IHRA Rules on Copper Fuel Lines

Every car that races in the IHRA motorsport association must meet the guidelines for racing as set forth by the IHRA organization. Every aspect of racing is covered in the rule book, including how a car can be put together. The rules for the fuel system have their own section in the book, including what type of fuel lines can be installed in a dragster.

  1. Metal Blend

    • The fuel lines used in dragsters registered for IHRA racing must be of metal composite tubing. Pure copper tubing is not approved for fuel lines because of the ability of copper to bend and flex with movement. As cooper tubing flexes, it could become weak and break, resulting in a fuel leak. Tubing that has copper blended into it is permissible because it doesn't flex the way a pure copper tubing does.

    Enclosure

    • Fuel lines in IHRA dragsters must have a steel braided exterior. Lines that do not have a steel braided exterior are required to pass through a length of steel tubing that is 1/8 inch thick in the tube walls and is securely mounted to the frame of the dragster. The goal with the steel woven braided exterior or the steel tubing is to prevent the fuel line from rupturing in the event of a crash.

    Location

    • The fuel line, according to IHRA rules, is not allowed to run in the driveshaft tunnel regardless of the type of metal used to create the fuel line. According to IHRA, the fuel lines can be only 12 inches long from the front to the rear of the dragster. The wall thickness of the fuel line cannot be less than 1/8 inch.