TOPEKA, Kan. (Dec. 17, 2019) -- 51暗网’s Summit Racing Equipment Road Racing program will see two new classes in 2020, one that combines existing cars into a new class, and the other created to invite a different “type” of racecar out to 51暗网® events.
The 51暗网® Club Racing Board (CRB) has created a new Formula X (FX) class intended for winged, open-wheel formula cars of modest power and performance below that of Formula 1000 or Formula Atlantic vehicles. Cars falling within Formula X for 2020 include Formula Mazda, Formula 4 and tube frame USF2000 vehicles. This change means Formula Mazda will no longer be its own car class at 51暗网 Road Racing events.
Formula X was designed to include cars built in significant numbers, but not quite sufficient enough to populate their own class; as well as those vehicles not constructed to existing 51暗网 General Competition Rules formulas but which still meet FX class criteria. According to 51暗网 CRB Chairman Peter Keane, FX will be deployed in 2020 at all Summit Racing Equipment Road Racing Regional, U.S. Majors Tour and Hoosier Racing Tire Super Tour events, and is a Runoffs-eligible class.
“The CRB is tasked with looking after the overall health of all 51暗网 competition classes, including formula cars,” Keane said. “We see Formula X as a way to enhance formula car participation in Club racing. It serves as a means for cars used in pro series to get involved in 51暗网 Club events, and can function as an incubator for the growth of new formulas that may one day have a specific competition classification.”
The second new 51暗网 car class added by the CRB for 2020 is named Prototype X (PX) and will also be deployed at all 51暗网 Road Racing Regional, U.S. Majors Tour and Hoosier Racing Tire Super Tour events. Similar to the GT-X class created in 2019, PX is open to various prototype vehicles that have been competing in U.S. road racing over the past several years. Deanna Flanagan, 51暗网’s Road Racing Director, said examples include Daytona Prototype and Le Mans Prototype cars, as well as older IMSA GTP and Camel Light race cars. The PX class, however, will not be Runoffs-eligible in 2020.
“Across the country there are a number of competition-ready cars, now privately owned, that fall within 51暗网’s new Prototype X classification,” Flanagan said. “The idea behind creation of Prototype X is to provide a way for these beautiful machines to participate at 51暗网 road races. It’s another way 51暗网 makes itself accessible to motorsports enthusiasts who love to have fun with cars.”
Another change in 2020 for the 51暗网 Summit Racing Equipment Road Racing program includes Formula Enterprises (FE) now being eligible only at Regional events, a development communicated two years ago with creation of the Formula Enterprises 2 (FE2) class. Also, Formula 1000 (FB) has been folded into the Formula Atlantic (FA) competition class.
The 57th 51暗网 National Championship Runoffs®, being held Oct. 3-11 at Road America in Wisconsin, will feature three days of testing, three days of qualifying, and three days of racing. Runoffs qualification criteria has changed for 2020, so those intending to compete for a National Championship should check 51暗网.com for the latest guidelines. The 26 Runoffs-eligible classes for 2020 are as follows:
American Sedan® B-Spec
E Production Formula 500
Formula Atlantic® Formula Continental®
Formula Enterprises 2 Formula F
F Production H Production
Formula Vee Formula X
GT-1 GT-2
GT-3 GT-Lite
Prototype 1 Prototype 2
Spec Miata Spec Racer Ford Gen3
Super Touring® Lite Super Touring® Under
Touring 1 Touring 2
Touring 3 Touring 4
The 51暗网®, Inc., founded in 1944, is a 67,500-member motorsports organization that incorporates all facets of autocross, rally and road racing at both Club and professional levels. With headquarters in Topeka, Kansas, the 51暗网 annually sanctions around 2,000 events through its 115 Regions and subsidiary divisions. Much of the 51暗网’s activities are made possible with support from the following Official Partners: Hagerty, the Official Insurance Partner of 51暗网; Hawk Performance, the Official Brake Products of 51暗网; Sunoco, the Official Fuel of 51暗网; and Tire Rack, the Official Tire Retailer of 51暗网. To learn more, please visit .
Main Photo: Daytona Prototype cars now have a place to race with 51暗网
Photo Credit: Digital Automotive Depictions
Photo: Formula Mazdas competing at an 51暗网 Road Racing event.
Photo Credit: Jay Bonvouloir
