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Sporting Regulations

24/05/2002

FIA GT CHAMPIONSHIP 2002 SPORTING REGULATIONS

The FIA will organise the FIA GT Championship reserved for Grand Touring (GT) and N GT cars (the Championship), which is the property of the FIA. The Championship comprises one title of FIA GT Champion for Drivers, one title of FIA GT Champion for Teams, a N GT Cup for Drivers and a N GT Cup for Teams. The Championship is governed by the FIA International Sporting Code and its appendices (the Code), the Circuit General Prescriptions, the Grand Touring Car (GT) and the N GT Technical Regulations (Art. 258 and 257 of the Appendix J), and the present Sporting Regulations specific to the Championship.

CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS

Save in exceptional circumstances, the Championship will be made up of races:
- with a distance of 500 km or a maximum duration of three hours,
- with a duration of a maximum of 24 hours for the Spa race (from start signal to chequered flag, excluding the formation lap).
The leader will be shown the chequered flag when he crosses the control line (the Line) at the end of the lap during which the prescribed distance is completed or the prescribed period ends. Except for the Spa 24-hour race, however, if three hours have elapsed before the 500 km distance has been completed, the chequered flag shall be shown to the race leader when he crosses the Line. The Line is a single line which crosses both the track and the pit lane.

REGULATIONS

1. The final text of these Sporting Regulations shall be the English version which will be used should any dispute arise as to their interpretation. Headings in this document are for ease of reference only and do not form part of these Sporting Regulations.

2. These Sporting Regulations were published on 1st January 2002 and come into force immediately and replace all previous FIA GT Championship Sporting Regulations.

GENERAL UNDERTAKING

3. All drivers, competitors and officials participating in the Championship undertake, on behalf of themselves, their employees and agents, to observe all the provisions as supplemented or amended of the Code, the Circuit General Prescriptions, the Technical Regulations and the present Sporting Regulations.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

4. If a competitor is unable to be present in person at the Event he must nominate his representative in writing.
It is the competitor's obligation to ensure that all persons concerned by his entry observe all the requirements of the Code, the Circuit General Prescriptions, the Technical Regulations and the Sporting Regulations.
Throughout the entire duration of the Event a person having charge of an entered car during any part of an Event is responsible jointly and severally with the competitor for ensuring that the requirements are observed.

5. Competitors must ensure that their cars comply with the conditions of eligibility and safety throughout practice and the race.

6. The presentation of a car for scrutineering will be deemed an implicit statement of conformity.

7. All persons concerned in any way with an entered car or present in any other capacity whatsoever in the paddock, pits, pit lane, or track must wear an appropriate pass at all times.

LICENCES

8. All drivers must hold current and valid FIA licences (minimum requirement a grade C licence) and, where applicable, valid licences and/or authorisations issued by their ASN(s).

CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT

9. Events are reserved for Grand Touring Cars (including the N-GT class) as accepted by the FIA.
Catalytic exhausts and the observance of noise limitations (as in Articles 257.5.7.1 and 5.7.2 and 258.5.7.1 and 5.7.2 of the Appendix J) are not mandatory.
For the 24-hour race, cars from national GT Championships and cups will be eligible as long as their performances are inferior to the FIA GT and N-GT cars and that they comply fully to their original series’ regulations.

10. Each Event will have the status of a restricted international competition.

11. An Event which is cancelled with less than three months written notice to the FIA will not be considered for inclusion in the following year's Championship unless the FIA judges the cancellation to have been due to force majeure.

GT CHAMPIONSHIP

12.a) The FIA GT Championship driver’s title and the N GT Cup for Drivers respectively will be awarded to the driver who has scored the highest number of points, taking into consideration all the results obtained during the Events which have actually taken place.
Any driver taking part in the Championship may score points provided that he has driven for at least 20 % of the distance covered by his car.
b) The FIA GT Championship team's title and the N GT Cup for Teams respectively will be awarded to the team which has scored the highest number of points, taking into account all the results obtained by a maximum of two cars per team during the Events which have actually taken place.
c) For each title, there will be a separate classification.

13. Points for all titles are awarded at each Event according to the following scale:

1st 10 points
2nd 6 points
3rd 4 points
4th 3 points
5th 2 points
6th 1 point.

For the 24-hour race, a double allocation of points in three parts will be awarded for all titles. One quarter of these points will be allocated according to the classification of the race after six hours, one quarter after twelve hours, and the remainder at the end of the race.

Position After 6 hours After 12 hours After 24 hours
1st 5 5 10
2nd 3 3 6
3rd 2 2 4
4th 1,5 1,5 3
5th 1 1 2
6th 0,5 0,5 1

14. If a race is stopped under Articles 149 and 150, and cannot be restarted, no points will be awarded in case A, half points will be awarded in case B and full points will be awarded in case C.

15. The winning teams with their drivers must be present at the annual FIA Prize Giving ceremony. Any such driver who is absent will be liable to a fine. All competitors shall use their best endeavours to ensure that their drivers attend as aforesaid.

DEAD HEAT

16. Prizes and points awarded for all the positions of competitors who tie, will be added together and shared equally.

17. If two or more drivers or teams finish the season with the same number of points, the higher place in the Championship shall be awarded to:

a) The holder of the greatest number of first places,
b) If the number of first places is the same, the holder of the greatest number of second places,
c) If the number of second places is the same, the holder of the greatest number of third places and so on until a winner emerges,
d) If this procedure fails to produce a result, the FIA will nominate the winner according to such criteria, as it thinks fit.

PROMOTER OF AN EVENT

18. An application to promote an Event must be made to the ASN of the country in which the Event is to take place, which will apply to the FIA.

ORGANISATION OF EVENTS

19. Each organiser shall supply the information set out in Appendix 1, part A hereto to the FIA no later than 90 days before the Event.

INSURANCE

20. The promoter of an Event must procure that all competitors, their personnel and drivers are covered by third party insurance.

21. Ninety days before the Event, the promoter must send the FIA details of the risks covered by the insurance policy, which must comply with the national laws in force. Sight of the policy must be available to the competitors on demand.

22. Third party insurance arranged by the promoter shall be in addition and without prejudice to any personal insurance policy held by a competitor or any other participant in the Event.

23. Drivers taking part in the Event are not third parties with respect to one another.

FIA DELEGATES

24. For each Event the FIA will nominate the following delegates:
- Technical delegate;
- Safety delegate;
- Press delegate.
And may nominate:
- A medical delegate.

25. The role of the FIA delegates is to help the officials of the Event in their duties, to see within their fields of competence that all the regulations governing the Championship are respected, to make any comments they judge necessary and to draw up any necessary reports concerning the Event.

26. The technical delegate nominated by the FIA will be responsible for scrutineering and will have full authority over the national scrutineers.

OFFICIALS

27. The following officials will be nominated by the FIA:
- Two international stewards of a nationality different to that of the organiser.
In conformity with Article 134 of the Code, the stewards of the meeting will officiate as a body under the authority of their chairman.
- A race director.
- A permanent starter.

28. The following officials will be nominated by the ASN and their names sent to the FIA at the same time as the application to organise the Event:
- One steward from among the ASN's nationals.
- The clerk of the course.

