Olympics-style FIA Motorsport Games to be launched this year

Following the latest meeting of the World Motor Sport Council on Friday, it was announced that it will be a four-day event taking place from October 31 to November 3, in which drivers will represent their countries rather than individually.

The competition will be made up of six different categories – GT racing, touring cars, Formula 4, drifting, a karting slalom and “digital motorsport”. Gold, silver and bronze medals will be awarded in each competition and contribute towards an overall medal table.

No details have been shared about what sort of circuit will be used, the sort of driver level the event will be pitched at, and whether factory-backed or professional drivers from GT racing and touring cars will be allowed to enter. It is understood that more information will be communicated shortly.

Motorsport has a limited history of nation-based events, which have never been held in an official FIA-recognized capacity. Independent competitions have existed such as the A1 Grand Prix series that was billed as the ‘World Cup of Motorsport’ and the Nations Cup element of the annual Race of Champions, which has run since 1999. 

Motorsport has never been represented in the Olympics itself because the games do not allow machine-based sports.