What class would a 2010 Evo X MR be most competitive in at the national level:

BS, STU or BSP?

What mods would you do for the car in each of the classes to make it most competitive? I know the car is heavy and probably not the first choice of car to try to compete nationally. This is also just a thought experiment to help me plan my mod path and adhere to a specific class, but I'm not delusional enough to think I'll actually be competitive even on a local level as I'm a newbie to car racing.

BS you'd stand no chance.

STU you stand a good chance, but I think the weight of the X will put you at a disadvantage against the previous gen Evos and STI.

BSP is a pretty good fit. Your tire size can go much bigger (I run 285 slicks), you'll have the power, and you can reduce some weight via the mods you do. From my experience it does decent against the VIII and IX, but they do have a slightly better chance of beating you again due to weight. My GSR is 3475 on a full tank where my buddy's IX is 31XX. He and I are usually pretty close when competing and placed 2nd and 4th in San Diego on the National Tour in his car. Though keep in mind SCCA wants to move all Evos to ASP.

I think SM might be the best for the Evo X, but I'm not sure. At that point you could tear a lot of extra weight out of the car as well as some more performance upgrades, but I haven't seen anyone do it yet.

IMO, at the national level, the X isn't competitive in any class. (the driver is the biggest thing obviously, but at nationals there are tons of great drivers.) The class for it to be most competitive would be BSP (good luck catching Berry, Wilcox, or Miller who will have just as much power but weigh hundreds of pounds less) or SM. Even in SM, the level of legal weight reduction will not get you anywhere near min weight which castrates you automatically, but any car can be competitive in SM with enough effort.

For BS, I can't see an evo catching the S2000s...no way in hell.

For STU, a local has a full prep STU X MR and has had a few of the better locals drive it at some of the tours and it just can't keep up being 4-500lbs more than the STI's or 8/9's on the same tiny 245's just isn't fair to the car. Vorshlag even did full prep STU and were ending up at the same spots as our local car.

These are great cars that handle decently, but auto-x just isn't their gig. The GTR and X both shine on a road course, not an auto-x.

Thanks guys for the replies. That helps put it in to perspective. I'm going to do autocross mainly for fun so I think I'll go the STU route in my daily driver. If I understand the mod allowances, then the following may make sense in order:

coilovers with camber plates (no restriction on the amount of adjustments for coilovers correct?)

sway bars (not sure if these should come before or after wheels and tires)

wider wheels ~ 18 x 9.5 (preferably something that doesn't require spacers)
the widest 245 mm street tires

turbo back exhaust with high flow cat - not sure on the wording of emissions
legal....are any of these legal in CA?

intake - emissions legal (I understand this isn't useful on an Evo X if getting tuned, but without being allowed to change boost I'm thinking this is good for 10-15 hp??)

tune, but without changing boost

can the fog lights be legally removed for better airflow to the SST cooler?

Any links to other Evo X's in STU? I've read the Vorshlag stuff.

That sounds about like an STU build to me. Small battery, lighter brakes, and seats are all that sounds left. At the local level, you can destroy people with that setup unless you are fortunate and get to race with the faster guys. I don't think the intake will be worth any extra power after the tune (just get a filter), and yes you will want a turboback with a high flow cat. I think getting good tires should come before sway bars and before wheels (get lightweight wheels, the rpf-1 is cheap and light). The stock tires suck.

The class for it to be most competitive would be BSP (good luck catching Berry, Wilcox, or Miller who will have just as much power but weigh hundreds of pounds less) or SM.

Wilcox? As in Craig Wilcox, who drives a silver Evo 9 in BSP sponsored by his own company, Oasis Tan?

I got to ride with him during our local region's first event... I didn't realize he was that well known.

Yah, you probably know Jacob Diehl, Joe Silva, and Todd Wayman too, lol, all are very good drivers. You are lucky to be racing against them locally as they are all good drivers in good cars. Craig is a 2 time National Champion and runner up twice (all in the past 4 years). So yah, he is pretty well known.

Yeah, I had Todd as my instructor for our solo school last week... interesting, this being my novice year, I didn't realize our local region had so many well-known drivers.

Are the Evo X's not even competitive in B Stock? I'm running in our region's street tire class, on the factory Yokos, and my times are within 1-3 seconds of the S2000's on r-comps.

Nope. The S2000 has a much better chassis, better suspension design, 800lbs+ less, similar power at the stock level, and can run almost as much tire. It really wouldn't be close with similar driver/prep level.

I just find the class that has the most cars. Im in a class called IMS. Its a local thing and its pretty much any car with any amount of MODs. Its huge and very competitive

Nope. The S2000 has a much better chassis, better suspension design, 800lbs+ less, similar power at the stock level, and can run almost as much tire. It really wouldn't be close with similar driver/prep level.

Thanks drewgray, you've just crushed my novice hopes and dreams.... all of a sudden I'm not as excited about running on Hoosiers next year... I've gotten too used to 1st and 2nd finishes in the street tire class.

Now now, don't go that far. When talking competing locally, all classes are fair game (except maybe BSP and SM with who you run against locally :P) There is nothing like driving on fresh A6's and the grip they provide. Its like crack. Give her a shot at B Stock against your local S2000's. Just know that you are going in as an underdog. Anything can happen in any class. Its just some have a large built in advantage.

Its fun to beat the 'car for the class'. ;)

Hey now, I love the S2k's as much as the next seeing as I ran one all last year but I haven't lost to an S in the Evo yet. I have however been spanked by a Boxster S and an Integra Type R in Tire class. I think Tire Class BS is the way to go. Keep's things interesting. ;)

I was expecting to be able to shed an extra few seconds with r-comps. Is this not the case?

The stock Advans are good but they're not R comp good so I'd venture to say that you'll gain a second or two easy.

Yes, they will. You could well be very competitive locally, but the OP spoke of being nationally competitive and at that level there is a reason no one does it. The s2000 is simply quicker.

Thanks! This helps put it in to perspective a bit. Cheers :rock:

I just find the class that has the most cars. Im in a class called IMS. Its a local thing and its pretty much any car with any amount of MODs. Its huge and very competitive

I didn't know you were up in Boise. I run EIRSCCA STU in my X and was at Jerome this past weekend. Between our region, yours, and Utah, we had 7 drivers finish in the top 10 at nationals last year, so I think we have a pretty good local group. I usually finished top 10 in PAX in a bone stock X last year, and finished 2nd saturday with a turboback and EBC Yellows. Once the KW Clubsports are in, I think I should be pushing pretty hard for top 5. I've only been in it for 4 years, so I'm still learning at every event, but I think this car is definitely capable of competing locally.

i have to try this near me

I didn't know you were up in Boise. I run EIRSCCA STU in my X and was at Jerome this past weekend. Between our region, yours, and Utah, we had 7 drivers finish in the top 10 at nationals last year, so I think we have a pretty good local group. I usually finished top 10 in PAX in a bone stock X last year, and finished 2nd saturday with a turboback and EBC Yellows. Once the KW Clubsports are in, I think I should be pushing pretty hard for top 5. I've only been in it for 4 years, so I'm still learning at every event, but I think this car is definitely capable of competing locally.
I was going to go to Jerome but my car is down for maintenance at the moment. This is my 1st year but im pretty competitive. Always learning and watching. Maybe Ill see you at some events this year