29. The clerk of the course shall work in permanent consultation with the race director. The race director shall have overriding authority in the following matters and the clerk of the course may only give orders in respect of them with his express agreement:

a) The control of practice and the race, adherence to the timetable and, if he deems it necessary, the formulation of any proposal to the stewards to modify the timetable in accordance with the Code or Sporting Regulations,
b) The stopping of any car in accordance with the Code or Sporting Regulations,
c) The stopping of practice or the race in accordance with the Sporting Regulations if he deems it unsafe to continue and ensuring that the correct restart procedure is carried out,
d) The starting procedure,
e) The use of the safety car. 30. The race director, the clerk of the course, the technical delegate and the national steward must be present at the Event from the beginning of initial scrutineering, the two FIA stewards for the beginning of drivers briefing.

31. The race director and the clerk of the course must be in race control and in radio contact with all
marshals’ posts at all times when cars are permitted to run on the track. The stewards, the technical delegate
and other officials must be in contact with the race director and clerk of the course at all times.

COMPETITORS' APPLICATIONS

32.a) The FIA GT Championship is intended primarily for private teams which are independent of the constructors and do not receive any financial aid from them. The constructors' involvement must be limited to selling cars, providing technical and logistic assistance via a client competition service, and making spare parts available.
b) A competitor who is traditionally linked with a constructor through a partnership contract or official support may be refused entry to the FIA GT Championship.
c) The cars entered in the FIA GT Championship may not be made available exclusively to just one team. A minimum of six cars must be sold to different teams, and delivered for the first event of the season if ordered at least six months in advance. This article does not apply to cars homologated via a technical passport issued to a private tuner.
d) Parts produced by constructors having cars homologated in the GT and N-GT categories must imperatively be offered for sale, and be able to be delivered simultaneously, to all the teams who are entered in the Championship using this same model of car. The FIA may demand a technical description of the parts concerned. Any breach of this rule may result in the imposition of a sanction by the FIA.
e) The number of cars that may be entered for the season is limited to 36; however, 2 further places are made available in each event, reserved as a priority for national competitors from the country in which the event is run. The maximum number of cars that may be entered per event is thus 38, with the exception of the SPA 24-hour race where a maximum of 68 cars can be entered.
Applications to compete in the Championship may be submitted to the FIA, each year, on an entry form as set out in Appendix 2 hereto.
Season entry forms must reach the FIA no later than 28 February, accompanied by 50% of the entry fee, the total of which is set at 44,100 Euros (forty- four thousand one hundred Euros) for the GT and N-GT categories. The remaining 50% must be paid at the latest 7 days before the first event of the season. This season entry fee includes the mandatory entry in the Spa 24 Hours. The fee per event per car is set at 4,100
Euros (four thousand one hundred Euros) whereas for the Spa 24 Hours it is set at 10,200 Euros (ten thousand two hundred Euros) for the GT and N-GT categories. No more than two entries will be accepted from any one competitor in the same category.
The application shall include:
e1) Confirmation that the applicant has read and understood the Code, the Technical Regulations and the
Sporting Regulations and agrees, on its own behalf and on behalf of everyone associated with its participation in the Championship, to observe them,
e2 The name of the team,
e3) The make of the competing car(s),
e4) The make of the engine(s),
e5) An undertaking by the applicant to participate in every Event with the number of cars entered.
f) If the number of entry applications exceeds the number of places available, the FIA will select the competitors according to the following criteria:
! the number of years they have been taking part in the FIA GT Championship,
! the team's and drivers' records of achievements,
! the originality of the entered cars in order to ensure the diversity of the field,
! the nationality of the competitors in order to favour varied national representation.
Competitors whose application has been rejected will be reimbursed for their entry fee within 20 days following the closing date for entries.
g) It is imperative that the cars that are entered for the season take part in all the events run over a distance of 500 km including the Spa 24 hours. A competitor who does not report for scrutineering and the administrative checks, for any reason other than:
- a case of force majeure (the elements, social unrest..),
- an accident during the previous event in the FIA GT Championship, as a result of which the car sustained damage, noted by the Championship technical delegate, that could not be repaired within the given time,
- prior notice, accompanying the season entry, that the competitor will be unable to be present for such or such an event, will be excluded from the Championship for the rest of the season.

33. The competitors entered in the FIA GT Championship must respect a certain number of rules concerning the presentation of the team and the cars:
! drivers who are sharing the same car must wear overalls of identical colours,
! all the personnel of one and the same team must wear uniform track clothing,
! two cars belonging to one and the same team must bear decorations of a similar design, but may display different sponsors,
! the garages placed at the teams' disposal must be fitted out, with a floor covering and wall panels,
! the cars must always be in impeccable condition when presented for scrutineering. The front faces must be repainted or touched up between one event and the next.
If in the opinion of the FIA a competitor fails to operate his team in a manner compatible with the standards of the Championship or in any way brings the Championship into disrepute, the FIA may exclude such competitor from the Championship forthwith.

PASSES

34. No pass may be issued except as agreed with the FIA. A pass may be used only by the person and for the purpose for which it was issued.

INSTRUCTIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS TO COMPETITORS

35. In exceptional circumstances, the stewards may give instructions to competitors by means of special circulars in accordance with the Code. These circulars will be distributed to all the competitors who must acknowledge receipt.

36. All classifications and results of practice and the race, as well as all decisions issued by the officials, will be posted on the official notice board.

37. Any decision or communication concerning a particular competitor must be given to him within twentyfive minutes of such decision and receipt must be acknowledged.

INCIDENTS

38. Incident means any occurrence or series of occurrences involving one or more drivers, or any action by any driver, which is reported to the stewards by the race director (or noted by the stewards and referred to the race director for investigation) which:
- Necessitated the stopping of a race under Article 149;
- Constituted a breach of these Sporting Regulations or the Code;
- Caused a false start by one or more cars;
- Caused an avoidable collision;
- Forced a driver off the track;
- Illegitimately prevented a legitimate overtaking manoeuvre by a driver;
- Illegitimately impeded another driver during overtaking.

39.
a) It shall be at the discretion of the stewards to decide, upon a report or a request by the race director, if a driver or drivers involved in an Incident shall be penalised.
b) If an incident forms the subject of stewards' enquiry, a message will be taken to the competitor who has to countersign it.
c) If a driver is involved in a collision or Incident (see Article 38), he must not leave the circuit without the consent of the stewards.

40. The stewards may impose a time penalty on any driver involved in an Incident. However, if this penalty is to be imposed and notified in writing to the team representative during the last five laps, or after the end of the race, or, depending on the case for duration races, during the last 10 minutes, Article 41b) below shall not apply and an additional penalty shall be added to the elapsed time of the car concerned.

41. Should the stewards decide to impose a time penalty, the following procedure shall be applied:
a) The stewards shall give written notification of the time penalty, which has been imposed to an official of the team concerned and shall make sure that this information is countersigned and the time noted on the notification.
b) From the time the stewards' decision is notified and signed by an official of the team, the relevant driver may cover no more than three complete laps before entering the pits and proceeding to the time penalty area where he shall remain for the period of the time penalty. During the time the car is stationary for the time penalty, it may not be worked on. However, should the engine stop, it may be started only after the time penalty period has elapsed, possibly with the help of an external source of energy, respecting Article 105.
c) A pit stop due to a time penalty can under no circumstances be used for carrying out any activity whatsoever on the car. When the time penalty period has elapsed the driver may rejoin the race.
d) Any breach of or failure to comply with Articles 41 b) or 41 c) may result in the car being excluded.

