The FIA has unveiled its Affordable Cross Car at the ASN Forum at the FIA Conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
The project, a key initiative under FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, aims to provide an accessible entry point into off-road and rally motorsport for young and amateur drivers, similar to how karting serves as a starting point for circuit racing.
Launched in 2018, the Cross Car category includes senior and junior levels. The Affordable Cross Car project introduces two additional classes designed by the FIA. Level 1 is the entry level for young drivers and has a cost parameter of approximately €5,000 (US$5373), while Level 2 is for beginner competitions and incentive drives, with costs around €10,000 (US$10,747). The FIA is providing the design blueprints for these cross cars to National Sporting Authorities (ASNs) free of charge, encouraging local manufacturing and cost minimization.
Safety and performance are prioritized in the car designs, which are adaptable to various engines based on regional availability and desired power output.
Speaking at the unveiling, FIA deputy president for sport Robert Reid said, “It’s vital that the blueprints for the vehicle are being given to our members free of charge, and during the course of this project we were shocked to find traditional cross car engines not available globally, so we have opened up the flexibility there by designing the chassis to be able to fit a multitude of different engines.”
The project aims to support motorsport development regardless of the ASN’s size or structure. It can be used for simple slaloms in regions with minimal motorsport infrastructure through the Motorsport in a Box initiative, or as a new discipline for clubs looking to expand their activities. Larger clubs can also use it to grow further or empower their members to organize events.
“When we said we would develop motorsport around the world, we were not being overly optimistic,” Sulayem said. “The problem in developing countries is accessibility and cost, and we have put a huge amount of work in to make sure the costs could be kept down. I would urge all ASNs to take advantage of what we are offering, it’s a milestone for all of us and I want to thank all of the team who have worked so hard on it.”
The FIA Sport Development Department will oversee the project, with additional workshops for ASN representatives conducted by secretary-general for Sport Valerio Iachizzi and FIA head of sport clubs development and education Greg Symes.
“We are delighted that many clubs have already applied for Sport Funding for the this project,” said Iachizzi. “We can of course now start delivering, and I really encourage more of our members to get in touch with us and start on the Affordable Cross Car journey!”
The launch included a demonstration of the Affordable Cross Car by FIA Women in Motorsport Commission Chair and rally driver Burcu Çetinkaya, who showcased the vehicle’s capabilities outside the Silk Road Samarkand complex.
