Gymkhana is a type of motorsport
practiced in an increasing number of
countries. Similar to autocross,
gymkhana courses are often very
complex and memorizing the course
is a significant part of achieving a
fast time. The name is loaned from
the equestrian discipline of
gymkhana.
Gymkhana events are time and/or
speed events in an automobile.
These can feature obstacles such as
cones, tires, and barrels. The driver
must maneuver through a
predetermined "track" performing
many different driving techniques.
What separates gymkhana from
traditional autocross events is that
the gymkhana requires drivers to
perform reversals, 180 degree spins,
360 degree spins, parking boxes,
figure 8s, and other advanced skills.
Drifting is also encouraged where
helpful or necessary. Essentially, a
gymkhana is any event featuring a
starting point, a finish line and
some sort of "obstacle" to get
through, around, or by, all within a
certain time limit.
Drivers
The driver's goal is to get through
the course as quickly as possible
with the fewest number of mistakes.
Acceleration, braking, drifting, and
grip driving are all necessary. Not
only does the driver have to hold
control over the car, but gymkhana
requires strong mental concentration
and memorization.
Courses
Gymkhana courses typically involve
only the use of first and second
gear, where autotesting in the UK
and Ireland add the use of reverse
gear. A gymkhana course will
typically be from 0:45 to 1:30 in
length. Like autocross and
autotesting, gymkhana courses are
laid out with cones representing
"obstacles" to navigate through.
Unlike autocross, which can be
considered to be a small version of a
road course, obstacles in gymkhana
will often consist of slaloms, 180
degree turns, 360 degree turns,
figure eight turns and sometimes
parking boxes. Gymkhana requires
strong mental concentration and
memorization of the track, as
sections of the course frequently
must be repeated or navigated
backwards and or differently. The
driver will use many techniques to
effectively navigate a course.
Handbrake technique, drifting and
sliding and Left-foot braking are all
necessary skills for gymkhana.
Competition format
As the JAF is a subsidiary of the FIA,
FIA classing is used for Gymkhana in
Japan. Gymkhana courses may be
used for an entire year, unlike
autocross and autotesting where
drivers are presented with a new
course for each event. Gymkhana
participants are allowed two runs of
the course, with the fastest time
being used to determine the winner
of a class. Time penalties are issued
for hitting cones, and a failure to
navigate the course correctly results
in no time score.
National structure
Gymkhana in Japan has a well-
defined competition structure, with
everything from local to national
competitions. Drivers can compete in
official events locally in order to
qualify for regional events and so
on. Japan has an All Japan
Gymkhana competition each year.
Despite being governed under the
FIA in Japan, there is no official
international gymkhana competition
at this time. Drivers in official events
may be required to hold a JAF-issued
competition license.