42. Any determination made or any penalty imposed pursuant to Article 38 shall be without prejudice to the operation of Articles 160 or 161 of the Code.

PROTESTS

43. Protests shall be made in accordance with the Code and accompanied by a fee of 2000 US$.

SANCTIONS

44. The stewards may inflict the penalties specifically set out in these Sporting Regulations in addition to or instead of any other penalties available to them under the Code.

DRIVERS AND CHANGES OF DRIVER

45. Throughout the Event, no fewer than two drivers and no more than three drivers in the 500-Km races and four drivers in the 24-hour race (Except for case B as in Article 150) may drive one and the same car.
The composition of the crew taking part in the Event must be notified to the clerk of the course at the end of scrutineering. During the Event, a driver may not change from one car to another.

46. After the closing time for scrutineering, a driver change may only take place with the consent of the stewards.
In all other circumstances, competitors will be obliged to use the drivers they nominated at the time of scrutineering of the Event except in cases of force majeure which will be considered separately. Any new driver may score points in the Championship.

DRIVING

47. Each driver must drive the car alone and unaided. The maximum continuous driving time per driver is 55% of the distance. For the 24-hour race the maximum continuous driving time per driver is three hours.
After this period, a minimum of one hour rest is required. No driver can drive more than 12 hours in total during a 24-hour race. A time penalty in the pits is imposed on any driver who exceeds this limit. This penalty is equal to the extra time.

NUMBER OF CARS PARTICIPATING

48. The number of cars allowed to practice and to start the race is as provided for in supplement 2 of the

Appendix O to the Code.

RACE NUMBERS AND NAME OF CAR

49. Each car will carry the race number of its drivers. Race numbers must be in conformity with the provisions of the Code. GT cars will bear numbers 1 to 49 and N GT cars will bear numbers 50 to 100.For the 24-hour race, cars from national GT Championships or Cups will bear numbers 101 to 150.
When a car is shown on a 25-cm television monitor in such a way as substantially to fill the screen in at least one dimension, its race number must be clearly visible from the front and from each side of the car. 50. The name or the emblem of the make of the car must appear on the car. The name of the driver must also appear on the bodywork, on the outside of the cockpit, and be easily legible. The competitor's nationality must be clearly displayed on the cars in the form of a 30 cm x 20 cm sticker of the national flag, affixed to the right hand part of the front bumper unit.

51. The provisions of the Code relating to national colours shall not apply to the Championship.

SPORTING CHECKS

52. Each competitor must have all documents required by Article 8 available for inspection at any time during the Event.

53. At each Event, the FIA will check all licences.

54. No competitor, driver or other person concerned with a car can be required to sign any waiver.

SCRUTINEERING

55. The list of cars and drivers allowed to take part in qualifying practice will be published on the day before qualifying practice.
All cars must be weighed before participating in practice.
Competitors must present a technical passport for each of their cars entered in the Event.

56. Initial scrutineering of the car and competitors sporting checks will take place:
At least two days before the race for a minimum of 5 hours, in the garage assigned to each team. Unless the Stewards grant a waiver, competitors who do not keep to these time limits will not be allowed to take part in the Event.
For the 24-hour race, in the town centre of Spa at the time announced in the specific regulations of the
event.
The road car must be present in the vicinity of the competitor's pit during one of the first three Championship
Events in which the racing car is taking part, and at any Event specified subsequently.

57. No car may take part in the Event until the scrutineers have passed it.

58. The scrutineers may:
a) Check the eligibility of a car or of a competitor at any time during an Event,
b) Require a car to be dismantled by the competitor to make sure that the conditions of eligibility or conformity are fully satisfied,
c) Require a competitor to pay the reasonable expenses which exercise of the powers mentioned in this Article may entail,
d) Require a competitor to supply them with such parts or samples as they may deem necessary. At any time during practice and at the end of the race, the car must contain at least 3 litres of petrol for the taking of fuel samples.
During the race, fuel samples may be taken in the refuelling tower.
e) Checking of the air restrictor diameters.
1 - The competitors are obliged to equip their engines with intake restrictors as provided for in Articles 257 and 258 of the Appendix J.
2 - The dimensions of the restrictors must comply with the regulations at all times and in all temperatures.
3 - The restrictors to be checked and marked will be presented in the FIA garage during the weighing of the cars (see Article 58.6).
4 - The information entered on the label to be affixed to the technical passport at each event is the responsibility of the competitor, who will sign it, once he has indicated: the cylinder capacity of the engine, the number of valves, the weight of the car, the diameter of the restrictors and, if applicable, the supercharging pressure.
5 - Each restrictor will be identified by means of a metal plaque indicating the "standards" of the event and the serial number of the sealing. This number will also appear on the information label in the technical passport.
It will be up to the competitor to ensure that the scrutineer is able to see the plaque and the seal easily.
6 - Before taking part in their first free practice session, the cars will be presented ready to race for weighing, during which the restrictor plaques will be identified, with the cylinder capacity remaining the responsibility of the competitor in the declaration he has signed.
7 - At the end of each free practice or qualifying practice session, the cars must be available for checking.
After the finish of the race, all classified cars are placed in the parc fermé for checking. The presence of a team official is required.

59. Any car which, after being passed by the scrutineers, is dismantled or modified in a way which might affect its safety or call into question its eligibility, or which is involved in an accident with similar consequences, must be re-presented by the competitor for scrutineering approval.

60. The race director or the clerk of the course may require that any car involved in an accident be stopped and checked.

61. Checks and scrutineering shall be carried out by duly appointed officials who shall also be responsible for the operation of the parc fermé and who alone are authorised to give instructions to the competitors.

62. The stewards will publish the findings of the scrutineers each time cars are checked during the Event.
These results will not include any specific figure except when a car is found to be in breach of the Technical Regulations.

TYRE LIMITATION DURING THE EVENT

63.
a) For free and qualifying practice sessions, no more than four sets of dry-weather tyres per car in the 500- Km races and five sets of dry-weather tyres per car in the 24-hour race may be used.
b) Before the start of free practice, each competitor can mark 4 sets of dry-weather tyres for the 500-Km races and 3 sets of dry-weather tyres for the 24-hour race (set C-D-E), they must be ready in his assigned pit. Two sets will be marked on the day of free practice (Set A and B). Before the start of qualifying practice, 2 sets of tyres (Set C and D) will be marked in front of the scrutineering pit. The FIA technical delegate will choose one set of tyres, either set C or D (or E for the 24-hour race), with which the competitor’s car will start the race and mark them specially. For the qualifying practice only sets C, D and E may be used. (This also applies for wet practice when the competitor decides to use dry-weather tyres).
For the use of sets marked A and B on the day before the race, competitors may ask the FIA technical delegate to erase the markings and these tyres may be presented to be marked C, D and E before the qualifying session.
The times for marking will be posted on the official notice board.
c) A wet-weather tyre is a tyre, which is designed for use on a wet track, is grooved more than 25% symmetrically around the tyre centre line and covering a square:
Tyre width:
9 inches 180 x 180 mm
10 inches 200 x 200 mm
11 inches 230 x 230 mm
12 inches 250 x 250 mm
13 inches 280 x 280 mm
14 inches 300 x 300 mm
15 inches 320 x 320 mm
16 inches 345 x 345 mm.
Any tyre not satisfying this definition is considered as a dry-weather tyre.
Each tyre manufacturer must provide the FIA with a 1:1 scale legality drawing of all profile types he wishes to use. Wet-weather tyres may only be used after the track has been declared wet by the race director. These wet-weather tyres will not be marked.
d) No unmarking of a tyre and no replacement of a marked tyre will be permitted unless accepted by the stewards, for exceptional reasons presented in writing to the FIA technical delegate.
e) Markings of tyres made by the competitors may only be of a white colour. 64. The use of tyres without appropriate identification is forbidden. For the start of the race, at least 3 of the specially marked tyres before qualifying practice (see article 63 b) must be fitted on the car.

