FIA Mandates Torque Sensors for GT World Cup in Macau

Image: FIA

Torque sensors will be mandatory for this year’s FIA GT World Cup in Macau, the FIA has confirmed.

The sensors, which measure power output, debuted on GT3-based cars in the FIA World Endurance Championship last year and are used as part of the Balance of Performance process, with real-time monitoring of powertrain parameters.

In addition to now being mandatory on all cars in the WEC, the FIA also has extensive experience using torque sensors in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship and FIA World Rally-Raid Championship’s Ultimate class.

“I’m delighted that we will be using torque sensors in the FIA GT World Cup in Macau this year,” said FIA GT commission chairman Lutz Leif Linden. “The FIA made this decision in consultation with the manufacturers.

“For us, this means even greater fairness and improved control of BoP values which is particularly important in such a prestigious and high-profile event and on a circuit as demanding as the one in Macau, where high-speed straights contrast with tight, narrowing corners.

“Following last year’s extremely competitive entry, this, along with the recently approved qualifying format, marks another key step in the FIA GT World Cup’s ongoing growth.”

The introduction of mandatory torque sensors is the second major regulatory change for this year’s World Cup at the Guia Circuit, following the approval of the new Super Pole qualifying format by the FIA World Motor Sport Council this February.

“As always with competitions relying on Balance of Performance, our goal as the regulator is to ensure a level playing field for all participants,” said FIA technical circuit sport manager Fabrice van Ertvelde.

“The implementation of torque sensors is a very effective tool to achieve that target, allowing us to realign all the very different cars on parameters such as pure power but also on top speed, which is a crucial factor on a track such as the Guia Circuit.

“The manufacturers we are expecting to see in Macau this year are already familiar with this innovation through their experience in the LMGT3 class in the FIA World Endurance Championship, and the decision to go with the torque sensor route is a result of a dialogue we had with them.”

The eighth edition of the GT World Cup will take place on Nov. 13-16 as part of the 72nd Macau Grand Prix.