Prototype 1 and 2 are very fast classes. Like, ridiculously fast. These race cars boast droolworthy bodywork, measure ground clearance in millimeters, run engines that sing a siren’s song, and have drivers that can make them dance. Good things await those racers who can put a Prototype car on the razor’s edge for every lap during the Sept. 28-Oct. 6, 2024, SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® presented by Sunoco at Road America. Those elite drivers will be battling for the coveted gold medal, a Championship jacket, and the chance to call themselves an SCCA National Champion.
Who will drive to that top step in P1 and P2? We have a few thoughts. Are our predictions right? In classes like these where anything can happen, we’re not going to bet the bank. But we are going to watch the races when they happen, because win or lose, these battles are always fantastic.
Who Will Win Prototype 1?
Spreading yourself thin at the Runoffs rarely spells success, but some drivers make it work. For years, Todd Vanacore has competed in Formula Enterprises® 2, Spec Racer® Ford Gen3, and Prototype 1, and has managed top 10 honors in multiple classes in the same year. He even won the P1 National Championship title last year and landed on the P1 podium in 2022 and 2020, and this year, he’s leading the Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour points race. With that track record, it would be hard to bet against him to win P1 at this year’s Runoffs — but we’re going to.
Chip Romer won P1 at the Runoffs in 2022, finished third in 2021, and scored second in 2019. He’s also seen quite a bit of success during the Super Tour — although his Super Tour weekends never overlapped with Vanacore’s. His year’s been going well, and we think that momentum will keep up during the Runoffs, taking him all the way to the top step of the podium.
“The year has gone great,” Chip Romer says of his season, adding, “I am now racing with my son, Matt, which is something he and I will always cherish.”
Matt Romer, it should be added, is leading Chip in the Super Tour points, with the pair exchanging wins at Portland.
“I think this year is a tossup — anyone of the guys on the grid can win this thing,” Chip Romer says. “I think my son has a legitimate shot. He has proven to be a fierce competitor. He and I have had tremendous battles this year. I think Matt will be the wildcard this year.”
Indeed, Matt will likely be in the hunt, but before he can battle Dad for the lead, he’ll have to deal with 2020 P1 National Champ James French (who we anticipate finishing second this year), and two-time P1 National Champion Jim Devenport, our third-place pick who proved his prowess at Road America with a strong showing at this year’s WeatherTech Chicago Region® June Sprints®.
Back to Vanacore: While we didn’t pick him for the podium, we have no doubt he could ruin our predictions. Everyone should also keep an eye on John McAleer, Jason Miller, and Lee Alexander — they all have sights set on the podium, and they know how to get there.
Truth is, of this year’s P1 field, at least two-thirds of the drivers could win.
Podium Prediction: Prototype 1
1. Chip Romer, No. 29 Stella Artois 2014 Elan DP02 (1 National Championship)
2. James French, No. 46 Motorsports Enterprises Ltd. 2001 Swift 014/CSR (2 National Championships)
3. Jim Davenport, No. 23 Cranbrook Group Inc 2012 Elan DP02/Mazda (2 National Championships)
Who Will Win Prototype 2?
Tim Day Jr. has an enviable record in the Prototype category. Between P1 and P2 in his 11 Runoffs starts, he’s claimed three poles and landed on the podium seven times — a pair of those being P2 wins. His podium tally could have been one better, too, had he not fallen victim to torrential wet-weather conditions at VIRginia International Raceway in 2022. Even if it rains at this year’s Runoffs, we expect him to push to the front — which is why he’s our pick to win P2 at this year’s National Championship event.
Case in point, just look at this year’s June Sprints.
“At the June Sprints, Murphy’s Law struck, and it seemed everything worked against us,” Day explains. “First, poor weather, then an unfortunate series or incidents in race one led to a DNF. In race two, we worked our way up from 11th place to second only to have the motor expire and another DNF. [Despite] the DNF, it was some fun racing!”
Which racers will be Day’s top competitors? Turns out, the two others we see as podium contenders are ones Day has his eyes on, too.
“I believe Greg Gyann will be the toughest competitor,” Day says. “He won the Runoffs the last time it was at Road America. Gyann has his car sorted, and since the repave, he has consistently run below the long-standing P2 track record at Road America. Lucian Pancea is always fast on race day and is the reigning P2 Champion.
For dark horses in the race, Day sees two. “Bart Wolf in his Ligier JS51 and Mike Reupert, a two-time National Champion. Both drivers have spent a lot of time at Road America.”
