CIRCUIT RACING CATEGORIES
The WA Sporting Car Club is the primary circuit racing organiser in Western Australia and conducts all the circuit racing events at CARCO.com.au Raceway.
All race meets are held as part of the WA Sporting Car Club Championship and are run under Motorsport Australia rules and regulations. Each of the categories has its own set of regulations, further to the Motor Race Championship Regulations and the WASCC Motor Racing Championships – Standing Regulations.
If you would like to participate in Circuit Racing, the first step is to obtain a Circuit Racing licence from Motorsport Australia (more details here).
Then it is time to choose a category to compete in and ensure that your vehicle meets the regulations for that category. There are numerous categories in Australian motor racing that do not compete in WA for various reasons.
Below is a quick summary of the categories that compete in WA, along with links on where to find further information. This information is not exhaustive, so it’s always a good idea to come to a race meet and chat with the category racing association members of the category you are interested in.
If you consider buying and racing a vehicle not from the following list of categories, it is worth checking before purchasing to ensure that it will fit into one of the existing WA racing categories. You can check with WASCC Motorsport Events Team 9306 8022 or motorsport@wascc.asn.au.
EXCEL CUP
The newest class in WA is the Excel Cup which features Hyundai Excel vehicles lightly modified for racing, somewhat similar to Saloon Cars or HQs. Eligible vehicles are Excel X 3 models made between 1/7/94 & 30/6/00 and fitted with the G4Fk or G4Ek motor.
Whilst some freedoms are allowed in the area of suspension, racing Excels must use a standard motor, ECU and bodywork. The regulations make for close and relatively cheap racing, particularly appealing to younger drivers on limited budgets. As a result, the class has grown rapidly, and now have a very full grid of cars for their events.
Category Association: WA Excel Cup
HISTORIC TOURING CARS
Good fields of Historic Touring Cars (HTC) are seen in every state, and WA is no exception. In WA, we race Motorsport Australia Groups Na (pre-1958), Nb (1959 – 1965) and Nc (1966 – 1972).
The cars are heavily modified for racing, but crucially the only modifications allowed are those that accurately reflect the car’s “period”. Thus no modern fuel injection and computerised ECU’s are permitted. Period gearboxes styles and engines must be retained, and the cars race on treaded R Spec tyres.
Typical fields feature mostly Nb & Nc cars with V8 powered Camaros, Mustangs, Monaros and Falcon GT’s running at the front, closely pursued by Torana XU1, Lotus Cortina, BMW 2002, Mini Cooper S etc.
Category Association: WA Historic Touring Cars
HQ HOLDENS
HQ Holden Racing is one of the definitive entry-level categories in Australia. It provides competitors with the opportunity to enjoy close racing and develop racecraft at an affordable price.
HQ Holden racing is a one-make series based on the 202, 3 speed, four-door sedan with front disc brakes as produced by GMH between 1971 and 1974.
Such an iconic vehicle, racing in a competition controlled to ensure competitiveness, has created a following, which is steadily increasing. Spectators love watching the HQ’s rubbing door handles in a return to the style of racing where overtaking is possible almost anywhere on the circuit.
Regulations ensure that all cars are presented in the same manner and that all competitors compete on an equal plane. Some items, camshafts, springs, shock absorbers and tyres, are controlled items. Major components, engine, gearbox and diff, are examined and sealed on assembly, ensuring adherence to the rules.
Category Association: HQ Racing WA
IMPROVED PRODUCTION
Improved Production cars are derived from a registered production automobile, with limited modifications to improve performance and reliability in speed events on circuits. To be eligible, the models of vehicles must be or have been mass-produced touring cars.
The allowed modifications are restricted when it comes to chassis and suspension improvements but allow significant freedom in the engine, gearbox and brakes. Refer to the Motorsport Australia Manual of Motor Sport, 3rd Category -Touring Cars Group 3 J Improved Production Cars for the full regulations.
Being a National category, IPC allows the car owner, when they finally want to hang up the helmet or move on to another car, the opportunity to try and sell the vehicle to an Australia wide market.
