REWARDS Weight, Points System Revisions in Store for 2006 SPEED World Challenge
For Immediate Release REWARDS Weight, Points System Revisions in Store for 2006 SPEED World Challenge TOPEKA, Kan. (Oct. 20, 2005) - SCCA Pro Racing announced today that it will make changes to the 2006 SPEED World Challenge Rewarding of Equalizing Weight Assigned to Reduce Driver Sensitivity (REWARDS) Weight system and Championship point structure. The series has elected to revert to a previous version of its REWARDS program from 2002, which adds success ballast to cars achieving high finishes in order to keep competition close. REWARDS was revamped in 2003, and then again in 2004. The 2006 REWARDS program will have separate structures for SPEED GT and SPEED Touring Car. SPEED GT cars will add 40lbs for a victory, and then 30lbs for second and 20lbs for third. Fourth place will neither add nor remove weight. Weight comes off in the same increments it is added, with 20lbs removed for fifth, 30lbs for sixth and 40lbs for seventh and lower. A maximum of 200lbs of REWARDS weight can be carried by any SPEED GT car. SPEED Touring Cars will follow the same position structure, but at less weight, with 30lbs for a win, 20lbs for second and 10 for third. Weight comes off at the rate of 10lbs for fifth, 20lbs for sixth and 30lbs for seventh or lower. A maximum of 150lbs of REWARDS weight can be carried by any SPEED Touring Car. As is currently the case, only drivers carrying REWARDS weight can remove weight. "The goal of REWARDS is to be a lead trophy, not a lead anchor," SCCA Pro Racing VP and General Manager Mitch Wright said. "We have so many good cars in both series that substantial amounts of weight are putting our Championship contenders out of contention for good finishes. That's not the point. The point of REWARDS is to make achieving the next win a little more difficult, but not impossible. "The fields weren't as deep a few years back when these formulas were first changed. With more cars competing at a high level, it is not necessary to add substantial amounts of weight in order to have diversity at the front of the field." Additionally, a re-vamped point structure has been announced. It is the first time since 1996 that the structure has been altered. While the race finish point schedule will remain in tact, qualifying has been revamped for both the Drivers' and Manufacturers' Championships. Qualifying on the pole has never been more crucial for both Championships. The Drivers' Championship will now pay points to the top five qualifiers on a 5-4-3-2-1 schedule. While the base Manufacturers' Championship Presented by RACER structure will remain the same (9-7-5-3-2-1), one additional point will be awarded to the fastest qualifying manufacturer. "We feel that the changes to the point structure will make it more attractive for drivers to fight for the pole position," Wright said. "It will be crucial to not only be smart during races to maximize points for both Championships, but also be among the fastest at each event as well." The 2006 SCCA Pro Racing Rules and Regulations will be available by December 1, 2005. 2006 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge REWARDS Weight Schedule 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th+ GT +40 +30 +20 0 -20 -30 -40 TC +30 +20 +10 0 +10 +20 +30 Pounds added by finishing position. Only REWARDS weight may be removed for finishing fifth or worse. Maximum additional weight GT: +200 Maximum additional weight Touring Car: +150 2006 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Driver Point System Race finish point schedule: Fin Pts Fin Pts Fin Pts 1 30 11 15 21 5 2 27 12 14 22 4 3 25 13 13 23 3 4 23 14 12 24 2 5 21 15 11 25 1 6 20 16 10 7 19 17 9 8 18 18 8 9 17 19 7 10 16 20 6 Qualifying point schedule: Qual Pts 1 5 2 4 3 3 4 2 5 1 One additional point added for leading a lap One additional point added for leading the most laps 2006 SCCA Pro Racing SPEED World Challenge Driver Point System Fin Pts 1 9 2 7 3 5 4 3 5 2 6 1 Only the highest finishing car per manufacturer scores points One additional point added to the pole-winning manufacturer Only manufacturers registered for Manufacturers' Championship eligible for points -30- Attached: Image of Pierre Kleinubing's windshield denoting +250 this year-which will be a thing of the past with the new limit on Touring Cars at +150lbs Image Credit: (c) 2005 Mark Weber/SCCA _______________________ Eric Prill Director of Communications Sports Car Club of America SCCA Pro Racing/SPEED World Challenge 785-357-7222, 785-232-7228 fax 800-770-2055 toll free 785-250-7920 mobile eprill@scca.com www.scca.com <http://www.scca.com> , www.world-challenge.com <http://www.world-challenge.com/>