The following is from SCCA.com.
TOPEKA, Kan. (January 16, 2012) – Sports Car Club of America announced today a new, top-level Club Racing program dubbed the “Majors,” launching as a pilot program in the Midwest, Rocky Mountain and Southwest Divisions in 2012.
Focused on providing fresh, enhanced opportunities for National-level classes within a geographical racing area, the Majors offer a new format race weekend focused on clustering competition and providing greater value for racers.
The Majors concept comes from a two-year planning committee directive from the SCCA Board of Directors to evolve the top level of SCCA Club Racing with the changing times. For decades, “National” racing has served as the top Club Racing level, providing a path toward both Divisional Championships and the National Championship Runoffs®.
“By definition in the SCCA General Competition Rules, National racing has not changed for decades, but many of these events have evolved away from their true purpose—to provide a high level event for the most serious competitors,” SCCA Chairman of the Board Jerry Wannarka said. “The Majors program does just that, not unlike the Tire Rack® SCCA ProSolo® Series does for the autocross community.”
A New Championship and Path to the Runoffs and Super Sweep Award
Combining participants from the Midwest, Rocky Mountain and Southwest Divisions for the six Majors events creates a new opportunity for a meaningful Championship. Not only does a driver need to better the competition from his own Division, but also those from the neighboring Divisions as well.
A driver will count his or her best eight finishes (out of 12 possible) toward their respective class Championship, using the GCR Points schedule established for Divisional Championships. Along with the prestige and prize package to be announced later, the Champions will be recognized as having met the second leg (Divisional Championship) of the four-legged Super Sweep award.
Additionally, recognizing that participating in the Majors Pilot events could hamper a driver’s ability to qualify for the 2012 National Championship Runoffs® through the traditional process, any driver that starts at least one race on each of three Majors weekends (in the same class) will receive a Runoffs invitation.
In addition to the Majors Point Championship for the Invitational classes, other awards will be offered, including, but not limited to, special recognition to up-and-coming drivers that are new to Championship racing and a year-end prize for the best performers in qualifying races. Point Championship awards will be announced at a later date.
“There are a great many opportunities to race, score points and qualify for the Runoffs across the country,” SCCA Planning Committee Chairman Bill Kephart said. “The goal of the Majors is to identify key events that a driver can count on for a good field of competitors, not only from within his or her Division, but drawing from the surrounding Divisions as well.
“For the most serious racers in SCCA, competition is the most important aspect of a weekend. Recognition programs and social aspects are important components, but giving a racer a full field to compete in is our primary objective.”
The Midwest, Rocky Mountain and Southwest Divisions were grouped into the pilot zone based on the ability to travel out of Division within, for the most part, one day’s tow. Additionally, the average entry counts of each Division could benefit greatly with the incentive for drivers from the neighboring divisions to participate in one or more event outside of their own Division.
Showcase Events
Showcase Events are for the National-level classes in the program not covered in the Invitational program. For the Pilot program, this will include 19 classes, which makes up just over 30 percent of the total entries based on 2011 participation numbers. Showcase classes will have additional racing opportunities at other events, likely a Bonus National in 2012. This program could also include festival events, anniversary races or marque-specific opportunities.
Like the Super Tour and Invitational events, the goal is to shine a spotlight on these events for the classes they include, creating an atmosphere and opportunity designed to draw racers to that event, thus clustering competition.
Pilot Program Invitational Classes
Based on combined participation numbers from 2011 in the Zone including the Midwest, Rocky Mountain and Southwest Divisions, as well as taking trends into consideration, the following classes and groupings will take place in the three Invitational races and Majors Championship.
- Spec Racer Ford
- Spec Miata, Super Touring® Under
- E Production, F Production, H Production
- Formula 500, Formula Vee
- Formula Mazda, Formula F
Majors Events
The following events have been designated as part of the 2012 Majors Championship Pilot program
March 9-11* Texas World Speedway (Lone Star Region) Super Tour, all 29 classes
April 14-15* Hallett Motor Racing Circuit (AVRG) Super Tour, all 29 classes
May 5-6* Texas Motor Speedway (Texas Region) Invitational Classes only
May 5-6 Heartland Park Topeka (KVRG) Showcase Event component
May 25-27 Pikes Peak International (CDR) Showcase Event component
June 16-17* Pueblo Motorsports Park (CDR) Invitational Classes only
June 30-July 1* High Plains Raceway (Colorado Region) Super Tour, all 29 classes
July 14-15* Heartland Park Topeka (KVRG) Invitational Classes only
*-Part of the Majors Points Championship
Note: One additional Showcase event may be added in the Southwest Division
Overview
- Majors are a step beyond National races in SCCA Club Racing. The progression is now Driver’s School > Regional > National > Majors > Runoffs
- Attractive event format clusters competition, provides quality track time and is a good value for a racer’s investment.
- 2012 pilot for the “Zone” including the Midwest, Rocky Mountain and Southwest Divisions
- Majors Events can separate classes into two groups (Invitational and Showcase) to create a more manageable sample for unique opportunities
- 2012 Majors program will include three BFGoodrich Tires Super Tour events and three Invitational events. Each weekend will be a doubleheader for a total of 12 races.
- Additional Opportunities on different weekends for Showcase classes
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