To the spectator, IP racing offers an extensive range of cars to enjoy, from old school Escorts and Mazda’s to the latest Monaro and Commodore rocket ships and very quick 2 litre Hondas.
Category Association: Improved Production Racing Association of WA
SALOON CARS
The category is a traditional battle between Holden and Ford, that offers competitors high-speed thrills at a relatively low cost.
Saloon Cars are surprisingly simple machines. The vehicles are six-cylinder production-based Ford Falcons (EA/EB AU’s and Holden Commodores (VN/VP, VT, VX, VY, VZ), slightly modified for competition, safety and reliability.
Saloon Cars are a controlled class with the entire field carrying the same tyres, suspension, brakes and other components. Additionally, mechanical modifications are strictly limited and regulated in the interests of affordable competition.
Category Association: WA Saloon Cars
SPORTS SEDAN AND SPORTS CARS
Built to Motorsport Australia 2A& 2B specifications, cars range from almost standard road registered entries, to highly modified turbo Porsche’s and purpose-built sports/racing cars.
Sports Car
The Sports Car Category is made up of two-seater sports racing cars and other highly modified cars. Unlike Sports Sedans, these cars are of free construction with no engine size limitations, can use many electronic aids and have no bodywork restrictions – other than having two identical seats and mudguards covering 2/3rds of the wheel.
The class provides exceptionally close and exciting racing.
Sports Sedan
A Sports Sedan must be derived from a mass-produced car where more than 5000 examples of the model have been built in one year. In addition, A Sports Sedan’s engine size is restricted to 6 litres capacity.
These ‘wild and winged’ Sports Sedans are motor racing’s most modified machines. Under the generous rules, constructors can build wild and wonderful works of mechanical art that originated from the family car.
Any log booked car presented that complies with Motorsport Australia’s 3rd category GROUP 3D regulations is eligible..
Category Association: WA Sports Sedan and Sports Car Association
STREET CARS
While all based on road-going cars, these are far from your average road car in terms of performance and handling – making them some of the fastest tin-tops racing in Western Australia!
Street Cars technical regulations allow quite highly modified vehicles with liberal freedom across most mechanical components. This freedom allows the car owner/builder to enjoy their own ideas of increasing vehicle performance without too many rules. Essentially, Street Cars are Sports Sedans with a limited range of modifications.
The class is divided into under 2060cc and open cars. The grids are always diverse with a mixture of turbo and naturally aspirated cars of Japanese, European and local origins, creating spectacular racing for both drivers and spectators.
Street Cars maintain restrictions on body modifications and aerodynamic aids, allowing the cars to be easily recognised. The cars are restricted to high performance [DOTrated] “road legal” tyres. However, these tyres are providing lap times in the Outright class in the 59-second bracket.
Category Association: Street Car Racing Association of WA
FSR
The FSR association combines modern wings, slicks and aero cars together in a low cost controlled environment to give all categories the chance to race together and win points within their own classes.
FSR Association was founded in 2020 to bring together cars that were currently racing separately under one umbrella to provide greater opportunities for both drivers who are currently racing and other drivers around WA and Australia.
There are currently three classes running within the association:
Formula 1000
Category 1 Formula Cars, Free Formula for Race Events F1000, as defined by MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA Manual of Motorsport 2021.
Radical SR3
Radical SR3 cars as defined by Radical Australia Cup Technical Regulations.
Group 2A Prototype and 6SR
Group 2A cars as defined by MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA Manual of Motorsport 2021 and any subsequent bulletins issued by MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA.
6SR Centre mounted single seater enclosed body cars as described in 6SR of MOTORSPORT AUSTRALIA Manual of Motorsports (or any other cars complying with the 6SR category description).
Category Association: FSR Championship
FREE FORMULA / HISTORIC SPORTS AND RACING
This is a combined historic class of sports & racing cars and free formula cars built and raced between 1960 and 1990. Vehicles built outside of this period may compete by invitation.
Free Formula
Free Formula is for single-seater racing cars of free concept and construction, complying with the General Requirements of the 1st Category: Free Formula Race Events (formerly Formula Libre) and the specific requirements as detailed within.
