CLUBS QUESTION NEW RACE LICENCE RULES
Two of the UK’S leading race organisers have raised concerns with the MSA’S new rule that requires drivers of cars with a high power-to-weight ratio to have a National A licence.
The new rule will be introduced next season ( MN, July 20) and will affect cars with a power-to-weight ratio of 0.34bhp/kg or more. But both the 750 Motor Club and Classic Sports Car Club feel the move could have a negative impact on grassroots racers.
The 750MC’S competitions secretary Giles Groombridge said: “I fully understand the reasons for doing it – at the moment there’s nothing to stop a complete novice from getting into something as fast as a GT3 car or historic F1 car for example. What could be an issue is we have very mixed categories with different classes and the onus would be on us to police it.
“This relies on competitors providing truthful and accurate data about their cars. Although we do have a rolling road it would be difficult logistically [to test lots of cars].
“A couple of our championships will be affected – the vast majority of Bikesports cars would be and some RGBS. I’m not sure what the alternative would be but it seems like the MSA were thinking of GT3 cars when they came up with the rule. Because it [the 0.34 figure] doesn’t include the weight of the driver it’s a problem for championships with lightweight cars.”
The regulation change would also affect many of the Caterhams that run in the CSCC’S Magnificent Sevens series, as well as other kit cars and the models used in the Special Saloons category.
Club competitions director Hugo Holder said: “It seems very unfair on people. Anything that increases safety we are up for but the way they have done it seems like a tax on the little man.
“Whilst we agree there should be some sort of restriction on novices, we lobbied to have the rule only apply to drivers in cars who have to run with a novice cross, without success. This would have achieved exactly the same thing.
“The only difference between this and the new rule, is an extra £32 charge per year per driver [for the upgraded licence].”
The MSA was unavailable for comment as MN went to press.