Among the many highlights and headlines from the 2024 FIA Motorsport Games, the first competitive outing for the FIA Level 1 Affordable Cross Car (L1) stands out as one of the most significant for the future of off-road disciplines.

Following the launch and distribution of the designs for the intermediate Level 2 cross car earlier this year, the same open-source approach is being taken with the L1, as the designs will be also distributed to the global network of National Sporting Authorities (ASNs) so that the cars can be built locally. This has potentially significant cost-saving implications as the necessary parts and tools to build the cars are accessible worldwide without the cost implications import duties and taxes.

Showcasing the accessibility of the Affordable Cross Car concept, the FIA Women in Motorsport Commission has supported six girls aged eight to 12 to make the journey to Valencia and compete in the category during the FIA Motorsport Games.

FIA Secretary-General for Sport, Valerio Iachizzi, highlights the significance of this project for the Federation and its ASNs, and said: “This debut for the FIA Level 1 Affordable Cross Car at the Motorsport Games is another really important moment on this journey. It has been a truly global approach for the future of the off-road and rally pyramid, and now with L1 competing for the first time, we have every stage of driver development covered. The concept works to help us towards many of our targets – making the sport more accessible, more diverse and ultimately increasing the number of competitors we have all around the world.”

This L1 car completes a brand-new base for off-road disciplines, occupying the equivalent position as grassroots karting does for circuit racing, as FIA Road Sport Director Andrew Wheatley explains: “The intention of the concept is to take what’s very successful with the Cross Car and simplify it so they can be used by ASNs all around the world,” he said. “Cross Car is like the Formula 1 of this category and we’re developing the Level 2 car – similar to Formula 3 and with this car, it’s the off-road equivalent of the karting pathway.”

The L1 cross car has been designed by LifeLive, who have brought the first finished vehicles to the Aspar Circuit near Valencia to compete in the Motorsport Games. LifeLive’s Chief Engineer, Pol Pujol Varela, has been integral to the design process, ensuring that it contains the maximum amount of commonality between the larger L2 design in order to make it easy for the ASNs and competitors to run the cars.

“If you see the big picture, this is the brother of Level 2,” he said. “So the reference we are using in the Level 2 is the same as here – the transmission is the same, the front uprights, all the chassis supports, all the tube references, the steering rack, the seatbelts are all the same on both. So, the idea is when a new ASN wants to make a category they already have more than 50 per cent of the reference so it’s really easy to make a car. You don’t need a team, you don’t need the infrastructure to run it and this makes the category really for everyone.”

With the ultimate goal of making off-road and rally disciplines more accessible at lower levels, the L1 cross car is aimed at eight to 12-year-olds, while the L2 fits the 12 to 16-year olds, with the established senior category suited for 17 and older.

The cross car discipline has grown rapidly in Europe since it was first introduced in 2021 but with the affordable cross car project being tailored towards empowering ASNs to engage at nation and regional level, the ambition is bring the discipline to new and emerging markets and ultimately secure the long-term success of off-road and rally sport by increasing the number of young drivers and giving them the tools to develop the skills needed to compete further up the pyramid.

Andrew Wheatly added: “If karting is where we find the next circuit drivers, this is where we find the next rally and rallycross drivers. It’s not impossible to imagine drivers going from here to a side-by-side in the Dakar, for example, it’s a logical step. There’s a strong family spirit to these disciplines, and we often parents and children racing in different categories. This is what we need at ASN level to bring the next generation.”