Historic Racing and Sports Car Series
Cars competing in the Historic Racing and Sports Car Series must be compliant with the applicable technical regulations and technical bulletins issued Motorsport Australia and issued with a log book for Category 5 Cars of Groups M,O,P,Q and F (Suitability of Formula Ford to compete against other Groups to be determined by the Stewards and TRA referred to Motorsport Australia) .
Category Association: Formula Classic Racing
FORMULA FORD
As an open-wheeled racing car, Formula Fords comply with stringent rules designed to reduce costs for newcomers to the sport and to allow every driver to compete on their own merits.
Every Formula Ford is constructed from a lightweight tubular space frame designed to maintain the highest levels of driver safety. Aerodynamic modifications, such as wings and spoilers, are prohibited.
Potential competitors should note that WA Competition is for Formula Ford 1600 using the crossflow Ford Kent engine that has been with the category for over 30 years. The National Formula Ford Series also features the later and slightly more powerful Duratec motor. Still, the WA State competition is restricted to Kent engine cars to facilitate the largest competitor base possible.
The key to the category’s long-term success is the uniquely level playing field dictated by the performance parity rules, allowing the differing skills of the drivers to determine the victor. The relative parity between the vehicles also guarantees the category’s reputation for some of the most exciting and close racing to be seen on any Australian or International circuit.
This has helped enhance the experience of owning and driving these magnificent pieces of history.
Category Association: WA Formula Ford
Formula Vee
Formula Vee Racing provides the thrill of fiercely competitive motor racing at a budget cost. Permitted modifications are minimal so that greater emphasis is on driver skill rather than budget.
As a result, the class is the first proving ground in motor racing and has always been a stepping stone to higher levels of motorsport.
The Vee grid is split evenly between the 1600 and 1200 classes, and you will always be racing hard against someone whether you are near the front or the back. There’s every chance of being a front runner in the first season in the 1200 class, but this will be harder in the 1600 class.
Category Association: Formula Vee Association of WA
WA MUSCLE CAR
This category caters for modern V8-powered, rear-wheel drive muscle cars and was inspired by the American Trans-Am Series.
The WA Muscle Car category is open to all competitors with log booked vehicles who present their vehicle to compete in compliance with Motorsport Australia’s 3rd category Group 3TA Trans Am cars and Group 3D Sports Sedans that comply with Motorsport Australia’s National Trans Am Series Technical regulations.
WA Muscle Cars are based on a relevant, practical and purposeful racing platform that highlights driver talent and promotes close competition.
Designed, built and tuned with only one thing in mind —performance. The WA Muscle Car Series formula is built on a cost effective platform, combining the prowess of a purpose-built racing chassis and a 525 horsepower engine package that causes every head in the paddock to turn and take notice.
At 1250kg and over 525hp there is no other car that can compare to the performance of these cars in their price range.
Category Association: WA Sports Sedan and Sports Car Association
Don't want to drive, but want to get close to motorsport?
Previous experience in motor sport, although helpful, is not essential with most of the skills and knowledge of officiating gained largely from experience, whether it be in a specialised field such as vehicle scrutiny, flag marshalling or administration.
When you start you will be teamed with experienced officials, and learn how to do most things “on the job”. As you gain more experience, the opportunity will arise to further your skills and development as a qualified Motorsport Australia official. These qualifications are recognised around Australia and the world through Motorsport Australia affiliation with the FIA, so not only can you help out at your local racing venues, but quite possibly officiate at international events such as a Formula 1 Grand Prix!
As a volunteer you will get to work with a great bunch of folks of a variety of ages and backgrounds, all of whom will share your passion for motorsport.
Volunteering your time as an official can also help those wishing to carve a career in the racing industry as a mechanic, engineer or potential race manager for a top motor sport team.
Becoming an official gives you a great understanding of how the industry works and displays your dedication and determination to succeed.
Become a motor sport official today!
For more information about becoming a motor sport official contact the WA Sporting Car Club’s administration via telephone, fax, e-mail or visit www.motorsport.org.au