The FIA has released its latest driver gradings for the 2016 season which features several adjustments.
The system, used by a number of international series and events, grades drivers into four classes Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze.
Drivers are evaluated by the FIA before being issued with a grading which is determined by a series of criteria based upon career results.
Among the changes for this year sees V8 Supercar drivers Lee Holdsworth and Chaz Mostert receive gradings having been placed under evaluation when the FIA issued its previous update in December.
The pair have been issued with a silver driver rating which would make them extremely valuable unseeded drivers for teams competing in February’s Bathurst 12 Hour.
Holdsworth is keen to contest this year’s race but says his options are fast running out.
“I wanted to be in something worthwhile and I only really want to go into the race if it something that has a chance of winning,” Holdsworth told Speedcafe.com.
“I’ve had a couple of options but nothing that I am really looking for.
“Most of the best drives are taken and probably all of them to be honest.
“There is one team in particular that is still deciding if it will race or not and if I do it then it would be with them. If not then there is a good chance I will be sitting out this one and I’ll look for something the following year.
“I probably got onto the FIA driver ranking too late but it is good to be rated silver.”
Australian GT drivers Hayden Cooper and Glen Wood have also been issued with a silver grading in the latest update from the FIA.
Click here to view the full list of FIA graded drivers.
Below is the criteria the FIA uses to define the categorisation of drivers
PLATINUM: professional driver satisfying at least two of the following criteria:
• has held a Super Licence (for Formula One);
• has won the Le Mans 24 Hours in a professional category (LMP1/LMGTE Pro);
• has won the FIA World Endurance Championship in a professional category;
• has been a factory Driver, paid by a car manufacturer, with results to match;
• has finished in the top 5 in the general classification in the FIA International F3000, CART/Champcar, IRL, IndyCar or GP2; all FIA World Championships and FIA World Cups and ; Grand-Am Rolex series (DP only); and FIA Formula E Championship.
• has finished in the top 3 in the general classification of an F3 international series* (FIA F3, British/EuroF3 until 2011) or major international single-seater championship* (Example: F2, Nissan World Series, Formula Renault 3.5, etc.);
• has won the V8 Supercars Championship;
• has won the Porsche Supercup;
• has won the American Le Mans Series (P1 or GT only);
• satisfies 3 or more Gold criteria (including repetition of the same criteria);
• is a driver whose performances and achievements, despite not being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Platinum by the FIA.
GOLD: amateur or professional driver in FIA international and national series satisfying at least one of the following criteria:
• satisfies one criterion from platinum;
• has finished in the top 3 in the general classification of a secondary international single-seater series (A1 GP, GP3, Renault V6, Superleague, Eurocup FR2.0, Firestone Indy Lights);
• has won the general classification of a regional or national single-seater series (F3, FR2.0, Atlantic Championship until 2009 included, Euro V8 Series);
has finished in the top 3 in the general classification of the Porsche Supercup / DTM / BTCC / Super GT series or won a major national Porsche Carrera Cup;
• has finished in the top 3 in the general classification of the V8 Supercars Championship;
• has won a major GT series* (FIA GT, Blancpain GT Series (Pro), FIA GT1 World Championship, FIA GT3 European Championship, ADAC GT Masters, British GT Championship) or GT category of a major Sportscar series* (ILMC, ELMS, ALMS) with driver(s) of a lower or the same categorisation;
• has raced in major International Series with racing wins, podiums and pole positions;
• is a driver whose performances and achievements, despite not being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Gold by the FIA.
SILVER: amateur driver satisfying at least one of the following criteria:
• driver aged under 30 and not satisfying the criteria of categories Platinum and Gold;
• driver who has finished in 1st place in the general classification of regional or major national championships or international series; or has won a major Endurance race.
• driver who has won a non-professional drivers’ series* (Ferrari Challenge, Maserati Trophy, Lamborghini Supertrophy, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge) or a regional, national or international single-make lower category series organised by a Manufacturer (not including Series which are restricted only to Bronze drivers);
• driver whose performances and achievements, despite not being covered by one of the definitions above, may be considered as Silver by the FIA.
BRONZE: amateur driver.
• any driver who was over 30 years old when his/her first licence was issued, and who has little or no single-seater experience;
• any driver over 30, previously categorised as Silver, but with no significant results (titles, pole positions or race wins);
• any driver under 30 who has held an international racing licence for less than one year and who has competed in fewer than 5 races.
The following apply to all categorisations:
• The driver categorisation of any driver over 50 years old will be reduced by one grade for the season following his/her 50th birthday;
• The driver categorisation of any driver over 55 will be reduced by two grades for the season following his/her 55th birthday;
• Any driver over 60 will be categorised Bronze;
• Any driver who has downgraded in the 3-year period before his 50th, 55th and 60th birthday will not be downgraded again.
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