Seeing semi trucks racing on road courses is pretty weird, especially if you're seeing it for the first time. It's kind of cool how the brakes make so much smoke, and intense to see those beasts go two-wide through a chicane.
The question hanging at the back of my mind as I watch, though, is "what is the purpose of racing these things?"
From a purely utilitarian standpoint, racing is intendted to push the limits of technology to improve every facet of a vehicle and the process that produces it, the benefits eventually coming to the masses when racing lessons are put to use in road-car production.
But a tractor-trailor truck is a hauler, a mass-goods transport utility. If it's safe enough for the driver/surrounding traffic and hauls the stuff, it's good. It can be made lighter, to improve fuel economy and longevity of brakes, etc., but how much benefit does it really get from racing programs? Let's face it, the engine/cab is the only part doing any racing and when these things are used as intended, there's a huge trailer, thousands of additional pounds of weight and two more axles -- it's a whole different vehicle.
It follows, then, to assume the big trucks are raced simply because they are fun to watch. It's all about the spectators. GT is a game, it's all about fun, too. In my optinion, it couldn't hurt to throw a couple semis in there for the hell of it -- just make a seperate license for them. I don't want my ability to enter races with proper sports cars hampered by my inability to pilot a brick.
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