All About Autotesting!
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What is Autotesting?
Autotesting is one of the oldest disciplines in competitive motorsport and focuses on precision and controlled driving. The aim is to maneuver a car around a set of pylons (cones) to a preset route in as short a time as possible.
A ‘test’ is defined with a diagram and involves competitors using both forwards and reverse gears. The drivers are required to cross all lines with the car's leading wheels, park in ‘garages’ and perform ‘nose throws’ (J-turns) and ‘forward throws’ (handbrake turns).
The drivers must learn three or four different test diagrams given to them at the start of the day and attempt to complete each test with the quickest time and no mistakes. Each driver takes either three or four runs of each test (depending on the number of tests), and the twelve runs are combined to determine the winner of the day!
Each National Autotest event has 2 competitions using different test layouts - the "Championship" and the "Challenge". The Challenge tests are suitable for roadgoing vehicles and are designed to be more open and flowing. The Championship tests are more suited to specialised lightweight vehicles and are generally tighter and more technical. The "Europa Cup" novice competition also uses the Challenge tests.
The Test Diagrams
Autotesting is one of the oldest disciplines in competitive motorsport and focuses on precision and controlled driving. The aim is to maneuver a car around a set of pylons (cones) to a preset route in as short a time as possible.
A ‘test’ is defined with a diagram and involves competitors using both forwards and reverse gears. The drivers are required to cross all lines with the car's leading wheels, park in ‘garages’ and perform ‘nose throws’ (J-turns) and ‘forward throws’ (handbrake turns).
The drivers must learn three or four different test diagrams given to them at the start of the day and attempt to complete each test with the quickest time and no mistakes. Each driver takes either three or four runs of each test (depending on the number of tests), and the twelve runs are combined to determine the winner of the day!
Each National Autotest event has 2 competitions using different test layouts - the "Championship" and the "Challenge". The Challenge tests are suitable for roadgoing vehicles and are designed to be more open and flowing. The Championship tests are more suited to specialised lightweight vehicles and are generally tighter and more technical. The "Europa Cup" novice competition also uses the Challenge tests.
The Test Diagrams
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The test diagrams can look daunting to a new competitor, however it doesn't take long to get used to reading and memorising the diagrams! You will see the start and finish lines side-by-side - the start line is denoted with an extra line. The pylons, lines and garages are marked on the diagram. The driver must follow the diagram from the start to the finish line - a solid line means driving forwards and a broken line means driving in reverse.
The drivers start the day by getting the test diagrams and walking the tests - they are memorising the diagrams by walking as no practice runs of the tests are allowed. It is a good idea to walk the tests with a more experienced competitor, they are always happy to help a newcomer!
Penalties
If a driver hits a pylon during their run of a test or performs a maneuver incorrectly, they will receive a 5-second time penalty added to their time. If a driver completes a test incorrectly, they will receive a "fail" time which is 20 seconds added to the quickest time set in their class.
The drivers start the day by getting the test diagrams and walking the tests - they are memorising the diagrams by walking as no practice runs of the tests are allowed. It is a good idea to walk the tests with a more experienced competitor, they are always happy to help a newcomer!
Penalties
If a driver hits a pylon during their run of a test or performs a maneuver incorrectly, they will receive a 5-second time penalty added to their time. If a driver completes a test incorrectly, they will receive a "fail" time which is 20 seconds added to the quickest time set in their class.
You can follow live timing for all Motorsport Ireland National Autotest events via stopastride.live
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