Pro-IT Joins CCPS in 2014

On February 19, 2014 The Atlanta Region, SCCA Board of Directors approved a proposal to join the Carolina Cup Pro Series for the 2014 season. This gives the Region’s Pro-IT drivers an expanded number of events in which they can compete as part of a Pro racing series.

Background: There has been a lot of discussion over the past couple of years on the health and viability of the Atlanta Region's Pro-IT series. Entries have been dwindling and the number of races has been reduced to where it is no longer a series. Discussions have taken place with drivers over the IT forums and at various events over the last couple of years over the lack of participation and there is not an obvious solution.

Pro-IT was meant to be a series but with the Majors not allowing other events during their race weekend, we are left with only two events (July SARRC & ARRC) that we are able to put on a Pro-IT race. This is hardly a series.

Paul Brewer, the Pro-IT administrator resigned last year leaving a big hole in the management of the program. Last year in the July race we offered a combined Pro-IT and Carolina Cup Pro Series (CCPS) which was well received although still poorly attended. At the ARRC Fletcher Williams and I met with Estus White and Mike Burke of the Carolina Cup Pro Series and discussed merging the two series. This is the summary of our discussions.

  • In 2014 the Atlanta Region will join the CCPS; adopting the same rule set that CCPS currently runs and using the CCPS infrastructure for payouts and administrative support. For 2014 we will offer CCPS Pro events instead of Pro-IT.
  • At the end of 2014 we will evaluate the series and determine whether it makes sense to formally merge with CCPS and drop any continued reference to Pro-IT.
  • We will offer two double CCPS Races this year. In July, as part of our double SARRC and ECR weekend and in October/November as part of the ARRC. One of the races at the ARRC will be designated as the Series Championship.


Benefits: The benefits for the drivers are many:
  • Adding additional events to make it a true "series". 6 events are scheduled including a "Championship" event at the ARRC.
  • Additional car classes eligible including SRF which should give more drivers a chance to compete.
  • Lower cost per car (albeit lower prize payouts).
  • The rules require a pit stop where a driver change is possible therefore allowing competitors to share a car.
  • We will still be able to offer our Region’s drivers a "Pro" series.


Downsides: We feel that there are very few downsides in joining the CCPS series this year.
  • Drivers get less payout
  • We anticipate some push back on adopting the CCPS rules
  • ITX is not an approved CCPS class although provisions exist for adding classes.


The 2014 Schedule for the Carolina Cup Pro Series is below:
  • Mar 29-30 dbl SCR @ CMP
  • May 24-25 dbl CCR @ CMP
  • June 21-22 dbl WDCR @ Summit Point
  • July12-13 dbl Atlanta @ Road Atlanta
  • Aug 16-17dbl CCR @ CMS
  • Oct 30-Nov 2 NEW Championship Race plus sgl (2 Races) @ ARRC Road Atlanta


Full details including the 2014 schedule for the Carolina Cup Pro Series can be found at
http://www.carolinacupproseries.com/

The complete rules for CCPS can be found on the series website, http://www.carolinacupproseries.com/services.html

The Atlanta Region thanks all of the drivers and teams that competed and supported the Pro-IT Series in the past years. We also would like to thank and recognize Fletcher Williams for leading the series and championing it along with Paul Brewer for administering the series and points and payouts over the past several years.

We do feel that this is the best solution for the Region, our Pro-IT drivers, potential new Pro series drivers (with new classes and “ride sharing” possibilities) and the CCPS drivers. We are able to increase the number of events in the series, lower the overall cost of running the series and offer a true championship event at the ARRC.

We look forward to seeing you at the track.


Nick Voigt
Competition Director
Atlanta Region SCCA