IMSA-GTP series 1981

Lola T600; Brian Redman won the drivers championship with this racing car model

Porsche 935K3 was the most popular racing car model in the GTP series

The Ford Mustang Turbo from Klaus Ludwig

The IMSA-GTP series 1981 was the 1st edition of the IMSA-GTP series . The racing series comprised 22 races, starting with the 24-hour race in Daytona on February 1 and ending with the 250-mile race in Daytona on November 29 of this year.

championship

The IMSA GT racing series had existed since 1971 when IMSA founder John Bishop started a racing series for GT vehicles. With the introduction of Group C in 1981, the IMSA also opened up to these racing prototypes . While GT vehicles continued to be driven at the same time, from 1981 special designs that were built exclusively for the GTP class were also used. The GTP vehicles complied with the technical regulations of Group C with the not insignificant difference that there were no fuel restrictions in the IMSA GTP series. In contrast to the races in the World Sports Car Championship , the teams could use as much gasoline as they wanted.

In 1981 the series consisted of no fewer than 22 races, not all championship races counting in the same championship class. Six races, the 45-minute race of Road Atlanta , the 45-minute race of Laguna Seca , the 45-minute race of Lime Rock , the 45-minute race of Sears Point , the 45-minute race of Portland and the second 45-minute race at Road Atlanta were only part of the GTU class. These races took place as 45-minute sprint races on race Sunday as part of the supporting program of the respective GTP races.

The series also included two traditional North American endurance races , the Sebring 12-hour race , which has been held since 1952 , and the Daytona 24-hour race . These two racing events and other long-distance races are also part of the World Sports Car Championship this year .

Manufacturer and driver ratings were announced. Porsche secured the GTP manufacturers' championship . Mazda was victorious in the GTU class , especially thanks to the success of the RX-7 .

In the overall standings, Brian Redman won the championship with the drivers , who won the standings with 213 points, clearly ahead of the American John Paul junior (130 points) and his compatriot John Fitzpatrick (111 points). Lee Mueller won the GTU class ahead of Walt Bohren and Logan Blackburn .

Racing calendar

No.	date	Race name / circuit	team	Overall winner	vehicle	championship
1	February 1st	Daytona 24 Hours ( Daytona International Speedway )	Garretson Racing Style Car	Bob Garretson Bobby Rahal Brian Redman	Porsche 935K3	All classes
2	March 21st	Sebring 12-hour race ( Sebring International Raceway )	Bayside Disposal Racing	Hurley Haywood Al Holbert Bruce Leven	Porsche 935/80	All classes
3	12. April	45-minute race of Road Atlanta, 1st race ( Road Atlanta )	Kent Racing	Walt Drilling	Mazda RX-7	GTU
4th	12. April	100-mile race at Road Atlanta (Road Atlanta)	John Fitzpatrick	John Fitzpatrick	Porsche 935K3 / 80	GTP
5	26th of April	6 Hours of Riverside ( Riverside International Raceway )	John Fitzpatrick Racing	John Fitzpatrick Jim Busby	Porsche 935K3 / 80	All classes
6th	May 3rd	Laguna Seca 100 Mile Race ( Laguna Seca Raceway )	Cooke Woods Garretson	Brian Redman	Lola T600	GTP
7th	May 3rd	45-minute race of Laguna Seca (Laguna Seca Raceway)	Kent Racing	Lee Mueller	Mazda RX-7	GTU
8th	May 24th	Lime Rock 45 Minute Race ( Lime Rock Park )	Kent Racing	Walt Drilling	Mazda RX-7	GTU
9	May 24th	Lime Rock 200 Mile Race (Lime Rock Park)	Kent-Cooke Wood Racing	Brian Redman	Lola T600	GTP
10	31. May	Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course ( 200 Mile )	Kent-Cooke Wood Racing	Brian Redman	Lola T600	All classes
11	14th June	Brainerd 200K Race ( Brainerd International Raceway )	Team Zakspeed Roush	Klaus Ludwig	Ford Mustang Turbo	All classes
12	July 4th	Daytona 250 Mile Race 1st Race (Daytona International Speedway)	de Narváez Enterprises	Hurley Haywood Mauricio de Narváez	Porsche 935J	All classes
13	July 26th	45 Minute Race of Sears Point ( Sonoma Raceway )	Personalized car dealership	Wayne Baker	Porsche 914/4	GTU
14th	July 26th	100 Mile Race from Sears Point (Sonoma Raceway)	Team Zakspeed Roush	Klaus Ludwig	Ford Mustang Turbo	GTP
15th	August 2nd	1-hour race at Portland ( Portland International Raceway )	Cooke Woods Racing	Brian Redman	Lola T600	GTP
16	August 2nd	45 Minute Portland International Raceway	Kent Racing	Lee Mueller	Mazda RX-7	GTU
17th	August 16	Mosport 6 Hour Race ( Mosport International Raceway )	Andial Masters Racing	Rolf Stommelen Harald Grohs	Porsche 935M16	All classes
18th	August 23	500-mile race at Road America ( Road America )	Andial Masters Racing	Rolf Stommelen Harald Grohs	Porsche 935M16	All classes
19th	13.september	45-minute race of Road Atlanta, Race 2 (Road Atlanta)	Kent Racing	Walt Drilling	Mazda RX-7	GTU
20th	13.september	150-mile race at Road Atlanta (Road Atlanta)	Cooke Woods Racing	Brian Redman	Lola T600	GTP
21st	September 27th	Pocono 500 Mile Race ( Pocono Raceway )	JLP Racing	John Paul junior John Paul senior	Porsche 935 JLP-3	All classes
22nd	November 29th	Daytona 250 Mile Race, 2nd Race (Daytona International Speedway)	JLP Racing	John Paul Junior	Porsche 935 JLP-3	All classes

