World Challenge Announces Touring Car 2 Class

[thekid]

By: Series Staff

World Challenge Announces Touring Car 2 Class
TOPEKA, Kan. (Jun. 9, 2009) - SCCA Pro Racing and WC Vision announced today the introduction of Touring Car 2 (TC2), which will run as a separate class within SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Touring Car races.

Cars like the Mazda RX-8 now have a competitive place to race within World Challenge (Weber image).
Introduced to provide a more cost-effective point of entry into the series, TC2 vehicles will have fewer modifications than the existing Touring Cars, including tight limitations on engine and drivetrain modifications and the prohibition of non-factory aerodynamic devices such as wings and splitters.

"We recognize that not everyone is in the position to develop a car to the same level as our front-running World Challenge Touring Car teams,” SCCA Pro Racing President & CEO Bob Wildberger said. “The rules set being developed will include a number of cars that can race with World Challenge as soon as Round Five at Watkins Glen next month.”

“There are many cars out there that don't have a televised, yet cost-effective, professional series to compete in—that"s where Touring Car 2 comes in,” WC Vision Co-Chairman Bob Woodhouse said. “Whether they race with a Club, another series or previously ran in World Challenge, we feel that the TC2 concept will provide the most value in road racing today for those teams wanting to take a step up. World Challenge Touring Car will give them nationally-televised exposure at the best tracks and the largest crowds available.”

World Challenge Touring Car 2 will retain the same basic premise of Touring Car; a class designed for four-seat automobiles. The overall power-to-weight ratio of the class will be lower than the current World Challenge Touring Car series and, while the cars are expected to have outstanding handling with aftermarket racing shocks, sway bars and springs, they will lack the overall aerodynamic grip created by the devices permitted in Touring Car.

Eligible cars include, but are not limited to, the Acura RSX, BMW 328 and 330 (E36, 46), Chevrolet Cobalt SS, Dodge SRT-4, Honda Civic Si, Lexus IS, Mazda RX-8, MINI Cooper S, Saturn Ion, Scion tC, Subaru Legacy and Volkswagen GTI and Jetta.

Entry fees for the series will be half of a normal Touring Car entry fee although no prize money will be distributed. TC2 cars will carry a different color numberboard and windshield banner in order to be distinguished from Touring Car on the track.

Additional information will be available on the tech pages of World Challenge.com and interested teams are encouraged to contact SCCA Pro Racing’s Competition Department at 785-357-7223.

The SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Championships next travel to Watkins Glen International for the Toyo Tires Watkins Glen Grand Prix Presented by Lala Motorsports, part of the IndyCar Series Camping World Grand Prix Weekend July 3-5.