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1992 World Sportscar Championship season
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The 1992 Sportscar World Championship season was the 40th and final FIA World Sportscar Championship season. It was a series of Group C formula sportscars separated into two classes, termed C1 and FIA Cup. It ran from April 26, 1992 to October 18, 1992, comprising 6 races.

Pre-Season[]

From the start, the 1992 season was in doubt. The FIA planned to cancel the season due to a lack of entrants, but pressure from Peugeot, who had poured a large sum of money into the sport and did not wish to see that money wasted after only a year of competition, convinced the FIA that there would be enough entries to make the season worthwhile. With this, the FIA allowed the season to move forward.

The FIA's vision of a single unified formula for the Sportscar World Championship that would truly equal that of Formula One was finally into place following the development of 3500 cc sportscars in the previous seasons. This formula of engine equalisation took over the series, eliminating any previous engine that did not fit into the 3.5 L category. Thus every car had similar engines, and new subclasses were born: C1 for works supported teams with engines of 10 or 12 cylinders and usually backed by factory teams, and FIA Cup for privateer teams, usually running the Ford Cosworth DFR V8.

With the elimination of the previous C2 class, it required manufacturers such as Mazda and Porsche to build entirely new engines, and due to the large change in engine dimensions compared to what they had used in 1991, all new chassis as well. Porsche already had an F1 engine in their 3512 unit used by Footwork, but the engine design was found to be lacking. Porsche, suffering financially at the time, decided that not only improving the 3512, but also replacing the 962 chassis, was no longer worth it and decided not to return.

Mazda, having accomplished their goal of winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1991 with their famed rotary engine, were left without the ability to use their rotary engine anymore in 1992. Since Mazda entered sportscar racing mostly to push their rotary designs, Mazda decided to continue on into 1992 for advancement of the overall brand, but with a less ambitious development programme. Mazdaspeed bought customer versions of the Jaguar XJR-14 and slightly modified them into the Mazda MXR-01 while the engines were customer Judd GV V10s. This effort saved large amounts of money for the company while keeping their name involved in the sport.

Of the teams that already had compliant 3.5 L cars racing in 1991, their continuation into 1992 varied.

Mercedes-Benz, alongside partner Sauber, pushed ahead with plans for a car in 1992. Development of the C292 was underway, as was construction of a new set of Flat-12s. However, after various faults in the construction of the engines in 1991, further problems led to large monetary losses for the company, forcing them not to return for 1992.

Jaguar, who had been in sportscar racing with the XJR project since 1984, and were not completely happy with the performance of the XJR-14 during the 1991 season, had already announced their departure from the series. Customer XJR-14s were promised for 1992 from newcomers RMR racing as well as Gee Pee Cars.

Of the smaller privateer teams, Brun Motorsport's development of the lacking C91 chassis cost them a great deal, and with the loss of cheap customer cars like the Porsche 962, they decided not to return. Other teams which had previously used the 962 also failed to return, including Kremer Racing and Team Salamin Primagaz. Courage Competition was unable to find the money to continue development of their own chassis, and decided to instead concentrate solely on the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Konrad Motorsport, whose KM-011 chassis was also lackluster in 1991, claimed they were attempt to push on with Lamborghini backing into 1992. Euro Racing found enough cash to replace their aging Spice chassis with the new Lola T92/10s with Judd powerplants, and promised to be on the grid immediately for 1992. Chamberlain Engineering also planned to continue as the factory backed Spice Engineering squad.

Peugeot and Toyota, who had campaigned their 905 and TS010s respectively, remained in the sport mostly unchanged. Both cars underwent evolutionary changes in preparation for 1992, while the basic chassis and engines remained the same.

A revival of the BRM name was also announced for 1992, using their own newly built P351 chassis and V12 engine. Unfortunately, even with the apparent addition of BRM, the grid in comparison between 1991 and 1992 was looking bleak, with the loss of a large number of privateer teams, as well as the loss of two major manufacturers (with a third being downgraded to privateer status) with only one possible new replacement.

