CLUTCH KICKBACKSprint Series Overview
CLUTCH KICKBACK

Sprint Series Overview

Everything a new driver needs to know, from your first question to your first lap.

Chapter 1

Welcome to CKB

Clutch Kickback is alternative motorsports: competitions with culture built into the championships.

CKB sits between the energy of the underground and the legitimacy and polish of corporate motorsports. It is legal and professionally produced, with the culture still in the room, and open to everyone at every skill level.

CKB runs two championships, the Drift Series and the Sprint Series. This overview is about the Sprint Series.

A white Honda S2000 on its Clutch Kickback number board cornering on a circuit, a BRZ following, in a Sprint Series Time Attack
An S2000 on its Clutch Kickback number board, cornering in a Sprint Series Time Attack.
Chapter 2

How we are different

  • Race for your prefecture, not for a corporationIn most racing leagues, a team is built around an owner, a sponsor or a brand. A CKB Team is a prefecture, so you drive for where you are from.
  • You against the clock, then a race for funTime Attack on a circuit is scored by your fastest lap, and Hill Climb on a road by your fastest run. Nobody races wheel to wheel for the result. Then the fastest eight of each class race the Exhibition Race, which decides no championship.
  • Anyone can enter. Only the best can win. Sign up online in minutes.If you are 18 or over and own your car, you can sign up for an Event online. Winning is another matter. Prizes pay results, and every podium place is won on track, never arbitrarily given.
  • Three main classes, set by your car’s pointsThere are three main classes: Club Class, Open Class and Cup Class. Your car’s base points, plus points for each modification, set its class, so you compete against cars of similar performance. Otherwise, you can build your car however you like, as long as it meets the safety rules.
Chapter 3

How Sprint is different

You compete against the clock, never wheel to wheel for the result. Time Attack, on a circuit, is scored by your fastest lap. Hill Climb, on a road, is scored by your fastest run. Competitors are ranked from the fastest to the slowest, and the result comes from the timing alone.

Your car’s points set its class, so you compete against cars of a similar performance.

Then you race, for fun. The Exhibition Race is the only wheel-to-wheel session, and it decides no championship.

The three Sprint formatsTime Attackon a circuit: your fastest lap countsHill Climbon a road: your fastest run countsExhibition Racethe top eight race, for fun
The three Sprint formats: Time Attack, Hill Climb and the Exhibition Race.
Chapter 4

Can I enter?

Most likely. If you meet these requirements, you can enter.

You

  • At least 18 years of age
  • Registered online and accepted before Event day

Your car

  • Your own
  • Four wheels, tow hooks front and rear, and a working muffler, in sound condition
  • No formula cars, vans, kei vans, SUVs or RVs, unless the car is on the League’s list

Your safety

  • An FIA-approved helmet, suit, gloves and shoes, and a HANS device
  • A mounted seat and a secured, covered battery
  • A fire extinguisher where your class or the Event requires one
Chapter 5

Your class

Your car’s points set your class. There are three main classes, from street builds to race-prepped cars.

The score is your car’s base points, from the League’s list, plus a value for each modification, rounded to the nearest half point. Declare every modification, and always your tires. Car not on the list? Ask for a provisional rating when you register.

The League works out your class from what you declare when you register. You may choose a higher class at a Qualifying Event, never a lower one, and you enter one class at each Event.

ClassScoreBuilt for
Club12.0 or lessStreet builds, such as a Miata, Civic or Clio RS
Open12.5 to 24.0Tuned and track-prepped cars, such as a Supra, M3 or Evo
Cup24.5 to 39.5Full race-prepped cars and exotics, such as a GT3 RS or McLaren 570S
Chapter 6

Event day

Every Driver must attend the Driver’s Meeting before going on track. Then your class runs its Time Attack sessions, and at a circuit the day ends with the Exhibition Race and the prizes. At a road venue, the Event is a Hill Climb. Race Control runs the track, and you must obey its flags immediately.

An Event day, in orderDriver’s Meetingcompulsory, beforeyou driveTime Attacktwo or three sessions ofabout 20 minutes;your fastest lap countsExhibition Racethe top eight of eachclass race, for fun213Prizesthe top three in eachclass, on the day
The order of an Event day at a circuit: the Driver’s Meeting, the Time Attack sessions, the Exhibition Race and the prizes.
Chapter 7

Time Attack

Time Attack is free running, in sessions of about 20 minutes, two or three per class, with up to 16 cars on track at once. Set as many laps as you like, and come in to work on the car whenever you want.

A big class is split into groups by draw, and the groups take turns going first, so nobody always gets the same track conditions.

Your best valid lap of the day is your result. A lap does not count if you cut the course, exceed the track limits, impede a car on a timed lap, or set it under a yellow or red flag. You lose that lap only.

A Time Attack session: free runningOut Lap — not timedIn Lap — not timedpit lane — service at any timetiming line — a timed lap begins and ends hereA big class: groups drawnat random take turnsSession 1ABSession 2BA
A Time Attack session.
Chapter 8

Hill Climb

At a road venue, the Event is a Hill Climb: one car at a time, usually three runs, and your best time counts. There is no Exhibition Race, and no working on the car during the session.

Timing runs from the start line to the finish line, and the class order is by fastest time, fastest first.

A Hill Climb: one at a time, the fastest run countsstartreleased one at a timefinish lineback to the startrun 1 · 1:02.41run 2 · 1:01.88your best time counts (example times)run 3 · 1:03.10
A Hill Climb: one at a time, three runs, the fastest counts.
Chapter 9

Against the clock

Remember, you are not racing the other cars. You are racing the clock, and so is everyone in your class.

