FTD

FTD stands for "Fastest Time of the Day" and refers to the quickest single lap or run recorded by any driver during a motorsport event, regardless of what type of vehicle they're driving.

In motorsport, not all racing involves cars going wheel-to-wheel around a track at the same time. Many events feature drivers taking individual turns on a course, with each driver's performance measured purely by the clock. This time-trial format is where FTD becomes especially important and prestigious.

You'll most commonly hear about FTD at events like hill climbs, autocross competitions, and sprint races. At these events, drivers compete one at a time against the clock rather than directly against other cars on track. Each competitor gets their chance to set the fastest possible time, and at the end of the day, whoever posted the quickest run earns the FTD title.

What makes achieving FTD particularly impressive is that it represents an outright win against everyone at the event. It doesn't matter if you're driving a purpose-built race car or a modified street car—FTD goes to whoever was genuinely fastest. This is because FTD represents the raw, unadjusted time with no handicaps or corrections applied.

Many motorsport events also use class-based competition, where similar cars compete against each other for fairness. For example, a stock Honda Civic wouldn't normally be expected to beat a highly modified Porsche. However, the driver of that Civic could still win their specific class while the Porsche driver claims FTD by posting the fastest overall time of the day.

Some events also recognize FTP, which stands for "Fastest Time PAX." This uses a handicap system that adjusts times based on the theoretical performance potential of different car classes, providing a different measure of driver skill. However, FTD remains the most straightforward and often most coveted achievement—pure speed with no adjustments.

Earning FTD requires a combination of exceptional driving skill, an well-prepared and reliable vehicle, and often a bit of luck with weather and track conditions. It's considered a significant honor in grassroots motorsport communities and demonstrates that a driver truly was the best performer that day, beating every other competitor who showed up.