Schedule[]

When the 1992 season was provisionally approved in December 1991, the FIA published a ten race calendar for the season, composed of 1000 km and 500 km races, as well as the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Initial schedule[]

Rnd Race Circuit Date
1 25px Japan 500 km of Autopolis Autopolis April 5
2 25px Italy 1000 km of Monza Autodromo Nazionale Monza April 26
3 25px Great Britain 500 km of Silverstone Silverstone Circuit May 10
4 25px Spain 500 km of Jarama Circuito Permanente Del Jarama May 26
5 25px France 24 Hours of Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe June 20
June 21
6 25px Great Britain 1000 km of Donington Donington Park July 19
7 25px Germany 1000 km of Nürburgring Nürburgring August 2
8 25px Japan 1000 km of Suzuka Suzuka Circuit August 30
9 25px Mexico 1000 km of Mexico City Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez September 13
10 25px Spain 1000 km of Jerez Circuito Permanente de Jerez October 4

By January 1992, the FIA shortened the calendar to eight events, with the Monza and Donington events being cut down to 500 km. Magny-Cours was also brought in to replace some fly-away events.

The Jerez round remained on the final calendar, but was cancelled during the middle of the season when track officials failed to update the track to the FIA's standards.

Final schedule[]

Rnd Race Circuit Date
1 25px Italy 500km of Monza Autodromo Nazionale Monza April 26
2 25px United Kingdom BRDC Empire Trophy (500 km) Silverstone Circuit May 10
3 25px France 24 Hours of Le Mans Circuit de la Sarthe June 20
June 21
4 25px United Kingdom Triton Showers Trophy (500 km) Donington Park July 19
5 25px Japan Suzuka 1000km Suzuka Circuit August 30
6 25px France 500 km of Magny-Cours Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours October 18

Prior to the 500 km of Silverstone, race organisers attempted to convince teams to shorten the race distance to approximately 250 km in order to boost ticket sales. However, Toyota vetoed the decision and the race remained at its original distance.

Season results[]

Points were awarded for the top 10 finishers, in the order of 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1, with some exceptions:

  • Drivers failing to drive the car within a certain percentage of the laps in a race were not given points.
  • Teams were only given points for their highest finishing car; any other team cars were merely skipped in the points standings. Points were still awarded to their drivers however.
  • Neither driver nor teams scored points if they did not complete 90% of the winner's distance.

FIA Cup class cars were included in the overall championship standings, while they were scored separately for their own class championship.

Races[]

Rnd Circuit C1 Winning Team FIA Cup Winning Team Results
C1 Winning Drivers FIA Cup Winning Drivers
1 Monza 25px Japan Toyota Team Tom's 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering Results
25px United Kingdom Geoff Lees
25px Japan Hitoshi Ogawa
25px Switzerland Bernard Thuner
25px France Ferdinand de Lesseps
2 Silverstone 25px France Peugeot Talbot Sport 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering Results
25px United Kingdom Derek Warwick
25px France Yannick Dalmas
25px France Ferdinand de Lesseps
25px United Kingdom Will Hoy
3 La Sarthe 25px France Peugeot Talbot Sport 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering Results
25px United Kingdom Derek Warwick
25px France Yannick Dalmas
25px United Kingdom Mark Blundell
25px France Ferdinand de Lesseps
25px United Kingdom Richard Piper
25px France Olindo Iacobelli
4 Donington 25px France Peugeot Talbot Sport 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering Results
25px Italy Mauro Baldi
25px France Philippe Alliot
25px France Ferdinand de Lesseps
25px United Kingdom Will Hoy
5 Suzuka 25px France Peugeot Talbot Sport 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering Results
25px United Kingdom Derek Warwick
25px France Yannick Dalmas
25px France Ferdinand de Lesseps
25px United Kingdom Nick Adams
25px Japan Masahiro Kimoto
6 Magny-Cours 25px France Peugeot Talbot Sport 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering Results
25px Italy Mauro Baldi
25px France Philippe Alliot
25px France Ferdinand de Lesseps
25px United Kingdom Nick Adams

Overall Teams Championship[]

