1978 World Sportscar Championship
The 1978 World Sportscar Championship season was the 26th season of FIA World Sportscar Championship motor racing. It featured the 1978 World Championship for Makes, which was contested from 4 February to 3 September 1978 over an eight race series. The 24 Hours of Daytona and the 1000 km Nürburgring were part of the inaugural FIA World Challenge for Endurance Drivers.[1]
The championship was open to cars in Groups 1 to 5,[2] i.e.:
- Group 1 Series Touring Cars[3][4]
- Group 2 Touring Cars[3][4]
- Group 3 Series Grand Touring Cars[3][4]
- Group 4 Grand Touring Cars[3][4]
- Group 5 Special Production Cars[3][4]
Porsche was awarded the overall championship [5] and the Division 2 title for cars with an engine capacity of over 2 litres.[6] BMW was awarded the Division 1 title for cars with an engine capacity of up to 2 litres [6] and Porsche won the GT Cup.[6]
Schedule
| Rnd | Race name | Circuit | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  24 Hours of Daytona |
Daytona International Speedway | 4 February 5 February |
| 2 |  6 Hours of Mugello |
Mugello Circuit | 19 March |
| 3 |  6 Hours of Dijon |
Dijon-Prenois | 16 April |
| 4 |  6 Hours of Silverstone |
Silverstone Circuit | 14 May |
| 5 |  1000km Nürburgring |
Nürburgring | 28 May |
| 6 | Misano 6 Hours |
Misano Circuit | 25 June |
| 7 | Watkins Glen 6 Hours |
Watkins Glen International | 8 July |
| 8 | 6 Hours of Vallelunga |
Vallelunga | 3 September |
Round results
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Points system
Points were awarded to the top 10 finishers in each division on a 20-15-12-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 basis. Manufacturers were only allocated points for their highest finishing car with no points awarded for positions filled by any other car from that manufacturer.
Only the best six points finishes could be retained towards the championship, with any other points earned not included in the total.[6]
Championship results
The overall championship was awarded to the winner of Division 2 (Over 2000cc),[5] Porsche thus scoring their third straight World Championship for Makes victory.
Division 1 (Up to 2000cc)
| Position [5] | Manufacturer [5] | Total [5] |
| 1 | BMW | 120 |
| 2 | Porsche | 12 |
| 3 | Fiat | 10 |
| 4 | Alpine | 8 |
| 5 | Volkswagen | 6 |
| 6 | Ford | 4 |
References
- "World Challenge for Endurance Drivers - Championships - Racing Sports Cars". www.racingsportscars.com. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
- János Wimpffen, 1978 - A German International Championship, Time and Two Seats, 1999, pages 1144 to 1145
- Contents, 1977 FIA Yearbook
- Contents, 1979 FIA Yearbook
- János Wimpffen, 1978 Summary, Time and Two Seats, 1999, pages 1179 to 1180
- World Championship for Makes 1978, 1979 FIA Yearbook, Grey section, pages 87 & 88