Mar
4

Sport Class Air Racing Announces Rule Changes

By Thomas Lockwood | March 4, 2025 | News

The Sport Class Air Racing Association is excited to announce a significant update to its rules for 2025 and into the future. The “Race Class of Innovation” retains it’s fundamental Experimental Aircraft foundation, but is markedly expanding it’s aircraft eligibility rules, and aligning eligibility with FAI Sporting Code for Aircraft Type, Powerplant Type, and Weight categories.

Basic Sport Class aircraft eligibility is now defined as FAI Class C-1 Landplanes with an Experimental Airworthiness Certificate (Amateur Built, Exhibition, or Air Racing). All aircraft must be propeller-driven, but the former 1000 cubic inch internal combustion powerplant limitation has been removed. The new class rules now allow internal combustion, turboprop and electric powerplants in Sport Class aircraft, creating the path to true “Next Gen Air Racing”.

The Class has added aircraft weight limitations, as a safety measure and to create new, competitive divisions. FAI Class C-1a-c aircraft (up to 1,750 kilograms or 3,858 pounds) is the basic limitation. However, FAI Class C-1d-e aircraft (up to 6,000 kilograms or 13,228 pounds) will now be welcomed, if raced in a separate division at Air Race events. This opens the door to exciting possibilities for larger, warbird-like aircraft racing in Sport Class.

The concept of new divisions of aircraft will also now allow Sport Class to race in aircraft make/model-specific divisions, if locations, race course design, or spectator and market demand warrants such divisions. This means Air Race Fans could be treated to racing that features not only the historical wide variety of exciting Sport Class aircraft in a single heat, but also highly competitive race heats of aircraft types, such as RV’s, Long-EZ’s, Lancair Legacies, and others.

Maintaining, and now expanding, the least restrictive aircraft eligibility rules of any air racing class has contributed to Sport Class’s growth over the years. By embracing a broader range of aircraft powerplants, and looking ahead to creating additional divisions, Sport Class Air Racing, will continue to grow the sport or Air Racing, foster innovation in performance and reliability, and will bring an exciting Air Race Fan experience to Air Race Events.

For more details on the new rules and upcoming events, visit www.sportclass.com.