10 replies to this topic

[LudovicLindsay]

While the UK's MSA and some other organisations publish figures of licences issued each year it's difficult to find out how many are held worldwide. I've tried the FIA but, as yet, no response. Does anyone have any ideas on this - such as sources worth trying, previous years' figures and so on? Thanks

[vapaokie]

Don't know how you would begin to calculate this. National racing licenses would only cover bigger organizations. Local tracks wouldn't necessarily be covered under national licensing systems. Good luck to you!

[Faupa]

Don't know how you would begin to calculate this. National racing licenses would only cover bigger organizations. Local tracks wouldn't necessarily be covered under national licensing systems. Good luck to you!

Dear God,
Ludovic Lindsay is a god to all historic racers.

I hold a FIA International Licence and it has enabled me to compete at many FIA Homolageted events such as Monaco Historic, Oldtimers, Pau, and Le Mans and Petit Le Mans.

I went to a place in Spain and drove (old) F1 cars because my license was international this gave me entree to Monaco Historique. Fantastique

[ClubmanGT]

As someone looking to get into karting (having just left university and entered the workforce in a graduate position), I can tell you that it sure seems hellishly expensive, even for something that is supposedly the sport's entry level. I have a number of yo-pro friends who have all expressed a keen interest to pitch in and start a karting team, but the costs of doing so are monumental. I'm not sure how families with kids to raise are meant to be able to afford it, I know I sure as hell can't for a few years.

[Bloggsworth]

423,747 at the last estimate.

[Amphicar]

According to the ever helpful FIA website: "Through a network of national member clubs the FIA's involvement extends to the millions of amateurs and professionals who enjoy motor sport in all of its variety."

So the official answer appears to be "millions".

[Kucki]

As someone looking to get into karting (having just left university and entered the workforce in a graduate position), I can tell you that it sure seems hellishly expensive, even for something that is supposedly the sport's entry level. I have a number of yo-pro friends who have all expressed a keen interest to pitch in and start a karting team, but the costs of doing so are monumental. I'm not sure how families with kids to raise are meant to be able to afford it, I know I sure as hell can't for a few years.

Thats because the development of Motorsport as a sport went the complete wrong direction in the last decades. With the increase of technology and the FIA's philosophy, racing is at an exponential cost. Racing has always been expensive, but the amount of tight regulations and safety conditions makes it far more so then it should be. Why dont they push racing with complete normal road cars just with set tyres, brakes and a basic safety requirement (roll bars, helmet,...) that could make racing available to a much bigger group of people. Any type of road car could have its racing series, that anyone who owns that car and is willing to make some modifications to it (while still remaining road legal with it) could attend. It would be more dangerous of course, but alot of people would want to do it anyway, and racing on a race track is much safer then on public roads.

[CSquared]

Thats because the development of Motorsport as a sport went the complete wrong direction in the last decades. With the increase of technology and the FIA's philosophy, racing is at an exponential cost. Racing has always been expensive, but the amount of tight regulations and safety conditions makes it far more so then it should be. Why dont they push racing with complete normal road cars just with set tyres, brakes and a basic safety requirement (roll bars, helmet,...) that could make racing available to a much bigger group of people. Any type of road car could have its racing series, that anyone who owns that car and is willing to make some modifications to it (while still remaining road legal with it) could attend. It would be more dangerous of course, but alot of people would want to do it anyway, and racing on a race track is much safer then on public roads.

That's been the idea behind many amateur classes, including, most recently (and in the US most successfully), Spec Miata. How well they've done at keeping costs down is debatable, of course, but as you say, racing (even entry level) has always been expensive. As an amateur racer, we're getting into one of my favorite and most frustrating topics here: how to make racing cheaper and more accessible and why the powers that be aren't doing more about it. I'll stop now before I rant.

[ClubmanGT]

Thats because the development of Motorsport as a sport went the complete wrong direction in the last decades. With the increase of technology and the FIA's philosophy, racing is at an exponential cost. Racing has always been expensive, but the amount of tight regulations and safety conditions makes it far more so then it should be. Why dont they push racing with complete normal road cars just with set tyres, brakes and a basic safety requirement (roll bars, helmet,...) that could make racing available to a much bigger group of people. Any type of road car could have its racing series, that anyone who owns that car and is willing to make some modifications to it (while still remaining road legal with it) could attend. It would be more dangerous of course, but alot of people would want to do it anyway, and racing on a race track is much safer then on public roads.

I wouldn't say safety is a big driver in cost in karting, but it's getting to the stage where I would almost be better off buying an old FF and just mucking around at track days. I can understand the commercial reasons behind things like Rotax being pushed at grass roots, but there's talk in OZ and NZ of removing the lower level (KT100) classes from National meetings. And when I say 'I understand' I mean that from a purely commercial point of view. What's worse is some people within the karting community taking the attitude of "Well it's never going to be cheap so why should we try making it any cheaper?". I can't afford it, nor will I be able to before I'm 30, and then I will probably have a family to support. It seems like 'entry level' motor sport now is about five times more expensive relative to incomes than to what it used to be, even for things like karting, and the people who are spending a lot on it now act like they have no incentive to make the sport any cheaper.

[404KF2]

Even in the lowest level, there is always some guy named Vern running in D stock who has a 2.0L conversion in his MGB, breaks spokes every time he runs due to the extra torque, but his car is "stock" and no-one can prove otherwise.

The good old days was when actual family sedans like Peugeot 403s, Mercury Comets and Mercedes 190s - owned by the likes of Jean-Guy Normal Dude - were entered in the Criterium du Québec.....that was low cost, unless you crashed.

[Raelene]

so many different licences.

I used to do some motorsport events when I lived in NZ - didn't need a licence - just had to be over 12 and a member of the club
My ex did - he didn't need one, then he started doing hill climbs, bent sprints etc rallying, so needed a local one.. then he did National Rallies, needed an FIA one
My dad races speedway - doesn't need an FIA licence, just the state licence