FIA autocross
Encyclopedia
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
Autocross is car racing on a race track
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
with unsealed surface (dirt, gravel or soil). Cars compete against the clock, and start at the same time. A well attended international series is the FIA European Championship for Autocross Drivers.
History
Autocross started in the end of the 1940s in the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
as a club competition. It took until 1968 when the first Autocross event was staged in continental Europe (Austria). In 1976 the FIA
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
created standardized Autocross rules and started a European Autocross cup for specialized cross cars. In 1979 a cup for touring cars was added. In 1981 both categories were promoted to be a European Championship for Autocross Drivers.