2012 Kia Rio 5 B-Spec Racer

Many of us dream of being a race-car driver, but the money and time spent is often so prohibitive that most of us don’t bother. Thankfully, a new class of racing is emerging: the B-Spec class. This category is comprised of subcompact and compact cars lightly modified for racing. Even though it is an emerging segment, B-Spec racing is officially sanctioned by various motorsports associations, including World Challenge, GRAND-AM, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA), and the National Auto Sport Association (NASA).

The idea behind the B-Spec series is affordable racing. Drivers can still enjoy the thrills of competition without taking out a second mortgage to pay for it. A few other manufacturers are getting on board and offering their vehicles for this type of racing. The Chevrolet Sonic, Fiat 500, Ford Fiesta, Honda Fit, Mazda 2, Mini Cooper, Nissan Versa, and Toyota Yaris are also eligible to compete in this class.  Read more...