COMPETITION AUTOMOBILE DESIGN

GT Technic
PO Box 656
Lafayette, CA 94549-3767

tel. (925) 228-8252
fax (925) 370-9988

e-mail: race@gttechnic.com

GT Technic is a small design enterprise devoted exclusively to BMW race cars. The purpose has been to create an affordable yet sophisticated, professional quality car for amateur racers looking for the ultimate spots car sensation within the safety of a full frame and roll cage construction. The design is a ground up, tube frame, "silhouette" car similar in concept to what is currently raced in the German DTM series. It has been prepared entirely by computer using the template of the E36 chassis.

The company's owner, Don Duncan, wanted to maintain his long standing affiliation with BMW products and chose to focus on the great potential offered by BMW designs for his racing efforts. The BMW automobile has been the product in trade specific to his automotive business interests since he was a BMW dealer principal in Montreal, Canada, beginning in 1972. At that time he developed an ongoing personal relationship with a few individuals working at BMW Motorsport on the original CSLs. He also owns two fine examples of BMW racing heritage - a 3.0 CSL and an M1 pro car. In 1997 he sold his interests in M Service, an independent repair facility for BMW and Mercedes Benz automobiles located in Walnut Creek, California, allowing him the time to pursue the current project.

Mr. Duncan believes that there are many BMW enthusiasts who would choose to race a car of the above description if it were available. Unfortunately BMW supports virtually no racing below the professional level, and subsequently there have been no parts available for serious amateur racers until now. The 3 series E36 or E46 has the potential to be competitive as either a 318is or a 3.0 M3 in the SCCA amateur GT3 or GT2 categories respectively. Currently the Grand-Am professional racing series will accept the E46 with a V8 engine along with any version of the six cylinder engine in the same tube frame type chassis. A 3.0 litre six cylinder engine conforming to SCCA GT2 rules would give the competitor a wide range of competition events from which to choose - BMW Club Racing, SCCA amateur competition and Grand-Am professional racing - all with the same car. Although the design is principally for racers who intend to run in the highly competitive SCCA GT ranks, it allows for competition in multiple venues making it quite versatile. The current GT3 chassis represents a considerable amount of research and development from several sources besides GT Technic, and in spite of the absence of BMW support, it has proven to be a competitive car among other makes that are supported by their respective manufacturers.

During the design phase, chassis strength, driver comfort, driver safety, and body appearance were all considered equally important along with the fundamentals of suspension design and engine development. GT3 is arguably the SCCA's most popular GT category and has been the focus of the first chassis which, as a 318is, runs a 16 valve 1800cc 4 cylinder engine and weighs in at 2090 lbs. with driver. This configuration is also appropriate for the highly competitive NASPORT series for small bore GT cars that conform to SCCA rules. NASPORT is a mini Trans-Am series providing prize money and marvelous competition at all the best West Coast racing venues. For those of you unfamiliar with NASPORT, look up www.nasport.org for details.

As a BMW Club Racing contender and running without the various restrictions imposed by SCCA regulations, the GT3 version will find serious competition only against the fastest six cylinder M3s and ex PTG cars.

The company is currently developing its GT2/Grand-Am car which although largely the same as the GT3 car, has some significant differences in wheel and tire sizes and engine configuration. The body of this version will be identical to the 2001 ALMS winning Schnitzer/PTG E46 car including the adjustable rear wing and front splitter. Look up www.grand-am.com for regulations and race related information about this series.