Getting started

Sim Racing

Safety

Skills and Knowledge

Tracks

Misc

Published January 2023 by Track Manual Team

Autocross is a highly competitive sport that spans regional meets and national-level competitions, where winning and losing is defined by the synergy between machine agility and fast driving hands. This is a timed driving competition which drivers navigate a defined course one-by-one. Usually these courses are no longer than a mile or 2 kilometers long and are marked with traffic cones or on a track. Due to the tight scope of these courses, autocross emphasizes driver skill and car handling over pure power.

To win at the highest level, choosing a car becomes less of a personal preference and more of understanding which chassis is best for its class. Similar to how there are certain winning meta builds for video games, some cars are just better than others.

The Track Manual Team reviewed the results for the 2022 SCCA Nationals to determine which cars excelled in their autocross class. Whether you are a professional or want to set the best time with your local club, check out the best cars that were popular or won their class in 2022 to compete in 2023.

The Porsche 911 GT3 needs no introduction and is a car built for the track from the factory. Highly capable in stock form, it’s an expensive but strong choice for autocross. While the top 3 spots in super street nationals were 997 and 991 GT3s, we may see the monster 992 GT3 earn the top spot this year.

SCCA Class: Super Street, Winner.

An iconic American sight on the track, the Chevrolet Corvette Z06 has no issues dominating its classes. The top 3 winners of Class A Street were sixth generation Z06s, which are more affordable than more modern Corvettes. If the Corvette isn’t your preferred American muscle, there is another Chevy on this list as well.

SCCA Class: A Street, Winner. Super Street Touring, Winner.

The BMW M2 is the smallest of its M siblings which lends to its great handling ability. It was a popular car in the B Street class with the performance-focused Competition variant leading the way. If the Bavarians are your choice of German cars, the BMW M2 will keep you highly competitive.

SCCA Class: B Street. E Street Prepared, Winner.

Miata is always the answer, and this adage is further reinforced by its success in autocross. With autocross focusing more on handling than power, it’s the perfect environment for the Miata to excel. Popular choices were the lightweight NA and NB generations or the modern ND.

SCCA Class: C Street, Winner. E Street, Winner. Street Touring Roadster, Winner. Street Touring Sport, Winner. B Street Prepared, Winner. C Street Prepared, Winner.

The Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ twins continue the ethos of lightweight, RWD Japanese cars. The second generation is preferred with more powerful motors and are competitive whether stock or modified. The first generation cars is a more accessible and affordable option.

SCCA Class: D Street, Winner. Street Touring Xtreme, Winner.

The Type R badge carries a storied history of performance, one that the modern Civic Type R lives up to. The only FWD car on this list, it is a strong competitor if FWD is your preferred style. While the Civic Type R is found in D Street Class, you can find civics of all types successful in other autocross classes.

SCCA Class: D Street.

The 6th generation Camaro in its 1LE trim (2017-Present) is one of the most affordable fast-out-of-box track cars currently. While it did lose out to its rival the Ford Mustang Mach 1 in its class, there were more Camaros placed higher overall. Can’t go wrong with either, but the Camaro is 5 figures cheaper than the Mustang.

SCCA Class: F Street. E Street Prepared.

SCCA Class: Street Touring Ultra, Winner.

SCCA Class: Xtreme Street A, Winner.

SCCA Class: D Street Prepared, Winner.

These cars provide a good starting point to be competitive in autocross. With any of these cars, you will have a solid foundation on which to build better driving skills and experience in order to win. With the number of different classes in competitive autocross, there are many capable cars to choose from that will be competitive in their own class.

Looking for more of an edge on the tarmac or keeping your car ready for competition? Check out our recommended products for autocross.