IMSA-GTP championship for manufacturers

GTP overall ranking

position	Manufacturer	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	10	11	12	13	14th	15th	16	17th	18th	19th	20th	21st	22nd	total
1	Porsche	20th	20th		20th	20th	15th			15th	15th	15th	20th		10	15th		20th	20th		15th	20th	20th	280
2	Lola Cars									20th	20th	20th	6th			15th		20th	15th		20th	15th	15th	181
3	ford	3			15th						4th	20th			20th									62
4th	Chevrolet		4th			4th	1			4th	3	8th	10		3	3			2		10	6th		58
5	BMW	6th				6th	6th			1	8th					10		2			3			42
6th	Datsun				1					6th		3			6th	6th								22nd
7th	Chevron Cars												6th								8th	2	1	17th
8th	Lancia	12																						12
9	Ferrari	1																						1

Final ranking of the GTU class

position	Manufacturer	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	10	11	12	13	14th	15th	16	17th	18th	19th	20th	21st	22nd	total
1	Mazda	12	20th	20th		15th		20th	20th		15th	20th	12	12			20th	20th	20th	20th		20th	20th	286
2	Datsun	15th	6th	8th		20th		3	12		20th	15th	20th	8th			2	15th	15th	12			15th	184
3	Porsche	20th	15th	6th		6th		8th			8th	12	4th	20th			12	12	12			8th		143
4th	Renault			12				12																24
5	BMW			10					4th													2	1	17th
6th	Toyota																4th		6th					10
7th	Lancia		3																					3
8th	ford											2												2

