For 2012, a number of racing sanctioning bodies have created
a new segment of race cars called B-Spec that targets the sub-compact market.
Manufacturers have a keen interest in expanding the popularity of this segment
by introducing more clients to driving smaller cars that are fun to drive, fuel
efficient with and handle well.
The aim of
the series is to provide (relatively) cheap access to racing, with the
intention of the sanctioning bodies to maintain a single “spec” for the cars so
that they can compete in any series with minimal
changes (vinyl, tires etc).
What Does It Cost
?
·
Cost Of Base new car – Approx $13,600
·
Kinetic Motorsports Kit To Equip Car : $14,400
·
Kinetic Motorsports charge to build the car if
you choose not to do it yourself: $6,000
·
Total If you
build the car: $28,000
·
Total if Kinetic
Motorsports Builds the car: $34,000 plus tax
The Kia Rio 5 has been selected to represent the Kia brand
in this category and has been built to compete against other B-Spec models such
as the Mazda 2, Honda Fit, Mini, Fiat 500, GM Sonic, Ford Fiesta etc.
The sanctioning bodies that are currently participating are:
World Challenge - Each B-Spec car would
race against other B-Spec cars in a class race at major racing venues.
Grand-Am – Each B-Spec car would race in a support race series for
the main weekends – also racing against other B-spec cars at prominent
locations around the country.
SCCA – Each
B-Spec car would race against other B-spec cars in the series alongside a wider
group of show-room stock C class – allowing campaigning of the car at a myriad
of events and locations, regional and national race events.
NASA – Each
B-Spec car would compete in its own class at events around the country.
How Do I Become
Involved?
Contact Kinetic Motorsports, who will be the designated
supplier of the kit.
Each kit
will include:
Roll-cage kit
Seat
Fire system
Quick disconnect steering wheel
Harness/belt system
Sanctioning
body defined window, debris and cockpit nets.
Set of non-adjustable shocks
Set of spec wheel rims
Set of Spec tires for your designated series
Oil sump pan expansion kit and pick-up extension
Complete build instructions.
Kinetic Motorsports can assist with the build process if you
feel you don’t want to do this yourself.
Kinetic is currently working on a detailed online purchasing
scheme for parts with Kia/Mobis directly that will yield better than dealer
pricing on the parts for your B-Spec racer.
Dealers are
encouraged to use this opportunity to not only campaign and race the cars they
sell, but to also allow for the car to be a showroom piece in between races to
act as a marketing tool. As the Kia Racing/Kinetic team come to the dealer’s
region for their respective races, dealers will be encouraged to participate
with their cars at those same events.
Most dealers are having their own staff work-on and build
the cars and will find that it is a hugely successful focus project for staff
to rally around and the esprit de corps and sense of pride that is generated by the project is extremely
powerful within the dealership.
What Will Kinetic
Motorsports’s Role Be In B-Spec For 2012 ?
Kinetic Motorsports will campaign 4 Rio 5 B-Spec cars at
race events that it will be attending with both its Grand-American Forte Koup
program and World Challenge Optima Turbo program. Both Series operate big
professionally-run race events. The B-spec race would be only open to
amateur racers (no one who has carried a Pro-license in the past 3 years).
Currently the sanctioning bodies are planning the following
Events:
World Challenge: 3 race weekends – Miller Utah, Grand-Prix
Detroit, Mosport Canada. They plan approx. 9 races at these three weekends – 30
min Sprint race – 5 min break – 30 min race on one day. The following day would
be a 45 min race.
Grand-American:
They plan 6 race weekends with a single 40-50 min race to be run as a support
race for other professional race events. – This is the same format as currently
used and would be similar to MX 5 Cup or PCA Club Racing.
Kinetic Motorsports will have its main B-Spec-Race Hauler in
the paddock for the four cars we will campaign and depending on number of
additional entrants, we maybe able to accommodate you under our awning or make
arrangements for you to be parked nearby so we can assist you with set-up and coaching
etc if you would like our help.
So we encourage you to bring out your cars and join us at
these events and we can make the Kia Team a bigger and better thing with your
presence and involvement !
You don’t have to be part of the big country-wide events and
instead you can campaign the cars yourselves in club events across the country
and choose to attend as few or as many as you wish.
SCCA and NASA events
operate events all over the country and you can campaign your cars in the
relevant classes (SCCA Showroom Stock- C
SSC). You can turn up in a giant hauler and awning or a simple trailer
and E-Z Up, the choice of how to do it is yours. We encourage you to use your
techs in your shops to be your pit crew and have them get involved.