65. There is no limitation on the number of tyres available for the race day (warm-up and the race).

WEIGHING

66. The weight of any car may be checked during the Event as follows:
All drivers entered in the Championship will be weighed, wearing their complete racing apparel, at the first
Event of the season. If a driver is entered later in the season, he will be weighed at his first Event. The weights of the drivers will then be entered into a list, which is under the control of the FIA technical delegate.
To identify which driver is on board the car, each driver of one and the same car will bear on both sides of his helmet a numbered sticker.
a) During and after qualifying practice:
1) The FIA technical delegate will install weighing equipment, in the pit lane in an area as close to the first pit as possible; this area will be used for the weighing procedure;
2) the FIA technical delegate after consultation with the stewards will select cars to undergo the weighing procedure. The FIA technical delegate will inform the driver that his car has been selected for weighing;
3) having been informed that his car has been selected for weighing, the driver will proceed directly to the weighing area and stop his engine;
4) the car will then be weighed and the result given to the driver in writing;
5) if the car is unable to reach the weighing area under its own power it will be placed under the exclusive control of the marshals who will take the car to be weighed;
6) a car or driver may not leave the weighing area without the consent of the FIA technical delegate;
b) After the race:
The stewards will instruct the technical delegate to weigh cars classified in the first three.
c) Should the weight of the car be less than that specified in the Technical Regulations when weighed under
a) or b) above, the car and the driver will be excluded from the Event save where the deficiency in weight results from the accidental loss of a component of the car due to force majeure.
d) No solid, liquid, gas or other substance or matter of any nature whatsoever may be added to, placed on, or removed from a car after it has been selected for weighing or has finished the race or during the weighing procedure. (Except by a scrutineer when acting in his official capacity and, after the race, in accordance with the prescriptions of Article 258-4.4 and Art. 257-4.4 of the Technical Regulations).
e) Only scrutineers and officials may enter the weighing area. No intervention of any kind is allowed there unless authorised by such officials.

67. Any breach of these provisions for the weighing of cars may result in the exclusion of the car concerned.

HANDICAP WEIGHTS

68. In each category, a handicap weight will be allocated to drivers/cars finishing in the top four places in a race counting towards the Championship, depending on the classification at the finish and determined according to the following scale. This weight will be applied to the car of the driver(s) concerned and will be added to the minimum weight of his car for at least the following Event in the Championship. Any resulting increase or reduction in weight will take effect from the following Event in the Championship.
For the start of the 24-hour race, no weight handicaps will be applied. All previous weight handicaps will be disregarded during the Event. Weight handicaps will however be given according to the results achieved in the 24-hour race, using the scale of handicap weights defined in article 74 c). These weights will be added to the weights acquired in the previous races and will apply to the race immediately following the 24-hour race.
In each category, a minimum handicap weight will be allocated to the cars of a new competitor entering the
Championship during the course of the year according to the following scale:
a) GT
At the 3rd race +20 Kg
At the 4th race +30 Kg
At the 5th race +40 Kg
At the 6th race and others+60 Kg
b) N-GT
At the 3rd race +10 Kg
At the 4th race +15 Kg
At the 5th race +20 Kg
At the 6th race and others+30 Kg
This does not include the 24-hour race.
69. The scale of handicap weights for each race is as follows:
a) GT
1st place + 40 kg
2nd place + 30 kg
3rd place + 20 kg
4th place + 0 kg
b) N GT
1st place + 20 kg
2nd place + 15 kg
3rd place + 10 kg
4th place + 0 kg

70. If no Championship points are awarded at the end of a race, no handicap weights will be allocated.

71. If only half of the Championship points are awarded in a race (when a race has been stopped), the handicap weights are divided by two.

72. The maximum handicap weight, which can be attributed, is 100 kg for GT and 50 kg for N GT. A handicap weight exceeding the maximum handicap weight cannot be applied to a driver's car, even if this driver finishes among the top four in the race concerned.

73. The handicap weights allocated can only be cancelled or reduced if the driver(s)/car does not finish among the top four in the subsequent races in which the driver(s)/car is taking part. A driver is considered to be a participant as soon as he crosses the Line once the start signal has been given, or as soon as he passes the level of the signalling lights at the pit lane exit during a race. If a driver only takes part in practice, he is not allowed to reduce the weight for him and for his car for the following Event.

74. Handicap weights will be reduced for each race according to the following scale:

a) GT
5th place - 20 kg
6th place - 30kg
7th place etc. - 40kg

b) N GT
5th place -10 kg
6th place - 15kg
7th place etc. - 20kg

c) Weight handicaps applied at the end of the Spa 24 Hours

75. A handicap weight shall not be reduced by more than 40 kg per Event in the GT category and by more than 20 kg per Event in the N GT category.

76. If no Championship points are awarded at the end of a race, no handicap weight reductions will be applied.

77. If only half of the Championship points are awarded in a race (when a race has been stopped), the handicap weight reductions will be divided by two.

BALANCE OF PERFORMANCE

78. In order to maximise equality of performance, the Bureau reserves the right to adjust the following:
- a) Minimum weight of the car (Article 257-258 - Technical Regulations)
- b) Air restrictor sizes (Article 257-258 - Technical Regulations)
Any changes to restrictor sizes must be made within 20 days (including the day of notification) after the date of notification of the FIA’s official decision. If the deadline falls in the middle of an event, then the change must be made for the beginning of that event.
- c) Fuel Tank Capacity.

GENERAL CAR REQUIREMENTS

79. No signal of any kind may pass between a moving car and anyone connected with the car's entrant or driver save for the following:
a) legible messages on a pit board.
b) body movement by the driver.
c) lap trigger signals from the pits to the car.
Lap marker transmitters shall be battery powered and once operating must be free-standing (not attached to any other pit equipment by means of wires or optical fibres) and incapable of receiving external information.
Such lap triggers shall use a transmitter operating with a carrier frequency above 10GHz (radio or optical) and a beam half angle of no more than 36° when measured at the 3dB point, and shall not be used for the transmission of any data from pit to the car other than the lap mark. Lap mark data must be transmitted repeatedly and must be demonstrably consistent.
d) Verbal communication between a driver and his team by radio.
e) Electromagnetic radiation between 2.0 and 2.7GHz is forbidden save with the written consent of the FIA.

GENERAL SAFETY

80. Official instructions will be given to drivers by means of the signals laid out in the Code. Competitors must not use flags similar in any way whatsoever to these.

81. Drivers are strictly forbidden to drive their car in the opposite direction to the race unless this is absolutely necessary in order to move the car from a dangerous position. A car may only be pushed to remove it from a dangerous position as directed by the marshals.

