@Rover - No.
I tried this. I won the Ford GT "No Stripe" from some license or special event or whatever, and used it to dominate the Professional race series. I put some race tires (kept the rest stock) FTW against the other race prepped cars.
However, I get to the Like the Wind challenge and I'm struggling. I spent money for every single upgrade, and could not win or even come close. I'm not an alien, but I'm pretty fast and very consistent and I was a good couple seconds/lap slower than the freak machines in that race.
Cars that can win that are <$1M to buy:
- Mazda Furai - you can win this by doing the Amateur B-Spec Miata race, then you will need to modify the car (including aero)
- Corvette ZR1 - buy this, perform race modifications, then upgrade the rest of the parts
Other than that you can buy any Le Mans Prototype race car, but I would hold off because after Like the Wind you will win the Minolta which is insanely fast.