TOPEKA, Kan. (July 13, 2012) –Sports Car Club of America and Pirelli World Challenge announced today the “B-Spec Shootout Presented by Pirelli World Challenge” at the SCCA National Championship Runoffs® as part of the subclass of the Showroom Stock C race. Top finishers in the race can win cash and entries into the Pirelli World Challenge Championships Touring Car-B class for the 2013 season.
While not an official SCCA National class in 2012, B-Spec will run within the Showroom Stock C race on Thursday, Sept. 20, the opening day of four-days of National Championship races at Road America.
“We know through our initial foray with Touring Car-B that the B-Spec concept is a great, cost-effective way to race modern production-based cars,” Pirelli World Challenge President and CEO Scott Bove said. “This is another way for Pirelli World Challenge to support the development of the concept as it concludes its first full season of competition.”
As part of the partnership with Pirelli World Challenge, winners will receive $3,000 and have all 2013 Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car B entry fees waived, with $1,500 going to the runner-up and $500 to third place. The second and third place finishers will also get a two-race entry fee and a single-race entry fee waiver for TCB in 2013, respectively.
“As this concept begins to get some legs, we’re pleased that Pirelli World Challenge is helping to support this class at the Club Racing level, as well as provide an opportunity for a driver to elevate their program and make the next step to professional racing,” Jeff Dahnert, SCCA President & CEO, said. “This is yet another chance to give our Champions the reward they deserve.”
In addition, The B-Spec Shootout will get a full post-race podium celebration, coverage on SCCA.com and during the live Runoffs broadcast on SpeedcastTV.com. The streaming web program will include a piece on the birth of the B-Spec concept and the successful debut season of Touring Car B in Pirelli World Challenge.
The B-Spec rule set was developed by the SCCA to allow drivers to use the same car in a number of platforms, including SCCA Club Racing and the Pirelli World Challenge, with minimal changes. Already this season, Joel Lipperini has run a SafeRacer National Series race at Lime Rock Park, then driven overnight to finish second in the Pirelli World Challenge race at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park in the same weekend.
As part of the program, each B-Spec competitor in SSC will run special Pirelli World Challenge B-Spec Shootout numberboards. Numberboards and numbers for each side of the car will be supplied by SCCA. Drivers may run any SSC-eligible tire brand and may also run for that brand’s contingency program.
Now in its 23rd consecutive season, the Pirelli World Challenge is one of North America's top production car-based racing championships. Divided into four separate categories (Pirelli World Challenge GT, Pirelli World Challenge GTS, Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car and Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car B-Spec), each race features thrilling standing starts, adrenaline filled door-to-door action and world-class drivers. The Pirelli World Challenge features cars from the world's most popular manufacturers – race-prepped versions of the cars driven on the streets. Sanctioned by SCCA Pro Racing, the series races at North America's premier road and temporary street courses.
More information on the SCCA National Championship Runoffs at Road America is available at www.scca.com/Runoffs. More information on the Pirelli World Challenge Championships is available at www.world-challenge.com.
2012 SCCA National Championship Runoffs
