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