Knowing that the Runoffs will be at Road Atlanta next year I would really like to go there and race. I race now in ITB and there is a spec line in FP for my car. I have been informed that I can race in FP class in my ITB compliant car. My question is how does one qualify to go to the runoffs? Can I use my ITB points or do I start running in FP and start making the changes to my car as I go along? Or do I run at the runoffs in FP with my ITB prepped car? My reason for asking is that during the 2027 racing season I am building an EP car and that will take up most of my resources. TIA
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FP class
- Thread starter manny
- Start date
anviltester
Well-known member
so you can run your itb car in fp but it must stay completely as an itb car. If you change anything then you must change everything to be fp compliant - there is no middle ground. Race the car 3 weekends (and finish) in fp at majors or hoosier super tours and then you are qualified to attend the runoffs. Im pulling my fp car out of the mothballs to run this year as Road Atlanta is in my backyard.
Vehicle prep: concurring with the above. If you are taking advantage of the ITB-into-FP allowance, your car must 100% conform to the ITB regs (including DOT tires).
However, if you wish to begin doing some mods toward FP, once you do a mod that is not compliant to ITB then the car must fully conform to FP regs, including the safety requirements for rollcage, fuel cell (if required), fire system, etc.
No mixy-matchy/picky-choosey of regs allowed. And any FP mods would, of course, make you non-compliant to ITB regs...
Runoffs qually procedure is described in GCR 3.7.4 and the link below. You must enter and compete in these events as an F Prod car. Any other ITB results will not count toward Runoffs qualification requirements.
HOWEVER, at the 2026 Runoffs Road Racing Town Hall, Eric Prill floated the idea that we may change our qually procedures to allow "any four races" to count; so for example, four Regional race finishes. I have not heard anything further on that, other than it's still being considered. I suggest that if that's going to change then we'll probably have answer in the next Fastrack (CalClub is holding a Majors this weekend that will count toward 2027 qually).
Regardless, you would still need to enter and compete in F Prod for those races to count.
Finally...how speedy is the car in ITB prep? Can you run within 115% of the expected polesitter time at the Runoffs? Reason I ask, that will be a requirement to start the Runoffs race, miss that hurdle and you will be parked. For reference, at the ARRC former national chapmion Mark Carpenter's best FP time in Race 1 was 1:43.759; 115% would be 1:59.323. ITB winner Ke Shao's best time was 1:52.432.
All makes sense? - GA
However, if you wish to begin doing some mods toward FP, once you do a mod that is not compliant to ITB then the car must fully conform to FP regs, including the safety requirements for rollcage, fuel cell (if required), fire system, etc.
No mixy-matchy/picky-choosey of regs allowed. And any FP mods would, of course, make you non-compliant to ITB regs...
Runoffs qually procedure is described in GCR 3.7.4 and the link below. You must enter and compete in these events as an F Prod car. Any other ITB results will not count toward Runoffs qualification requirements.
HOWEVER, at the 2026 Runoffs Road Racing Town Hall, Eric Prill floated the idea that we may change our qually procedures to allow "any four races" to count; so for example, four Regional race finishes. I have not heard anything further on that, other than it's still being considered. I suggest that if that's going to change then we'll probably have answer in the next Fastrack (CalClub is holding a Majors this weekend that will count toward 2027 qually).
Regardless, you would still need to enter and compete in F Prod for those races to count.
Finally...how speedy is the car in ITB prep? Can you run within 115% of the expected polesitter time at the Runoffs? Reason I ask, that will be a requirement to start the Runoffs race, miss that hurdle and you will be parked. For reference, at the ARRC former national chapmion Mark Carpenter's best FP time in Race 1 was 1:43.759; 115% would be 1:59.323. ITB winner Ke Shao's best time was 1:52.432.
All makes sense? - GA
DOT = Department of Transportation. GCR 9.3.47, "In...Improved Touring...any U rated, or better, DOT approved tire is required." In Production you can run any tire, including "slicks".
GCR 9.4 describes the roll cage requirements. FP requires a lateral dash bar where it is optional in ITB. The front down tubes to the firewall are required in FP, optional in ITB.
FP requires a fire system where it is optional in ITB.
If you run fully compliant to ITB regs then none of that is required.
GCR 9.4 describes the roll cage requirements. FP requires a lateral dash bar where it is optional in ITB. The front down tubes to the firewall are required in FP, optional in ITB.
FP requires a fire system where it is optional in ITB.
If you run fully compliant to ITB regs then none of that is required.