Latest Appendix K Updates
Following the last World Motor Sport Council meetings, an updated version of Appendix K entered into force and the following amendments were adopted:
- SAFETY – Appendix VI to Appendix K – ROPS – Article 3 – General prescriptions applicable to all categories of cars with a clarification of the geometrical requirements applicable to the construction of the Roll Over Protection Structure for non-homologated cars and specifically for attaching the stays to the main structure and to the chassis.
- SAFETY – Appendix VI to Appendix K – ROPS – Article 8.1.2 – Completely free design of the Roll Over Protection Structure, with the addition of acceptance criteria in order to be able to assess the conformity of the presented structure.
- SPECIFICS – Appendix VII – FIAT – Addition of provisions to allow the recognition and acceptance of the alternative Fiat 8-port cylinder head made by Setford and Company for Formula Junior cars.
- SPECIFICS – Appendix VII – Austin Healey Sprite – Update of the documents regarding the alternative brake callipers for the Sprite Mk1, Sprite Mk2 and Turner Climax models.
APPENDIX K – PUBLISHED ON 08.03.2021 – VALID FROM 08.03.2021
Latest updates to the Historic Database
After Motorsport UK and Deutsche Motorsportbund (DMSB), the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile (FFSA) is the third ASN to directly contribute to the development of the FIA Historic Database - www.historicdb.fia.com - having provided 69 Homologation Forms from between 1960 to 1990. This partnership, which was set up in the fourth quarter of 2020, was secured with the publication of the documents in January 2021.
In parallel, several additional documents have been updated in the database. They relate to the De Tomaso Pantera (Hom. 3047), the Fiat X1-9 (Hom. 3053) and the Porsche 911 Turbo (Hom. 645), as new documents were made available by the ACI-CSAI (ITA) and by two collectors whom decided to make a direct contribution to the database.
We would also like to thank Motorsport UK for providing a copy the 1955 version of Appendix J; it is available in both French and English in the database. This is in fact the oldest copy available in our archives.
ERRATUM – Roll Over Protection Structure – ROPS
There was unfortunately a technical error in Newsletter #1 in relation to the construction of the Roll Over Protection Structure (ROPS). The measurements and angles to ensure compliance, whether for a main structure with a single rear stay or two front stays, were not consistent with the reference document.
To correct this, the below drawing cancels and replaces the previous one in accordance with Articles 3.2 – 3.3 – 8.1.2 of Appendix VI to Appendix K. Also note that this is now reflected in our regulations with drawings available in Appendix VI to Appendix K under K-62 A and K-62 B.
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Direct from our archives: motor sport and safety
Nowadays, it seems clear that in motor sport, the safety of the driver, co-driver and the spectators is paramount, and this has been the result of a string of evolutions introduced over time. In the past, safety was not yet the subject of current research and developments, and it was mostly through the sporting regulations that actions were taken, such as limiting the cylinder capacity and therefore the performance of the cars. It was not until 1952 that helmets became mandatory in Formula 1, and the Commission Sportive Internationale (CSI) did not make commercial fuel mandatory until 1958.
Meanwhile, the 1960s marked an important turning point in motor sport: the sport become more professional, both from the drivers’ perspective and from the teams’ and constructors’ perspective, with concerns growing in terms of safety. In 1961, Formula 1 saw the implementation of a series of new measures, such as a minimum weight being set (450 kg empty). The first “rollbars” made their appearance, but without being formally labelled as such; they were closer in look to headrests…
As the years went by, the increase in performance but also in accidents and tragedies led the FIA and the CSI to carry out a comprehensive study on circuit design and safety in motor sport. It was published in French and English in the 1969 FIA Yearbook of Automobile Sport and includes, as indicated in its title, various “Considerations on circuit design and motor sport safety”.
Its preamble is very clear on this, reiterating the link between motor sport and its dangers with an evocative text which refers to the “paradise” of motor sport competition – you will understand that this is a reference to Great Britain. Indeed, who has not seen the “Motor sport is dangerous” signs that, already at that time, were everywhere in the UK! The tone was set and as you will see, still today, the two go hand in hand.