Pos Team Chassis Engine Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 Rnd 4 Rnd 5 Rnd 6 Total
1 25px France Peugeot Talbot Sport Peugeot 905 Evo 1B Peugeot SA35 3.5L V10 15 20 20 20 20 20 115
2 25px Japan Toyota Team Tom's Toyota TS010 Toyota RV10 3.5L V10 20 15 12 15 12 74
3 25px Japan Mazdaspeed Mazda MXR-01 Mazda (Judd) MV10 3.5L V10 15 10 8 6 39
4 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering Spice SE89C Ford Cosworth DFZ 3.5L V8 12 4 6 8 4 34
5 25px Netherlands Euro Racing Lola T92/10 Judd GV10 3.5L V10 6 10 10 26
6 25px Italy Team S.C.I. Spice SE90C
Tiga GC288
Ford Cosworth DFZ 3.5L V8
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8
10

4

3

17

FIA Cup Teams Championship[]

Pos Team Chassis Engine Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 Rnd 4 Rnd 5 Rnd 6 Total
1 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering Spice SE89C Ford Cosworth DFZ 3.5L V8 20 20 20 20 20 100
2 25px Italy Team S.C.I. Spice SE90C
Tiga GC288
Ford Cosworth DFZ 3.5L V8
Ford Cosworth DFL 3.3L V8
15

15

15

45
3 25px Germany G.S.R. GmbH Gebhardt C91 Ford Cosworth DFR 3.5L V8 15 15

† - Chamberlain Engineering scored no team points in Round 5 due to having no other competition in its class.

Overall Drivers Championship[]

Pos Driver Team Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 Rnd 4 Rnd 5 Rnd 6 Total
1= 25px France Yannick Dalmas 25px France Peugeot Talbot Sport 15 20 20 15 20 8 98
1= 25px United Kingdom Derek Warwick 25px France Peugeot Talbot Sport 15 20 20 15 20 8 98
3= 25px France Philippe Alliot 25px France Peugeot Talbot Sport 12 20 12 20 64
3= 25px Italy Mauro Baldi 25px France Peugeot Talbot Sport 12 20 12 20 64
5 25px United Kingdom Geoff Lees 25px Japan Toyota Team Tom's 20 12 15 12 59
6 25px Netherlands Jan Lammers 25px Japan Toyota Team Tom's 8 15 12 35
7 25px France Ferdinand de Lesseps 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering 12 4 6 8 4 34
8 25px Brazil Maurizio Sandro-Sala 25px Japan Mazdaspeed 15 8 6 29
9 25px United Kingdom Johnny Herbert 25px Japan Mazdaspeed 15 10 25
10 25px Australia David Brabham 25px Japan Toyota Team Tom's 12 10 22
11 25px Japan Hitoshi Ogawa 25px Japan Toyota Team Tom's 20 20
12= 25px United Kingdom Will Hoy 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering 12 6 18
12= 25px United Kingdom Andy Wallace 25px Japan Toyota Team Tom's 8 10 18
14= 25px Italy Stefano Sebastiani 25px Italy Team S.C.I. 10 4 3 17
14= 25px Italy Ranieri Randaccio 25px Italy Team S.C.I. 10 4 3 17
16 25px Germany Heinz-Harald Frentzen 25px Netherlands Euro Racing 6 10 16
17= 25px France Eric Hélary 25px France Peugeot Talbot Sport 15 15
17= 25px France Christophe Bouchut 25px France Peugeot Talbot Sport 15 15
17= 25px France Pierre-Henri Raphanel 25px Japan Toyota Team Tom's 15 15
17= 25px United Kingdom Kenny Acheson 25px Japan Toyota Team Tom's 15 15
21 25px Italy Alex Caffi 25px Japan Mazdaspeed 8 6 14
22 25px United Kingdom Nick Adams 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering 8 4 12
23= 25px Japan Hideshi Matsuda 25px Netherlands Euro Racing 10 10
23= 25px United Kingdom Phil Andrews 25px Netherlands Euro Racing 10 10
23= 25px Germany Volker Weidler 25px Japan Mazdaspeed 10 10
23= 25px Spain Jésus Pareja 25px Netherlands Euro Racing 10 10
27 25px Italy Teo Fabi 25px Japan Toyota Team Tom's 8 8
28= 25px United Kingdom Divina Galica 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering 6 6
28= 25px Japan Jun Harada 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering 6 6
30= 25px United Kingdom Richard Piper 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering 4 4
30= 25px France Olindo Iacobelli 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering 4 4

