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GTM Prototype Debuts at 25-Hours of Thunderhill
GTM Prototype Homologated in both NASA and SCCA
December 10, 2007: The Prototype Development Group (PDG), a Stockton, CA racing team achieved a successful finish at the U.S. Air Force 25-Hours of Thunderhill, the countries longest, most demanding car race. The team completed 333 laps and just under 1000 miles at an average speed of nearly 90 miles per hour. The team overcame a lack of track time and mechanical issues to finish in 13th place in the ES class in the 25 hour race.
PGD campaigned its 2007 GTM-R Prototype in this years race for the first time. The car achieved race times of slightly over two minutes, with a fastest lap of 2:01.270.
The team received an unassembled GTM Supercar kit, the road version of the car, in June of 2007 from Factory Five Racing. Team Owner and car builder, Richard Migliori, completely reconfigured the car for racing and added a stock Chevrolet LS6 5.7 liter engine from a 2001 C5 Corvette that produces over 400 hp and matched that to a Porsche G50 transaxle from a 1995 Porsche 993. Due to time constraints, the car was not completed until the first day of practice for the race.
The team was 7th fastest overall out of the 72 entrants in practice. During qualifying, the car developed a minor brake problem that relegated the team to 37th on the starting grid. One and a half hours into the race, the GTM-R had moved up to 4th in class and 21st overall. Gearbox trouble during the night slowed the team, but they were able to bring the car home at the end.
The team plans on a return in 2008 to compete in the 25-Hours of Thunderhill as well as the NASA Western Endurance Racing Championship.
Prototype Development Group is pleased to announce that GTM-R Prototype has been approved for both NASA Super Touring 1 and SCCA Super Production.
This will allow the GTM-R to compete in SCCA San Francisco Region and NASA Norcal races as well as National events such as the NASA National Championships at the Mid Ohio Sports Car Course in September.