Your fastest lap, or your fastest run on a Hill Climb, is your result for the Event, and the class order runs from the fastest to the slowest. Ties are broken by the next fastest lap.

Against the clockone clockfor everyoneYour session: the fastest lap countslap 11:43.1lap 21:42.3your resultlap 31:42.9The class order: fastest first1:42.31st1:42.92nd1:43.63rd1:44.04th1:45.25th
Your fastest lap of the day, and the class order it earns you, fastest first.
Chapter 10

The Exhibition Race

At a Qualifying Event at a circuit, the top eight of each class race, gridded by fastest lap. One formation lap, a standing start, and eight laps unless the Event sets another distance.

The race is for the day. Its winner takes an award, but it does not change the class order, and it decides no championship. Race clean: etiquette and overtaking rules apply.

123456123456The Exhibition RaceThe grid: the top 8 of the class,fastest firstOne formation lapA standing startEight laps, unless the Eventsets another distanceThe checkered flagRed flag: restarted, unlessthat would be unsafe1st — fastest8ththe grid
The Exhibition Race.
Chapter 11

Winning an Event

Up to 32 Drivers enter a class, in the order entries were accepted, so enter early. Over 16, the class runs in session groups.

The class order of the Event is by fastest lap, or fastest run on a Hill Climb. The top three in each class win prizes on the day, and the top four earn a place at the CKB Finals.

The class order of an Event: fastest lap first1st1:42.32nd1:42.93rd1:43.64th1:44.05th1:45.26th1:45.87th1:46.48th1:47.1top 3: prizes on the daytop 4: a place at the CKB Finalstop 8: the Exhibition Race
The class order of an Event: the top eight race, the top four go to the CKB Finals, the top three win prizes.
Chapter 12

Drive for your prefecture

Every CKB Team represents a region, not a sponsor. In Japan, each prefecture has one Team. Outside Japan, each approved region has one Team.

  • You declare your Team when you register. It is where you are from or drive the most.
  • New Teams are automatically added to the running when new Drivers register to compete.
  • It is your Team for the Season, unless the League approves a transfer.
  • A Team can enter any number of Drivers, so bring your friends.
  • A Team may take a corporate sponsor, but its name always starts with its prefecture.
Team SaitamaTeam TokyoTeam ChibaTeam IbarakiTeam Gunma
Five Teams, one for each prefecture, each with the Drivers who registered for it.
Chapter 13

Scoring for your Team

At every Event, your Team’s two best-placed Drivers in each class earn Team Points. Your Team’s Event Score adds together its two best class results. A class result is your Team’s best Team Points score in that class.

A Team with more Drivers has no advantage. Only the two best-placed Drivers from each Team score in each class. Other Drivers from the same Team are removed from the order before Team Points are given out, so extra Drivers cannot push another Team’s Drivers down the points.

One Team, one EventClub Class20Open Class16Cup Class11Event Scorethe two highest: 20 + 16 = 36Season Score — every Event added, including the CKB Finalshighest Season Score is the Team Champion
How one Event scores for a Team.
Chapter 14

The CKB Championship

Drivers’ Championship

  • A Season has anywhere from four to eight Qualifying Events, then the CKB Finals, the last Event, where the champions are decided.
  • At each Qualifying Event, the top four Drivers of each class qualify for the CKB Finals. Accept your place before the next Qualifying Event.
  • At the CKB Finals, the fastest lap of the CKB Finals Time Attack makes the Sprint Series champion of each class. Then every CKB Finals Driver starts the Exhibition Race, the Season’s finale.

Team Championship

  • Each Team’s Event Scores from every Event, including the CKB Finals, are added up into a Season Score.
  • The Team with the highest Season Score wins the Team Championship.
  • The prize pool pays the top eight Teams, split equally among the Drivers who scored for each.
Qualifying Event 1first 4 of each class qualify4 per classQualifying Event 2first 4 of each class qualify4 per classQualifying Event 3first 4 of each class qualify4 per classQualifying Event 4first 4 of each class qualify4 per classCKB Finals16 Drivers per classClub · Open · Cup48 in totalTime Attack sets the grid,then the Exhibition Races
Four Qualifying Events fill the CKB Finals.
Qualifying Event 1Event ScoreQualifying Event 2Event ScoreQualifying Event 3Event ScoreQualifying Event 4Event ScoreCKB FinalsEvent ScoreTeam ChampionshipSeason Scoreevery Event Score added,including the CKB Finalsthe highest Season Score winsprizes to the top eight Teams
The Team Championship: every Event’s Event Score, the CKB Finals included, added into a Season Score.
Chapter 15

A fresh chance at every Event

A Driver’s results are not cumulative across the Season. A bad day or a missed Event costs you nothing at the next one. At every Qualifying Event, your goal is to finish in the top four of your class and earn an invitation to the CKB Finals.

Chapter 16

Conduct

Drive clean, and never drive impaired. Reckless or unsporting driving can cost you the Event, or your place in the Season. Treat all participating Drivers, staff, officials and spectators with respect, and follow all venue rules on Event day.

You can protest a result for free, in writing, within 30 minutes unless the Event specifically sets another time.

30 minDrive cleanNever impairedRespect everyoneFollow venue rulesProtest in writing
Drive clean and never impaired, respect everyone, follow the venue’s rules, and protest in writing.
CLUTCH KICKBACK

Thank you

Thank you for your attention, and we look forward to seeing you out on the track.