IMSA GTP championship for drivers

GTP overall ranking

position	driver	vehicle	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	10	11	12	13	14th	15th	16	17th	18th	19th	20th	21st	22nd	total
1	Brian Redman	Lola T600 Porsche 935K3	20th	6th			12	20th			20th	20th				15th	20th		15th	15th		20th	15th	15th	213
2	John Paul Junior	Lola T600 Porsche Porsche 935JLP-3 Porsche 935K3				4th	16	15th			8th	13	1	15th		13	1			3			21st	20th	130
3	John Fitzpatrick	Porsche 935K3		1		20th	20th	13				10	15th						8th	6th		1	12	5	111
4th	Bobby Rahal	Porsche 935K3	20th	6th		12	12	10			15th	15th		8th			12			8th				2	105
5	Ted Field	Porsche 935K3				4th		4th			15th	6th		12			8th		12	4th		15th		8th	88
6th	Hurley Haywood	Porsche 935 Porsche 935J		20th		6th	8th	2						21st									8th	12	77
7th	Giampiero Moretti	Porsche 935		8th		2	2	3			10	15th				10	15th			8th					73
8th	Mauricio de Narváez	Porsche 935J		8th			1							20th		8th	4th		6th			12		10	69
9	Rolf Stommelen	Porsche 935K3	3	10							12								21st	21st					67
10	Bob Garretson	Porsche 935K3	20th	6th			10							8th						6th		10		2	62
11	Klaus Ludwig	Ford Mustang Turbo				15th					1		20th			20th									56
12	Harald Grohs	Porsche 935K3	2	10															20th	20th					52
13	John Paul Sr.	Lola T600 Porsche Porsche 935JLP-3 Porsche 935K3					15th						12							3			20th		50
14th	Jim Busby	Porsche 935K3					20th										8th						12		40
15th	Ralph Kent-Cooke	Lola T600 Porsche 935K3		15th			10																15th		40
16	Bruce Leven	Porsche 935/80		20th									10										8th		38
17th	David Hobbs	BMW M-1 / C BMW M1	6th				6th	6th				8th					10		2						38
18th	Al Holbert	Porsche 935 Porsche 924 Turbo		20th							10														30th
19th	Chris Cord	Lola T600 Chevrolet Monza					4th	1												12			10		27
20th	Jim Adams	Lola T600 Chevrolet Monza					4th													12			10		26th
21 =	Skeeter McKitterick	Porsche 935K3		15th			1												3					3	22nd
21 =	Bob Akin	Porsche 935K3	15th				1												3					3	22nd
23	Danny Ongais	Porsche 935K3				10		8th																	18th
24	Enrique Molins	Porsche 935 Porsche 934	10	3															4th						17th
25th	Bill Whittington	Porsche 935K3		12																4th					16
26 =	Craig Siebert	Porsche 935K3	15th																						15th
26 =	Eppie Wietzes	Lola T600 Chevrolet Camaro																	15th						15th
26 =	Sam Posey	Lola T600 Datsun 280ZX																		15th					15th
26 =	Derek Bell	Porsche 935J Porsche 935K3	15th																						15th
30th	Eduardo Barrientos	Porsche 935 Porsche 934	10	3																					13
31	Paul Newman	Datsun Turbo				1										6th	6th								13
32 =	Emanuele Pirro	Lancia Beta Montecarlo Ferrari 308 GTB	12																						12
32 =	Martino Finotto	Lancia Beta Montecarlo Ferrari 308 GTB	12																						12
32 =	Milt Minter	Porsche 935K3 Ferrari 308 GTB		12																					12
32 =	Marty Hinze	Porsche 935K3 Ferrari 308 GTB		12																					12
36	Marc Surer	BMW M-1 / C BMW M1	6th				6th																		12
37 =	Hershel McGriff	Chevrolet Corvette																				10			10
37 =	Preston Henn	Porsche 935K3															10								10
37 =	Fred Snow	Chevrolet Camaro											10												10
37 =	Edgar Dören	Porsche 935															10								10
37 =	Tom Gloy	Porsche 935																		10					10
37 =	Carlos González	Porsche 934	10																						10
37 =	Roy Woods	Porsche 935K3					10																		10
37 =	Jack Swanson	Chevrolet Camaro Porsche 911											10												10
37 =	Howard master	Porsche 935K3		10																					10
46 =	Don Whittington	Porsche 935K3																						8th	8th
46 =	Ludwig Heimrath senior	Porsche 935 Porsche 934	8th																						8th
46 =	Dale Whittington	Porsche 935K3				8th																			8th
46 =	Charles Mendez	Porsche 935		8th																					8th
46 =	Billy Hagan	Chevrolet Camaro																		2			6th		8th
46 =	Ludwig Heimrath junior	Porsche 935 Porsche 934	8th																						8th
52	Del Russo Taylor	Chevron GTP												6th										1	7th
53 =	Dieter Quester	BMW M1	6th																						6th
53 =	Gene Felton	Chevrolet Camaro																					6th		6th
53 =	Josele Garza	Porsche 935																						6th	6th
56 =	Riccardo Patrese	Lancia Beta Montecarlo	4th																						4th
56 =	Henri Pescarolo	Lancia Beta Montecarlo	4th																						4th
56 =	Hans Heyer	Lancia Beta Montecarlo	4th																						4th
56 =	Fred Darling	Chevrolet Camaro																					4th		4th
56 =	Wayne Darling	Chevrolet Camaro																					4th		4th
56 =	Richard Valentine	Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet Camaro		4th																					4th
56 =	Maurice Carter	Chevrolet Corvette Chevrolet Camaro		4th																					4th
56 =	Bruce Canepa	Porsche 935												4th											4th
64 =	Carlos Moran	Porsche 935K3 Porsche 934					3																		3
64 =	John Morton	BMW M-1 / C Ford Mustang	3																						3
64 =	Tom Klauser	Ford Mustang	3																						3
64 =	Guillermo Valiente	Porsche 934		3																					3
64 =	Karen Erstad	Porsche 935K3					3																		3
69 =	Craig Shafer	Chevrolet Camaro		2																					2
69 =	Jochen Mass	Porsche 935L					2																		2
69 =	George Shafer	Chevrolet Camaro		2																					2
69 =	Hans-Joachim Stuck	BMW M-1 / C BMW M1																		2					2
69 =	Bob Mitchell	Chevrolet Camaro																		2					2
74 =	Pepe Romero	Porsche 935																	1						1
74 =	Diego Febles	Porsche 935 Porsche 934 Mazda RX-7																	1						1

