Yokohama Tire has a new motorsports partnership: The Global Time Attack and Super Lap Battle USA (SLB/GTA), part of the North American Time Attack Council which the Sports Car Club of America® is a founding member. Yokohama is now the Official Tire of SLB/GTA. First Super Lap Battle race is February 16-17 at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas.
There will also be the “Yokohama Challenge” championship for drivers competing on Yokohama tires at the three Global Time Attack events.
“Motorsports is interwoven into the heritage of Yokohama,” said Drew Dayton, Yokohama motorsports manager, “and we are excited to connect with next generation of motorsports enthusiasts via the Global Time Attack and Super Lap Battle series. The variety of vehicles throughout the different classes give us a great platform to prove our ADVAN products’ performance on the track and enable the competitors to achieve their best laps.”
“I’m thrilled to welcome Yokohama Tire on board as the Official Tire of Global Time Attack and Super Lap Battle USA,” said Jason Dienhart, director of Super Lap Battle USA and Global Time Attack. “We are fortunate to be working with such a prestigious brand with a strong presence in motorsports like Yokohama Tire.”
2019 Global Time Attack and Super Lap Battle USA Schedule:
February 16-17: Super Lap Battle USA Circuit of the Americas
May 10-11: GTA Road Atlanta
August 9-10: GTA New Jersey Motorsports Park
November 16-17: GTA Finals Buttonwillow Raceway
The Global Time Attack and Super Lap Battle USA adds to an already extensive list of 2019 North American-based motorsports activities both on- and off-road for Yokohama. This includes the IMSA Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama, the Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama, the Porsche Pikes Peak Trophy by Yokohama, 24 Hours of Lemons, Spec MX-5 Challenge, TrophyLite, One Lap of America, Yokohama NORRA Mexican 1000 and Yokohama Sonora Rally.
About Yokohama Tire Corporation:
Celebrating its 50th year in the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. Servicing an extensive sales network throughout the U.S., Yokohama Tire Corporation is a leader in technology and innovation. The company’s complete product line includes tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information on Yokohama’s broad product line, visit http://www.yokohamatire.com, http://www.yokohamatruck.com or http://www.yokohamaotr.com.
Yokohama is a strong supporter of the tire care and safety guidelines established by the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association and the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration. Details can be found at the “Tire Care & Safety” section at http://www.yokohamatire.com.
About Global Time Attack & Super Lap Battle USA: “‘”‘
The Orange, California based Global Time Attack was established in 2010 with the simple desire to assemble the world’s fastest dedicated time attack cars together on a particular circuit. Through our events, live broadcasts and partnerships with independent media outlets, we present this motorsport in an exciting, engaging and involving manner in order to elevate this community as a whole — including teams, fans, manufacturers, supporters and sanctioning bodies. 2019 marks the beginning of the ultimate time attack challenge. Racing against the clock at COTA Austin. Texas. Our goal with Super Lap Battle USA is to create a super bowl time attack annually at the Circuit of Americas in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit http://globaltimeattack.com/.
For over 45 years, Autopower Industries has made keeping racers safe their top priority. As a Technical Partner of Track Night in America Driven by Tire Rack for the past three seasons, Autopower has been helping participants by providing safety gear that meets, and often exceeds, SCCA safety requirements. Their extensive line of roll bars and cages range from street-able bars that allow your vehicle’s stock interior to stay in place with very little modification, to full on competition compliant cages for road racing, rally, and more. With an ever-expanding product line that already boasts the largest variety of makes and models, Autopower is sure to have the right products to fit you and your car’s needs.
Autopower continues to research and develop safety products, putting their design and fabrication skills to test in all forms of Motorsport. From Drag Racing and Drifting, to land speed trials and Road racing, their desire to push the envelope has led them to several championships, world records, and event wins across the spectrum of Motorsports. Check out http://www.autopowerindustries.com for footage of their adventures at the Salt Flats, in race trucks, road racing, and more!
When you renew your SCCA membership, you’ll get a coupon for 10% off your Autopower purchase. But that isn’t all- if you refer a friend, and they become an SCCA member, you could win an Autopower roll bar for your car!
In the “wake” of the 2018 Tire Rack SCCA® Solo® Nationals, the Solo National staff and SEB have come together to not only address some issues encountered at past Nationals, but also begin renovating the look and feel of the event by first defining what Solo Nationals should be. With a focus on the future, and knowledge from the past, they will begin to implement new procedures and policies, realign and redefine roles and responsibilities, and adjust the event as a whole in an effort to provide the best experience for all participants and attendees of the 2019 Solo Nationals and beyond.
In an effort to keep the Club’s members up to speed on said renovations, we are introducing “News on Nationals”, which will be an ongoing part of the SoloMatters electronic newsletter. The purpose of this feature is to communicate any changes or adjustments to Solo Nationals, as well as provide some insight into the reasons behind them.
With that said, here is the latest news on updates to Solo Nationals for 2019:
- Entry into the 2019 Tire Rack Solo Nationals will be capped at 1325. This cap should allow for nearly two hours of contingency time for any delays from weather, car breakage, course surface issues, etc. This will also help mitigate any unforeseen class popularity variances from past years.
- A major contributor to the Tues/Weds issues in 2018 (besides weather, video, etc) was the total number of entries and their spread over the pairs of days. 2018 saw a 60/40 split between Tues/Wed and Thurs/Fri, with the normal spread being only around 5%. This was due to a few classes having a surprisingly high level of participation, as well as the usual class hopping. With this situation in mind, the initial Run Order to be released in a week to 10 days will include six or seven sets of classes (Open/Ladies) that will be studied over the first half of the 2019 season relative to attendance, with their run order being announced the first week of June.
- Registration will be in two Tiers as the beginning of a process that will play out over the next couple of years in defining what the Solo Nationals should be. Specifically, the plan reflects several comments received in post-Nationals surveys and discussions — Rewarding and acknowledging the “Best of the Best,” those that clearly support the event, and those with long-term support of the program.
- Tier 1 will open in mid-June for the following: 2018 class winners and second place finishers (when a trophy was awarded), plus 2019 Nationals Chiefs, plus 100%ers — a total of just over 200 potential entrants.
- Tier 2 will open a week later for all other members.
- FJ will run on Tues/Weds in the same Heat as KM
- There will be a defined end to the competition day in the supplementary regulations that will be a certain number of minutes prior to the official sunset for Lincoln, Nebraska on that day. An example would be that if sunset was at 7:31 p.m., competition would end at 7:01 p.m. Exact language will be in the Official Supplementary Regulations that will be released in early June.
We appreciate all the constructive feedback we have received from our members. It is our every intention to use that feedback as a data point as we move forward to create the best Solo Nationals experience possible for all of you. Please keep an eye out for future “News on Nationals” as we continue on the journey.
