Allowance of Paddle Shifters for P2 cars
#39776 from Brian Lindstrand · Not recommended · Minutes (2026-03 Fastrack)
The Road Racing Competition Committee does not recommend the underlying request to allow assisted shifting systems on P2
cars that were not originally built with them. To be clear, the P2 rules do not disallow paddle shifters themselves, nor do they
disallow flat shifters that use vacuum-activated throttle blippers. The class rules state that "[d]evices that interact with the
throttle, ignition, or fuel system during a shift operation (for example: ignitions cuts, flat shifters, blippers) are permitted, but no
such devices shall remove the driver's control of the gear change initiation, gear selection or completion." A vacuum-activated
blipper interacts with the throttle, not the transmission; it does not "remove the driver's control of the gear change initiation,
gear selection or completion." The Flatshifter Max system described, however, is an assisted shifting system that actuates gear
changes by electronic (and not mechanical) means. The P2 rules state that "[o]nly mechanical gearshifting mechanisms are
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allowed except as permitted by Table 1 Spec Line Cars. This may include cables, rods, or other mechanical linkage systems." The
class rules go on to note that "[t]his prohibition is intended to eliminate the use of electric solenoid shifters . . . and other
devices not mechanically actuated and controlled completely by the driver." Based upon information obtained by the advisory
committee, the RRCC believes that the Flatshifter Max system could be converted to a P2-compliant system by purchasing a
wiring harness and load sensor for the original mechanical linkage and reprogramming the Flatshifter control box. As the rules
state, P2 is intended to be a relatively low-cost sports racing class, and given the relatively low cost of converting the Flatshifter
Max system to a P2-compliant system, the RRCC does not recommend allowing high-cost assisted shifting systems and adding a
weight penalty to offset their advantage, because such a change would likely lead other drivers to believe they need a similar
system to be competitive and would thereby increase the cost to race in P2.