2022 EVENTS

2022-10-27 -

GT SPRINT

Just 13 nations – six with only silver-rated drivers – contest this new high-profile addition to the Games. But the onehour, one-driver sprint for GT3 machinery has six factory stars from four manufacturers.

GT

GT3S driven by one silver and one bronze-rated driver compete over three one-hour races. The first two determine the grid for the final on a points system. Seven manufacturers are represented across the slender 13-car field.

TOURING CAR

The global TCR category is again on the bill, with 18 countries represented in the two-race event. The medals are this time awarded on the basis of the result of the second 30-minute-plus-one-lap final. Gilles Magnus, second last time and fourth in this year’s World Touring Car Cup points and new TCR UK champion Chris Smiley fly the flag for Team Belgium and Team UK respectively.

FORMULA 4

Single-seaters maintain a necessary presence at the Games with Formula 4 and a strong grid of the grid of KC MG-01S run by Hitech. Andrea Kimi Antonelli, F4 champion in Germany and Italy this year, is the standout on the entry.

AUTO SLALOM

An event similar to the UK’S Auto Solo discipline, this is a new event on the bill for mixed-gender two-driver teams. Twenty-five nations — Peru, Vietnam and Uzbekistan included — will go against the clock aboard the Opel Corsa-e Rally.

KARTING ENDURANCE

This is another entry-level event: a four-hour, four-driver enduro in corporate machinery on Ricard’s kart track. It’s all very arrive-and-drive, which explains why Motorsport UK approached Club 100 to help select a team.

HISTORIC RALLY

Historic motorsport has a place at the Games with this event for FIA Category 2 and 3 cars built between 1970 and 1981. The entry includes an Audi Quattro and a couple of Porsche 911SCS, one driven by former sportscar star Philippe Gache for Team France. Tim and Steve Jones compete in a Chrysler Sunbeam Ti for Team UK.

RALLY2

The FIA’S four-wheel-drive feeder category has attracted a slim entry of 12 cars across six manufacturers. Brits Oliver Mellors and Ian Windress compete for Team UK aboard their regular Proton Iriz R5.

RALLY4

Only 10 cars are out on the stages for this front-wheeldrive category. Team Belgium’s Tom Rensonnet and Loic Dumont were class winners in Rally2 on this year’s Ypres World Rally Championship round aboard their Renault Clio.

ESPORTS

Known as the Digital Cup at Vallelunga this category has attracted the biggest entry for the competition on the Assetto Corsa Competizione platform. James Baldwin, fourth in Italy in 2019, returns to represent Team UK after a successful season in SRO’S GT World Challenge Europe Esports series.

DRIFTING

A total of 30 nations are represented in Drifting, with reigning champion Dmitriy Illyuk returning to represent Ukraine in his Nissan 200SX.

CROSS CAR

There are senior events for the FIA’S entry-level off-road category for bike-engined buggies, which runs to a rallycross-type format. Daniel Rooke moves across from that world of rallycross with Team UK.