Racing Abroad 2003?

[Snapper Baz]

Does anyone know what the score is regarding racing licenses for racing abroad next year are going to be as I'm under the impression that for anybody who want's to they must have a International license-the same for anyone who wants to race over here? If this is the case-who will want to pay extra for the privilege and how will this effect the "clubbies" visiting Croix etc??...sounds a bit worrying to me!

[JP]

You could start by trying to make sense of the following press release put out by the MSA last week:

"At present, a competition licence issued by any European Union country (also by Andorra, Iceland, Monaco, Norway, San Marino or Switzerland) and bearing the EU flag is valid for any British event, providing the holder complies with all the requirements for that event. Such a competitor is subject to Motor Sports Association regulations while competing in any British event.

Similarly, any British competition licence holder of National A grade or higher is entitled to compete in events within the 21 countries (15 European Union members, plus the 7 listed above), providing he or she complies with the requirements of the event and the regulations of the relevant national governing body.

The effect is that many national events can attract competitors from the 21 countries, without those events being listed on the FIA International Calendar.

The FIA World Motor Sport Council recently amended its International Sporting Code, so that the privileges described above will, from 1 January 2003, be available at National level only to “professional competitors”.

However, for the year 2003 only, the FIA General Assembly has agreed a ‘half-way house’, whereby a competition licence holder will be permitted to take part in a national event in any of the 21 specified countries, provided that event is entered on the 2003 FIA International Sporting Calendar as a “National Event with Authorised Foreign Participation” (NEAFP). Each listed event will be subject to an FIA fee of €150.

Applications for next year’s NEAFP listings must be with the FIA no later than 30 October 2002, so aspiring organisers are asked to contact Ian Davis at Motor Sports House (tel 0175 376 5000; email idavis@msauk.org) as a matter of urgency.

British competitors need take no action at this stage, but will need to ensure before entering any non-UK event that the event has NEAFP status.

The FIA World Motor Sport Council has ruled out proposals from various European governing bodies for bi-lateral “cross-border arrangements“.

An FIA Working Group has been created to revise and update the rules affecting the European Union and all other FIA zones. The members are Nazir Hoosein, Yvon Léon, Radovan Novak and Jacques Régis."

[josvandeperre]

It sounds like 2003 is the last year of overseas rounds for the club competitor unless the Fia see sense (yeah right !) - unfortunately the reference to professional competitors is probably because the original proposal was against European Law and the freedom of labour - perhaps the MSA and the FIA working group need lobbying hard - the orginal proposal was for € 3000 per race to permit pan-european entries ie a fundraiser

[Snapper Baz]

Thanks for that JP! Spookyly, I pickup Motorsport News (and probably Autosport tommorow) and there it is-talk about National rounds abroad!! Lets hope common sence prevails and that the RACMSA put accross the plight of the British "Club" racer...after all - they're quick enough to take your licence fee's in the 1st place.

[av8rirl]

Define a professional competitor?

If I pay you £5 to race your car, are you a professional?

If you pay me £5 to race my car, am I a professional?

[josvandeperre]

Thinking about this last night how many amateur drivers pay to have their cars prepared ? These latter folk are just as eligible for EEC freedom to work laws and under this new plan are definitely being discriminated against

[PolarisDriver]

Originally posted by av8rirl
Define a professional competitor?

Exactly.. sounds like a way to employ more bureaucrats - jobs for the boys & all that!
From now on I'll consider myself a professional racing driver... only problem is I'm pretty *rap so have to supplement my racing income with some other activity but, hey, who's to say i'm not a pro driver??!!

[Adam43]

Does this only affect National A licence holders?

What if you have an International C? This is obtained by getting 2 National A signatures (or 2 Nat. A and 2 Nat. B or 6 Nat. B). Plus some extra cash, no doubt! However obtaining a International C licence isn't that difficult.

So if you are an amateur with a International C are you alright?

This is done from memory as I don't have the blue book with me.

[josvandeperre]

This is more about races than drivers ie listing national races as permitting international participation and thereby extracting an additional significant fee - so logically in answer to your question getting an International C license will not change anything if you are competing at a national level - as an example BTCC is a national series but with foreigners participating so I would guess that would need to be registered now with the FIA - except it could also be viewed as a professional series so that could mean difficulties for Alain Menu (Swiss) for example if the MSA choose not to register it but not for Jean Alesi (we can but hope - European license)

This doesn't get much clearer but essentially it seems to be about shafting and/or extracting more money form national series going elsewhere in Europe for another round - this happens often between Spain & Portugal too I believe

[sharpie]

Are there any opportunities for experienced racing mechanics/fabrictors from the USA to work in Europe on BTCC Touring or Production teams? If so, where might I find out more information?

[josvandeperre]

There's a motorsport job agency whose name I do not know and then there's the adverts in Autosport each week - not sure what the visa deal is but generally in the UK its much easier for you to work here than for us to work there