[DeTomaso] More Stuff 1972 GT4 Info

[Michael Shortt]

* 1972 Group 4 Cars
*Although there was no official championship for GT cars (Group 4) 1972 was
an interesting year in GT racing. Indeed the new *5.8 De Tomaso
Pantera GT4*with its
*440bhp* at *7,000rpm* Bud Moore prepared Ford Boss 351 *5,763cc*
motor (*470bhp
*for the Le Mans cars) was a real challenger for the Corvettes, Daytona
Ferraris and Por-sches 911. Especially Porsche was unhappy with the new car
of Alessandro de Tomaso from Modena. They insisted upon the FIA to refuse
the homologation of the 1,100 kg version, enforcing De Tomaso to
deliver a *1,250
kg* race version of the standard 330bhp Group 3 street car. At five rounds
the GT4 Panteras were real works entries, whilst the opponents were
restricted to private entries.
It seems forgotten that GT4 Panteras won more than half the World
Manufacturers Championship races they contes-ted in 1972. This was the only
year there was any real presence from the De Tomaso factory which generally
ran works-owned (but not openly sponsored) entries for Roberto
Businello's *Escuderia
Montjuich* and Herbie Muller. Factory supported GT4s were also run under the
*Scuderia Citta del Mille* and *Brescia Corse *banners, the CdM entry
stealing the show on the GT4s WMC debut: the 1972 Monza's 1000-km race,
being finished as 5th overall. The following round in Spa was again won in
Group 4 by the Pantera GT4, now Claude Dubois's, finishing 7th. At the Le
Mans March Trials Herbert Müller clocked 4'16"3 with the *Escuderia
Montjuich* car, fifth best time overall. At the eventual 24 hour race, only
one of the four Panteras could be brought home, the Belgian one, using a
standard 330bhp Group 3 engine after the 470bhp works engine was blown up
during practice. Zeltweg was again won by a Pantera GT4, bringing its total
up to three wins.
Direct opponents were the *7.0 Chevrolet Corvette ZL1* of David Heinz, the *
7.4 Chevrolet Corvettes L88* of John Greenwood *500bhp* for *1,250 kg*), the
*4.4 Ferraris 365GTB-4* *(352bhp *to *400bhp)* of N.A.R.T. and the Michael
Keyser *2.5 Porsche 911S** (225bhp *for *980kg*). All those cars were
regular entrants at the SCCA series. They were not only seen at the three
American rounds of the WMC, but also at Le Mans. At the European rounds the
fastest Group 4 car was Erwin Kremer's 2.5 Porsche 911S. At the Le Mans 24
hours no less than nine Ferraris 365GTB-4 were entered: three by *N.A.R.T.*,
two by the *Scuderia Filipinetti*, two by Charles Pozzi, one by *Maranello
Concessionaire*s, and one by the *Écurie Francorchamps*. By collecting ranks
5-6-7-8-9 they took the five first places in Group 4. Of the nine rounds of
the WMC where Group 4 cars were allowed, the Corvette ZL1 won twice
(Daytona, Sebring), the Ferrari 365GTB-4 twice (Le Mans, Watkins Glen), the
Pantera GT4 three times (Monza, Spa, Zeltweg) the 2.5 Porsche 911S twice
(Targa Florio, Nürburgring).
[New too was the *2.4 Ferrari Dino 246GT *entered by N.A.R.T. at the
American races and Le Mans. It finished 17th at the Le Mans 24 hours.]



http://www.imca-slotracing.com/2006-FG.htm

-- 
Michael L. Shortt
Savannah, Georgia


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