Getting The Balance Right

In the first of a new series Racecar’s very own balance of performance expert, an SRO and VLN BoP provider, gives us the inside line on the much-maligned art of levelling the playing field in motor racing – while also explaining why it really is necessary

- Scott Raymond

Balance of performance. For some, this seemingly innocent phrase evokes feelings of disgust, anger, anxiety, and/or betrayal. As someone who works on BoP every single day, I can’t help but feel at least partly responsible for some of the negative emotions this simple phrase elicits. Do I have a guilty conscious about it? Not in the least, because I am actively working to change the way manufacturers, teams, drivers, and fans perceive performance balancing.

To understand what I am doing to change perceptions regarding BoP, we will have to first look at some important introductory topics related to it. But in writing this article it has become crystal clear that it will take more than one piece to cover all the ground I would like, so you can look forward to further instalments discussing BoP in future editions. In this issue, however, I will first explain what even qualifies me to write about balance of performance. From there I will risk ridicule and answer the question of whether BoP is even necessary (spoiler alert; if you vehemently hate BoP, you won’t like my answer!). With the formalities behind us, I will next look at the purpose of BoP using a practical example, and finally discuss some of the factors motivating performance balancing decisions.