TotalMotorSport All the latest Motorsport news, race reports and photographs from around the world. Alms, Touring Cars, Formula One & Le Mans 24 Hours

Sporting Regulations

23/05/2002

FIA EUROPEAN TOURING CAR CHAMPIONSHIP 2002 SPORTING REGULATIONS

The FIA will organise the FIA European Touring Car Championship (the Championship), reserved for
Super 2000 Cars and Super Production Cars, which is the property of the FIA. The Championship
comprises one title of FIA European Touring Car Champion for Drivers and one title of FIA European
Touring Car Champion for Manufacturers.
The Championship is governed by the FIA International Sporting Code and its appendices (the Code),
the Circuit General Prescriptions, the Super 2000 Car and Super Production Car Technical
Regulations (Article 261 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 two races per meeting with a
distance of 50 km per race. 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.

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 will be published in an FIA official bulletin and will come into force
immediately and replace all previous European Touring Car 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). They must also be
in possession of a current medical certificate of aptitude (see Article 1.7 of Appendix L, Chapter 2).

CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT

9. Events are reserved for Super 2000 and Super Production Cars as accepted by the FIA.

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

11. Cancellation of an Event with less than three months written notice to the FIA may entail refusal
of the entry of Event in the following year's Championship unless the FIA judges the cancellation to
have been due to force majeure.

EUROPEAN TOURING CAR CHAMPION TITLES

12.a) The FIA European Touring Car Champion drivers’ titles 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.

b) The FIA European Touring Car Champion Manufacturers’ titles will be awarded to the Manufacturer
which has scored the highest number of points, taking into account all the results obtained by the best
two cars classified per Manufacturers during the Events which have actually taken place.

13. Points for all titles will be awarded for each race 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

All the results obtained during the season, will count for the final classifications.

14. If requested by the FIA, the winning manufacturers with their drivers must be present at the
annual FIA Prize Giving ceremony. Any driver and/or manufacturer 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

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

16. 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

17. 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 in turn apply to the FIA.

ORGANISATION OF EVENTS

18. 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 together with the detailed timetable.

INSURANCE

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

20. 90 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.

21. 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.

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

23. For each Event the FIA will nominate:
- a technical delegate.
And may nominate:
- a medical delegate;
- press delegate.

24. 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.

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

OFFICIALS

26. 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.

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. 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, and the two FIA stewards from 15.00
on the same day.

30. The race director and the clerk of the course must be in race control and in radio contact with all
marshal's posts at all times when cars are permitted to run on the track. The stewards and other
officials must be in contact with the race director and clerk of the course at all times.

COMPETITORS' APPLICATIONS

31. a) Applications to compete in the Championship must be submitted to the FIA, each year on an
entry form as set out in Appendix 2 hereto, accompanied by the set entry fees.
The application shall include:

1) 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,
2) the name of the team,
3) the make of the competing car(s),
4) the name of the driver(s),
b) A competitor can enter as many cars as he wishes.
c) Teams may enter the Championship on a race-by-race basis and may announce their entries in
each Event concerned, to the organisers of the Event concerned and to the FIA, accompanied by the
entry fees paid to the FIA, no later than seven days prior to the Event, it being understood that the
Event starts with scrutineering.
d) The sum of the race entry fee for one Event is 3100 Euros.

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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.

35. 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.

36. Any decision or communication concerning a particular competitor must be given to him within
twenty-five minutes of such decision and receipt must be acknowledged.

INCIDENTS

37. 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 141;
- constituted a breach of these Sporting Regulations or the Code;
- caused a false start by one or more cars;
- caused a collision;
- forced a driver off the track;
- illegitimately prevented a legitimate overtaking manoeuvre by a driver;
- illegitimately impeded another driver during overtaking.

38. 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 a 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 37), he must not leave the circuit
without the consent of the stewards.

39. 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 40b) below shall not apply and an additional penalty shall be added to the elapsed time of the
car concerned.

40. 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 on the timing monitors, 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, if necessary with the help of an external source of energy.
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 40 b) or 40 c) may result in the car being excluded.
41. Any decision made or any penalty imposed pursuant to Article 37 shall be without prejudice to
the operation of Articles 160 or 161 of the Code.

PROTESTS

42. Protests shall be made in accordance with the Code and accompanied by a fee of 2500 Swiss
Francs or its equivalent in US Dollars or local currency.

