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GRAND-AM
GRAND-AM: GT Expansion Progressing
Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Lotus in various stages of discussion with GRAND-AM to enter GT ranks with customer-based programs...
Mercedes-Benz's SLS AMG GT3 appears to be headed to the GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series. (Photo: Sören Herweg)
There’s no denying the level of success GT3 has achieved across the globe. With over 15 different cars having been built and developed for the nearly dozen national and continental championships, it’s the fastest growing sportscar platform for customers today.
While a full-fledged North American championship doesn’t appear to be on the immediate horizon, a handful of popular brands may be headed to GRAND-AM. And some could take to the track as early as this year.
GRAND-AM Managing Director of Competition, Mark Raffauf, confirmed to SPEED.com that the series has been in negotiations with Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Lotus about adapting their GT3 and GT4-spec machinery to compete in the Rolex Sports Car Series’ GT category.
These latest developments are on the heels of Ferrari’s announcement in January that it will build a GT-specific version of its new F458 Italia GT3-spec machine for GRAND-AM competition.
While the Ferrari is likely to be the first to debut in the highly competitive GT category, currently populated by the likes of Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars and tube-frame Mazdas, Camaros BMWs, one of the most intriguing additions could be Mercedes’ new SLS AMG GT3.
Developed by AMG, the SLS made its European debut late last year in VLN, with over a dozen cars having since been sold for teams competing in various GT3 championships. And it's the strong customer base the gull-winged car already has attracted that’s pushing for it to be eligible in GRAND-AM as well.
“We know that there’s Mercedes customers who have the cars in the German series [ADAC GT Masters and VLN] that want to race it at Daytona next year,” Raffauf said. “There were three or four teams at the Rolex this year [evaluating programs], so they’re been beating on Mercedes to give them the kit that would let them modify [the car], so they can come to the States and race there.”
Raffauf said one of the biggest challenges in adapting the SLS to GT regulations has been the sheer size and power of the 6.3-liter V8 beast. While producing well over 600 horsepower, the car is also 300 pounds heavier than any other current Rolex GT machine.
It means that GRAND-AM would have to carefully balance its performance through air restrictor and RPM limiters. But aside from the engine modifications, only minor changes would have to be done to most GT3-spec cars to bring them to Rolex GT specification.
With the majority of manufacturers already using larger rollcage tubing, mandated in GRAND-AM, the cars would only undergo minor changes, such as series-spec rear wings and front splitters. Raffauf said that each car would essentially retain its GT3 DNA, which would allow teams to convert between specifications.
While the series and Mercedes are already in an advanced stage of negotiations, with the German manufacturer ready to send its first engine to NASCAR’s R&D facility in Concord N.C. for dyno testing and certification, Audi's potential program has yet to hit that stage.
Raffauf admitted there hasn’t been much dialogue with Audi as of late on the adaption of its R8 LMS for Rolex GT competition. GRAND-AM’s Vice President of Competition, Dave Spitzer, who has been refocused to oversee new international-based projects, recently visited Ingolstadt. Audi, though, was “indecisive about what they’re doing anywhere” according to Raffauf.
While it’s unclear if Audi will press ahead with efforts to adapt its R8 LMS for GRAND-AM, which would require a complete ground-up reconstruction of the car to include larger rollcage tubing, the series has also been in talks with Lotus on allowing its GT4-based Evora in the mix.
“Their GT4-spec powerplant and driveline actually fits our GT [class] perfectly,” Raffauf said. “There would be no changes at all. You could probably pick up that car and take it into [the class], performance wise. It has a couple of issues, like the current tire size, which we don’t have anything that small.”
With hopes of Mercedes, Audi and Lotus all joining the fray with customer programs, the only GT3 manufacturer to have officially confirmed plans thus far has been Ferrari. Raffauf said the first engine should be on the NASCAR dyno in the next four weeks, with a likely race debut by the end of the year.
Reliable sources indicate that as many as four GRAND-AM-spec F458 Italias have already been pre-sold, with Eddie Cheever still working on securing a program for next year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona. If that happens, it could result in five Prancing Horses on the grid for the twice-around-the-clock classic, in the race's 50th anniversary.
While Raffauf has been pleased with the level of interest thus far from the new-wave of GT machines, he stressed the importance of customer support. With Mercedes never having a U.S.-based motorsports program, for instance, it could create some challenges in providing such assistance.
But if there’s a large enough demand, anything could be possible. Raffauf uses Porsche as the perfect example of a foreign manufacturer that has built the largest customer support base in North America. Mercedes, Audi and Lotus could very well follow suit.
“It’s all good, but until it becomes reality, you can’t bank on it,” Raffauf said. “You have to remember that everyone that wants to do this is counting on customers. As it’s obvious to everyone in the world, there’s not a whole lot of them out there that either don’t have something or maybe don’t have the wherewithal to step up to the level right away.