82. Any driver intending to leave the track or to go to his pit or the paddock area must signal his intention to do so in good time making sure that he can do this without danger.

83. During practice and the race, drivers may only use the track and must at all times observe the provisions of the Code relating to driving behaviour on circuits.

84. A driver who abandons a car must leave it in neutral or with the clutch disengaged and with the steering wheel in place.

85. Repairs to a car may only be carried out inside or outside the pits on the inner pit lane, or as provided for in Articles 151 e) or 152 e).

86. The organiser must make at least two fire extinguishers of 5 kg capacity available at each such pit and ensure that they work properly.

87. Save as specifically authorised by the Code or these Sporting Regulations, no one except the driver may touch a stopped car unless it is in the inner pit lane or on the starting grid.

88. At no time may a car be reversed in the pit lane under its own power.

89. During the periods commencing 15 minutes prior to and ending 5 minutes after every practice session and the period between the green lights being illuminated and the time when the last car enters the parc fermé, no one is allowed on the track with the exception of:
a) marshals or other authorised personnel in the execution of their duty;
b) drivers when driving or under the direction of the marshals.

90. During an Event , the engine may only be started with the starter, except in the pit lane where the use of an external starting device is allowed under the conditions provided for in Article 104.

91. Drivers taking part in practice and the race must always wear the clothes and helmets specified in the
Code. The checking of the drivers' equipment is carried out when the cars are checked in the pit of each competitor by the scrutineers.

92. A speed limit of 60 km/h in practice, warm-up and in the race will be enforced in the pit lane.
During practice and reconnaissance laps, any driver who exceeds the limit will be penalised. During the race, the stewards may impose any penalty on any driver who exceeds the limit.

93. If a driver has serious mechanical difficulties during practice or the race he must leave the track or return to his pit as soon as it is safe to do so.

94. The car's rear rain light must be illuminated at all times when it is running on wet-weather tyres.

95. Only six team members per participating car (all of whom shall have been issued with and wearing special identification) are allowed in the signalling area during practice and the race. People under 16 years of age are not allowed in the pit area.

96. Animals, except those which may have been expressly authorised by the FIA for use by security services, are forbidden in the pit area and on the track and in any spectator area.

97. The race director and the clerk of the course can require a driver to undergo a medical examination at any time during an Event.

98. Failure to comply with the general safety requirements of the Code or these Sporting Regulations may result in the exclusion of the car and driver concerned from the Event.

PIT LANE

99.
a) Depending on the number of pits available, the allocation will be made according to:
- the team’s placing in the previous year’s classification for the first two races of the season
- the team’s classification in the current Championship in each category from the third race of the season onwards.
b) For the avoidance of doubt and for description purposes, the pit lane shall be divided into two lanes.
The lane closest to the pit wall is designated the "fast lane", and the lane closest to the garages is designated the "inner lane", and is the only area where any work may be carried out on a car.
c) Competitors must not paint lines on any part of the pit lane.
d) No equipment may be left in the fast lane. A car may enter or remain in the fast lane only with the driver sitting in the car behind the steering wheel in his normal position, and under its own power.
e) Team personnel are only allowed in the pit lane immediately before they are required to work on a car and must withdraw as soon as the work is complete. The supporting arms may not exceed 4 metres in length (measured from the inner lane pit wall) and they must be positioned at least two metres above the ground.

FUEL, REFUELLING AND PIT ASSISTANCE

100. Throughout the duration of the Event, all competitors must use the fuel supplied by the organiser.

101. Refuelling is allowed in the pits only, save as provided for in Articles 150 and 151. Any refuelling may only be carried out either at the beginning or at the end of a pit stop. While refuelling is being carried out, the car must remain on its wheels.
The driver may remain in his car throughout refuelling but the engine must be stopped. The competitor must ensure that an assistant with an extinguisher (minimum capacity, 5 kg) ready to work is beside the car throughout refuelling and that during the refuelling stop, all refuelling personnel (a maximum of two persons), specifically designated for this operation, are wearing fireproof overalls, gloves and balaclavas (specified and approved by the FIA), and helmets incapable of being confused with drivers' helmets.
Before and during any refuelling operation, the car must be electrically earthed.
The refuelling of the tower is prohibited while the car is being refuelled.
The tower’s centre of gravity and the centre of the area defined by the feet of the tower are not more than 10 cm apart in the vertical plane (See Appendix J Articles 257.6.4 or 258.6.4).

102. All fuel stocked in the pits must be in leak-proof containers which have been tested to a pressure of three atmospheres. During the race, any refuelling in the pits must be carried out with one independent tank per pit in accordance with Appendix J, Articles 257.6.4 or 258.6.4.

103. During the Event, it is forbidden to change the chassis or the monocoque structure, under penalty of exclusion, as well as to use any heating or heat keeping device for the tyres. During the race, it is also forbidden to change cylinder blocks (crankshaft case and cylinders), under penalty of exclusion.

104.
- One team mechanic or a maximum of two team mechanics per participating car shall refuel the car. During refuelling, one mechanic may help the driver to fasten his seat belt and one mechanic may clean the windscreen.
- Maximum of two team mechanics per participating car shall change the tyres.
For maintenance operations and repairs, apart from those concerning refuelling and tyre changes, a maximum of four team mechanics per participating car may work on the car.
- A maximum of two technicians (tyres and/or brakes) may work on a car for checks.
All the persons mentioned above must have been issued with and be wearing special FIA identification.
They must also wear fire-resistant overalls, balaclavas and glasses.
Except when work is carried out on a car, all personnel must remain inside the pit.
All other team members standing in the working area ("inner lane", Article 98 a) delimited by a white or yellow strip separating the pit from the "inner lane", will be considered as working on the car, as will a driver if he performs any work on the car, and counted as a mechanic. A penalty may be imposed on a team for any additional team member.
There is no limitation on the number of mechanics when the car is inside the pit. In that case, when the car is ready to rejoin the race, it must be pushed in front of the pit and parked on the working area in the inner lane parallel to the pit lane and the engine must be restarted by the driver alone.
A team manager may oversee the work of the mechanics in front of the car. 105. During any pit stop, the driver is obliged to turn off his engine.
For any tuning or regulating, the engine may be started with the help of an auxiliary source of energy.
However, when the car goes to rejoin the race, the driver must start the engine from his seat, using only those means available on board.
The car’s engine may be restarted only when the car is about to join the race and is in contact with the ground on its complete wheels.

106. Oil replenishment is allowed during the race.

107. Any breach of the provisions of the Code or these Sporting Regulations relating to pit lane assistance and refuelling may result in the exclusion of the car and driver (s) concerned from the Event. One marshal per competing car will be present to check that the rules relating to pit lane assistance and refuelling are respected.

FREE PRACTICE, QUALIFYING PRACTICE AND WARM UP

108. Save where these Sporting Regulations require otherwise, pit and track discipline and safety measures will be the same for all practice sessions as for the race.

109. No driver may start in the race without taking part in qualifying practice, except in a case of force majeure duly recognised as such by the stewards.

110. During practice there will be a green light and a red light at the pit lane exit. Cars may only leave the pit lane when the green light is on. Further, a blue flag or a blue flashing light will be shown at the pit lane exit to warn drivers leaving the pit lane if cars are approaching on the track.

