Key notes from the various Commissions of the Federation of Motor Sports Clubs of India (FMSCI) following their recent meetings.

Four–wheeler Racing Commission

-The Superbike 1000cc class to be run from Round 2 of the JK Racing India series 2014. The Superbike 1000cc comes into being via the formation of the ISBK (Indian Super Bikes) who have contracted with JK Tyre to run their races in their National series.

- Classes to be run in the JK Racing India Series are the FB02 cars powered by BMW, Formula LGB 4, VW Polo R Cup, VW Vento closed invitation race apart from the Superbike 1000cc class.

- The MMST and Kari Motor Speedway are upgrading their facilities and circuit layouts to cater to more exciting and professional racing.

- The Commission has modified the General Prescriptions for 2014 and brought them in line with the FIA International Sporting Code 2014.

- The Commission has also circulated to all Organisers a Risk Management document which will be very useful for Organizers to manage the Risks of an event better.

- The Commission proposes to conduct a training programme for Race Directors, COCs, Stewards, Time Keepers and Secretaries of The Meet with the help of international experts.

- The Commission is working on introducing Drift Racing Championships in India for which plans and regs are being finalised.

- The T1 Prima Truck Race at the Buddh International Circuit was a grand success and the FMSCI is now mulling on plans to approach Tata Motors to take their efforts further and hopefully put a programme in place for Indian drivers.

Karting Commission

- Participation in the JK Tyre–FMSCI National Rotax Max Karting Championship for 2014 expected to get stronger with entries set to go beyond the 50–mark in each of the classes.

- Plans are on to introduce inter–school, inter–college and inter–corporate National Karting Championships, which will have regional rounds culminating in a grand finale. This is in line with the FIA–CIK directive of promoting karting at grassroots level.

- The FMSCI will be investing in more advanced Scrutineering equipment and will also be conducting a training programme for Technical Delegates and Scrutineers exclusively for the karting discipline.

- New tracks coming up in India are an encouraging sign. A 1.2–km karting track of international standards is being set up in both Bangalore and Hyderabad, while an 850m track in Vizag has already been put up and is in the process of being homologated by the FMSCI.

Two–wheeler Racing Commission

- In consultation with riders, minimum weight regulation for Group D and C and Group B categories to be introduced.
Seeding of riders to be introduced to help them ride faster bikes.

- The Commission is working very closely with the Bike Festival of India (BFI), a group that is promoting all forms of two–wheeler motorsports and two–wheeler safety rides along with prominent riding clubs across the country. BFI, under the aegis of the FMSCI, proposes to introduce track racing events, drag racing events, motocross events and stunt bike championship and a safety ride from Kanyakumari to Kashmir.

Rally Committee–Working Group

- D Ram Kumar proposed as Observer for all rounds of the FMSCI–National Rally Championship in 2014.

- Permanent Stewards proposed – Zayn Khan for rallies, and Arindam Ghosh for TSD Rallies.

- Route inspection will be compulsory for all rounds. Farooq Ahmed will be Permanent Route Inspector.

FMSCI to implement FIA’s Action for Road Safety global campaign
In a bid to advocate for safer roads, vehicles and behaviours in the country, the FMSCI has introduced a Mobility Commission headed by its vice–president RK Dhawan and assisted by its Racing Commission chairman Akbar Ebrahim.

- Key points of the proposal made by the Mobility Commission to the FMSCI Council:

- All vehicles competing in sanctioned FMSCI National events will carry an FIA Road Safety Campaign logo sticker to create awareness among the youth involved in motorsports on the importance of road safety.

- Encourage all registered motorsports clubs of the FMSCI to participate in the campaign and also provide information to the survey questionnaire sent out by the FIA Mobility wing to all its ASNs.

- Present to the Government of India the highlights of this programme mooted by the FMSCI in association with the FIA.

- Engage with all auto manufacturers in India to support and promote the programme.

- Interact with schools and colleges across the country to encourage them to also endorse this programme and to promote it to their students, which will go a long way in the improvement of road safety awareness.

- Set up the Safety and Advanced Driving Programmes in all key centres with the support of the Government of India. This programme will deal with providing a detailed insight and training to the participating drivers of different levels, teach the basics of correct driving procedures in line with road safety and also driving techniques to handle situations as and when they arise. Focus on child safety and child restraint in the car.