Provost wrote:
Bill.... I would ban 2.7 's altogether.... the question was asked to me by a customer and you can clearly see at most tracks the 2.7 is an advantage even with the 150 pounds of extra wieght often beating super cup cars. With the abundance of 2.5 engines around and the rarity of 2.7 just doesn't make since to me. Reclass them in sp3-super cup. I think for the "cup class" it should only be 2.5L engines to keep the racing close and fun.....
Don't crucify me......just a thought
That horse has left the barn long long ago.
When we began the Cup series, the idea was to attract large fields of front end Porsche's from anywhere and everywhere, and in almost any configuration possible. That's how the series was built. It's who we were and still try to be for the most part. We want to be inclusive, not exclusive like other spec series who dictated part numbers on shocks, manifolds, and bushings. So, never did we ever think to exclude a 944 with 2.7L engine, or a 924S with a 2.7L engine for that matter.
There was a day in the series when 2.7's were prominent and thought to be the motor to have. Many of the best drivers had them. A reflex reaction was to to dump more and more weight in them each year till they were pushed off the podium. Than we saw a reversal and many of the top drivers went to 2.5's. This is evidenced by the fact that a 2.7 motor has not won a National Championship since 2007, with not a National podium finish in any of the years between then and now. In fact it was thought they were so disadvantaged, we started taking weight back out of them settling finally on 150 lbs more than the 2.5.
Is a 2.7 motor legal in a 924S? The interpretation of the existing rules is yes. Logic being we have forever during the history of the series tried to place the 924S on a level playing field with the 944. And I say tried because a 924S has never won a National Championship. Like with the 944, we have allowed the 924S to employ fender flares to allow for wider wheels such as fit on the 944. We have allowed for the 924S to use the 944 rear spoiler. We have always considered the either the 2.5 or 2.7 to be allowed in the Cup class in either the 944 and 924S as long as the higher minimum weight was applicable.
While I have never heard anyone previously suggest the 924S should not be able to use the 2.7L, I can see the gray area in the rules and will make the needed clarification in the 2014 rules.
Thanks for bringing up the question.