SANCTIONS

43. 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.

44. Any questions concerning penalities, protests and appeals must be in accordance with Chapters
XI, XII and XIII of the International Sporting Code.

DRIVERS

45. 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 driver they nominated at the time of
scrutineering for the Event except in cases of force majeure which will be considered separately. Any
new driver may score points in the Championship.

NUMBER OF CARS PARTICIPATING

46. The number of cars allowed to practice and to start the race is as provided for in supplement 2
of Appendix O to the Code.

RACE NUMBERS AND NAME OF CAR

47. Each car will carry the race number of its driver. Race numbers must be in conformity with the
provisions of the Code (see Chapter XVIII).

48. 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 (rear lateral windows), on the outside of the cockpit, and be easily
legible (see Chapter XVIII of the Code).

SPORTING CHECKS

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

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

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

SCRUTINEERING

52. The list of cars 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.

53. Initial scrutineering of the car and competitors sporting checks will take place:
Prescrutineering: two days before the race from 14.30 to 18.30
Scrutineering: one day before the race from 8.00 to 13.00, technical scrutineering will take place in the
garage assigned to each team. Unless a waiver is granted by the stewards, competitors who do not
keep to these time limits will not be allowed to take part in the Event.
No car may take part in the Event until it has been passed by the scrutineers.

54. The scrutineers may:
a) check the eligibility of a car or of a competitor at any time during an Event.
At scrutineering for the first race at the latest, all participants must submit the following items to the
scrutineer who will keep them throughout the entire season:
- Homologation form.
- Homologation form for the rollcage.
- Certification for the catalytic converter.
- A diagram/drawing of the complete fuel system.
These documents must clearly indicate all the elements containing fuel (connecting pieces, pumps,
filter, control devices, pipes, etc.) and all the screwing connections, T fittings, reductions and filling
caps. Furthermore, the contents of the different assemblies (catch tanks, radiator, filter, etc.) must be
defined in the drawing.
The following must also be made available:
Fuel pipe with cutoff device for taking fuel samples. This pipe must be about 2m long.
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, the car must contain at least 3 litres of petrol for the taking of fuel samples.

55. Rev Limiting Device
1 - An FIA homologated rev limiting device with data storage must be used in the Championship. The
devices will exclusively be used as data storage devices.
The installation of the devices must be made in strict accordance with the corresponding instructions. It
is compulsory to use one of the sensors listed in the installation instructions.
All participants are themselves responsible for obtaining the device, for the correct installation and the
correct functioning as well as the compliance with the rev limits according to the FIA regulations.
Participating cars must be equipped with a rev limiter.
It will be the participants responsibility to ensure that the engine does not exceed the maximum rate of
8500 rpm
2 - All costs connected with the check of the rev limiting device with data storage, must be completely
borne by the participants.
3 - At the end of each free practice or qualifying practice session, the cars must be available for
checking. After the finish of each race, all classified cars will be placed in the parc fermé for checking.
The presence of a team official is required.

56. 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.

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

58. 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.

59. 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

60. The FIA will specify control tyres for the Championship (one dry and one wet).

61. The maximum of 12 new dry weather tyres and 4 used dry weather tyres previously registered
for the free practice sessions, the qualifying practice session and the races will be the only tyres
permitted. Only at the first event which a competitor has entered will it be possible to use new dry
weather tyres.

All the tyres used must be registered before the free practice sessions.

62. It is the competitors' responsibility that the tyres are appropriately registered by the scrutineers.
Competitors must accept any possible disadvantages resulting from non-appropriate registering of the
tyres.

63. The use of tyres without appropriate identification for the corresponding car for the
corresponding event is forbidden. If the Race Director/Clerk of the Course declares that it is a "wet
race" or "wet practice", the use of wet-weather tyres in compliance with the prescriptions of Article 60
only for this particular practice session or race is permitted.

64. If dry-weather-tyres (slicks) are used during a wet race/wet practice, only tyres registered for the
event are admissible.

65. These tyres must nevertheless comply with the specification determined by the control tyres for
this event as specified in Article 60.

66. It is forbidden to proceed from the pits to the starting grid with unmarked tyres.
Any chemical and/or mechanical treatment of the tyres is prohibited. The original tyre tread and profile
may not be modified or cut. The use of tyre-warmers is allowed.

