Racing Abroad

[Matter88]

Hi All,

I'm after some advice please.

I have an MSA race national A license and am racing at Spa this year with a UK championship/organiser.

My car has passed UK MSA scrutineers many times no issue, but I'm concerned about taking it abroad and getting caught out.

Has anyone any experience of this?

Thanks

[andrewcliffe]

Make sure your kit is all in date .

Roadbook who run a number of events at Spa, including several which are popular amongst British drivers, issue a log book for the event which is useful to read.

http://spasummerclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/201...

The safety equipment section is about 2/3 of the way through.

Kit catches people out.
Fire extinguishers without worm drive retainers also catches other people out, plus it has to be in date.

[andya7]

Be careful...

For the past 15 years (that I have been there) it has always been a requirement for drivers equipment to be to FIA standards, so; underwear, suit, helmet, gloves, shoes, balaclava, etc. however... during the course of last year the RACB 'confirmed' that in the future it would also be a requirement that the 'vehicle' safety equipment will need to be to FIA standards.

This includes an FIA homologated seat, FIA belts (not usually an issue), a foam filled fuel cell, extinguisher (to the 2021 MSUK spec), etc. It would be worth contacting your organiser to confirm exactly what spec on 'driver and vehicle safety equipment' is required before heading over there...or indeed, before you pay to enter.

The Summer Classic at Spa last year managed to get through scrutineering however it does appear/sound like there might be, or has been, some changes.

In about July last year the same requirement caused a few issues at Zandvoort and it took some 'behind the scenes' communication to allow the meeting to continue... so it could cause problems for UK/MSUK drivers racing in the EU...

[andy97]

Which UK club/ series are you racing with? The club should be able to help with all the necessary information.

[Matter88]

andrewcliffe said:

Make sure your kit is all in date .

Roadbook who run a number of events at Spa, including several which are popular amongst British drivers, issue a log book for the event which is useful to read.

http://spasummerclassic.com/wp-content/uploads/201...

The safety equipment section is about 2/3 of the way through.

Kit catches people out.
Fire extinguishers without worm drive retainers also catches other people out, plus it has to be in date.

Hi Andrew, thanks very much for this - it's really helpful.

[Matter88]

Andya7 & Andy97 - thank you both. My belts, seat & fire eater are all FIA and UTD.

My cage was FIA compliant when installed a few years back, so hopefully should be okay. My fuel tank is OEM so not required to be foam filled I believe?

I've had some email back & forth with their scrutineers who aren't very helpful or willing to commit to anything being okay or not - on the basis they may read this, I'd rather not say who it is in case they're especially hard on me come the day!

[andy97]

If you have a scroll through this link there is some info about seat and harness validity at Spa.

https://68403ce7-faa5-44b9-9ba0-313b6d9859a7.files...

[ChevronB19]

The big worry is the fearsome staff controlling parking in the paddock at Spa!

[number 46]

If you think Spa is bad, just wait until you go to Zandvoort!!!!!!

[andrewcliffe]

Depends which meeting - I found the officials at Spa to be much more stubborn than Zandvoort stewards, and how British teams were kept in overflow carparks waiting, whilst Belgian drivers got preferential parking service.

Last time at Spa, there was a possible issue with the date of a fuel cell, but thankfully our British scruit was present to sort it all out.

[Fishy Dave]

As others have said, it depends on the organiser and event. If it's the CSCC at the Spa Summer Classic feel free to email [e-mail] and I'll give you the definitive advice for your specific car and race.

[Matter88]

Thanks to all for the replies and the links.

I've got my equipment & the car to a point of understanding now having cross referred & researched what's okay & compliant. Happily my seat, belts, pants & lid etc were all purchased relatively recently so comply to the latest FIA standard.

Fishydave - thank you, but it's not CSCC I've entered.

My only remaining query is surrounding my fuel system. I am running the OEM tank, in the OEM location with the only modification being a swirl pot and external pump both in the boot (it's a saloon) which is behind a bulkhead separating it from the cockpit/cabin. The FIA regs talk of fuel tank rollover valves, float chamber ventilation valves and all sorts - am I correct in thinking this is only applicable if the fuel tank setup is not OEM and applies to fuel cells & the like?

I've spent a lot of time (hours) reading the regs, and whilst sometimes it's very obvious that a statement is not applicable to unaltered or GrpN style OEM systems, it's ambiguous on this particular topic.

Thank you.

[andrewcliffe]

If its a predominately UK series, seek clarification from the championship co-ordinator which regulations trumps which. When we've raced there, car was as per UK regulations, drivers clothing and fire extinguisher were to FIA regulations.

[cashmax]

I have raced at Spa a couple of times and they really don't seem to care anything like as much as in the UK. So long as your kit and helmet are ok, the car will checked with a glance most of the time.

[RichUK]

Matter88 said:

My only remaining query is surrounding my fuel system. I am running the OEM tank, in the OEM location with the only modification being a swirl pot and external pump both in the boot (it's a saloon) which is behind a bulkhead separating it from the cockpit/cabin. The FIA regs talk of fuel tank rollover valves, float chamber ventilation valves and all sorts - am I correct in thinking this is only applicable if the fuel tank setup is not OEM and applies to fuel cells & the like?

Last July we raced my Boxster with 750mc at Spa with the OEM tank in, there were no issues in scrutineering. When we went back in October it had an ATL tank fitted, they just wanted to see the certificate as part of their checks.

The one thing you do need to aware of is that you need the FIA roll cage padding n the cage where your helmet may hit it. The Sparco van at the circuit is very expensive if you need some in a hurry, quite a few people were caught out.