Gravel to Tarmac: The FIA is looking to make racing more accessible
It’s no secret that racing isn’t exactly cheap. In fact, it’s about the most prohibitively priced sport you can compete in, and FIA-homologated races call for a lot of financial aid. To make racing more affordable and accessible, the FIA is set to include more ‘standard’ race cars to broaden its racing portfolio.
These new categories cater to Rally4 and Rally5 cars competing in track racing events. Rally4 and Rally5 are not unfamiliar classes, and they offer small teams and privateers rallying on a budget. This formula worked in the rally world, and it’s exciting to see the track world offer better opportunities for those who lack F1-type funding.
The cars in question will be adapted to tackle the track rather than the gravel they are used to. The naming approach is also rather interesting, as the Rally4 and 5 cars fall behind the Rally 1, 2, and 3 classes. But Touring Car Lite offers only three classes, starting with TCR. TCR is the top level in touring car racing, with the second and third classes now named TCL4 and TCL5.
So what makes the TCL cars different from their rally twins? Safety and consistency are the main focus. These new cars will offer either a co-pilot seat or an equivalent ballast to replace the seat weight. The spare tyre has been removed, and full slicks have been added to all wheels. Race netting has been installed around the driver, as well as a handled fire suppression system, to keep the racers as safe as possible. The final step is to add a sequential gearbox.
So what’s the difference between each class? Well, this comes down to the power-to-weight ratio of the vehicles. You can race almost anything so long as it meets the FIA safety requirements and has a power-to-weight ratio of 6kg/bhp for TCL5 and 5.1kg/bhp for TCL4 cars.
I think that I speak for everyone when I say that making racing more affordable is a fantastic idea, and now more people who have the skills but lack the funds can see if they have what it takes. We can only hope that this new racing idea finds its way to our local tracks.