WEIGHING

67. 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.
e) Only scrutineers and officials may enter the weighing area. No intervention of any kind is allowed
there unless authorised by such officials.

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

VEHICLES

69. The FIA Technical Regulations for Super 2000 and Super Production apply for the
Championship if not otherwise stated in the present Regulations.
In case a Manufacturer homologates an extension on the homologation form or a new car (different
homologation form), a competitor can start using it at any event during the season. However he cannot
revert back for the rest of the season to the previous one.

70. Only one single car may be entered per driver at each event. T-cars/spare cars are prohibited.
The driver/car attribution applicable for the whole event will be made at scrutineering before the
beginning of the 1st free practice.

ENGINE

71. Each engine must be used for a minimum of two consecutive events. The marking of the engine
will be carried out by the scrutineers before the free practice session of the first event. It is the
responsibility of each competitor to ensure the marking remains unharmed.

72. Save for a technical failure, with the beginning of the qualifying practice session the change of
the engine is forbidden. It is up to the scrutineer to determine a technical failure.
Due to a technical failure, an engine change may be applied for after the qualifying practice session.
The request has to be submitted in writing to the scrutineer.
The scrutineer will precede the written application with a note regarding the marking and identification
of the replaced engine to the Stewards before the first race.

73. The approval of the engine change will become valid after the marking of the replaced engine by
the Scrutineer.

74. If an engine change is approved by the panel of the Stewards of the meeting, the relevant car
will have its qualifying times disallowed and will be placed at the back of the starting grid for the race 1
of the corresponding event.

GENERAL CAR REQUIREMENTS

75. 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 10 GHz (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 2.7 GHz is forbidden save with the written consent of the

FIA.
GENERAL SAFETY

76. 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.

77. 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.

78. 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.

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

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

81. Repairs to a car may only be carried in the paddock, pits or on the grid.

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

83. 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 pits or on the starting grid.

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

85. 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 opening of the track by the
Clerk of the Course or his nominee, 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.

86. During a race, 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 99.

87. 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 weighed.

88. A speed limit of 60 kph in practice, warm-up and 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.

89. 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.

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

91. Only six team members per participating car (all of whom shall have been issued with and shall
be 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.

92. 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.

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

94. 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

95. a) 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.
b) Competitors must not paint lines on any part of the pit lane.
c) 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.
d) 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

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

97. All cars must be fitted with a self-sealing connector which can be used by the scrutineers to
remove fuel from the tank. This connector must be the type approved by the FIA.
It must be possible for a pipe to be fitted to this connector. This pipe must reach the ground outside the
car and be fitted with a cut-off device. The sampling connection must be placed in an unlockable area
between the injection strip and the fuel pipe in the engine compartment. This installed device may be
used for the sampling and for the simulation of a pipe rupture.

98. Except when work is carried out on a car, all personnel must remain inside the pit. There is no
limitation on the number of mechanics.

99. During any pit stop, the driver is obliged to turn off his engine.

100. Any breach of the provisions of the Code or these Sporting Regulations relating to pit assistance
and refuelling may result in the exclusion of the car and driver(s) concerned from the Event.

FREE PRACTICE, QUALIFYING PRACTICE AND WARM UP

101. 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.

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

103. a) 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.
b) At the end of each practice session all drivers may cross the Line only once.

104. The time schedule and the running of the practice will be published separately.
With the submission of the registration, all participants in the Championship agree to abide the
following restrictions on testing:
From 1st April until 30th October 2001, no private testing is permitted on any circuit which will host a
qualifying round.

105. There are two free practice sessions of 30 minutes which take place one day before the race.

106. There is one 30-minute qualifying practice session which takes place the day before race day.

107. Warm-up: a free practice session will take place on race day it will last 15 minutes.

108. 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 races

109. 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.

110. 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.

111. All cars abandoned on the circuit during any session will be brought back to the pits during the
interval and may participate in the subsequent session.

112. 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.

113. All laps covered during qualifying practice will be timed to determine the car's position at the start
of race 1 in accordance with the prescriptions of Article 118.
With the exception of a lap in which a red flag is shown (see Article 141), each time a car crosses the
Line it will be deemed to have completed one lap.

STOPPING THE PRACTICE

114. 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.

PRESS CONFERENCES

115. 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.

