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Solo II classes?
Anyone care to hazard a guess what class the RX-8 will be autocrossing in? I wonder if the High- and Low-power variants will wind up in separate classes, like the 1.6 and 1.8 Miatas. How about the Evo8 and STi?
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My guess is that the 250hp model will be in BS. It has similar numbers to the S2000 (240hp 2800lb).
The 210hp model could possibly be put in DS against the Type R (195 hp, 2600 lb), IS300 (215 hp, 3200lb), WRX (227 hp , 3100 lb). Not sure how competitive it will be with just an automatic tranny. As for the Evo and the STi, that's a tough one. I would think the Evo will either be AS or BS. Probably a bit too much power for BS (271 hp, 3260 lb), but the car is fairly watered down than the overseas models with the fancy diffs. I think the STi may end up in AS or even SS. I'm not sure if it could keep up with the Z06's in SS, so maybe AS will be a better fit. One more thing, the Evo and STi are already listed on the STX exclusion list. No big surprise there. I'm expecting them to also exclude the RX-8 from STX. It does have 4 seats, but you can make an arguement that it's "sports car derived." |
To answer my own question...
I posed the same question on our local club list. One of our members just happens to be on the SCCA Solo II board. Here's his reply:
Totally unofficially, BS. The committees haven't even realy discussed any of these very much. The Evo8 & Sti are too much better than the WRX to put in the same class. And the WRX has proven to be competitive in DS, if not the car to have. In fact, in Pro Solo, it many times *is* the car to have. Given the specs, the STi will wipe out the current class. Now, a case can be made that the Evo lies somewhere between the peformance of the WRX and the STi. Given that, a good case *might* be made to put that one in DS for now. But it would be risky. And I suspect that Mitsu will not lay on their laurels and will upgrade the car's specs ASAP to match the STi. This will be a fun manufacturer's battle to watch. The downside on either of these is that they would be mid-pack in BS. That would be a shame, but there's really nowhere else to put them. The RX8 looks now to be another "tweener". Too much for DS, certainly. Definitely a fit in BS on type of car and buyer demographic. Probably competitive in BS, but I don't think it can beat an S2000. But maybe I'm wrong? Personally, I'm wondering if the RX-8 might not be a good fit in DS, up against the WRX and Honduhs. |
I just don't see any of these cars fitting well in DS. If you put the RX-8 in DS, it's got the highest power-weight ratio, plus it's fairly light with 50/50 weight distribution. All the cars in DS have "issues" of some sort. The Type R is lightweight, but FWD. The WRX is AWD, but heavy. The BMW 330 has plenty of power, 50/50 weight distribution, but no LSD and it's also heavy. The RX-8 doesn't really have any of these "issues."
I also think it may not be able to topple the S2K in BS. But there really isn't a class between those two. CS and FS, based on pax/rtp numbers are between them, but the RX-8 doesn't really fit into those classes (CS = lightweight roadsters, FS = ponycars). |
BS it should be in, as classing is meant to put it in a 'competitive' class (e.g. mid-pack) against other cars.
also remember autox is 90% driver and 10% car, so as long as the car is competitive, someone good enough will take it to the podium ;) |
Originally posted by ZoomZoomH also remember autox is 90% driver and 10% car, so as long as the car is competitive, someone good enough will take it to the podium ;) The better the competition, that factor moves toward the car. So nationally, with good drivers, it's a lot more about the car then the driver. |
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