Motorsport Australia make safety call on provisional circuit licence
By Timothy Neal
Date posted: November 9, 2022
In a sensible and constructive move, Motorsport Australia has made the move to restrict a provisional circuit licence (PCL) holder with respect to a vehicles power to weight ratio for 2023.
The approved changes will alter the type of vehicle a PCL holder will be able to race, with no PCL holding drivers able to operate vehicles with a power-to-weight ratio of less than 3.5kg per kw.
In order to gain racing access to the higher power vehicles, such as a Supercar, Trans Am, S5000, GT3 (including a Carrera Cup Porsche) a driver must participate in at-least three races in a lower powered vehicle, and then formally upgrade their licence through a process that will be outlined in the 2023 Motorsport Australia manual.
The safety orientated move by Motorsport Australia isn’t meant as a deterrent to drivers wanting to step up into these vehicles, but rather to ensure that necessary on track experience has been had before making the step-up into higher powered machines is not made with haste.
Motorsport Australia have made a saftey change to the provisional circuit license rules with regard to vehicle power
Motorsport Australia CEO Eugene Arocca said the Board unanimously approved the change.
“As of 1 January 2023, provisional circuit licence holders will not be able to drive a vehicle with a power-to-weight less than 3.5kg/kw,” Arocca explained.
“After three races in a car of a lesser power, and formally upgrading their licence, drivers would then be permitted to race in a higher power vehicle, so it isn’t an onerous change and provides a level of extra experience on track.
“This is an important tweak to the regulations that is based entirely on safety for all competitors. For example, some drivers were obtaining a provisional licence, completing an observed licence test on a Friday and then racing in a high powered vehicle, such as a GT3 car, at state level competition with very limited experience a day later. This is a risk to not only themselves, but the other more experienced drivers sharing the track.
“Motorsport Australia is not trying to stop people from competing at these higher levels, instead it’s about providing some certainty that competitors in these high powered vehicles have the relevant experience before making the step up.”
It’s much the same as the changes made to the minimum age bracket, which outlined a new power to weight criteria for determining the type of car that a driver of a certain age is permitted to race.
The changes will be outlined in the 2023 Motorsport Australia Manual.