116. Immediately after qualifying practice, the first three drivers in qualifying in each class 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

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

118. The starting grid for race 1 will be drawn up in the order of the fastest time achieved by each
car. Should two or more cars have set identical times, priority will be given to the one which set it first.

119. 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.

120. Any driver whose best qualifying lap exceeds 107% 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, the stewards may permit the car to start the race.
In neither case may a team appeal against the stewards' decision.

121. The final starting grid of race 1 will be published 30 minutes after the warm-up on race day, the
final starting grid of race 2 will be published after race 1.
The starting grid for race 2 will be determined by the final results of race 1. The first six cars classified
will be placed in reverse order of the final classification of race 1. The rest of the cars will start as
follows:
- the 7th placed car in race 1 will start 7th in race 2
- the 8th placed car in race 1 will startr 8th in race 2
and so on until the last placed car in race 1.
The cars not classified in race 1 will be placed on the starting grid after those regularly classified,
according to the number of laps covered (e.g.: the first car retired in race 1 will occupy the last spot of
the grid, the second retired will occupy the last-but-one spot, and so on).
All the cars that have lost the right to line up according to the positions obtained in race 1 (for engine
change, neutralisation of the parc fermé or decisions by the Stewards of the Meeting), will line up at the
back of the starting grid.
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.

122. The rows on the grid will be separated by at least 4 metres.

BRIEFING

123. A briefing by the race director will take place preferably on the day before the race. 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

124. 15 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.
Before race 1 only should they wish to cover more than one reconnaissance lap, this must be done by
driving through the pit lane at a greatly reduced speed between each of the laps.

125. 12 minutes before the starting time, a warning signal announcing the closing of the pit exit in 2
minutes will be given.
10 minutes before the starting time, the pit 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.

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

127. The approach of the start will be announced by signals shown 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. Tyre-warmers may be used until the
three-minute board.
When the one-minute signal is shown, engines will be started and all team technical staff must leave
the grid.
Fuelling on the grid is prohibited.

128. 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, maintaining their starting order. The cars will be
followed by a race-closing car. 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 in which 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.
Yellow flags will be displayed at all observation posts.

129. 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.

130. When the cars have come back to their respective grid positions, a green flag will be shown
behind the last grid row. The starter will then show a 5-second board, and will then switch on the red
light. Normally, the time lapse between switching on the red lights and extinguishing them will be
between 3 and 5 seconds. The race will be started by showing a green light.

131. If a car stops on the starting grid after the start and is unable to re-start whilst it is being pushed,
the marshals will if possible push it to the pit lane where the mechanics may attempt to start it. If the
car then starts, it may rejoin the race from the pit lane once the whole field has taken the start.

132. All cars starting from the pit lane must be stopped by the marshals at the pit lane exit. These
cars are considered to have started as soon as released by the marshals. The lights at the pit lane exit
must be strictly observed. Cars starting from the pit lane will have completed their first lap as soon as
they cross the start/finish line for the first time.

133. 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.

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

135. Only in the following cases will any variation in the starting procedure be allowed:
a) 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 15 minutes before the next start time. If
necessary the procedure set out in Article 127 will be followed.
b) 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.
c) If any other problem arises which leads to a start being delayed, the Race Director/Clerk of the
Course will take the following action:
1 – If the red light has not been switched on, a red flag and a "start delayed" board will be shown at the
Line.
2 – If the red light has already been switched on, the yellow revolving lamp (or yellow flashing lights)
will be switched on at the Line and the "start delayed" board will be shown.
In both cases 1 and 2 the cars remain at their respective grid positions. The engines must be stopped.
3 – The starting procedure will recommence upon instruction of the Race Director/Clerk of the Course
at the five-minute point (begin of countdown). Generally, there will be no additional formation lap.
4 – If the start is delayed at the end of the formation lap, the race distance is reduced by one lap.
5 – Any driver responsible for a delayed start will be brought to the end of the starting grid for the restart.
6 – It is strongly recommended to show the "start delayed" board and the countdown boards again to
the cars positioned in the second half of the starting grid.
7 – In exceptional circumstances the race may be started behind the safety car. In this case, at any
time before the one minute signal its revolving yellow lights will be turned on. This is the signal to the
drivers that the race will be started behind the safety car. When the green lights are illuminated 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 race will start when the leading car crosses the line for the first time.
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.

136. 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

137. A race will not be stopped in the event of rain unless the circuit is blocked or it is dangerous to
continue (see Article 141).

