What Should A Historic Racing Car Be?
Autosport|February 15,2018

There are many ways to run a historic racing series, but the FIA has its own framework that can be useful for organisers.

Kevin Turner
What Should A Historic Racing Car Be?

One prominent historic racer recently said: “If you ask 200 people in the paddock what historic racing should be, you’ll get 200 answers.”

The question of how original a historic car should be is a controversial one. Cars used regularly have to be maintained, and crashed cars need to be rebuilt. Which parts and materials should be used can be a complex debate.

Too puritanical about it and some cars will never run reliably, while others will be left in the garage due to a scarcity of parts. Too liberal and it can turn into an arms race that results in cars that look like historic cars but are essentially modern machines. As Historic Sports Car Club CEO Grahame White says: “There are people with vast amounts of money who are desperate to win and explore every avenue.”

Most would agree that the latter isn’t what historic racing should be about – if you want to push the technological boundaries, you should probably be in contemporary motorsport.

This story is from the February 15,2018 edition of Autosport.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the February 15,2018 edition of Autosport.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM AUTOSPORTView All
Autosport

The Shock Of The New

If the spectacle of Lewis Hamilton carving his way to the world title seems familiar, much is changing off-track in the new Liberty era.

time-read
4 mins  |
October 26,2017
Vettel Proves Ferrari Is Back
Autosport

Vettel Proves Ferrari Is Back

FORMULA 1'S NEW ERA IS ALL ABOUT BIGGER CARS, WIDER TYRES, MORE downforce, and greater performance than ever before. But this category remains one defined by small margins, and ultimately it was minor details that meant Ferrari rather than Mercedes went home victorious from the first grand prix of 2017.

time-read
9 mins  |
March 30,2017
Nigel Roebuck
Autosport

Nigel Roebuck

A genuine threat to mercedes.

time-read
4 mins  |
March 30,2017
Autosport

Dan Gurney 1931-2018 

Dan Gurney 1931-2018

time-read
10+ mins  |
January 18,2018
Autosport

How Kubica's F1 Racing Dream Was Put On Hold

How Kubica’s F1 Racing Dream Was Put On Hold

time-read
4 mins  |
January 18,2018
Autosport

Halo It's Here

Like it or loathe it, the halo safety structure is a fixture for Formula 1 in 2018. Here’s how it’s set to affect the cars.

time-read
5 mins  |
January 18,2018
Autosport

Rosenqvist's 10-Step Guide To Beating Buemi

The Swede turned the tables on Formula E’s top dog, beating the reigning champion and taking the lead in the title chase.

time-read
7 mins  |
January 18,2018
Autosport

Ferrari's Finest

A selection of the Italian marque's racing machinery provided a compelling centrepiece to Autosport International 2018.

time-read
4 mins  |
January 18,2018
Autosport

Richards' Latest Task

The Prodrive boss andnewMSA chairman assessed the challenges and opportunities facing British motorsport in 2018.

time-read
2 mins  |
January 18,2018
Newey F1's Aero Artist On Its New Aero Era
Autosport

Newey F1's Aero Artist On Its New Aero Era

The Red Bull design guru can see some interesting elements in the new rulebook.

time-read
7 mins  |
March 02,2017