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
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.
blamkin86
Well-known member
Not to discourage anyone (please come race), but to make the grid you'll have to be much faster than 59.2, I would suspect.
| Road Atlanta | 2.54 | FP | Ken Kannard | Mazda Miata | 1:37.108 | 94.163 | 3/19/11 |
| Road Atlanta | 2.54 | GP | Ken Bouquillon | Nissan 510 | 1:40.676 | 90.826 | 6/3/07 |
| Road Atlanta | 2.54 | HP | Steve Sargis | Triumph Spitfire | 1:40.458 | 91.023 | 3/9/25 |
You'll likely have to run in the 1:52s or faster. (115% of 37.1)
Kens' lap has stood for a very long time, but HP is now faster than FP was at the ARRC this year.
(Yes as always track records are weather dependent)
Like what Bill said, you could qualify for the Runoffs in FP with an ITB car, but I doubt that you'll be able to race if you are outside of the 115% rule.
If your ITB car is listed in H-Prod, you might have to add some additional safety equipment, but that might be a better place for it.
If your ITB car is listed in H-Prod, you might have to add some additional safety equipment, but that might be a better place for it.
That's a good point...Manny what are you driving? It would be unusual for a car classified in ITB to be classified in FP. Most ITBs tend to go into HP...and that would be an easier milestone to meet.
Edit: found a prior posting referencing a "ITB fox body mustang" so I'm guessing that's the 2.3L four-banger. Yeah, that's an FP car, engine is too big for HP.
SCCA is fraidy-skeered of my ex-ITB VW bus-engine 2L 914 so I got tossed into FP too. It just does historics (or ITEZ) now.
Edit: found a prior posting referencing a "ITB fox body mustang" so I'm guessing that's the 2.3L four-banger. Yeah, that's an FP car, engine is too big for HP.
SCCA is fraidy-skeered of my ex-ITB VW bus-engine 2L 914 so I got tossed into FP too. It just does historics (or ITEZ) now.
anviltester
Well-known member
if you hit homestead in jan and Sebring the week after then that's 2 of the 3 required weekends. travel to Atlanta in march or roebling in June and you are set. I think you can do 2 regionals to make up for 1 majors (but they keep changing those requirements) which there are a ton of in Florida. Also the dot tire would be like the hoosier r8 or equivalent.
HP pole will be in the 39's next October.