A proposed integrated methodology for evaluation and adjustment of Balance of Performance (BoP) schemes in Grand Touring (GT) racecar championships

Abstract The concept of Balance of Performance (BoP) has been extensively applied to various forms of motorsports, and especially championships involving Grand Touring (GT) racecars. The organizing bodies of these championships have devised schemes restricting various technical features of the participating racecars, in order to achieve competition parity and subsequently avoid dominance of certain racecars. BoP schemes mainly focus on adjusting engine horsepower and racecar weight, additionally including provisions for restrictions pertinent to aerodynamics, suspension, fuel tank capacity, etc. However, the methodology used by the organizing bodies of motorsports championships in order to evaluate and adjust the BoP schemes is not so transparent to competitors and other interested parts (e.g., racecar manufacturers). In fact, no motorsports organizing body applying the BoP concept to GT racecars, has disclosed details associated with imposing, evaluating, and adjusting the BoP scheme for each championship season. In the current paper, an integrated methodology deploying statistical analysis and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) is proposed, for the purpose of evaluating and adjusting BoP schemes in any motorsports championship, primarily focused on GT racecars. The scientifically justified framework along with the simulated application resulting in a performance differentiation range of around 0.40 to 0.45%, comprise strong arguments for the validity and effectiveness of the proposed methodology. In this context, implementation of the proposed methodology by motorsports organizing bodies could potentially render the process of evaluating and adjusting BoP schemes more objective and consequently transparent.