“I use the term, ‘It’s real when it shows up.’ They’ll go through the motions, they’ll make it happen. I think there are interested customers out there, but if they see the commitment and support.”
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
While a full-fledged North American championship doesn’t appear to be on the immediate horizon, a handful of popular brands may be headed to GRAND-AM. And some could take to the track as early as this year.
GRAND-AM Managing Director of Competition, Mark Raffauf, confirmed to SPEED.com that the series has been in negotiations with Mercedes-Benz, Audi and Lotus about adapting their GT3 and GT4-spec machinery to compete in the Rolex Sports Car Series’ GT category.
These latest developments are on the heels of Ferrari’s announcement in January that it will build a GT-specific version of its new F458 Italia GT3-spec machine for GRAND-AM competition.
While the Ferrari is likely to be the first to debut in the highly competitive GT category, currently populated by the likes of Porsche 911 GT3 Cup cars and tube-frame Mazdas, Camaros BMWs, one of the most intriguing additions could be Mercedes’ new SLS AMG GT3.
Developed by AMG, the SLS made its European debut late last year in VLN, with over a dozen cars having since been sold for teams competing in various GT3 championships. And it's the strong customer base the gull-winged car already has attracted that’s pushing for it to be eligible in GRAND-AM as well.
“We know that there’s Mercedes customers who have the cars in the German series [ADAC GT Masters and VLN] that want to race it at Daytona next year,” Raffauf said. “There were three or four teams at the Rolex this year [evaluating programs], so they’re been beating on Mercedes to give them the kit that would let them modify [the car], so they can come to the States and race there.”
Raffauf said one of the biggest challenges in adapting the SLS to GT regulations has been the sheer size and power of the 6.3-liter V8 beast. While producing well over 600 horsepower, the car is also 300 pounds heavier than any other current Rolex GT machine.
It means that GRAND-AM would have to carefully balance its performance through air restrictor and RPM limiters. But aside from the engine modifications, only minor changes would have to be done to most GT3-spec cars to bring them to Rolex GT specification.
With the majority of manufacturers already using larger rollcage tubing, mandated in GRAND-AM, the cars would only undergo minor changes, such as series-spec rear wings and front splitters. Raffauf said that each car would essentially retain its GT3 DNA, which would allow teams to convert between specifications.
While the series and Mercedes are already in an advanced stage of negotiations, with the German manufacturer ready to send its first engine to NASCAR’s R&D facility in Concord N.C. for dyno testing and certification, Audi's potential program has yet to hit that stage.
Raffauf admitted there hasn’t been much dialogue with Audi as of late on the adaption of its R8 LMS for Rolex GT competition. GRAND-AM’s Vice President of Competition, Dave Spitzer, who has been refocused to oversee new international-based projects, recently visited Ingolstadt. Audi, though, was “indecisive about what they’re doing anywhere” according to Raffauf.
While it’s unclear if Audi will press ahead with efforts to adapt its R8 LMS for GRAND-AM, which would require a complete ground-up reconstruction of the car to include larger rollcage tubing, the series has also been in talks with Lotus on allowing its GT4-based Evora in the mix.
“Their GT4-spec powerplant and driveline actually fits our GT [class] perfectly,” Raffauf said. “There would be no changes at all. You could probably pick up that car and take it into [the class], performance wise. It has a couple of issues, like the current tire size, which we don’t have anything that small.”
With hopes of Mercedes, Audi and Lotus all joining the fray with customer programs, the only GT3 manufacturer to have officially confirmed plans thus far has been Ferrari. Raffauf said the first engine should be on the NASCAR dyno in the next four weeks, with a likely race debut by the end of the year.
Reliable sources indicate that as many as four GRAND-AM-spec F458 Italias have already been pre-sold, with Eddie Cheever still working on securing a program for next year’s Rolex 24 at Daytona. If that happens, it could result in five Prancing Horses on the grid for the twice-around-the-clock classic, in the race's 50th anniversary.
While Raffauf has been pleased with the level of interest thus far from the new-wave of GT machines, he stressed the importance of customer support. With Mercedes never having a U.S.-based motorsports program, for instance, it could create some challenges in providing such assistance.
But if there’s a large enough demand, anything could be possible. Raffauf uses Porsche as the perfect example of a foreign manufacturer that has built the largest customer support base in North America. Mercedes, Audi and Lotus could very well follow suit.
“It’s all good, but until it becomes reality, you can’t bank on it,” Raffauf said. “You have to remember that everyone that wants to do this is counting on customers. As it’s obvious to everyone in the world, there’s not a whole lot of them out there that either don’t have something or maybe don’t have the wherewithal to step up to the level right away.
“I use the term, ‘It’s real when it shows up.’ They’ll go through the motions, they’ll make it happen. I think there are interested customers out there, but if they see the commitment and support.”
John Dagys is SPEED.com’s Sportscar Racing Reporter, focusing on all major domestic and international championships. You can follow him on Twitter @johndagys or email him at
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