111. Any testing is banned on the Championship circuits twelve weeks prior to the Event with the exception of a one or two day official testing session proposed by the FIA.
This testing session will be organised by the Championship organiser no later than three weeks prior to the Event.
All the teams will be invited to this session, the costs of which will be divided among the participants.

112. There are two one-hour and a half free practice sessions which take place two days before the race.
For the 24-hour Event a special schedule will be arranged.

113. There are two qualifying practice sessions which take place the day before the race. The first qualifying session, lasting 45 minutes, will be for all the competitors in the event and will determine three groups: A, B and C. Group A will be made up of the six competitors who have set the best times in the GT category and Group B will be made up of the six competitors who have set the best times in the N-GT category. Group C will be made up of the other competitors. The first qualifying practice session will determine for Groups A and B their positions on the starting grid for the race, which they will redistribute in each Group during the second session.
Groups A and B will qualify according to the "Super Pole" method in a second session lasting 30 minutes, in which each car will have three laps – including the starting up lap and the slowing down lap – to set its time.
The cars will start in reverse order of the times set in the first session, beginning the slowest driver in Group B and ending with fastest in Group A. A maximum of three cars may be present on the track at the same time.
Group C will qualify over a period of 15 minutes, following the usual procedure.
At the latest one hour before the start of the "Super Pole" session, each team will notify the Panel of
Stewards of the name of the driver who is to take part in that session.
If a competitor in Group A or B does not manage to set a time, he will start the race from the last position in his group. If a second competitor in Group A or B fails to set a time, the relative positions of these two drivers on the grid will be determined according to the times they set in the first session.
If a Group B C driver does not manage to set a time, he will start from the last position on the starting grid.
For the 24-hour Event a special schedule will be arranged.

114. Warm-up: one free practice session of 15 minutes for the 500-Km races and 20 minutes for the 24- hour race on the morning of the race day.

115. Under no circumstances can a delay in the free practice session (warm-up) or other difficulty on race morning result in a change to the starting time of the race.

116. During the Event, it is forbidden to use any heating or heat-retaining device for the tyres.

117. If a car stops during practice it must be removed from the track as quickly as possible so that its presence does not constitute a danger or hinder other competitors. If the driver is unable to drive the car from a dangerous position, it shall be the duty of the marshals to assist him.

118. The clerk of the course may interrupt practice as often and for as long as he thinks necessary to clear the track or to allow the recovery of a car. In the case of free practice only, the clerk of the course may decline to prolong the practice period after an interruption of this kind with the agreement of the stewards.
Furthermore if, in the opinion of the stewards, a stoppage is caused deliberately, the driver concerned may have his times from that session cancelled and may not be permitted to take part in any other practice session that day.

119. All cars abandoned on the circuit during the first free practice session will be brought back to the pits during the interval and may participate in the subsequent session.

120. Should one or more sessions be thus interrupted, no protest can be accepted as to the possible effects of the interruption on the qualification of drivers admitted to start.

121. All laps covered during qualifying practice will be timed to determine the car's position at the start in accordance with the prescriptions of Article 126.

With the exception of a lap in which a red flag is shown (see Article 149), each time a car crosses the Line it will be deemed to have completed one lap.

STOPPING THE PRACTICE

122. Should it become necessary to stop the practice because the circuit is blocked by an accident or because weather or other conditions make it dangerous to continue, the clerk of the course shall order a red flag and the abort lights to be shown at the Line. Simultaneously, red flags will be shown at all the marshal's posts.
When the signal is given to stop, all cars shall immediately reduce speed and proceed slowly back to their respective pits, and all cars abandoned on the track will be removed to a safe place.
At the end of the practice session all drivers may cross the Line only once.

PRESS CONFERENCES

123. A minimum of three and a maximum of six drivers and/or team personalities, will be chosen by ballot or rota by the FIA press delegate during the Event and must make themselves available to the media for a press conference in the media centre for a period of one hour, at a time to be specified in the Event regulations.

124. Immediately after qualifying practice, the first three drivers in qualifying in each class (GT and N GT) will be required to make themselves available for television interviews in the unilateral room and then attend a press conference in the media centre for a maximum period of 30 minutes.

THE GRID

125. At the end of qualifying practice, the fastest time achieved by each driver will be published officially.

126. The grid will be drawn up in the order of the fastest time achieved by each car and according to the prescriptions of Article 112. Should two or more cars have set identical times, priority will be given to the one, which set it first.

127. The fastest car will start the race from the position on the grid which was the pole position in the previous year or, on a new circuit, has been designated as such by the FIA.

128. Any driver whose best qualifying lap exceeds 130% of the fastest time will not be allowed to take part in the Warm Up or in the race. Under exceptional circumstances however, which may include setting a lap time in a previous free practice session or Warm Up, the Stewards may permit the car to start the race. Should more than one driver be accepted in this manner, the stewards will determine their order. In neither case may a team appeal against the stewards' decision.

129. The final starting grid will be published 30 minutes after the Warm Up on race day. Any competitor whose car(s) is (are) unable to start for any reason whatsoever (or who has good reason to believe that their car(s) will not be ready to start) must inform the clerk of the course accordingly at the earliest opportunity and, in any event, no later than 45 minutes before the start of the race. If one or more cars are withdrawn the grid will be closed up accordingly.

130. The grid will be in a staggered 2 x 2 formation and the rows on the grid will be separated by at least 4 metres.

131. Any car, which has not taken up its position on the grid by the time the ten-minute signal is shown, will not be permitted to do so and must start from the pits.

BRIEFING

132. A briefing by the race director will take place at least one hour before the first free practice for the 500-Km events and after scrutineering the day before the first free practice for the 24-hour event. All drivers entered in the Event, and their competitors' appointed representatives, must be present throughout the briefing; any absence may result in exclusion from the race. If the race director considers that another briefing is necessary, this will take place after the end of the warm-up. The competitors will be informed accordingly.

STARTING PROCEDURE

For the 24-hour race, the starting procedure will be described in the supplementary regulations.

133. 20 minutes before the time for the start of the race, the cars will leave the pits to cover a reconnaissance lap. At the end of this lap they will stop on the grid in starting order with their engines stopped.
Should they wish to cover more than one reconnaissance lap, driving down the pit lane at a greatly reduced speed between each of the laps must do this.

134. 12 minutes before the starting time, a warning signal announcing the closing of the pit lane exit in 2 minutes will be given.
10 minutes before the starting time, the pit lane exit will be closed and a second warning signal will be given.
Any car, which is still in the pits, can start from the pits, but only under the direction of the marshals. It may be moved to the pit exit only with the driver in position.
Where the pit exit is immediately after the Line, cars will join the race when the whole field has passed the pit exit on its first racing lap. Where the pit exit is immediately before the Line, cars will join the race as soon as the whole field has crossed the Line after the start.

135. Wheel changes on the starting grid may only be allowed prior to the five-minute signal.

136. The approach of the start will be announced by signals shown ten minutes, five minutes, three minutes, one minute and thirty seconds before the start of the formation lap, each of which will be accompanied by an audible warning.
When the ten minute signal is shown, everybody except drivers, officials and team technical staff must leave the grid.
When the five-minute signal is shown, all cars must have their wheels fitted. After this signal wheels may only be removed in the pits. Any car which does not have all its wheels fitted at the five-minute signal must start the race from the back of the grid or the pit lane.
When the one minute signal is shown, engines will be started and all team technical staff must leave the grid.

