Template

A template in motorsport is a physical or digital tool used by race officials to check that race cars meet the exact size, shape, and technical requirements set by racing rules.

Think of a template like a cookie cutter or stencil that ensures every car follows the same basic blueprint. Racing series have strict rules about how cars can be built, and templates help officials verify that teams haven't bent or broken these rules to gain an unfair advantage.

The most common type of template is used during scrutineering, which is the official inspection process that happens before races. Officials might place a physical frame over parts of the car to check dimensions, or use laser scanners to measure the car's surface against a digital template stored in a computer.

For example, in NASCAR, officials use templates to check that the car's roof height, hood shape, and rear spoiler angle all match the required specifications. If a car fails the template check, the team must fix the problem or risk being disqualified from the race.

Templates cover many different parts of a race car. They might check the height and width of wings, the shape of the car's body panels, or the dimensions of the underbody aerodynamic components. Each racing series has its own set of templates based on their specific rules.

The word template can also refer to design layouts used for car paint schemes and sponsor logos. These visual templates help teams maintain consistent branding and ensure sponsor logos are placed in the right spots according to their contracts.

Templates are essential for keeping racing fair and competitive. Without them, teams might build cars that look similar but have subtle aerodynamic advantages that would be hard to spot with the naked eye. By using precise templates, officials can ensure all competitors are playing by the same rules.