Final ranking of the GTU class

position	driver	vehicle	1	2	3	4th	5	6th	7th	8th	9	10	11	12	13	14th	15th	16	17th	18th	19th	20th	21st	22nd	total
1	Lee Mueller	Mazda RX-7	12	20th	16		1		21st	15th		16	20th		10			21st	20th	20th	16		15th	12	234
2	Walt Drilling	Mazda RX-7	8th	20th	20th				15th	21st		12			12			15th	21st	20th	20th		20th	21st	225
3	Logan Blackburn	Datsun 280ZX								12		20th	15th	15th						15th			10	15th	102
4th	Wayne Baker	Porsche 914/4 Porsche 914/6			6th				8th			6th	12		20th			12		12			8th		84
5	Dick Davenport	Datsun 280ZX	15th				20th						11	20th					15th	1					82
6th	Frank Carney	Datsun 280ZX	15th		8th		20th			2		4th			8th				15th	1	3				76
7th	Jim Cook	Mazda RX-7	4th	1	2					6th		3		11	7th			10			12		13		69
8th	Bill Koll	Porsche 911 Porsche 911SC	20th				6th					8th	8th		15th			6th							63
9 =	Amos Johnson	Mazda RX-7	10				15th							12						8th			6th	4th	55
9 =	Roger Mandeville	Mazda RX-7	10				15th							12						8th			6th	4th	55
11	Jim Downing	Mazda RX-7	6th	12			10			2			8th							2			4th		44
12	George Alderman	Datsun 280ZX		6th						1		11									8th			10	36
13	Jeff Kline	Porsche 911S	20th				6th											8th							34
14th	Irv Hoerr	Mazda RX-7	6th	12			10					2											4th		34
15th	Rick knoop	Mazda RX-7					8th																20th		28
16	Kathy Rude	Mazda RX-7	12	1																			15th		28
17th	Bob Speakman	Mazda RX-7 Datsun 280ZX		10										6th									3	8th	27
18th	Jim Mullen	Mazda RX-7	8th				8th			10															26th
19th	Patrick Jacquemart	Renault Le Car Turbo			12				12																24
20th	Rob McFarlin	Porsche 911S	20th																						20th
21st	Charles Morgan	Datsun 280ZX												3						10	6th				19th
22nd	Scott Hoerr	Mazda RX-7	6th	12																					18th
23	Casey Mollett	Datsun 280ZX					12								4th			2							18th
24	David Frellsen	Datsun 280ZX																		15th	2				17th
25th	Kurt Roehrig	Porsche 911 BMW 320i	8th							4th				3											17th
26th	Doug Carmean	Mazda RX-7																					10	6th	16
27 =	Manuel Villa	Porsche 911		15th																					15th
27 =	Luis Gordillo	Porsche 911		15th																					15th
27 =	Mike Ramirez	Porsche 911		15th																					15th
30 =	John Casey	Mazda RX-7	3																				12		15th
30 =	Frank Honsowetz	Datsun 280ZX					12		3																15th
32	Dave White	Porsche 911 BMW 320i			10									3									2		15th
33 =	Dwight Mitchell	Porsche 914/6	4th	8th														3							15th
33 =	Ray Ratcliff	Porsche 914/6	4th	8th			3																		15th
35 =	Jack Dunham	Mazda RX-7			3				10																13
35 =	Al Cosentino	Mazda RX-7		10																			3		13
37 =	Phillippe Martin	Mazda RX-7	12																						12
37 =	Peter Aschenbrenner	Porsche 914/6																	12						12
39 =	Robert Overby	Porsche 914/4 Porsche 914/6 Mazda RX-7					4th																8th		12
39 =	Bob Leitzinger	Datsun 280ZX			4th					8th															12
