Gymkhana (motorsport)

Gymkhana is a type of motorsport practiced in Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom. Similar to autocross, Gymkhana courses are often very complex and memorizing the course is a significant part of achieving a fast time. The governing body of Gymkhana in Japan is the Japan Auto Federation, a Japanese division of the FIA.

Gymkhana Courses

Gymkhana courses typically involve only the use of first and second gear, where autotesting in the UK and Ireland add the use of reverse gear. A Gymkhana course will typically be from 0:45 to 1:30 in length. Like autocross and autotesting, Gymkhana courses are laid out with cones representing "obstacles" to navigate through. Unlike autocross, which can be considered to be a small version of a road course, obstacles in Gymkhana will often consist of slaloms, 180 degree turns, 360 degree turns, figure eight turns and some times parking boxes. Gymkhana requires strong mental concentration and memorization of the track, as sections of the course frequently must be repeated or navigated backwards and or differently. The driver will use many techniques to effectively navigate a course. Handbrake technique, drifting and sliding and left foot braking are all necessary skills for Gymkhana.

Like autocross and autotesting, Gymkhanas are primarily held in open paved fields or parking lots. In Japan, small road courses and karting venues are sometimes used. Japan also has some facilities dedicated to Gymkhana which resemble large paved parking lots that sometimes have racetrack curbing and grass/dirt medians and islands.

Competition Format

As the JAF is a subsidiary of the FIA, FIA classing is used for Gymkhana in Japan. Gymkhana courses may be used for an entire year, unlike autocross and autotesting where drivers are presented with a new course for each event. Gymkhana participants are allowed two runs of the course, with the fastest time being used to determine the winner of a class. Time penalties are issued for hitting cones, and a failure to navigate the course correctly results in no time score.

National Structure

Gymkhana in Japan has a well-defined competition structure, with everything from local to national competitions. Drivers can compete in official events locally in order to qualify for regional events and so on. Japan has an All Japan Gymkhana competition each year. Despite being governed under the FIA in Japan, there is no official international gymkhana competition at this time. Drivers in official events may be required to hold a JAF-issued competition license.

Links

[http://www.jaf.or.jp/msports/national/gymkhana/index.htm Japan Auto Federation Gymkhana page]
[http://www.jaf.or.jp/msports/club/jmrc.htm JMRC regions]