[V8 Fireworks]

Originally Posted by Ospi

I'm surprised all the teams are up in arms about Michael Caruso with his weight advantage and all! /s

There is already a mandatory 103 kg combined weight for the driver and seat , as there also is a mandatory 200kg weight for the engine (both engine COG and specified engine ballast location).

4.2.2 The minimum Driver mass is 103.5kg which will include the following:
4.2.2.1 Driver’s weight with his complete apparel recorded by the S&TD at the Driver’s
first Event for the Season; and
4.2.2.2 the seat, seat brackets and all mounting bolts, nuts, washers and spacers; and
4.2.2.3 any additional ballast, which will be considered Driver ballast; and
4.2.2.4 The leg brace and all mounting bolts, nuts, washers and spacers.
4.2.3 Driver ballast must be carried in an area bounded by the following dimensions:
4.2.3.1 X=575mm, X=1985mm and Y=42mm, Y=683mm;
4.2.3.2 Regardless of the above dimensions all ballast must be within the cockpit and
no modifications to the Chassis are permitted other than to secure the ballast.

C8.7 Engine Weight
8.7.1 The total minimum engine weight is 200 kg dry.
8.7.1.1 The centre of gravity (CoG) of any engine must be no lower than Z= 117mm and
no further rearward than X= -300mm (with the 0,0 being the intersection of the
crankshaft centre line and the rear face of the engine block).
8.7.1.2 Ballast to comply with the minimum weight and/or centre of gravity regulations
must be affixed to the engine unless specifically authorised in writing by the
S&TD.
8.7.1.3 All engine ballast affixed in accordance with Rule C8.7.1.2 must only be affixed
to the Chassis in a position authorised by the S&TD

https://d3spxwpngnho1k.cloudfront.ne...ved-200218.pdf

It's an oddity there is no mandatory weight, mandatory centre of gravity/mass (and therefore mandatory ballast location) for the bodywork!? Huge oversight IMO.

The rules address this effectively for the engine and driver respectively, and the same rules should be in place for the bodywork.

That would leave the spaceframe tube work of the COTF which is already the same in weight and COG for everybody. Plus the transaxle which is the same in weight and COG for everybody, and the uprights and brakes which are already the same minimum weight for everybody.

Finally the free area for development would be left over: the position of oil coolers, oil tanks, exhausts and other miscellaneous components where teams can have as much fun saving weight and optimising the COG as they like (as long as they as they avoid the prescribed banned exotic materials!) --- with nobody to be disadvantaged just because they have a different base car homologation.