FIA Cup Drivers Championship[]

Pos Driver Team Rnd 1 Rnd 2 Rnd 3 Rnd 4 Rnd 5 Rnd 6 Total
1 25px France Ferdinand de Lesseps 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering 20 20 20 20 20 100
2 25px Italy Ranieri Randaccio 25px Italy Team S.C.I. 15 15 15 45
3= 25px United Kingdom Will Hoy 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering 20 20 40
3= 25px United Kingdom Nick Adams 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering 20 20 40
5 25px Italy Stefano Sebastiani 25px Italy Team S.C.I. 15 15 30
6= 25px Switzerland Bernard Thuner 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering 20 20
6= 25px France Olindo Iacobelli 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering 20 20
6= 25px United Kingdom Richard Piper 25px United Kingdom Chamberlain Engineering 20 20
9= 25px Germany Frank Kraemer 25px Germany G.S.R. GmbH 15 15
9= 25px Italy Almo Coppelli 25px Germany G.S.R. GmbH 15 15

Post-Season[]

Although in preparation for the 1992 season there showed some potential of allowing the championship to survive through to future seasons, especially with promises from Peugeot, as the season went on it became apparent that some of this potential was merely false hope. The customer Jaguars never showed, even though they continued to be promised even as the season went on. Konrad's Lamborghini powered sportscar was also never raced after promises of continued development. BRM's effort only resulted in them racing once, at Le Mans, where they finished last after completing only 20 laps. After Le Mans, they simply stopped showing up. The season thus became simply a showing of Peugeot dominance due to the large amount of money they had poured into the 905 project.

Thus hope for 1993 was slim. Resting on the promises of Peugeot as well as Nissan who claimed they were returning to the series with their P35, the FIA tentatively announced that the 1993 season would occur. However, following Nissan's decision to cancel the P35 due to economic straight, and with a lack of entries announcing their participation, the FIA cancelled the 1993 season. This marked the end of 40 continuous years of the World Sportscar Championship, albeit in different guises.

Sportscar racing was left without a single unified championship in which to complete, leading to a large number of smaller breakaway series across the world. The All Japan Sports Prototype Championship series in Japan was also unable to continue after 1992 as well, although Group C cars continued to participate as guests in other series. IMSA's championships in North America continued on but also suffering from dwindling fields until it was replaced by the American Le Mans Series in 1999. The FIA took over the European SportsRacing World Cup in 1999 to create the FIA Sportscar Championship in a fashion similar to the World Sportscar Championship, but it failed by 2003.

Following many rough years, by 2004 sportscar racing had become stable with the ACO's two main sportscar series, the European Le Mans Series and American Le Mans Series, with the Japan Le Mans Challenge to follow in 2006. However, the Japan Le Mans Challenge was dissolved the same year. Then, in 2009 the ACO formed the Asian Le Mans Series. Finally, in 2010 ACO formed the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup a global championship, however it is not official because only the FIA can sanction an official world championship.

External links[]

World Sportscar Championship seasons

1953 • 1954 • 1955 • 1956 • 1957 • 1958 • 1959 • 1960 • 1961 • 1962
1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 • 1970 • 1971 • 1972
1973 • 1974 • 1975 • 1976 • 1977 • 1978 • 1979 • 1980 • 1981 • 1982
1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 1986 • 1987 • 1988 • 1989 • 1990 • 1991 • 1992

"Group 6" World Championship seasons
1976 • 1977
Smallwikipedialogo.png This page uses some content from Wikipedia. The original article was at 1992 World Sportscar Championship season. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with Autopedia, the text of Wikipedia is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.


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