NASCAR, Indy Lights, IMSA get F1 superlicense eligibility

NASCAR, IMSA and Indy Lights drivers will now be eligible to earn points towards an F1 superlicense under changes announced following the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris on Thursday.

Also among the changes is a reduction in the number of championships offering maximum points. Under the revised system, only champions in IndyCar and Formula 2 will earn the 40 points required for superlicense qualification; a payout that was previously also extended to European Formula 3, Formula E, and the WEC's LMP1 class.

F1 superlicense eligibility is earned by amassing 40 superlicense points over three years. IndyCar will continue to pay 40, 30 and 20 points to its top three championship finishers – making each year's champion automatically eligible – while F2's top three drivers ewill earn 40 points, and can also count points earned during the last two seasons of GP2, Formula 2's predecessor.

Other championships have weathered superlicense point reductions of varying amounts – the hardest-hit being Formula V8 3.5, which will now offer 20 points to its champion instead of 35.

However, American-based championships have been the main beneficiaries of the system's expansion. The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series and Indy Lights will each pay points to the top eight in their championships, with 15 to the winner and then 12, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 1 down the order – a scale putting them on a par with the WTCC, DTM and Super GT. Smaller payouts will be available to NASCAR's Xfinity and Trucks series.

Meanwhile, IMSA's Prototype class will offer points to its top six, with 12 points for the champion, while GTE Pro and Am will offer 10, 8, 6, 4 and 2.

The FIA noted that the championships added to the expanded superlicense system are subject to all road course events being held at FIA-homologated venues.

F1 superlicenses are required by any driver wishing to participate in the Formula 1 world championship.

REVISED F1 SUPERLICENSE SYSTEM

Formula 2: 40, 40, 40, 30, 20, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3
GP2 (2015-16): 40, 40, 30, 20, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2
IndyCar: 40, 30, 20, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1
European F3: 30, 25, 20, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1
Formula E: 30, 25, 20, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1
WEC LMP1: 30, 24, 20, 16, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
GP3: 25, 20, 15, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2, 1
Formula V8 3.5: 20, 15, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1
Super Formula: 20, 15, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1
WEC LMP2: 20, 16, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
WTCC: 15, 12, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2, 1
DTM: 15, 12, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2, 1
Super GT: 15, 12, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2, 1
NASCAR [Cup]: 15, 12, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2, 1
Indy Lights: 15, 12, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2, 1
Supercars: 13, 11, 9, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1
IMSA Prototypes: 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
National FIA F4: 12, 10, 7, 5, 3, 2, 1
National F3: 10, 7, 5, 3, 1
Formula Renault Eurocup, ALPS, NEC: 10, 7, 5, 3, 1
Formula Mazda: 10, 7, 5, 3, 1
NASCAR Xfinity, Trucks: 10, 7, 5, 3, 1
Asian/ELMS prototype: 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
WEC GTE Pro: 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
WEC GTE Am: 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
IMSA GTLM: 10, 8, 6, 4, 2
International GT3 series: 6, 4, 2
Formula Academy (FFSA): 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
CIK-FIA world karting championships (senior): 4, 3, 2, 1
CIK-FIA continental karting championships (senior): 4, 3, 2, 1
CIK-FIA world karting championships (junior): 3, 2, 1
CIK-FIA continental karting championships (junior): 3, 2, 1