In the course of this week’s Motor Sports Council, the following regulation changes were approved with effect from 1 January 2014. Further details will be made available in the next edition of MSA magazine.
1. Stage Rallying:
a. Seats: From January 2014, all stage rally cars must now be fitted with in-date FIA homologated seats.
b. Tyres:i. The MSA is working closely with the tyre manufacturers and will shortly finalise the creation of Tyre List 6. From January 2015 only tyres from the new Tyre List 6 will be permitted for use on unsealed surface stage rallies.ii. Cars using wheels of 12” diameter or less will be exempt from Tyre List 6.iii. Hand-cutting of tyres will not be allowed on unsealed surface stage rallies, but will still be permitted for other stage rallies.iv. Where conditions dictate, the Clerk of the Course with the agreement of the Stewards of the Meeting, may declare the event to be of “Winter Conditions” and suspend the requirement to comply with Tyre List 6.
c. Route Liaison Officers (RLO) must be consulted by organisers of ALL rallies, whether or not the events use the public highway and the RLO may require the Clerk of the Course to order additional technical restrictions on vehicles as appropriate in their area.
2. Karting:
a. Tyre testing: Regulations have been approved to govern the testing of tyres with effect from January 2014.
b. Ages: The current age regulations in Junior karting will remain unchanged for 2014 with a full review of karting ages, weights and licensing requirements to be proposed in the course of 2014.
3. Racing:
a. Proposals to reintroduce the ‘Battenberg’ quartered flag were withdrawn following the consultation process.
b. Regulations were approved to govern the concurrent running of two endurance races of different durations.
4. Rallycross:
A complete set of regulations for space frame Rallycross vehicles will become mandatory from January 2016. These vehicles will be inspected and issued with a Rallycross Spaceframe Vehicle Identity Form. Existing log-booked space frame Rallycross vehicles may continue until 31 December 2015.
5. Drag Racing:
From January 2014, all Drag Racing competitors under the age of 18 will require their parent/guardian to hold a PG Entrant’s Licence, to attend the event and to sign-on as the Entrant.
6. Fuel:
a. With effect from January 2014, where authority is given by the MSA for events not to use Pump Fuel, those events must use fuel in compliance with FIA Appendix J Article 252, Article 9. This allows a maximum RON level of 102 Octane.
At its previous meeting in June, the Motor Sports Council had requested the MSA to remind competitors of their obligation to use the correct fuel as laid down in the regulations.
In support of these revised fuel regulations, the MSA confirmed that it will be providing clear guidance and further training to all scrutineers and officials in the coming months. It will also clarify the responsibility of event organisers to ensure that illegal fuel is not made available to competitors.
In addition, the MSA would like to draw the attention of all competitors to an extensive programme of random fuel testing that will begin in 2014. The governing body is committed to ensuring a level playing field and a safe environment for the greater enjoyment of all and urges competitors to abide by the regulations and not to risk exclusion from their events.
