The 2011 Rolex Sports Car Series season was the twelfth season of Grand-Am's premier series.The season began with the Rolex 24 at Daytona on January 29 and finished with the EMCO Gears Classic at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course on September 17.
Continental Tire became the official tire partner and supplier for Grand-Am, replacing Pirelli after three seasons due to Pirelli's departure to FIA Formula 1 World Championship, GP2 Asia Series and GP2 Series (now FIA Formula 2 Championship) as well as increasing GP3 Series (now FIA Formula 3 Championship) involvement as an official tire partner and supplier after FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting verdict event in Geneva, Switzerland on June 24, 2010. The company purchased the naming rights of the RSCS's support series, the Grand-Am Cup Series, from KONI in 2010.
A notable change is the television coverage. In contrast to 2010, about half of the races were not televised live.
Schedule
The official schedule was released October 18, 2010, and consisted of twelve rounds. Road America appears on the schedule after a nine-year absence, while Laguna Seca returns after its absence from the schedule in 2010. The second race at Daytona and Miller Motorsports Park do not return.
Rnd Race Length/Duration Circuit Location Date 1 Rolex 24 At Daytona 24 hours Daytona International Speedway Daytona Beach, Florida January 27–30 2 Grand Prix of Miami 2 hours 45 minutes Homestead-Miami Speedway Homestead, Florida March 5 3 Porsche 250 2 hours 45 minutes Barber Motorsports Park Birmingham, Alabama April 9 4 Bosch Engineering 250 250 miles or 3 hours Virginia International Raceway Danville, Virginia May 14 5 Memorial Day Classic 2 hours 45 minutes Lime Rock Park Lime Rock, Connecticut May 30 6 Sahlen's Six Hours of The Glen 6 hours Watkins Glen International Watkins Glen, New York June 4 7 Rolex Sports Car Series 250 2 hours Road America Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin June 25 8 Continental Tire Sports Car Festival 2 hours 45 minutes Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca Monterey, California July 9 9 American Red Cross 250 2 hours 45 minutes New Jersey Motorsports Park Millville, New Jersey July 24 10 Canadian Tire 200 2 hours or 200 miles Watkins Glen short Watkins Glen, New York August 13 11 Montreal 200 2 hours 30 minutes or 200 miles Circuit Gilles Villeneuve Montreal, Quebec August 20 12 EMCO Gears Classic 3 hours Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course Lexington, Ohio September 17
Teams and drivers Team No Drivers ChassisEngine Class Rounds Chip Ganassi Racingwith Felix Sabates 01 Scott Pruett Riley Mk. XXBMW 5.0L V8 DP All Memo Rojas Joey Hand1 Graham Rahal 02 Scott Dixon Riley Mk. XXBMW 5.0L V8 DP 1 Dario Franchitti Jamie McMurray Juan Pablo MontoyaStarworks Motorsport2 Alex PopowRiley Mk. XXFord 5.0L V8 Porsche 5.0L V8 DP 1–9, 11–12 Enzo Potolicchio 1–7, 9–10 Ryan Dalziel 8, 11 Romain Iannetta1 E. J. Viso Colin Braun 6 Mike Forest 8 Raphael Matos 9 Jorge Bergmeister 10 Mark Wilkins127 Jared BeyerRiley Mk. XXFord 5.0L V8 DP1 Jan Heylen Scott Mayer Doug Peterson R.J. Valentine Ryan Dalziel9 Raphael Matos Enzo Potolicchio8 Ryan DalzielRiley Mk. XXFord 5.0L V8 DP 1–3, 5–8, 10–12 Mike Forest 1–8 Colin Braun 1, 6 Enzo Potolicchio 11–12 Jim Lowe1 Tomáš Enge Alex Popow10Sports Car Driving Experience3 Henry GilbertRiley Mk. XXChevrolet 5.0L V8 DP2 Shane LewisMarsh Racing Joey LoganoChevrolet Corvette C6Chevrolet 5.7L V8 GT10 Boris Said31 Eric CurranChevrolet Corvette C6Chevrolet 5.7L V8 GT 2–9, 12 Boris Said 2–6, 8–9, 11–12 John Heinricy 7 Owen Kelly 11The Racer's Group4 Daniel GraeffPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.6L Flat-6 GT 1, 8 Ryan Eversley1 Kenny Wallace Ron Yarab Jr. Richard Zhan Kevin Buckler 853 Joe CastellanoPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.6L Flat-6 GT1 Ken Dobson Bob Doyle Jim Michaelian Coulter Mulligan54 Jeroen BleekemolenPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.6L Flat-6 GT1 Bret Curtis Tim Pappas Patrick Pilet James Sofronas66 Dominik FarnbacherPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.6L Flat-6 GT1 Tim George Jr. Ben Keating Lucas Luhr Duncan Ende10 Andy Lally67 Steven BertheauPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.6L Flat-6 GT 1–4, 6–8, 10 Spencer Pumpelly 1–4, 6–7, 10 Ryan Eversley 6, 8 Brendan Gaughan1 Wolf Henzler Andy LallyAction Express Racing5 David DonohueRiley Mk. XXPorsche 5.0L V8 DPAll Darren Law Burt Frisselle 1, 6 Buddy Rice 19 João BarbosaRiley Mk. XXPorsche 5.0L V8 DPAll J.C. France Terry Borcheller 1–10, 12 Christian Fittipaldi1 Max PapisMichael Shank Racingwith Curb/Agajanian6 A. J. AllmendingerRiley Mk. XXPorsche 5.0L V8 DP1 Michael McDowell Justin WilsonMichael Shank Racing23 Mark BlundellRiley Mk. XXFord 5.0L V8 DP 1–2, 10, 12 Zak Brown 1, 10, 12 Mark Patterson 1 Michael Valiante 2 Matt Bell8 James Davison60 Oswaldo Negri Jr.Riley Mk. XXPorsche 5.0L V8 DPAll John Pew Marc Goossens1 Michael ValianteBanner Racing07 Gunter SchaldachChevrolet Camaro GT.RChevrolet 6.0L V8 GT All Oliver Gavin 1–8, 10 Mike Skeen 6, 8–9, 11 Eric Curran1 Bruce Ledoux Daniel Herrington 12 SunTrust Racing 10 Max Angelelli Dallara Corvette DPChevrolet 5.5L V8 DP All Ricky Taylor Ryan Briscoe1 Wayne TaylorTPN Racing / Blackforest11 Tom NastasiFord Mustang Boss 302Ford 5.0L V8 GT 1–2, 6 Scott Maxwell 1, 6 Ian James 2, 6 David Russell1 Dave Empringham David Ragan10 Ricky Stenhouse Jr.Burtin Racing17 Nicolas ArmindoPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.6L Flat-6 GT1 Jack Baldwin Claudio Burtin Martin Ragginger Nick TandyMühlner Motorsports America18 Corey FriedmanPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.6L Flat-6 GT1 Peter Ludwig Dion von Moltke Mark ThomasBullet Racing22 Eric LuxPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.6L Flat-6 GT1 Darryl O'Young James Walker Brian WongRacers Edge Motorsports30 Joao MauroMazda RX-8Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor GT 10–12 Michael Marsal 1, 6 Marco Cozzi 3, 7 Eric Lux 3, 6 Tom Long 10–11 Jade Buford1 Gary Jensen Mark Jensen Scott Rettich Jan Heylen2 Ross Smith Daniel Herrington4 Brett Sandberg Ari Straus 6PR1 Motorsports32 David ChengBMW M6BMW 5.0L V8 GT1 Max Hyatt Ryan Lewis Tom PapadopoulosYellow Dragon Motorsports36 Chris CummingMazda RX-8Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor GT1 Taylor Hacquard Justin Marks Mikel MillerDempsey Racing40 Joe FosterMazda RX-8Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor GT All Patrick Dempsey 1–6, 8–12 Charles Espenlaub 1, 6–8 Tom Long 141 Dane CameronMazda RX-8Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor GTAll James Gue Ian James1 Don Kitch Jr. Dave LaceyTeam Sahlen42 Wayne NonnamakerMazda RX-8Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor GT All Memo Gidley 1–6 John Edwards 7–12 Joe Nonnamaker1 Will Nonnamaker Joe Sahlen43 Joe NonnamakerMazda RX-8Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor GT 1–9, 11–12 Will Nonnamaker 1, 3–5, 7, 9–12 Wayne Nonnamaker 1–5, 8, 11–12 Joe Sahlen 1, 6, 10 Memo Gidley 149 Will NonnamakerMazda RX-8Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor GT 2–4, 6–8, 12 Joe Sahlen 2–3, 6, 8, 12 Joe Nonnamaker 7, 10, 12 Wayne Nonnamaker 3, 10Magnus Racing44 John PotterPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.6L Flat-6 GTAll Craig Stanton Richard Lietz1 Marco Holzer Bryan Sellers 6Flying Lizard Motorsports45 Jörg BergmeisterRiley Mk. XXPorsche 5.0L V8 DP1 Patrick Long Seth Neiman Johannes van OverbeekRick Ware Racing47 Jeffrey EarnhardtPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.6L