We think Day should also check his mirrors for Raiden Nicol, a very fast teenager in a well prepped Radical.
Will the P1 race be exciting? Day thinks so, exclaiming: “Should be one hell of a race!”
Podium Prediction: Prototype 2
1. Tim Day Jr., No. 8 Goodyear/GDRE/Summit/Hawk/HRP 2006 Stohy WF1 (2 National Championships)
2. John Gyann, No. 47 Gycor International /Skipjack’s Ligier JS51
3. Lucian Pancea, No. 99 Young RACING 2013 Stohr (1 National Championship)
Catch the Action Live
Qualifying at the National Championship Runoffs takes place Oct. 1-3, with Hagerty Race Days falling on Oct. 4-6. You can keep up on all of the action by clicking on the Runoffs homepage, where you’ll find the driver entry list, the event schedule, and more.
Races will be broadcast live on Oct. 1-3 on SCCA’s YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe to the page and ring that bell icon now to get notified when the race broadcasts begin.
When it comes to exciting racing at the Sept. 28-Oct. 6, 2024, SCCA® National Championship Runoffs® presented by Sunoco at Road America, the Touring classes are guaranteed to deliver.
With cars ranging from near-stock Mazda MX-5s in Touring 4 to winged Corvettes in Touring 1, Touring offers more than enough to pique everyone’s interest. And the racing — well, that’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.
Just in the last few years, we’ve seen National Championship races come down to the final lap, we’ve witnessed come-from-behind victories nobody anticipated, and more. And, from looking at the current roster, there’s every reason to believe this year’s Touring 1, 2, 3, and 4 National Championship battles will boast the skill and drama these drivers have become known for.
What all of this also means is that predicting the winner in any of these four hotly contested classes is utterly impossible. Which is exactly why we’ve decided to give it a shot.
Who Will Win Touring 1?
Most of the predictions for the Touring classes look very familiar, and T1 is no exception. All signs point to Andrew Aquilante with his potent Phoenix Performance-prepared Ford Mustang taking his 15th National Championship and his ninth in the class. Although Aquilante has been laying low this year as far as SCCA T1 competition is concerned, it doesn’t mean he’s been idle.
“It’s been a weird year not racing, but I’ve been doing other things, so that kept me occupied and kept me driving,” Aquilante explains. “It’ll be what it’ll be. The biggest change is GT4 cars in T1 are now full GT4 spec — which, in my view, should be quicker than what my car is capable of. But obviously you have the driver factor in there, so we’ll see what happens come Oct. 1.”
Perennial contenders Mark Boden and Tony Ave will be coming with Mercedes AMG GT4 cars, although Boden has been known to fall back on his trust BMW, and should be in the mix for a podium. James Candelaria and his Corvette both look to be improving every year, and this could be the year he threatens for a victory.
Who does Aquilante see as the biggest threat for the podium? “I think Mark Boden will be the strong guy,” he says. “[Candelaria] will be strong. Tony Ave should be the strongest in the GT4 car, because he has the most experience with them. But he also has his foot in four other classes too, so he’ll be spread out pretty thin. If it rains, I think Hugh Stewart would be a contender.”
He’s right on all counts — but come on, we’re not going to bet against Aquilante.
Podium Prediction: Touring 1
1. Andrew Aquilante, No. 33 Phoenix Performance 2014 Ford Mustang (14 National Championships)
2. Tony Ave, No. 44 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG (4 National Championships)
3. Mark Boden, No. 46 Fall-Line Motorsports 2019 Mercedes-Benz AMG GT4 (4 National Championships)
Who Will Win Touring 2?
Kurt Rezzetano hasn’t lost a Runoffs race in T2 since 2020, and that streak is expected to continue as he goes for a sixth title in the class. His Phoenix Performance S197 Ford Mustang just works, and Rezzetano can wheel it.
That likely leaves Charlie Peter looking at Rezzetano’s taillights for the fourth year in a row. Even after upgrading to the BMW M2 CS Cup last year, he didn’t have anything for the Mustang.
Mark Boden won both races at the WeatherTech Chicago Region® June Sprints®, and should have a good shot at the podium. Jason Ott is coming to the class with a Porsche 911 a little newer than Boden’s, and if he’s adjusted to it well from his T3 BMW Z4, could be in the mix.
