SCCA: REWARDS weight made pulic

Posted By Terry Callahan
Motorsports Editor, The Auto Channel

May 11, 2001

While the SCCA Pro Racing Speedvision World Challenge REWARDS (Rewarding of Equalizing Weight Assigned to Reduce Driver Sensitivity) program has been in place for many years, an understanding of its purpose and effect has seldom been reached by fans. Beginning with the May 18-20 Round Three weekend at Mosport International Raceway, cars carrying REWARDS weight will also display that weight on the windshield, above the driver's last name.

REWARDS is a program which adds weight to drivers who achieve a finish in the top-three, maxing out over the season at five percent of the base minimum weight of the car. REWARDS weight is removed if the car finishes out of the top-four. The purpose of the program is to help provide the closest on-track competition between a diverse variety of cars.

"REWARDS has been very successful over the years in helping fine tune the field to create close racing," said Mitch Wright, SCCA Pro Racing Vice President and General Manager. "It keeps the fans guessing. A driver may win one week, but will be 'rewarded' with a larger hurdle to get it done the next time. We feel it's important for the spectators to understand that there are some drivers dealing with a performance-rewarded handicap in addition to the other drivers."

At Mosport, the following drivers will carry REWARDS weight: GT - No. 42 Peter Cunningham (+70), No. 9 Michael Galati (+70), No. 81 Johannes van Overbeek (+20) and Touring Car - No. 26 Steve Pfeffer (+40), No. 1 Pierre Kleinubing (+30), No. 92 Will Turner (+20).

Text provided by Eric Prill

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