41	Bill Cooper	Porsche 914/6		8th			3																		11
42 =	Mike Pinney	Mazda RX-7																					10		10
42 =	Jim Miller	Datsun 280ZX																		10					10
42 =	Diego Febles	Mazda RX-7	10																						10
45	Michael Guffey	Datsun 290ZX											4th								4th				8th
46	John Johnson	Porsche 911							6th						1										7th
47 =	Jim Trueman	Mazda RX-7																						6th	6th
47 =	Jack Buchinger	Datsun 280ZX											6th												6th
47 =	Rameau Johnson	Datsun 280ZX Toyota Celica																		6th					6th
47 =	John McComb	Datsun 280ZX		6th																					6th
51 =	Jim Burt	Mazda RX-7		2																4th					6th
51 =	Douglas Grunnet	Mazda RX-7		2																4th					6th
53	George Follmer	Toyota Celica																4th		1					5
54 =	Bob Barnes	Porsche 911							4th																4th
54 =	Ron Case	Porsche 911												4th											4th
54 =	Bill Bean	Porsche 911		4th																					4th
54 =	Marion Speer	Porsche 914/6	4th																						4th
54 =	Bruce Jennings	Porsche 911		4th																					4th
54 =	Tom Ashby	Porsche 911		4th																					4th
54 =	Jeff Scott	Porsche 914/6					4th																		4th
61 =	Glen Johnson	Mazda RX-2																		3			1		4th
61 =	Bruce Nesbitt	Mazda RX-2																		3			1		4th
63 =	Ray Mummery	Mazda RX-7																						3	3
63 =	Jim Fitzgerald	Datsun 298ZX								3															3
63 =	Greg LaCava	Porsche 911													3										3
63 =	Jose Marina	Lancia Stratos		3																					3
63 =	Bob Bergstrom	Mazda RX-7	3																						3
63 =	Jim Fowells	Mazda RX-7																						3	3
63 =	Anatoly Arutunoff	Mazda RX-7		3																					3
70 =	Ron Reed	Datsun 280ZX												2											2
70 =	Larry Chmura	Porsche 911													2										2
70 =	Dennis Tholen	Porsche 911							2																2
70 =	Steve Dietrich	Mazda RX-7		2																					2
70 =	Hugh McDonough	Mazda RX-7		2																					2
70 =	Steve Paquette	Mazda RX-7	2																						2
70 =	Michael Zimicki	Mazda RX-7																						2	2
70 =	Tom Winters	Mazda RX-7		2																					2
78 =	Keith Bowman	Mazda RX-7																			1				1
78 =	Dick Gauthier	Porsche 911	1																						1
78 =	Joel Anderson	Datsun 280ZX							1																1
78 =	Jack Swanson	Porsche 911	1																						1
78 =	Tom Cripe	Porsche 911	1																						1
78 =	Divina Galica	Mazda RX-7		1																					1
78 =	Stu Fisher	Datsun 280ZX																1							1
78 =	Van McDonald	Datsun 280ZX			1																				1

literature

• JA Martin and Ken Welles: Prototypes - the History of the IMSA GTP Series . Bull Publishing, Phoenix 2000, ISBN 1-893618-01-3 .

Web links

• Results at ClassisCars

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Final rating of the GTP class and thus the overall rating
2. ↑ Final ranking of the GTU class