Flat-6 GT1 Doug Harrington Maurice Hull Scott Monroe Brett SandbergPaul Miller Racing48 Robert BellPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.6L Flat-6 GT1 Bryce Miller Bryan Sellers Tim SugdenLevel 5 Motorsports55 Christophe Bouchut Riley Mk. XXBMW 5.0L V8 DP1 Luis Díaz Scott Tucker Mark Wilkins95 Ryan Hunter-Reay Riley Mk. XXBMW 5.0L V8 DP1 Raphael Matos Scott Tucker Richard WestbrookBennett Racing56 Jonathan AllenFerrari F430 ChallengeFerrari 4.3L V8 GT1 Michael Davidson Jean-François Dumoulin Glynn Geddie Mike SkeenStevenson Motorsports57 Ronnie BremerChevrolet Camaro GT.RChevrolet 6.0L V8 GT1 Robin Liddell Jan MagnussenBrumos Racing59 Andrew DavisPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.6L Flat-6 GTAll Leh Keen Hurley Haywood1 Marc Lieb AIM Autosport 61 Burt Frisselle Riley Mk. XXBMW 5.0L V8 DP 2–4, 7, 10–11 Mark WilkinsTeam Spencer Motorsports63 Richard GruppMazda RX-8Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor GT1–2 Owen Trinkler Jim Downing1 David MurryChris Smith Racing65 Shane LewisPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.6L Flat-6 GT1 Mitch Pagerey Tom Sheehan Bill SweedlerSpeedSource69 Emil AssentatoMazda RX-8Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor GTAll Jeff Segal Nick Ham1 Anthony Lazzaro Nick Longhi Guy Cosmo 670 Jonathan BomaritoMazda RX-8Mazda 2.0L 3-Rotor GTAll Sylvain Tremblay John Edwards 1, 6 Adam Christodoulou 1Grant Racing72 Carey GrantPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.8L Flat-6 GT2, 12 Kevin Grant Milton GrantHorton Autosport73 Eric FossPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.6L Flat-6 GT10 Patrick Lindsey Krohn Racing 76 Niclas Jönsson Lola B08/70Ford 5.0L V8 DP1 Tracy Krohn Nicolas Minassian Ricardo Zonta Doran Racing 77 Brian Frisselle DallaraFord 5.0L V8 DP All Henri Richard 1–11 Matt Bell 1, 6 Ross Kaiser 1 Burt Frisselle 12DragonSpeed81 Doug BaronFerrari F430 ChallengeFerrari 4.3L V8 GT1 Nick Jones Fred Poordad Cort WagnerMitchum Motorsports86 Joey AtterburyPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.8L Flat-6 GTAll Cooper MacNeil Randy Pobst Derek WhitisAutohaus Motorsports88 Bill LesterChevrolet Camaro GT.RChevrolet 6.0L V8 GTAll Jordan Taylor Matthew Marsh1 Johnny O'Connell Tommy Milner 6 Spirit of Daytona Racing 90 Paul Edwards CoyoteChevrolet 5.0L V8 DPAll Antonio García Sascha Maassen 1Turner Motorsport93 Michael MarsalBMW M3BMW 5.0L V8 GT 9–10, 12 Peter Bassett9 Memo Gidley Joey Hand 10 Will Turner 1294 Paul Dalla LanaBMW M3BMW 5.0L V8 GT All Bill Auberlen 1–7, 10 Joey Hand 4, 6–7 Billy Johnson 9, 11–12 Matt Plumb1 Boris Said Raphael Matos 8 Lawson Aschenbach 9Alliance Autosport97 Scott RettichPorsche 997 GT3 CupPorsche 3.6L Flat-6 GT 10, 12 Mark Jensen 10 Matt Schneider 12 GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing 99 Jon Fogarty Riley Mk. XXChevrolet 5.0L V8 DP All Alex Gurney Jimmie Johnson 1
Changes Will Turner announced that he will field two BMW M3s in the Rolex Sports Car Series for 2011.
Memo Gidley joined Team Sahlen for the 2011 season.
Spirit of Daytona Racing announced on October 11, 2010, that they would be changing to a Chevrolet-powered prototype. SunTrust Racing also announced on October 6 that they would return to the Chevrolet powerplant after two years of using a Ford powerplant.
It was announced on October 13, 2010 that Brumos Racing would be fielding a Porsche 911 GT3 for 2011 in a return to the team's roots.The drivers will be Leh Keen and Andrew Davis.
It was announced on October 13, 2010 that Blackforest Motorsports would be returning to the series, fielding a Ford Mustang.
It was announced on October 27, 2010 that Toro Corse would be entering two Lamborghini Gallardos in the GT class. However, this never came to fruition.
Results Rnd Circuit Pole position Fastest lap Winner 1 Daytona