio (Italy) 08/28/2021 | 100 Minutes of Nürburgring (Nordschleife only) (Germany) 09/11/2021 | 100 Minutes of Monza (Road Course only) (Historic) (Italy) 10/16/2021 | 100 Minutes of Österreichring (Historic) (Austria) 10/30/2021 | 60 Laps of Watkins Glen (Historic) (USA) Timetable: 11:30AM US EST|16:30 GMT – Server Reboot/Practice (2 hours) 01:30PM US EST|18:30 GMT – Qualifying (20 mins) 01:50PM US EST|18:50 GMT – Drivers’ briefing/Warmup (10 mins) 02:00PM US EST|19:00 GMT – Race Miscellaneous: 3 Classes: S 5.0-Pro, S 5.0-Am, S 5.0-Purist (Clutch + H-shifter) Single file rolling start/old traditional Le Mans-style standing start (Le Mans only) Live Weather 2x Fuel Free to Join! Champion Motorsports would like to thank: Ross-Alexander Smith for helping with promotion, video work and graphics material. @yoss from @ApexModding for making this project possible @ChiefWiggum & CrossPly for allowing the modification of their cars as well as their kind help. GET PUMPED!!
The series will also run on the CMS MNRL chapter, Tuesday nights (N American Eastern zone) for those that can not race on Saturdays.
Testing is behind us, and the 1971 World Sportscar Championship was about to start tomorrow with a race at Buenos Aires! If you feel you wanted to relive what happened 50 years ago, but you can't - don't worry. We got you covered. Prep your car for Round 1 of 1971 VWSC on Saturday, January 9th with its first championship race of the inaugural season at Buenos Aires! We anticipate a large grid of drivers with some recognizable names in the field. The unpredictable summer Argentinian weather seems to always be ready to throw a surprise, so we may expect an exciting race throughout the whole grid. So tune in for the first round of the 1971 Virtual World Sportscar Championship on January 9th, 2021 at 2 PM US EST|19:00 GMT.
Round 1 is behind us, and what a race that was at Buenos Aires! 31 cars with 3 full fledged classes, Pit strategies, high speed losses at Turn 3, flying cars, crashed cars... it was GREAT start of the season! The old calendar moved to Daytona so do we for Round 2 of VWSC 1971!!! The 2.4 Hours of Daytona will be a grueling race for all! So tune in for the second round of the 1971 Virtual World Sportscar Championship on January 16th, 2021 at 2 PM US EST|19:00 GMT.
Floridians couldn’t hope for a better historic race than last month's 2.4 Hours of Daytona Beach. Yassin Marzoug’s Lola team dominated the race leading 78 from the 85 laps, driving in a nice clear day (and night) to particularly heavy attrition among all the contenders. The race was marked with incredible battles throughout the field, but the Angelidis-Moore-Smith trio in Purist and the Aiken-Gennari duo in Am class were among the most formidable lasting over 30 mins of wheel-to-wheel action during the night hours. The Championship after a pause will be moving few miles south to the traditional meeting of Sebring for the 1.2 Hours. What's about to happen at Sebring is anyone's guess at this point, but we do expect the n00n Racing (Purist) & Lady of Sorrows Racing (Am) Lolas to be as strong as the other teams are trying to get back in the Championship… So tune in for the third round of the 1971 Virtual World Sportscar Championship on March 6th, 2021 at 2 PM US EST|19:00 GMT.
On a rain-soaked day at Sebring, Ben Boorman almost pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the historic era of sports car racing, in his Rookie Monsters Porsche 917K car to the overall win at the 1.2 Hours of Sebring. He ultimately finished 2nd coming from dead last some mere 30 secs of winner Ahmed Abdalla, who marked his first win VWSC in 1971 and Scuderia Cavalli Ferrari’s maiden victory. The weather-plagued race played into the advantage of the German car, which took five of the top 10 finishing positions overall, and remarkably majority being Purist entries, typically splitting the top of the field with the Pro class. With the entire field on wet tires (except for Colin Moore trying his luck at the last stage of the race), Firestone, Goodyear and the teams hope to race on a “non-soaked” weekend at Brands Hatch, but judging that the Kent venue had been notorious for Spring downpours the paddock was overly quiet... So tune in for the fourth round of the 1971 Virtual World Sportscar Championship on April 3rd, 2021 at 2 PM US EST|18:00 GMT.
On a beautiful day at Brands Hatch, Yassin Marzoug bested the challenges of Ben Boorman and Ahmed Abdalla in his n00n Racing Lola T70 Mk3B Chevrolet to get the overall win at the 100 Mins of Brands Hatch. Boorman, ultimately finishing 2nd, coming from way down the grid challenged at the few last laps, but Marzoug's teammate, Ross Smith, did enough pushing the limits of blue flags to let his teammate win after an absent Sebring round. The short-circuit track with its short straights and twisty corners played into the advantage of the German car, which being the most fuel efficient gave many opportunities for its contenders. However, it was yet another day for the Lola and n00n Racing. Major shift from the nimble short Kent circuit to the long and fast Spa, notorious for Spring downpours, the racing circus is excited for what comes next... So tune in for the fifth round of the 1971 Virtual World Sportscar Championship on May 8th, 2021 at 2 PM US EST|18:00 GMT.
