TC America - Round 11 & 12

TC America brings Round 11 & 12 to Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. This double-header weekend features three 25-minute sprint races at one of America's premier racing facilities. The Stéphane Ratel Organisation manages the series, with sanctioning from the United States Auto Club. Barber Motorsports Park offers a unique format for TC America, as most events feature two races while this venue hosts three.

The TC Class at Barber Motorsports Park

The 2025 season sees significant changes to the class structure. The TCX and TC classes have merged into a single TC class, while the TCA class has been discontinued. This consolidation creates a unified field of factory-built racing cars. Manufacturers represented include Acura, BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, MINI, Toyota, and Volkswagen.

Common race cars competing at Barber Motorsports Park include the Acura Integra Type S, BMW M2 CS Cup, Hyundai Elantra N1 TC EVO, Mazda 3 Touring Car, and the Toyota GR Corolla TC. The Toyota GR Corolla TC makes its debut in the championship this season, featuring a 1.6L 3-cylinder turbo engine producing approximately 300 horsepower before adjustments. This car stands out with its four-wheel drive system using a 30% front and 70% rear power split.

Barber Motorsports Park Circuit

Barber Motorsports Park sprawls across 880 acres in Leeds, Alabama. The road course measures 2.38 miles and features 17 turns in a clockwise direction. The track holds an FIA Grade 2 rating and presents over 80 feet of elevation change. The racing surface spans 45 feet in width throughout the course.

Alan Wilson designed this facility, which opened in 2003. The pit lane sits outside the main track, running parallel to the front straight. A tunnel underneath Turn 12 provides access for emergency and maintenance vehicles to reach the infield. The circuit includes two cutoff turns that can be barricaded to create a shorter course for testing purposes.

Spectator Experience

Main spectator areas line the back stretch between Turns 8 and 11. Additional viewing locations exist outside Turns 2, 3, and 14. The multi-level paddock offers fans access to team operations. The Turn 5/6 complex bears the name "Charlotte's Web" due to a large spider sculpture located there.

The venue earned the nickname "The Augusta National of Motorsports" because of its extensive landscaping and greenery. The park maintains pristine grounds with careful attention to visual presentation. A sculpture trail winds through the property, displaying large art installations for visitors to enjoy.

Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum

Barber Motorsports Park houses the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum, home to the world's largest motorcycle collection. The museum contains over 1,600 motorcycles, with approximately 900 on display at any given time. This collection represents decades of motorcycle history and evolution.

The facility also serves as the home of the Porsche Track Experience. Additional features include a vintage motocross course, vehicle off-road courses, and a proving ground. These varied facilities make the venue useful for multiple types of automotive activities beyond racing.

TC America Series Background

TC America evolved from the Pirelli World Challenge TC, TCA, and TCR categories. These categories trace their lineage back to the World Challenge series in the 1990s. The series launched in its current form in 2019. Notable drivers who have competed in TC America include Will Turner, Pierre Kleinubing, Michael Galati, Michael Cooper, Ryan Eversley, and Kevin Boehm.

The series has experienced various class structure changes over the years. The return to a single-class format in 2025 represents a significant shift in series philosophy. Teams competing include organizations like Skip Barber Racing, bringing professional operations to the grid.

Technical Regulations

TC America requires factory-built or factory-supported turn-key race cars. The series emphasizes production-based vehicles that manufacturers develop specifically for touring car competition. The 2025 rule changes consolidated the field to streamline competition and create more direct battles between different manufacturers.

Balance of Performance adjustments help equalize the varied platforms competing in TC America. These adjustments ensure that different manufacturers can compete on equal terms despite variations in engine configuration, drivetrain layout, and vehicle architecture.

Racing at Barber Motorsports Park

The 2.38-mile circuit challenges drivers with its combination of technical corners and elevation changes. The 17-turn layout requires precision and consistency. The clockwise direction and varying corner speeds demand cars with balanced setups that work across different types of turns.

The three-race format at Barber Motorsports Park differs from the standard two-race weekend structure used at most TC America venues. This additional race provides teams and drivers more opportunities to score points and showcase their performance. The 25-minute sprint race format keeps the action intense from green flag to checkered flag.

Round 11 & 12 at Barber Motorsports Park represents a key point in the TC America season. The venue's technical nature and the triple-race format make this weekend particularly important for championship contenders. The facility's reputation as one of America's finest racing venues adds prestige to the event.