Yaris Solo class change...

[cali yaris]

I will submit a letter, although I can't run in that class. You put up a good season Jason, considering everything.

If the car gets left in EP, what is the reasoning, given the other cars in the class? Don't they have to provide some logic with their response?

[Jason@SportsCar]

Originally Posted by cali yaris

I will submit a letter, although I can't run in that class. You put up a good season Jason, considering everything.

If the car gets left in EP, what is the reasoning, given the other cars in the class? Don't they have to provide some logic with their response?

Yeah your car is even more hosed if you want to run a Natl/Div Solo event. With the FI you are in XP - although if you put on the stock rear hatch you could run SMF.

Having served a three year term on the SEB I have a good understanding of the system. No, they don't have to provide any detail as to why it was left. A typical response is "Not Recommended". They have been trying to be more transparent, and starting to give detail, but it does not always happen.

My feeling is there are two issues... The lack of knowledge about the car and its capabilities, and the lack of understanding of the Limited Prep rules these cars utilize.

Most of these guys are going to simply look at the fact that the Yaris is new, has VVT-i, and way more power stock than the other cars in the class. Not understanding that it has no chance of getting within 200lbs of the 1500lb minimum weight for GP - a weight that the Honda's, like the one the won the Solo natls this year, can hit easily.

Also, because we are talking about Solo, which typically uses it's own rule set, there may be some confusion on Club Racing Production rules that carry over for the Prepared Solo classes. All of the current GP Solo cars are the same cars and prep level as HP Club Racing cars - minus the required rollcage. Trying to take a Limited Prep HP car and competing in the EP Solo class is impossible. A LP car requires stock pick up points for suspension, stock brakes, stock engine internals (crank/rods) with max 11:0-1 compression (cams are allowed with a max .390 lift). Stock Yaris suspension geometry versus push-rod stuff, head and cam work versus a full built unlimited compression ratio motor, no way.

I can see no justification for letting all of the other HP Club Racing cars into GP for Solo, but exiling the Yaris to EP.

I really don't have a dog in this fights, as in all likelihood the Yaris will be back with Toyota next season, I just think they need to give cars like the Yaris/Mazda2/Fiesta/etc a competitive place to play.

[HTM Yaris]

Amen I agree ..... That is part of the reason I don't autox much anymore .

It seems to me that if they want new members they would find a way to make the Econo Cars ( Yaris , Mazda2 , Versa etc. ) more competitive . I mean lets face it , it is FAR cheaper to do a year of Solo in an Econo car than say an Evo or S-2000 .

Basically I think they need to go back to being more "grassroots" . By that I mean making Solo more affordable . With the resurgence of the econo car it seems ripe that Solo would take advantage of a tremendous opportunity to expand its membership and create some damn good competition . But hey , if they want to be nostalgic and class themselves out of members and competition , Solo will die a slow death .