What is Homologation?

Homologation refers to an approval process whereby certification is issued by a federal entity giving a certain vehicle permission to be sold in a specific market. At the same time, the definition of homologation can also refer to the process of getting cars accredited to compete in motorsport events. Both instances require the vehicle to adhere to specific regulations and technical standards, with market-related homologation requiring the vehicle to undergo stringent testing, too.

In short, the homologation of a car means that a vehicle meets the homologation rules of a particular market, whether it be commercial vehicles or something a little more specialized. These rules are generally set by the automotive authority of a specific region. This is not the same as a 'homologation car' or a 'homologation special', however - read on to find out more.

Homologation for the US Market

In the United States, the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) is the set of vehicle regulations in the USA that specifies construction, design, performance, and durability requirements for automobiles and related components and systems. These can be found in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, and are developed and enforced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Automakers have to adhere to these in order for a vehicle to be considered 'certified' for sale in the US.

What is a Homologation Special Car?

A homologation car or a homologation special is a little different. Whenever manufacturers wish to enter their vehicles into a racing event, it has to ensure that those vehicles undergo the correct automotive homologation. These are the approval processes that govern all the aspects of motor racing. In pure racecar terms, the car and all its components need to meet the regulations of the specific league, such as the WRC, meaning the World Rally Championship.

However, when it comes to racing series that use production cars, things get a little more complicated. These vehicles need to be extremely high-performance in order to compete but are considered modified road cars, while they would technically not be driven on public roads - much like the vehicles used in NASCAR.

A homologation special, or rally specials as they are sometimes called in the world of Rally Racing, are vehicles that are heavily modified to compete, but in line with the regulations from the sanctioning entity. A homologation car or homologation special is one that has a regular street-legal version up for sale - the automaker is required to produce a certain number of road-going models in order to qualify. Not only does this encourage mainstream automakers to compete in such events, but it also helps to boost car sales.

Homologation specials usually have substantially increased power to allow incredible top speeds, and body kits and bracing for enhanced safety, amongst numerous other changes. They may look like the cars we see on showroom floors, but they aren't even nearly the same. That being said, homologation specials for all their extra bits and racing gadgetry also influence manufacturers to produce cars that enthusiasts would love.

Homologation cars like the 1967 Chevy Camaro Z/28 look nothing like the Chevrolet Camaro we know today, although the Subaru Impreza WRX STI is more familiar. Here are some examples of the coolest homologation specials in history.

• BMW M3 E30
• Audi Quattro
• Porsche 959
• Toyota Celica FT-Four
• Dodge Charger Daytona
• Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS Aerocupe
• Ford Mustang Boss 429
• Ford GT40
• Chevy Laguna Type S-3

The Homologation Process and Rules for Motorsport

The process of vehicle homologation is exceedingly complex and can be quite tedious. While every country has its own governing authority when it comes to automobiles, it is the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) that regulates motorsports and provides general guidelines for every other authority when it comes to motor vehicle safety.

By looking at the FIA's list of homologation cars, you can find:

• Information on every homologated car in the world, classified by date and vehicle category. This also includes technical specs and even rules governing karting.
• The technical information of car parts and race tracks that have been homologated by the FIA. This includes homologated exhaust systems, protective clothing and helmets, road barriers, fuel components, and a lot more.
• Registered and accepted testing facilities. Some testing can be done in-house, but the FIA will usually specify which labs and facilities have proven to be reliable, and results from these will always be accepted.
• The exact standards a car model needs to meet to be homologated, covering areas like paints, light panels, competition seats, roll cage padding, and more.
• All the documentation needed to submit a component for homologation. This includes guidelines on how each item should be tested and the results conveyed all in a single form.