The study focused on the circuit layout and installations, the construction and preparation of the cars, the preventative safety measures for drivers and the organisation of events. Here we will focus on several technical points, and more specifically on the Roll Over Protection Structures and safety tanks.
Interestingly, the publication of this study coincided with the updating of the 1969 Appendix J, which made reference to that very study and detailed for the first time, via prescriptions applicable to the three international formulas, the construction principles of a safety rollbar under Article 296, with an application date of 1 March for Formula 1 and 1970 for Formula 2 and Formula 3.
NB – The regulations related to Roll Over Protection Structures for Groups 1 to 6 came into force via Appendix J on 1 January 1970. These structures then became mandatory for “Special” production categories (even though they were only recommended for standard categories). They were officially adopted for Sport Cars (Group 5) and Prototype Sport Cars (Group 6) that same year, despite the regulations only being updated and the applicable standards defined starting in 1971, again via Article 253 of Appendix J.
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“Illustrations representing recommendations and principles detailed in the study for ROPS and harnesses.”
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But to get back to our study, it is important to note that these standards were established thanks to the joint work of a number of experts, in particular engineer Frank Costin (GBR) for open cars, the Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) in a more general sense and the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) for closed cars. That is because these structures originated in the United States, both for sport cars and production cars and through the various categories represented in the SCCA and in NASCAR. It therefore seemed obvious to seek inspiration from them.
In addition to the technical standards, we can see that most of these same principles still exist today in Appendix J, but also, and for this reason, in Appendix VI to Appendix K for the Roll Over Protection Structures of historic cars, whether regarding the material, their shape or their installation.
Point 10 nevertheless deserves special attention, when it comes to historic motor sport and the installation of roll over structures. They were fixed to the car in a way that distributed the forces over the largest surface area and were not designed to be simple ‘add-ons’ in terms of fixation. This principle remains appliable today, in particular for cars designed without a structure in period and that must now have one installed.
In parallel, the study addressed the question of materials and the quality of fuel tanks. It did not prevent future tragedies, but it provided the foundation for a range of measures that would come out of it and that aimed to reduce the risk of tanks getting damaged following a collision. This 1969 study provided a list of implementation examples, but it was only in 1970 that these flexible tanks became mandatory in Formula 1 and Formula 2.
And as one evolution always leads to another, the surrounding safety structures came next in 1971, which meant the addition of a deformable structure (100 mm on each side) free of any fuel, fuel lines, electric energy sources or electric cables – finally made mandatory on 1 January 1972. One small step for safety, one giant leap for its development and modernisation.
You can find here the document in full: you will enjoy everything about it and also notice that many of the principles outlined in the study are still applicable today, either via Appendix J or, more interestingly for us, in Appendix K for historic cars.
FIA-CSI 1969 SAFETY STUDY - GBR
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Calendar updates
2021 FIA European Historic Sporting Rally Championship calendar (updated)
09-11 April |
Italy |
36° Sanremo Rally Storico |
06-08 May |
Czech Republic |
30. Historic Vltava Rally |
24-26 June |
Hungary |
54. Mecsek Rallye |
15-17 July |
Austria |
Rally Weiz |
13-14 August |
Finland |
Lahti Historic Rally |
02-04 September |
Spain |
Rally Asturias Historico |
23-25 September |
Italy |
33° Rally Elba Storico |
21-23 October |
Switzerland |
Rallye International du Valais |
19-20 November |
Spain |
69 Rally Costa Brava |
2021 FIA Historic Hill Climb Championship calendar (updated)
28-30 May |
Czech Republic |
Ecce Homo Sternberk |
18-20 June |
Slovenia |
GHD Gorjanci |
02-04 July |
Italy |
Trento Bondone |
09-11 July |
Italy |
Cesana Sestriere |
27-29 August |
Slovenia |
GHD Petrol Ilirska Bistrica |
17-19 September |
Croatia |
Buzetski Dani |
24-26 September |
Italy |
Coppa Chianti Classico |
2021 FIA Trophy for Historic Regularity Rallies (updated)
11-13 November |
Poland |
10th Rally Poland Historic |
2021 FIA Historic Formula 3 European Cup
16-18 July |
Netherlands |
Zandvoort |
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