And, of course, one should never discount John Heinricy. He finished fourth at VIR last year in his first Runoffs with the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing, so the Hoosier Racing Tire SCCA Super Tour points leader is certainly a threat for the podium, along with Scotty B. White’s Dodge Viper.
Podium Prediction: Touring 2
1. Kurt Rezzetano, No. 37 Phoenix Performance/Hoosier/Hawk 2013 Ford Mustang (5 National Championships)
2. Charlie Peter, No. 66 Phenix Label/Red Line Synthetic Oil 2020 BMW M2 CS Racing
3. Mark Boden, No. 46 Fall-Line Motorsports 2004 Porsche 997.1 (4 National Championships)
Who Will Win Touring 3?
Last year, Marshall Mast didn’t get to show what the Solstice might deliver after losing the brakes on VIR’s long back straight during qualifying. Now he has a year under his belt with the car and has won in every outing. He hasn’t taken the car to Road America yet, but he expects it to perform well in the track’s long braking zones as well as getting a good jump off the corners.
“The Solstice throughout the year has shown some really good speed,” Mast says. “Road America is a little unknown, but I’m pretty confident [the car] should be top notch around there. So ultimately, feeling pretty good.”
Normally, we’d be talking about the Otts at this point, but in Steve and Jason’s absence (Jason has moved to T2 with a Porsche), Jim Leithauser is left to carry the BMW Z4 torch. But the bet is that it will be Nissans harrying Mast the most, primarily Chris Hart, although Rob Hines, Richard Baldwin, and Gamaliel Aguilar-Gamez could certainly be in the mix as well.
Mast says he thinks the E46 BMW 330 should do well this year, and Sean Lovett has been using his to good effect, including taking double victory at the Cat National at Road America. Scotty B. White is always a threat for the podium with his Mustang, and if it’s wet, look for the Subarus of Anthony Piselli or Jared Lendrum to be in the mix.
Podium Prediction: Touring 3
1. Marshall Mast, No. 31 Phoenix/Hoosier/Hawk 2007 Pontiac Solstice (4 National Championships)
2. Chris Hart, No. 5 fabtek 2011 Nissan 370Z
3. Sean Lovett, No. 137 Liqui Moly/North Bay Bavarian/Hoosier/AIM/RaceTech 2001 BMW 330
Who Will Win Touring 4?
Touring 4 is the one class where the predictions look completely different from 2023. Neither last year’s predicted winner (Marshall Mast) nor last year’s actual winner (Devin Anderson) are returning. Marc Cefalo, though, has been near unbeatable with his NC Mazda MX-5 this year. The only person to beat him in a head-to-head fight is Christian Braunlich with a Mazda RX-8.
So, naturally, Cefalo will be bringing both the MX-5 and a fresh RX-8 to Road America.
“We’re in a position to bring both, test both,” Cefalo explains. “After three years in the MX-5, we have a pretty good feel of what the car can do and how it performs at any given track, especially Road America. We’re trying something a little bit different with the RX-8.”
Cefalo says the lighter MX-5 will be easier on brakes and tires, but the RX-8 has the better top end. Obviously Cefalo expects Braunlich to be a contender, and he’s our pick for second. Stephen Blethen is another RX-8 runner and will likely be in the fight for the podium.
Others in the mix include Kevin Fryer, Raymond Blethen, and Izzy Sanchez.
“I think a little bit of a dark horse is Scotty White,” Cefalo adds. “Scotty brings excellently prepared vehicles. The Mustang is very good in the rain because of the mid-range torque and the weight that the car carries.”
Podium Prediction: Touring 4
1. Marc Cefalo, No. 00 Planet Miata 2009 Mazda MX-5
2. Christian Braunlich, No. 83 Eckerich Race Engineering/Mazda/Hoosier/Babyface Fabrication/Hawk 2009 Mazda RX-8
3. Stephen Blethen, No. 50 KONI/RST Performance Racing/Precision Motorsports/Diamond Technical Service 2004 Mazda RX-8
Catch the Action Live
Qualifying at the National Championship Runoffs takes place Oct. 1-3, with Hagerty Race Days falling on Oct. 4-6. You can keep up on all of the action by clicking on the Runoffs homepage, where you’ll find the driver entry list, the event schedule, and more.
Races will be broadcast live on Oct. 1-3 on SCCA’s YouTube channel, so be sure to subscribe to the page and ring that bell icon now to get notified when the race broadcasts begin.
