# 1971 Trans-American Sedan Championship

The 1971 Trans-American Championship was the sixth running of the Sports Car Club of America's Trans-Am Series. The format was altered to an over 2500cc class and an under 2500cc class, up 500cc from past years. All races used split classes except where noted. The year marked the rise of Datsun as a competitive brand, with the Japanese company winning several races throughout the season. American Motors, led by Mark Donohue's 7 wins, and Datsun, led by John Morton's 6 wins, won the manufacturers' championships.

## Schedule

| Rnd | Date | Circuit | Distance | Over 2.5 Winning Car | Under 2.5 Winning Car |
| Rnd | Date | Circuit | Distance | Over 2.5 Winning Driver | Under 2.5 Winning Driver |
| 1 | May 8 | Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Connecticut | 130 mi (210 km) (U2L) 200.43 mi (322.56 km) (O2L) | AMC Javelin | Alfa Romeo GTV |
| 1 | May 8 | Lime Rock Park, Lakeville, Connecticut | 130 mi (210 km) (U2L) 200.43 mi (322.56 km) (O2L) | Mark Donohue | Horst Kwech |
| 2 | May 31 | Bryar Motorsports Park, Loudon, New Hampshire | 112 mi (180 km) (U2L) 152 mi (245 km) (O2L) | Ford Mustang | Alfa Romeo |
| 2 | May 31 | Bryar Motorsports Park, Loudon, New Hampshire | 112 mi (180 km) (U2L) 152 mi (245 km) (O2L) | George Follmer | Gaston Andrey |
| 3 | June 6 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio | 106 mi (171 km) (U2L) 180 mi (290 km) (O2L) | Ford Mustang | Datsun 510 |
| 3 | June 6 | Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, Lexington, Ohio | 106 mi (171 km) (U2L) 180 mi (290 km) (O2L) | George Follmer | John Morton |
| 4 | June 20 | Edmonton International Speedway, Edmonton, Alberta | 106 mi (171 km) (U2L) 180 mi (290 km) (O2L) | AMC Javelin | Datsun 510 |
| 4 | June 20 | Edmonton International Speedway, Edmonton, Alberta | 106 mi (171 km) (U2L) 180 mi (290 km) (O2L) | Mark Donohue | John Morton |
| 5 | July 4 | Donnybrooke International Speedway, Brainerd, Minnesota | 150 mi (240 km) (U2L) 210 mi (340 km) (O2L) | AMC Javelin | Alfa Romeo GTA |
| 5 | July 4 | Donnybrooke International Speedway, Brainerd, Minnesota | 150 mi (240 km) (U2L) 210 mi (340 km) (O2L) | Mark Donohue | Bert Everett |
| 6 | July 17 | Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin | 108 mi (174 km) (U2L) 200 mi (320 km) (O2L) | AMC Javelin | Datsun 510 |
| 6 | July 17 | Road America, Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin | 108 mi (174 km) (U2L) 200 mi (320 km) (O2L) | Mark Donohue | John Morton |
| 7 | July 25 | Naval Air Station Olathe, Olathe, Kansas | 120 mi (190 km) | not contested | Datsun 510 |
| 7 | July 25 | Naval Air Station Olathe, Olathe, Kansas | 120 mi (190 km) | not contested | John Morton |
| 8 | August 1 | Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Saint-Jovite, Quebec | 185.5 mi (298.5 km) | AMC Javelin | not contested |
| 8 | August 1 | Circuit Mont-Tremblant, Saint-Jovite, Quebec | 185.5 mi (298.5 km) | Mark Donohue | not contested |
| 9 | August 15 | Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, New York | 123.828 mi (199.282 km) (U2L) 218.24 mi (351.22 km) (O2L) | AMC Javelin | Alfa Romeo GTV |
| 9 | August 15 | Watkins Glen International, Watkins Glen, New York | 123.828 mi (199.282 km) (U2L) 218.24 mi (351.22 km) (O2L) | Mark Donohue | Horst Kwech |
| 10 | September 6 | Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan | 209.79 mi (337.62 km) | AMC Javelin | not contested |
| 10 | September 6 | Michigan International Speedway, Brooklyn, Michigan | 209.79 mi (337.62 km) | Mark Donohue | not contested |
| 11 | October 3 October 4 | Riverside International Raceway, Riverside, California | 114.75 mi (184.67 km) (U2L) 201.4 mi (324.1 km) (O2L) | AMC Javelin | Datsun 510 |
| 11 | October 3 October 4 | Riverside International Raceway, Riverside, California | 114.75 mi (184.67 km) (U2L) 201.4 mi (324.1 km) (O2L) | George Follmer | John Morton |
| 12 | October 16 | Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California | 110.2 mi (177.3 km) | not contested | Datsun 510 |
| 12 | October 16 | Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California | 110.2 mi (177.3 km) | not contested | John Morton |
^A Horst Kwech won the race on track, but was disqualified for an oversize fuel tank.

## Championships

Points were awarded according to finishing position. Only the highest-placed car scored points for the manufacturer. Only the best 8 finishes counted toward the championship. Drivers' championships were not awarded in Trans-Am until 1972.
| 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | 5th | 6th |
| 9 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 1 |

### Over 2.5L manufacturers

| Pos | Manufacturer | LRP | BRY | MDO | EDM | DON | ELK | MTB | WGL | MIC | RIV | Pts |
| 1 | American Motors | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 82 |
| 2 | Ford | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 61 |
| 3 | Chevrolet | 3 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 17 |
| 4 | Pontiac | 19 | 4 | 5 | | 28 | | 25 | 15 | 5 | | 7 |

### Under 2.5L manufacturers

| Pos | Manufacturer | LRP | BRY | MDO | EDM | DON | ELK | OLA | WGL | RIV | LAG | Pts |
| 1 | Datsun | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 60 (62) |
| 2 | Alfa Romeo | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 60 (72) |
| 3 | BMW | 2 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 25 |
| 4 | Ford of Britain | 13 | 20 | | 7 | 4 | 12 | 13 | 7 | | | 3 |
| 5 | British Leyland | 21 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 14 | 23 | 23 | 17 | 2 |
^B Tie broken based on Datsun's higher number of wins.