Why historic racing organisers have launched an eligibility clampdown

The coming season is going to be a pivotal one for historic racing, as car eligibility comes under the spotlight in a new initiative from three of the leading historic race promoters.

For some time, there have been rumbles and grumbles about cars not meeting period specifications and homologation forms. And there have always been rumours – true or otherwise – about special engines being developed and fitted for certain high-profile events. Against the backdrop of ever increasing costs and the desire to extract greater performance from period cars, Motor Racing Legends, Masters Historic Racing and Goodwood have come together to make a stand.

The plan – which is being spearheaded by racer and enthusiast Shaun Lynn, who acquired Motor Racing Legends last year and has now added the Historic Racing Drivers Club to his portfolio – is to work with owners, preparers and engine builders to get every car back in line with period specifications and homologation, as well as ensure that the historic technical passports issued to each car by the FIA are in place. The plan has the support of Roger Wills, who is chair of the historic committee of Motorsport UK and a British voice at FIA level within historic racing.

Lynn recognises that this will not be the work of a moment and will take a lot of effort by the three prominent promoters, working collaboratively with preparers and engine builders to get car specifications back to where they should be across a wide array of categories.

The ambition is to ensure that historic racing is fair, competitive and true to its origins while balancing performance, reliability and cost control. Lynn is eager to develop a sustainable and equitable environment, and he should be applauded for the effort that’s being made on this often thorny subject. These are entirely laudable ambitions.

How widespread the problem is depends upon who you speak to. But clearly there are – or have been – cars within historic motorsport that have, at least, pushed the envelope. (Suspicions range from pushing the envelope just a little too far to tearing it up completely.) Not only does this drive up the cost for everyone involved, but it also deters those who cannot, or do not wish to, compete at that level. It also means some of the most original cars are not coming out to race anymore.

Lynn believes that in the quest for victory there are some who have gone over the limit, and he is resolute that it now has to stop. Interestingly, Peter Auto – one of the biggest historic race promoters in Europe – is making similar moves.

Leading historics racer Gary Pearson is in favour of the clampdown

Photo by: Mick Walker

To be successful, the concept will need to embrace and engage owners, preparers and engine builders – and it is engines that will probably involve the greatest time and effort. Paddock gossip talks of bigger capacity motors than used originally and special high-revving engines designed to deliver greater performance.

To make sure that cars can be checked and monitored effectively at events, MRL is significantly developing its technical team for the coming year and will soon appoint a dedicated technical regulations manager. More scrutineers with more equipment will be on the ground at each event, and a portable rolling road and engine capacity checking equipment are some of the new tools that they will have at their disposal.

The response from the industry has been generally positive, with many recognising the need to rein in the most extreme developments. As long-standing racer and team owner Gary Pearson says: “It needs to be done. It’s getting more expensive. It’s a difficult job to draw a line in the sand; it's even more difficult to move it back five years. But I’m fully onside.”

Lynn is adamant that any competitor, preparer or car found to be in deliberate and serious breach of the regulations will be banned until there is evidence that irregularities have been resolved

Lynn acknowledges that the efforts will only succeed with the cooperation of the preparers and engine builders. But, as he rightly points out, pulling back the rev limit on an engine by 1000rpm could double its workable life between rebuilds. Not only will it reduce cost, but it will allow more cars to do more races in a season, rather than be constrained by engine mileage. Andy Wolfe, who prepares a whole series of cars for customers with his Wolfe Manufacturing team, is another who believes that rev limits on engines are an easy and effective way of reining in the biggest excesses.

How the initiative pans out through 2025 will be watched with great interest, but Lynn is adamant that any competitor, preparer or car found to be in deliberate and serious breach of the regulations will be banned until there is evidence that irregularities have been resolved.

It is a bold and ambitious plan to bring historic racing back to where it really should be. Lynn has the backing and the desire to do it and should be applauded by everyone who loves this branch of the sport as, ultimately, it can only be good for historic racing.

Masters Historic Racing is another organiser that's been reflecting on eligibility

Photo by: Gary Hawkins