137. Thirty-second board: 30 seconds after this board a green flag will be shown at the front of the grid whereupon the cars will begin a formation lap with the organiser's official car leading, maintaining their starting order. A race-closing car will follow the cars. During this lap, practice starts are forbidden and the formation must be kept as tight as possible.
Overtaking during the formation lap is only permitted if a car is delayed when leaving its grid position and cars behind cannot avoid passing it without unduly delaying the remainder of the field. In this case, drivers may only overtake to re-establish the original starting order.
Any driver who is delayed leaving the grid may not overtake another moving car if he was stationary after the remainder of the cars had crossed the Line, and must start the race from the back of the grid. If more than one driver is affected, they must form up at the back of the grid in the order they left to complete the formation lap. If the Line is not situated in front of the pole position, for the purposes of this article only, it will be deemed to be a white line one metre in front of pole position.
A time penalty will be imposed on any driver who, in the opinion of the Stewards, unnecessarily overtook another car during the formation lap.
Yellow flags will be displayed at all observation posts. The speed of the organiser's official car must be around 80 kph during the formation lap.

138. Any driver who is unable to start the formation lap must indicate this and, after the remainder of the cars have crossed the Line, his mechanics may attempt to rectify the problem under the supervision of the marshals.
If the car is still unable to start the formation lap, it will be pushed into the pit lane by the shortest route and the mechanics may work on the car again.

139. The organiser's official leading car will pull off at the end of the formation lap. The cars will continue on their own with the pole position leading at a minimum speed of 70 kph and a maximum of 90 kph. A judge of fact will monitor the speed of the car in pole position by radar. Any divergence between the prescribed speeds (70/90 kph) before the start is given will result in a stop and go penalty.
During the formation lap the red light will be on. No car may overtake another one until it has passed the green light at the Line.

140. There will be a rolling start. The starting signal will be given by means of starting lights (green lights) activated under the control of the permanent starter.
During the start of a race, the pit wall must be kept free of all persons with the exception of properly authorised officials and fire marshals, all of whom shall have been issued with and shall be wearing the appropriate pass.

141. If a problem arises when the cars reach the Line at the end of the formation lap, the red light will stay on. Yellow flags will be displayed at all observation posts. The cars, with the pole position leading, will complete a new formation lap. They will be joined and led by the official leading car and will continue for another formation lap.
The original race distance will be reduced by two laps.

142. A time penalty will be imposed for a false start if so reported by start line judges or judges of fact.

143. Only in the following cases will any variation in the starting procedure be allowed:
a) If the track is dry throughout all practice sessions but becomes wet (or vice-versa) after the end of the Warm Up and at least 30 minutes before the starting time, a 15-minute free practice session will be allowed.
b) If it starts to rain after the five-minute board but before the green light and, in the opinion of the race director, the teams should be given the opportunity to change tyres, a "START DELAYED" sign will be shown on the Line and the starting procedure will begin again at the 15-minute point. If necessary the procedure set out in Article 135 will be followed.
c) If the start of the race is imminent and, in the opinion of the race director, the volume of water on the track is such that it cannot be negotiated safely even on treaded tyres, the race director may delay the start of the race by causing the "START DELAYED" board to be shown simultaneously with a "10" board with a red background.
This "10" board with a red background will mean that there is to be a delay of ten minutes before the starting procedure can be resumed. If weather conditions have improved at the end of that ten minute period, a "10" board with a green background will be shown. The "10" board with a green background will mean that the green flag will be deployed in ten minutes.
Five minutes after the "10" board with the green background is shown, the starting procedure will begin and the normal starting procedure boards (i.e. 5, 3, 1 min., 30 second) will be shown.
If however, the weather conditions have not improved within ten minutes after the "10" board with the red background was shown, the "10" board with the red background will be shown again which will mean a further delay of ten minutes before the starting procedure can be resumed.
This procedure may be repeated several times.
At any time when a "10" board (with either a red or green background) is shown, it will be accompanied by an audible warning.

144. The stewards may use any video or electronic means to assist them in reaching a decision. The stewards may overrule judges of fact. A breach of the provisions of the Code or these Sporting Regulations relating to starting procedure may result in the exclusion of the car and drivers concerned from the Event.

THE RACE

145. A race will not be stopped in the event of rain unless the circuit is blocked or it is dangerous to continue (see Article 149).

146. If a car stops during the race, it must be removed from the track as quickly as possible so that its presence does not constitute a danger or hinder other competitors. If the driver is unable to drive the car from a dangerous position, it shall be the duty of the marshals to assist him. If any such assistance results in the engine starting and the driver rejoining the race, the car will be excluded from the results of the race.

147. During the race, drivers leaving the pit lane will do so only when the light at the pit lane exit is green and under their own responsibility. A marshal with a blue flag, or a blue flashing light, will also warn the driver if cars are approaching on the track.

SAFETY CAR

For the 24-hour race, two safety cars will be in operation. The pit lane will be open all the time, except when the safety cars pass.

148.
a) The car must be marked "SAFETY CAR" in letters of similar dimensions to those of the race numbers, on the rear and sides. It must have three revolving yellow lights on the roof each powered by a different electrical circuit. An experienced circuit driver will drive it. It will carry an FIA approved observer capable of recognising all the competing cars, who is in permanent radio contact with race control.
b) 25 minutes before the race start time, the safety car will take up position at the front of the grid and remain there until the five-minute signal is given. At this point (except under n) below) it will cover a whole lap of the circuit and enter the pit lane. If the appropriate Championship or event regulations are applied to authorise a free practice session of 15 minutes, the safety car will take up its position at the front of the grid as soon as the 15-minute practice session has finished.
c) The safety car may be brought into operation to neutralise a race upon the decision of the clerk of the course.
It will be used only if competitors or officials are in immediate physical danger but the circumstances are not such as to necessitate stopping the race.
d) When the order is given to deploy the safety car, all observers’ posts will display waved yellow flags and a "SC" board, which shall be maintained until the intervention is over.
e) During the race, the safety car with its revolving yellow lights on, will start from the pit lane and will join the track regardless of where the race leader is.
f) All the competing cars will form up in line behind the safety car no more than 5 car lengths apart. All overtaking is forbidden (except under n) below), unless a car is signalled to do so from the safety car.
g) When ordered to do so by the clerk of the course, the observer in the safety car will use a green light on the car to signal to any cars between it and the race leader that they should pass. These cars will continue at reduced speed and without overtaking until they reach the line of cars behind the safety car.
h) The safety car shall be used at least until the leader is behind it and all remaining cars are lined up behind him.
Once behind the safety car, the race leader (or leader of that sector) must keep within 5 car lengths of it (except under j) below) and all remaining cars must keep the formation as tight as possible.
i) While the safety car is in operation, competing cars may stop at their pit, but may only rejoin the track when the green light at the pit exit is on. The green light will only be on when the last car behind the safety car has passed the pit exit line and then only to release cars already in a line awaiting this signal and for a further period of a maximum of 15 seconds. A car rejoining the track must proceed at reduced speed until it reaches the end of the line of cars behind the safety car.
j) When the clerk of the course calls in the safety car, it must extinguish all the revolving lights, this will be the signal to the drivers that it will be entering the pit lane at the end of that lap. At this point the first car in line behind the safety car may dictate the pace and, if necessary, fall more than five car lengths behind it. As the safety car is approaching the pit entrance, the yellow flags and SC boards at the observer's posts will be withdrawn and waved green flags will be displayed for one lap.
k) When the safety car has pulled off the circuit and the cars are approaching the Line, green lights will be shown. Overtaking remains strictly forbidden until the cars pass the green light at the Line.
l) Each lap completed while the safety car is deployed will be counted as a race lap.
m) If the race is stopped under Article 150 Case C, the safety car will take the chequered flag and all cars able to do so must follow it into the pit lane and into the parc fermé.
n) In exceptional circumstances the race may be started behind the safety car. In this case, its revolving yellow lights will be on at all times up to the one-minute signal. This is the signal to the drivers that the race will be started behind the safety car. When the green flag is shown, the safety car will leave the grid with all cars following in grid order no more than 5 car lengths apart. There will be no formation lap and the race will start when the safety car pulls off.
Overtaking, during the first lap only, is permitted if a car is delayed when leaving its grid position and cars behind cannot avoid passing it without unduly delaying the remainder of the field. In this case, drivers may only overtake to re-establish the original starting order.
Any driver who is delayed leaving the grid may not overtake another moving car if he was stationary after the remainder of the cars had crossed the Line, and must form up at the back of the line of cars behind the safety car. If more than one driver is affected, they must form up at the back of the field in the order they left the grid.
A time penalty will be imposed on any driver who, in the opinion of the Stewards, unnecessarily overtook another car during the first lap.
o) There will be one safety car in operation at a time, except for circuits of over 7 kms in length, where other safety cars, positioned at equidistant points around the circuit, may be authorised by the FIA. If more than one safety car is authorised, o) will apply, as well as the following requirements:
- The starting point of each safety car must be announced to all the drivers.
- When the safety cars pull off the circuit, green lights will be shown at their respective starting points. All observer's posts will then show a green flag. Overtaking remains strictly forbidden until the race cars pass the green light at the next safety car starting point. The green flags will be withdrawn after one lap.

