Junior off-road racers ready to chase gold in Cross Car Mini at FIA Motorsport Games

With the Cross Car Mini category added to the 2024 lineup, young off-road racers from across the globe will have the opportunity to represent their country and join the chase for gold at this year’s FIA Motorsport Games.

Staged from October 23-27, the event will be held in Valencia, Spain and will now feature a record 28 different categories as part of a massive expansion of competition for the third edition of the event.

Cross Car Sr. and Cross Car Jr. were contested at the Games for the first time in Marseille in 2022, but the addition of Cross Car Mini opens up the opportunity for even younger racers to compete for the first time.

Drivers aged between 8 and 12 years will now get the chance to represent their FIA ASN and wave the flag for their nation. The addition of Cross Car Mini means off-road racers will now get the same opportunity as young circuit racers at the event. Karting Mini (also available for racers aged between eight and 12) is another one of the new categories that will focus on showcasing the motorsport stars of tomorrow.

Featuring rear-wheel drive buggy-style vehicles complying with FIA Appendix J, Article 279B specifications, Cross Car Sr. is open to drivers over 16, while Cross Car Jr. can be entered by racers between 13 and 16 years of age.

While the Sr. and Jr. categories feature multiple cars competing on track at the same time through a series of practice sessions, Qualifying Practice, Qualifying, Semi-Final, and the Final race – Cross Car Mini will be contested as an elimination tournament with two cars competing on track at the same time.

“Integrating Cross Car Mini into the FIA Motorsport Games is another milestone achievement in promoting the sport’s grassroots disciplines and making them more affordable and accessible for all,” said Valerio Iachizzi, FIA Secretary General for Sport.

“Having recently presented our landmark Affordable Cross Car project, the Games represent the ideal occasion to put the final version of the FIA Level 1 Cross Car through its paces in a high-level global competition – and as the cheapest category in the event, Cross Car Mini offers aspiring off-road racers from ASNs all over the world an unprecedented opportunity to showcase their skills in the international spotlight.”

The Cross-Car competition will be held at a brand-new purpose-built facility adjacent to the Aspar circuit – the karting venue that also will host the FIA Motorsport Games competition.

In Cross Car’s debut at the 2022 games, France’s David Meat triumphed in the final to earn the gold medal in the senior class, while Team Netherlands’ Nathan Ottink was successful in the junior category.

“It is remarkable that the games have grown from 16 categories in 2022 to now reach 28. The extensive breadth of opportunities available for racers from all types of motorsport and all ages from all over the world is outstanding,” said Stéphane Ratel, Founder and CEO of SRO Motorsports Group.

“We’re particularly pleased for Cross Car Mini to join Karting Mini on the program – offering them an incredible chance to represent their nation at such a young age.

“We’ll be keeping a close eye on these future stars and hope that their participation at the FIA Motorsport Games will be a key step in their motorsport careers.”

Entries for the 2024 Games continue to pour in, and the dedicated FIA registration platform will remain open until September 23, 2024.

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