Build Your Own SCCA-Racer Solstice

Besides requiring a full rollcage, racing seat, six-point safety belts and window net, an SCCA-legal T2 Solstice will need a permanently installed fire suppression system. It consists of a fire extinguisher tank (shown) plumbed to some nozzles pointing at the driver footwell area and under the hood, and a knob next to the driver to activate the extinguisher-used in case of a fire. While an SSB-legal Solstice can be run with just a fire extinguisher on board, these permanent systems are worth the effort and cost to install.

On a T2-legal Solstice, the rear differential will need a cooler system to control the temperature of the differential fluid during racing. This system includes an electric pump, heat exchanger, braided steel lines and electric fan. How to build and install one of these systems is detailed in the new book from Pontiac, Solstice Performance.

If you are starting with an A/C-equipped Solstice, the SCCA rules allow you to remove the A/C compressor (arrow indicates where it used to be) and condenser-then install an A/C-delete belt (GM PN 24466976), as shown here. The underdash ductwork and controls will need to stay in the vehicle-but the weight penalty for these pieces is minimal.

While the stock radiator is more than up to the task on the street, racing a turbo Solstice GXP requires a larger radiator to cool the engine. This T2-legal Solstice racer will be cooled by a performance radiator built by Ron Davis Racing. This piece bolts into the Solstice engine bay with just a few modifications.

A good idea is to have a local SCCA Inspector look over your Solstice during the build process to make sure it adheres to the SCCA rules. Experienced racers know this is a good idea to avoid having to rework areas that don't fit the rules.

Some of the good input that came from the SCCA Inspector concerned positioning the shoulder seatbelts for the driver. These additional tubes were added above the crossbar of the rollcage main hoop to raise the mounting point for the shoulder belts. With these installed, the seatbelts are slightly downhill from the rollcage to the seat ports (an SCCA requirement).

SCCA rules allow the stock exhaust (top) to be removed and replaced with a simple straight-through 3-inch diameter (below) system-this increases power and sounds great, too.

The radio can be removed from the dashboard, so a simple aluminum plate was fabricated and installed over the radio opening to create an area to mount the fire suppression system activation lever and the differential cooler on/off switch.

Tow hook mounts are required on SCCA race cars, so a set of pre-fabricated mounts from Pratt & Miller were installed on the bumper braces...

...and slots were cut in the front and rear fascias to allow the mounts to pass through.

Custom mounts for a Sparco racing seat were created to allow the usage of the stock adjustable seat tracks. This isn't required, but if you're going to have multiple drivers in the car, this makes fitting them to the pedals much easier.

Here is the interior after being upgraded with the SCCA-required safety equipment. Notice the rollcage, racing seat, six-point seatbelts, fire suppression system, window net, and in-car helmet net. Also, note all the stock interior panels in the vehicle-they have been clearanced to fit around the rollcage-and how the stock passenger seat and seatbelt are installed (an SCCA requirement).

The race-ready Pontiac Solstice looks a lot like a streetable Solstice-which is just the way the SCCA wants it. Some of the consumable items you'll need during the race season include grippy, slick racing tires; performance disc brake pads; a performance air cleaner and racing-spec oils.