138. 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.

139. 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

140. 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. It will be driven by an experienced circuit driver. It will carry an FIA
approved observer, capable of recognising all the competing cars, who is in permanent radio contact
with race control.
b) 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.
c) When the order is given to deploy the safety car, all observer's posts will display immobile yellow
flags and a "SC" board which shall be maintained until the intervention is over.
d) 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.
e) All the competing cars will form up in line behind the safety car no more than 5 car lengths apart. All
overtaking is forbidden, unless a car is signalled to do so from the safety car.
f) When ordered to do so by the clerk of the course, the observer in the safety car will use a fixed
green light on the rear of 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.
g) The safety car shall be used at least until the leader is behind it and all remaining cars are lined up
behind him (or, when there is more than one safety car, all the cars in that safety car's sector).
Once behind the safety car, the race leader (or leader of that sector) must keep within 5 car lengths of
it (except under i) below) and all remaining cars must keep the formation as tight as possible.
h) 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.
i) 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 green flags will be displayed for one lap.
j) 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.
k) Each lap completed while the safety car is deployed will be counted as a race lap.
l ) If the race is stopped under 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.
m) There will be one safety car in operation at a time, except for circuits of over 7 km 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, the following requirements will apply:
- 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

141. 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 lap two laps prior to that during 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.

142. 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 143 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 144 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 at the end of the lap two laps prior to that in which the signal to stop was given.

RESTARTING A RACE

143. 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)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 ;
e)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.
f)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.
g)Refuelling will be allowed until the five minute signal is shown.

144. Case B.
a) Other than the race order at the end of the lap two laps prior to that during which the signal to stop
was given and the number of laps covered by each driver, the original race will be deemed null and
void.
b)The length of the re-started race will be three laps less than the original race distance less the
number of classified laps completed by the leader before the signal to stop was given.
c)The grid for the re-started race will be arranged in the race order at the end of the lap two laps prior
to that during which the signal to stop was given.
d) Only cars which took part in the original start will be eligible for the re-start 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)Refuelling is only permitted in the pits. 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 race order at
the end of the lap two laps prior to that during which the signal to stop was given. In this case their
original grid positions will be left vacant.

145. 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 as specified in Article 125.
The Organiser must have sufficient personnel and equipment available to enable the foregoing
timetable to be adhered to even in the most difficult circumstances.

SHORTENING OF A RACE DISTANCE

146. Should, for whatever reason, the scheduled race distance not be completed in a race, the
following points will be awarded:
Minimum 75% of the race distance completed = 100% points
Minimum 50% of the race distance completed = 50% points
Less than 50% of the race distance completed = 0 points
All race laps will be taken into consideration for the calculation of the distance completed. Formation
and slow-down laps do not count towards the race distance.

FINISH

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

148. 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

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

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

151. The parc fermé shall be sufficiently large and secure that no unauthorised persons can gain
access to it. Parc Fermé between the races

151.A From the moment the end-of-race signal for race 1 is shown, the parc fermé rules will apply, with
the exception that, under the supervision of the scrutineers, electronic devices may be connected to
the cars for the sole purpose of reading data. The organiser will make every effort to bring back to the
pits as quickly as possible any cars which stopped on the track during the race as a result of technical
problems.

151.B The parc fermé will end 25 minutes before the time of the formation lap for race 2.

151.C After the end of the parc fermé, the green pit light will be switched on for 15 minutes. During this
period, it is permitted to work on the cars. Once this period is over, the red pit light will be switched on.
Any cars that have not left the pits may start the race in accordance with Art. 125.
a) Any cars that were in the pits at the end of the race and did not take the chequered flag may
also be worked on during the parc fermé between the two races, after the Stewards of the Meeting
have been informed.
b) Any competitor may submit a request to the Stewards of the Meeting for the neutralisation of the
parc fermé rules.
These cars – see a), b) – will take the start for race 2 from the pit lane in accordance with Art. 125.

151.D Possible protests and/or appeals do not affect the starting grid for race 2.
CLASSIFICATION

152. 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.

153. Only cars which have covered at least 75% of the distance covered by the winner will be
classified.

154. The official overall classification 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

155. The drivers finishing the in 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions, and a representative of the winning
Manufacturer, must attend the prize-giving ceremony on the podium and abide by the podium
procedure set out in Appendix 3, and immediately after race 2 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.