In regularity races, both for historic cars and for modern cars, it is not important to be the fastest but the most precise. In fact, during a regularity race, set times are communicated to the driver and navigator to complete the various sections of the route. In addition, it is necessary to maintain a fixed average pace. Here’s how they work and who can participate.
When one thinks of a car race, one tends to imagine four-wheeled racing cars whizzing on the asphalt at full speed. In reality, however, this is not always the case. In some races, in fact, the real goal is not to be faster than others by launching at hundreds of kilometers per hour, but to be more precise , sliding along the entire course with the regularity of a metronome. These are the so-called regularity races , a world that deserves to be known better.
Driver for a day on the track of the Autodromo Nazionale Monza
What are regularity races
By definition, in the world of motors, regularity races are those competitions in which participants are required to cover the different sections of the route at predetermined times . The route is marked in a Road Book , which is given to all crews. Furthermore, for the entire duration of the race, the cars must be driven at the indicated average speed (usually 50 km / h). The lengths of the regularity races are quite variable, between 80 and 300 km in total, sometimes even divided over different and consecutive days. Depending on the vehicles that are allowed to participate, the regularity races are divided into:
- Classic Regularity , with cars in original trim, on public roads;
- Sport Regularity , with cars in sport trim, on closed routes.
Each category, then, is further organized into races for historic cars and races for modern cars .
Regularity races for historic cars; who can participate
Regularity races for historic cars are reserved for cars over thirty years old , therefore registered before 1992. To participate in competitions of this type it is necessary to obtain a regularity sports license from the ACI , which requires as requirements:
- possession of driving license B;
- the possession of a sports medical certificate for the performance of competitive activities;
- attendance of a specific theoretical-practical course.
Furthermore, the vehicle must be certified as a historic car and must therefore be equipped with a specific identity card , issued by CSAI or ASI, which certifies its conformity with the original model.
Regularity races for modern cars: who can participate
Regularity races for modern cars, on the other hand, are all those in which cars less than 30 years old (therefore registered after 1992) are allowed to participate. The entry rules are identical to those seen for historic car races, except for the vehicle certification form, which in this case is not provided.
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How a regularity race works
The functioning of a regularity race differs from competition to competition. There are, however, some elements that return, such as those concerning the composition of the crew, the presence of special stages during the journey, the timing of the time and the criteria for composing the final classification.
As for the crew , this consists of two people :
- the driver , who drives the car;
- the navigator , who has the extremely delicate task of managing the Road Book and giving the driver the right information.
From the point of view of the path , however, there are two relevant elements. The first concerns the departure. At the start, in fact, the cars are started staggered , with a cadence that is usually one vehicle every 30 or 60 seconds. The other important feature is the presence, along the route, of special stages, that is, stretches of road that must be covered in pre-established times, with precision to the hundredth of a second. To delay or to anticipate means to collect penalties.
Finally, as regards the final classification, a weight is usually also attributed to the age of the vehicle , to guarantee an advantage to the older ones, since they are the most difficult to drive.