Limitless
In the American continent, for 20 seasons, Can-Am took car inventions to a new level. FIA Group 7 category vehicles were admitted to the Canadian-American series, which were defined as "two-seater competition vehicles built exclusively for speed races on closed circuit". Thus, no further restriction regarding any performance component existed. Jim Hall pioneered the aerodynamics, fitting wings on his Chaparral to generate downforce, hence increasing tyre grip. This effect was maximised when two fans, mounted on the rear, litterally sucked the car to the ground, a design later exploited in FORMULA 1 by the Brabham BT46B (banned after its first race, which it won). Porsche developed a flat-12 engine that could reach 386km/h in specific conditions, and established a dominance in the series. However, this was not the first one.
The Bruce and Denny show
Following a solid debut in the inauguaral 1966 season, McLaren and their M6A won race after race. Investing their resources in Can-Am, the team founded by Bruce McLaren triumphed nine times in twelve Events across 1967 and 1968. Peak succes arrived in 1969. McLaren and fellow Kiwi Denny Hulme shared every win and finished 1-2 each time both took part. All the detailed work from the British-based outfit contributed to a sporting success that paved the way for the constructor's F1 accolades. Testing the M8D, on 2. June 1970, Bruce McLaren suffered a fatal accident, due to the loss of the rear wing and therefore an uncontrollable vehicle. The tragedy saw the team united and determined to continue the route their founder began. The same year, Hulme won his second Can-Am title and Peter Revson took the final crown in 1971, as the Porsche 917 became the new front runner the season after.
Farewell
With time the series' support dropped and 1974 was the last season under the original regulations. An interruption of two years followed and then, under expanding rules, it went on for further eleven seasons. Emerging competitions though never led to the championship ever gaining back popularitity and it ended for a second and definitive time in 1987. Amongst the drivers, Bruce McLaren, Denny Hulme and Patrick Tambay managed to win two titles (all of them were multiple F1 GRAND PRIX as well and raced in the pinnacle of motorpsort contemporarily). Lola, with six triumphs, is the most successful constructor and all championships but two were won backed by a Chevrolet engine. Enabling every aspect of a car to be perfectioned to new heights, Can-Am reflects the spirit of passionate, competitive and innovating motorsport.