ChampCar Rules and Regulations

How to use the links below

“The Basics” are the rules. These are the essential safety items and the procedures ChampCar uses to access the race car you have chosen.

“Standard Race Car Entry Paperwork” is for racers entering a race car with very few mods. You have the stock engine, the stock transmission, and the stock rear diff—super easy paperwork.

“Swapped Race Car Entry Paperwork” is for the racers who have replaced their drivetrains with engines from a different car, like a Chevy V8 in a Mazda Miata. They have a bit more paperwork to do.

“Miscellaneous Paperwork”, need to protest that Chevy V8 Miata? Start here with the paperwork.

“3D Roll Cage Sample”, we have included a 3D roll cage sample to get you moving in the right direction at fabricating up a legal roll cage.

Here are the basic rules:

Not including the required safety equipment, you will need – A vehicle that is listed on our VPI list, a roll-cage, window net, racing seat, certified racing harness, a certified onboard fire-suppression system, a master power-off switch, and the steering wheel lock removed.

What does that even mean? ChampCar uses a points-based system to value race cars. Each make/model is assigned a specific base point value. Performance items- shocks, springs, engine modifications, etc. are given additional points. Your car’s total point value cannot exceed 500 points (see the rules for how to do this). ChampCar uses this point-based system to control the cost required for a team to go racing.

Strip out the interior and take out all the glass, except the windshield. Remove the steering wheel lock. Install the roll cage, seat, fire-suppression system, and harness. Add the ChampCar number and sponsor panels, and you have just created a race car. Okay, so there’s more to it than that, but not much. Read the rules to fill in the blanks.

ChampCar has various race formats, but they generally range from 7 to 24 hours. You’ll need a minimum of two drivers for most events, and it’s wise to have a couple of crew guys as part of the team. Get people on your team that knows what end of a screwdriver to use and can think clearly at 3:19 am when a wheel bearing starts to disintegrate. You'll be docked laps if you cheat or screw up or both. If you come to Tech Inspection with a car that’s worth 1,500 points, plan on starting the race about 100 laps down from everyone else. You can still run in the race, and you’ll have a great time, but at that point, you’ll only have photos to show for it.

Tech Questions:

Use our Tech Help Desk. We will no longer be using email to answer any tech questions. The new Tech Help Desk will have oversight by our TAC and the BOD. All questions and answers will use this new system. https://champcar.org/tech/

BOD, Rules, and Committees

The BCCR is the responsibility of the Board of Directors. Click here for the BCCR update and petition process. Information about BOD committees is also on the ChumpCar International, Inc., BOD web page

Rules and Forms

The Basics - The BCCR

Standard Race Car Entry Work Sheets – 2023

Swapped Race Car Entry Paperwork – 2023

VPI Lookup

Vehicle Performance Index

Vehicle Performance Index Online Lookup – Online Lookup

VPI Raw Data File

!For Research Only!

The following Microsoft XLSX file is for research only and is not considered the official VPI / VPI Swap calculators. They are for research only. You must use the online calculators in the above links for your swap paperwork.

VPI Master File in XLSX Format
updated 4/10/2023 by wds

Miscellaneous Paperwork

Other

SFI Foundation, Inc. Member

ChampCar Endurance Series is a Santioning Body Member of the SFI Foundation, Inc. ChampCar utilizes SFI Specifications within its rulebook.

Manufacturer Contingencies

Mazda - Mazda Motorsports Contingency Awards Program - Mazda Results Page
Nissan - Nissan Motorsports Racer Support Program

Flagtronics In-Car Flagging System

Starting June 1, 2022, the Flagtronics in-car flagging system will be required in all ChampCar racing cars. You can purchase the units at https://flagtronics.com/champcar

Helpful Links

Sound Policy at Laguna Seca, and helpful for tracks the require lower than the CCES 96dBa requirement.

Links may expire, email media@champcar.org if you find dead hyperlinks.

For cars with glass windows, this approved safety window film can be installed onto the glass. ie – Miata/MR2 Spyder hardtop rear glass. We are told that this is an Internet Order only.
Fire Block RTV and spray foam for those firewall gaps.
Sheet plastic and crash repair kits.

Carbon Fiber scraps (legal for driver comfort use) – great for making interior components, dash, and switch panels.

ChampCar BCCR petition form - https://forms.gle/t1RP3Eq3KuDDVW4X6

Do you still have questions? Please make certain that you have read the BCCR as most questions are answered in the rules book. Submit a Tech Desk Ticket at https://champcar.org/tech
Get help from racers like you on the community forum.

Champ Cage by 3dautosports.com on ChampCar 3D Cage - Click this link to make it larger.

ChampCar/ChumpCar BCR/BCCR Rules Archive

Looking for what it was like in the olden days of affordable endurance racing? Well, here ya go. These are not meant to be used to build a car and are only uploaded for fun and amusement. The 2014-2016 BCR was made to try and control the changes that were happening in our sport. It kinda worked, but a new BCR was released in 2015 to address safety issues and some other performance issues.