STOPPING THE RACE

149. Should it become necessary to stop the race because the circuit is blocked by an accident or because weather or other conditions make it dangerous to continue, the clerk of the course shall order a red flag and the flashing yellow lights to be shown at the Line. Simultaneously, red flags will be shown at all marshal posts.
When the signal is given to stop, all cars shall immediately reduce speed in the knowledge that:
- the race classification will be that at the end of the penultimate lap before the lap in which the signal to stop the race was given,
- race and service vehicles may be on the track,
- the circuit may be totally blocked because of an accident,
- weather conditions may have made the circuit undriveable at racing speed,
- the pit lane will be open.

150. The procedure to be followed varies according to the number of laps completed by the race leader before the signal to stop the race was given:
Case A: Less than two full laps. If the race can be restarted, Article 151 will apply.
Case B: Two or more full laps but less than 75% of the race distance (rounded up to the nearest whole number of laps). If the race can be restarted, Article 152 will apply.
Case C: 75% or more of the race distance (rounded up to the nearest whole number of laps). The cars will be sent directly to the parc fermé and the race will be deemed to have finished when the leading car crossed the Line for the penultimate time before the race was stopped.

RESTARTING A RACE

151. Case A
a) The original start shall be deemed null and void.
b) The length of the restarted race will be the full original race distance.
c) The drivers who are eligible to take part in the race shall be eligible for the restart in their original car.
d) After the signal to stop the race has been given, all cars able to do so will proceed directly but slowly to either:
- the pit lane or;
- if the grid is clear, to their original grid position or;
- if the grid is not clear, to a position behind the last grid position as directed by the marshals.
e) All cars may be worked on.
f) No refuelling will be allowed.
g) Any driver who was forced to start from the back of the grid or the pit lane during the original start may start from his original grid position.

152. Case B
a) The race shall be deemed to be in two parts, the first of which finished when the leading car crossed the Line for the penultimate time before the race was stopped.
b) The distance of the second part will be the distance of the original race less the first part.
c) The grid for the second part will be a standard grid with the cars arranged in the race order at the end of the lap prior to that during the signal to stop was given.
d) Only cars, which took part in the original start, will be eligible and then only if they returned under their own power by an authorised route to either:
- The pit lane or;
- To a position behind the last grid position as directed by the marshals.
e) Cars may be worked on in the pits or on the grid. If work is carried out on the grid, this must be done in the car's correct grid position and must in no way impede the re-start.
f) If a car returns to the pits it may be refuelled. If a car is refuelled it must take the re-start from the back of the grid and, if more than one car is involved, their positions will be determined by their order on the penultimate lap before the race was stopped. If one or more cars are withdrawn or missing, the grid will beclosed up accordingly.

153. In both Case A and Case B:
a) 10 minutes after the stop signal, the pit exit will close.
b) 15 minutes after the stop signal, the five-minute signal will be shown, the grid will close and the normal start procedure will recommence.
c) Any car, which is unable to take up its position on the grid before the five-minute signal, will be directed to the pits. It may then start from the pits.
The organiser must have sufficient personnel and equipment available to enable the foregoing timetable to be adhered to even in the most difficult circumstances.

FINISH

154. The end-of-race signal will be given at the Line as soon as the leading car has completed the full race distance/duration.

155. Should for any reason (other than under Article 149) the end-of-race signal be given before the leading car completes the scheduled distance or before the scheduled time has elapsed, the race will be deemed to have finished when the leading car last crossed the Line before the signal was given. Should the end-of-race signal be delayed for any reason, the race will be deemed to have finished when it should have finished.

156. After receiving the end-of-race signal all cars must proceed on the circuit directly to the parc fermé without stopping, without receiving any object whatsoever and without any assistance (except that of the marshals if necessary). Any classified car, which cannot reach the parc fermé under its own power, will be placed under the exclusive control of the marshals who will take the car to the parc fermé.

PARC FERME

157. Only those officials responsible for supervision may enter the parc fermé. No intervention of any kind is allowed there unless authorised by such officials.

158. When the parc fermé is in use, parc fermé regulations will apply in the area between the Line and the parc fermé entrance.

159. The parc fermé shall be sufficiently large and secure that no unauthorised persons can gain access to it.

CLASSIFICATION

160. The car placed first will be the one having passed the Line in the lead at the end of the race. All cars will be classified taking into account the number of complete laps they have covered, and for those which have completed the same number of laps, the order in which they crossed the Line.

161. If a car takes more than twice the time of the winner's fastest lap to cover its last lap, this last lap will not be taken into account when calculating the total distance covered by such a car.

162. Cars having covered less than 70% of the number of laps covered by the winner (rounded down to the nearest whole number of laps), will not be classified.

163. The official overall classification and each class classification (GT and N GT) will be published after the race. These will be the only valid results subject to any amendments which may be made under the Code and these Sporting Regulations.

PODIUM CEREMONIES

164. The drivers finishing the race in 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in each class (GT and N GT), and a representative of the winning team in each class (GT and N GT) must attend the prize-giving ceremony on the podium and abide by the podium procedure set out in Appendix 3, and immediately thereafter make themselves available for a period of 90 minutes for the purpose of unilateral television interviews and the press conference in the media centre.