New FIA motor sport vehicle adaptation guidance marks International Day of Persons with Disabilities
The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile’s (FIA) Disability and Accessibility Commission has launched Vehicle Adaptation Guidelines containing general guidance on the adaptation of motor sport vehicles for competitors with disabilities.
To coincide with International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2022, the guidelines were launched on 3rd December.
These guidelines are intended to provide recommendations for the best practices for vehicle adaptations. They present high-level information on adaptations and systems that the FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission has studied in recent years.
The guidelines aim to provide best practices to people with mobility impairments working towards adapting their racing vehicle. They also give a reliable guidance to National Sporting Authority requirements, regulations and safety standards (ASN Regulations/ASNs) for sanctioned motor sport competitions.
With a multitude of possibilities to adapt vehicles, the key is that the design and manufacture of the adaptations are sound, developed in such a way that they are safe, are based on the needs of the individual, and do not provide a performance advantage to the competitor.
The guidelines document, which will be periodically updated by the FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission, will grow with the support received from competitors, experts in the field of vehicle adaptations, and ASNs, to enable the sport to consolidate experiences and share best practices and learning.
In welcoming the work of the FIA Safety Department and the Disability and Accessibility Commission in launching this initiative, the FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, said: “These Guidelines bring together the lessons learned from all the members of the commission, in particular, the FIA adaptations working group, which since 2018 has been working with the FIA safety and technical departments to facilitate safe and fair access to racing for mobility-impaired competitors.
“Safety is a key priority for our community, and the FIA is committed to protecting motor sport competitors, spectators, officials, marshals and the media. Safe adaptations for competitors with disabilities is therefore critical.”
The FIA have provided a short video overview about some of the adaptations covered within the guidelines document, watch here:
