I began running STX when it first started, and was a provisional class. I used a 2002 WRX then. The cars that I had a 3 way battle with was an old E30 //M3 and a Honda Prelude. I ended up 3rd place (Cal Club in SoCal, which has many top drivers).
Since then, the BMW 325i and the dreaded "FrankenCivics" have been the more dominant cars - at least when I was last racing some years back. The BMW's due to RWD, but the Civics because of their light weight and handling.
My suggestions? Go ahead and get a downpipe, a race cat, and a catback exhaust. That will add some extra power. But my strongest suggestion is to put all your time and money into the handling of the car. Do all you can to enable the power to hookup right from the start, and get the suspension setup so you can carry the speed throughout the turns like a Miata can. That is the key to success right there. For I have seen Miatas beat more powerful Corvettes simply because they can take the turns under power, where the Vettes have to lift off and coast through. AutoX is won through the turns and slaloms, not straight line speed.
In fact, the Fiesta ST may have enough power as is, it is fairly light weight, narrow, and quite nimble. Just need to make it more nimble, and all its power useable - stop the wheel spin, stick better, and enable rotation on demand (oversteer).
I always made the mistake of thinking I needed more power to win. When in fact, the faster the car, the worse I did. I won more events, and was more competitive with the old WRX and BMW Z3 Coupe 2.8L, than I was with the later fire breathing STi in STU. Part of which was my tendency to use the throttle as an on/off switch, instead of rolling into it. With a slower, and more nimble car, like our ST, might be able to get away with it more.
Of course, my experience is a bit dated now, as I haven't raced for a few years. So someone more current, up to date may have more to add? But I think we'd all agree - turns are everything. Beat the others through the turns, and you could win.
Since then, the BMW 325i and the dreaded "FrankenCivics" have been the more dominant cars - at least when I was last racing some years back. The BMW's due to RWD, but the Civics because of their light weight and handling.
My suggestions? Go ahead and get a downpipe, a race cat, and a catback exhaust. That will add some extra power. But my strongest suggestion is to put all your time and money into the handling of the car. Do all you can to enable the power to hookup right from the start, and get the suspension setup so you can carry the speed throughout the turns like a Miata can. That is the key to success right there. For I have seen Miatas beat more powerful Corvettes simply because they can take the turns under power, where the Vettes have to lift off and coast through. AutoX is won through the turns and slaloms, not straight line speed.
In fact, the Fiesta ST may have enough power as is, it is fairly light weight, narrow, and quite nimble. Just need to make it more nimble, and all its power useable - stop the wheel spin, stick better, and enable rotation on demand (oversteer).
I always made the mistake of thinking I needed more power to win. When in fact, the faster the car, the worse I did. I won more events, and was more competitive with the old WRX and BMW Z3 Coupe 2.8L, than I was with the later fire breathing STi in STU. Part of which was my tendency to use the throttle as an on/off switch, instead of rolling into it. With a slower, and more nimble car, like our ST, might be able to get away with it more.
Of course, my experience is a bit dated now, as I haven't raced for a few years. So someone more current, up to date may have more to add? But I think we'd all agree - turns are everything. Beat the others through the turns, and you could win.
