What Exactly Do We Mean When We Say Homologation Special?

We’ve all heard of the term “Homologation.” But what exactly does it mean? Well, thanks to a video by Hagerty, we can dive a little deeper into the term and find out what it really means in an automotive sense.

According to the official definition, homologation means to sanction or “allow.” How does this translate into the automotive realm? Homologation refers to the process taken to certify that a car is manufactured to meet the standards for sale— technically, all vehicles are homologated.

But when we refer to a car being a homologation special, this means it’s approved for racing. Sanctioning bodies require manufacturer participation, and having vehicles on track being roughly the same as what the public can buy provides an incentive for sales and interest for us. Homologating a car for racing requires that an automaker produces a certain number of road-going versions.

Read: Take A Look At This Pocket-Sized Homologation Special In The Form Of The Peugeot 205 Rallye

What came of this could only be described as some of the greatest cars ever produced. Cars that manufacturers would likely have never built due to it making little economic sense.

There’s a good chance that automotive greats such as the BMW E30 M3, Dodge Charger Daytona, and Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution would have never seen the light of day. Homologations numbers would differ with each car; it all depends on the race the car is racing in.

There’s no doubt that homologation made for some of the best racing. The British Touring Car Championship old-school DTM featured cars tamed for the road. It provides a contrast to the money-no-object, purpose-built shapes of motorsports such as Formula 1.

Unfortunately, as of recent, homologation cars are few, and manufacturers no longer seem bonkers enough to produce a vehicle that doesn’t exactly present itself as a money maker — somewhat evidenced by the current crop of NASCAR and DTM cars. The racing can still be thrilling, but wouldn’t it be better with the kind of technical innovation that translates to road-going race cars?