The 100 min race in Spa was the fifth race of the season in 1971 and the fast track in the Belgian Ardennes demonstrated the superiority of drivers with patience and consistency. From start to finish, the Ferrari 512M of Marouane el Idrissi dominated for overall victory. El Idrissi dominated the charts with Pole Position, Race Win and Fastest Lap. One lap down, the Porsche 917K with Ben Boorman at the wheel would finish second (1st in Purist class) after a late incident with a backmarker that put him in the Pits for repairs. Third place went to George Angelidis in his Ferrari 512M, also 1 lap behind the leader. Yassin Marzoug 's streak of wins will come to an end after his accident at Malmedy at the start with Ahmed M. Abdalla and others also facing further incidents. The race saw the highest attrition of any VWSC 1971 race with 13 DNFs out of 20 starters. Next up the blue-ribband event, the racing circus is excited for the 2.4 Hours of Le Mans, a race that every sportscar driver wants to win… So tune in for the sixth round of the 1971 Virtual World Sportscar Championship on May 22nd, 2021 at 2 PM US EST|18:00 GMT.
They say Le Mans picks its winners. Even the most dominant of displays, such as that of the #00 n00n Racing Lola T70 Mk3.B of Ross Smith this weekend, isn't enough sometimes. How fitting that this, a 1971 Virtual World Sportscar Championship season that was deemed to be oh-so-predictable with Yassin Marzoug dominating with 3 wins in the beginning of a Championship will see him with 3 DNFs and 0 points on the next 3. A Championship that keeps on giving late stings in the tail. And where else but at Le Mans, the cruelest of all motor races? Among others Spa race winner Marouane el Idrissi and Sebring winner Ahmed Abdalla would also retire early on, taking mostly all major contenders before halfway distance. A soaked Le Mans circuit that while rain stopped early on the track surface was too wet to dry out. It was set to be a result that would please the ones vouching for the underdogs and it was Wouter de Bruijn, the independent Porsche entry that at the end prevailed taking advantage of all others’ misfortunes. Kiwi Mark Jones would come 2nd in a surprising resilience chasing the lead and determination to make up places early on. Purist honours and 3rd overall would go to Ben Boorman in the Rookie Monsters Porsche coming from the back of the grid. Boorman’s car would have lost significant top end speed by the end of the race only capping at 321 km/h after a major accident he had at the Mulsanne kink but with Ross Smith’s Lola out of contention in the last minutes of the race and George Angelidis’ Ferrari laps down, he managed to take the win. None of the Am cars managed to finish the race in a race that was mostly about survival than speed. If Le Mans wasn’t for the strong nerves and immense patience what comes next... the 3 Laps at the narrow streets of Targa Florio will surely finish the job... Hopefully, the drivers and crews will all have time to recoup themselves after the 2-month summer break and be ready to give it all at it again with high spirits… So tune in for the seventh round of the 1971 Virtual World Sportscar Championship on July 31st, 2021 at 2 PM US EST|18:00 GMT.
The 1971 VWSC Targa Florio was “one for the ages”, such it was such a special occasion that 22 cars took the flag to start on the Sicilian countryside road. Targa Florio without Ferraris can’t happen and there were 5 in this race: 1 factory entry of Scuderia Cavalli with George Angelidis in Purist and 1 for Gasoline Aftershave Bros. with Marouane el Idrissi in Pro, the rest 3 of Peter Meier (Purist), Bruce Hopkins (Am) and Santiago Dancourt (Pro) all privateers. Strong presence was that of Alfa Romeo too with Jon Uyan (Pro) arranged to drive for Alfa Romeo CMS Pro team, having an initial sortie with Porsche in the first half of the Championship joining Gilles Lalonde in the sister Alfa. But at the end it was a resounding victory for Porsche, won by fighting hard and giving the Alfa Romeos a bad time from the beginning of qualifying. Ben Boorman was the hero of the day. Porsche had once again inscribed their name in the Golden Book of the Targa Florio and it had been a black day in Alfa Romeo history, slightly alleviated by the second-place finish of Jon Uyan in Pro class. Oscar Dancourt in the Lola would come 3rd in Pro class while George Angelidis and Ross Smith would close 2nd and 3rd in Purist class respectively. Lola was the only brand other than Porsche to take a class win with Brette Brooks taking 1st in Am followed by the Porsches of Tom Mountjoy and Tom Aiken. From the summery weather of Sicily, the Championship now moves to the gloomy part of Nurburg for the 100 Mins of Nürburgring where the weather and the resilience of teams and drivers proves detrimental for success… So tune in for the eighth round of the 1971 Virtual World Sportscar Championship on August 28th, 2021 at 2 PM US EST|18:00 GMT.
