Title: 370Z (All) to STU
Category: Street Touring
Class: STU
Car: Nissan 370Z
Request: Propose that all 370Z be moved from STR to STU. The factory wheel and tire sizes exceed the parameters of STR: in contradiction with the philosophy of the street touring class which should not require an immediately negative change. The weight is not competitive in STR, particularly with limited tire size.
The 370Z shares the same platform with the G37 including engine and suspension; the 370Z is a market competitor to the Genesis, Mustang, and Camero now classed in STU. The 370Z is competitive with STU cars particularly those with which it shares ASP classing (Subaru WRX, Mitsubishi Evolution, and now C5 Corvette) without upsetting the balance of the class. The August Fastrack states, "One thing they all have in common is the ability, and need, to fit more tire than allowed in the lower classes," and this is exactly the case with the 370Z.
The 370Z Nismo should be treated as an option package, not a different model. Unlike the 350Z Nismo (which includes chassis stiffening), the 370Z Nismo package does not present any competitive advantage with Street Touring allowable modifications. Any suspension, exhaust, or aerodynamic gain can be improved upon by a non-Nismo 370Z with a lower starting weight (similar to a preference for non-STI WRX where both are allowed in STU). No other model of car is excluded from a Street Touring class where the engine and chassis are the same.
letter number #12005
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