Autocross (European)

(Redirected from FIA Autocross)

Where governed by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile and some national motorsport authorities, Autocross is car racing on a race track with unsealed surface (dirt, gravel or soil).

Start of a final of the 2004 German Autocross Championship round at the Estering at Buxtehude

Cars compete against the clock, and start at the same time. A well attended international series is the FIA European Championship for Autocross Drivers.

FIA European Autocross Championship edit

The FIA European Autocross Championship is a racing competition held on natural terrain circuits with unsealed surfaces ranging from 800 to 1,400 metres in length. Up to 10 cars race simultaneously in qualifying heats, followed by two semi-finals and a final race. It features different categories for "buggies", including SuperBuggy, Buggy1600, and JuniorBuggy. Events also host rounds of the FIA European Cross Car Championship and FIA Cross Car Academy Trophy for younger drivers aged between 13 and 16 years old.[1]

FIA European Autocross Championship was established as an FIA European Cup in 1977 and was upgraded to an FIA European Championship in 1982. Since 2021, a selection of the ten FIA European Autocross Championship events also host rounds of the FIA European Cross Car Championship (7 competitions in 2022) and the FIA Cross Car Academy Trophy (5 competitions in 2022, reserved for drivers aged 13 to 16).[2]

The championship is run on circuits on natural terrain, with any type of unsealed surface, from 800 to 1,400 metres in length. Autocross races involve a maximum of 10 cars on track simultaneously and consist of a succession of qualifying heats leading to two semi-finals and a final.[2]

The championship has a series of events throughout the year in various locations. For example, in 2022, the events were held in places like Seelow, Vilkyčiai, Nová Paka, Saint-Georges-de-Montaigu, Přerov, Saint-Igny de Vers, Maggiora, and Mollerussa.[2]

History edit

 
A 2007 autocross competition at Circuito de Arteixo, Spain

Autocross started in the end of the 1940s in the United Kingdom as a club competition. It took until 1968 when the first Autocross event was staged in continental Europe (Austria). In 1976 the FIA created standardized Autocross rules and started a European Autocross cup for specialized cross cars. In 1979 a cup for touring cars was added. In 1981 both categories were promoted to be a European Championship for Autocross Drivers.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "European Autocross Championship". 22 January 2015. Archived from the original on 22 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
  2. ^ a b c "European Autocross Championship". 6 March 2023. Archived from the original on 2 December 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2024.

External links edit