Most GRAND-AM fans don’t know – or likely ever will meet – Gabriel Cadringher but he’s one of those behind-the-scenes experts who will positively influence what they’ll enjoy on track in 2013 and beyond.
Cadringher, an aeronautical engineer, is GRAND-AM’s Managing Director of Technical Regulations and Development. The native of Turin, Italy designed wings for combat aircraft before joining Federation Internationale de l’Automobile – the FIA, motorsports’ world governing body – where he served for 30 years. He became president of the FIA Manufacturers’ Commission in 1993, representing all of the automobile manufacturers around the world taking part in motorsport on the FIA’s governing body, the World Council. This role included constant liaison with auto manufacturers looking to introduce new technologies into motorsport.
He’ll be among key figures in the reunification of American sports car racing when the merger of GRAND-AM and the American Le Mans Series is fully complete in 2014. A meeting with a dozen manufacturers recently was held in New York as officials from both groups begin work on future regulations for the combined group.
Looking ahead to 2013, Cadringher said GRAND-AM will build upon the success of its Daytona Prototype class. The Generation 3 version of DP fulfilled its mission of cost effectiveness along with providing close competition for race fans.
“The show provided by those cars is amazing,” he said. “They can race side-by-side, often door-to-door. Fans like them.”
In 2012, two chassis body manufacturers, Corvette and Riley, took different approaches resulting in the former being more competitive on high down force tracks and the latter on high drag circuits. For 2013 GRAND-AM will impose new rules bringing the cars closer together aerodynamically. Configurations will be issued after wind tunnel testing later this fall, said Cadringher.
There is additional manufacturer interest in DP thanks to Corvette’s introduction. “What Corvette did in transforming a generic DP body into a beautiful, sexy car, is the perfect example” of what can be accomplished, Cadringher said. “Other manufacturers are looking into this opportunity.”
Generation 2 DP cars will still have eligibility in 2013, Cadringher said, but they must race under those rules or be fully updated to Generation 3 specifications.
Cadringher said there will be no changes in Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge specifications in 2013. “GRAND-AM has received requests for (homologation of) new models that have been introduced into the market recently,” he said. “There will be new cars in the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge.”
Source : Grand Am