FIA Ratifies New ESV Regulations For Production-based EV Racing

The FIA's new Electric Sport Vehicle (ESV) ruling is poised to set the standards for production-based EV racing competition worldwide.

Introduced by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) recently is the new Electric Sport Vehicle (ESV) technical regulations for entry-level EV racing. According to the federation, this is poised to set the standards for production-based entry-level EV racing worldwide.

Promising suitable application for circuit racing, trackdays, time attacks, hillclimbs, and regularity rallies, this is a significant move following two failed past attempts to ratify similar racing technical regulations for production-based EVs. Amongst them was a formula using modified Tesla Model S racecars sans official support from Tesla, and another that’s similar to GT3 racecar regulations.

At present, the FIA regulates and sanctions just two main EV racing series, those being the Formula E single-seat racing championship held on street circuits worldwide, and the Extreme E off-road rallycross series. Similarly, the FIA’s two-wheeled equivalent, known as the FIM, currently regulates and sanctions just one EV motorcycle racing class – the Ducati-powered one-make MotoE championship.

The driving concepts for the FIA's new ESV ruling.

Besides safety, the new ESV ruling seems to have covered all the angles to fairly regulate production-based and entry-level EV racing competition. In fact, much of the ESV’s rulings are loosely based on the familiar Group N competition formula that calls for minimal modifications to keep costs low.

The core of these rules lie in its definition of ‘production EV sportscar models’. Specifically, for an EV to qualify for competition entry in this class, the rules require said model to have at least 300 units produced over the first 24-month period from homologation.

Also stated in its press release, these rules apply to “grand touring cars and four-door, coupe-shaped sports sedans.” This, plus a maximum chassis height limit of 1,460 MM (57.4 inches), means crossover SUV models – by far the most popular EV bodystyle – are excluded from this form of competition.

Eligibility and application of the new ESV rulings as planned by the FIA.

Next, this new ESV ruling is also open to both rear- (RWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) EVs with a minimum output of 410 HP. Like Group N, these regulations also calls for cars to keep their production bodywork, though fender flares to house wider tyres, as well as additional cooling ducts, are allowed.

Additionally, certain parts such as the doors, rear hatches, as well as spoilers and diffusers, can be substituted with lighter-weight versions. The only added stipulation for these is that they maintain the stock production body shape as well.

Based on the rulings, EV sportscars like the Porsche Taycan (top), Mercedes-AMG EQE53 (bottom left), and the BMW i4 M50 (bottom right) are amongst the eligible entrants.

Furthermore, ESV racing regulations aims to help organisers group cars competitively by applying the Performance Factor methodology – a Balance-of-Performance, if you will. Derived from hill-climb racing, it creates a value based on factors such as weight, power, chassis, transmission, and aero performance.

Through the Performance Factor, there’s also an allowance for teams to view real-time energy consumption via on-board data-loggers. Altogether, this should enable different cars to compete against each other in groups based on their performance levels, according to the FIA.

Much of the ESV's rulings are loosely based on the familiar FIA Group N formula.

Aside from this, the new ESV ruling dictates the adoption of basic key safety and competition gear. This includes roll-cage and chassis reinforcements, FIA-homologated safety lights system, as well as FIA-homologated race seats and harnesses.

Presently, there is no targeted date for an on-track competition debut for EV racecars that meets the FIA’s new ESV ruleset just yet. Which sporty EVs would you like to see battling each other out on track? Hit the comments below with your wishlist of potential EV racers based on this new ESV ruling then…