Poor Swiss
10/19/2014
Well, of course the Swiss are not considered poor people. But when it comes to historic racing, they are a little "poor". On the one hand, there is a lack of circuits, and on the other, there are hardly any hill climbs that offer racing timekeeping for historic vehicles. For the few events that do take place in their own country, however, Swiss drivers have to compete in full "gear", i.e. with a car with a valid FIA-HTP and an international historic racing license. This is expensive. And is expensive. And not even always possible.
For example, if you want to race with a vehicle that does not have a historic homologation, you must be able to prove that this type of car has taken part in at least nationally significant races in the same configuration. This proof can sometimes be very difficult to provide and, if not successful, can result in the car not being accepted by the FIA and the national sports authority (Auto Schweiz). There is no alternative to the FIA-HTP, such as in Great Britain, Australia or the USA. Even Germany, i.e. the DMSB, is now considering introducing national vehicle passes, which are not only easier to apply for, but also, unlike the FIA HTP, should be valid for an unlimited period of time.
An FIA HTP easily costs CHF 150 to 200 per year (with a ten-year validity and mandatory renewal after five years), and the driver's license and its renewal costs significantly more. This will not leave Swiss racing drivers starving, but it will make them a little poorer.
