Originally Posted by
jefnvk
Nah, it really doesn't. What wins on Sunday has scant little effect on what sells Monday anymore. Out of the dozens of platforms I've seen since taking this job near a year ago, I'd say exactly one specific model has any care to what a racing series allows, and even that is more along the lines of homologation than actual rules following.
TBH police trim requirements are a far bigger consideration on platforms that require them than SCCA, NASCAR, or FIA requirements would be on a performance trim.
If you think I'm wrong, tell me the last manufacturers that won Sebring, Le Mans, or 24 Hours of Daytona, sans Google.
Just off the top of my head I can recount a number of automotive innovations that trickled down from racing. Sure, it's not "Race on Sunday, Sell on Monday" anymore, these systems are much more complex than yesteryears, but it still trickles down.
Honda's VTEC system
Carbon anything - roof, brake rotors - first saw it on F1 (carbon rotors that is), then when I started seeing them on the JGTC circuit I knew they were coming to production cars
Multibuttoned steering wheels
Paddle shifters - who didn't want these watching F1?
Rev matching/launch control - this was such a cool feature in rally cars, sounded awesome, "brahh, brahh, brahh, POP! POP! brahh, POP!
Dual clutch "automanual" transmissions
Programmable EFI control systems
controllable suspension systems
Furthermore, there are a lot more international governing bodies for automotive racing than there is in bicycle racing which promotes a much more diverse pool of candidate technologies. How many international governing bodies are there in bicycling?