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33. General Safety

33.1.

Official instructions will be given to drivers by means of the signals set out in Appendix H of the Code. Competitors are responsible for observing and complying with these at all times and must not use flags similar in any way whatsoever to these. At circuits where flag signals are supplemented by light panels/signals, both means of signalling will be deemed to have regulatory value. In case of discrepancy between physical flags and light panels/signals, the most restrictive signal must be obeyed.

33.2.

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 and in accordance with the instructions of the marshals.

A car may only be pushed to remove it from a dangerous position as directed by the marshals.

This rule is also applicable when the car is parked in the Parc Fermé.

33.3.

Any driver intending to leave the track must signal his intention to do so in good time, making sure that he can do this without danger.

33.4.

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

33.5.

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

33.6. Repairs

Repairs to a car may only be carried out inside or outside the pits, on the working lane, on the starting grid or as provided for in Article 47. A driver who manages to repair the car after it has been pushed to a place of safety, with or without remote assistance from their Team, may rejoin the session.

33.7.

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

33.8.

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 Team's designated pit garage area, in the pit lane or on the starting grid.

33.9.

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

33.10.

Drivers must use the track at all times.

The white lines defining the track edges are considered to be part of the track but the kerbs are not. A driver will be judged to have left the track if no part of the car remains in contact with the track. Should a car leave the track for any reason the driver may rejoin.

However, this may only be done when it is safe to do so and without gaining any advantage.

Drivers consistently crossing the white lines defining the edge of the circuit, whether or not they gain an advantage, will be stopped during the Official Practices, have their lap time(s) deleted during qualifying and may receive a drive through penalty during the race. The Stewards of the Meeting can apply any other penalty available.

At the absolute discretion of the Race Director, a driver may be given the opportunity to give back the whole of any advantage he gained by leaving the track.

33.11.

a) During the periods commencing 15 minutes prior to and ending 5 minutes after every practice session, and the period between the commencement of the formation lap which immediately precedes the races and the time when the last car enters the Parc Fermé, no one is allowed on the track with the exception of:

  • marshals or other authorised personnel in the execution of their duty;

  • drivers when driving or under the direction of the marshals;

  • Team personnel when either pushing a car or clearing equipment from the grid after all cars able to do so have left the grid on the formation lap.

b) At any time during a Competition, a driver may join the track, including the pit lane and the grid, only after starting the engine alone and unaided, and leaving his working area with no external assistance, except as stipulated in case c below.

c) During a race, the engine may only be started with the starter except on the grid or after a Stop and Go penalty, where the use of an external starting device is allowed. If the car is in its working zone, article 36.8 must be respected. The car must leave its position in the pit lane with no external intervention. Any car reported to have received assistance to start will be given a stop and go penalty, during which the car must be started by the driver alone.

d) A car may only leave its working area when it is ready to rejoin the track, and must proceed down the pit lane respecting the pit lane speed limit, without slowing or stopping, except for force majeure.

33.12.

Drivers taking part in practice (including the warm up if any) and the race must always wear the clothes, underwear, helmets, and FIA-approved head restraint specified in Appendix L to the Code.

33.13.

A driver coming into the pits must not unfasten his safety harness or racing net until his car is completely stopped in front of the pit garage. After a pit stop, the car must only start moving after the driver's safety harness and racing net have been fastened. It is the car controller's responsibility to ensure that a driver is properly buckled in before the car leaves its working area to enter the track.

While driving in the fast lane of the pits, the driver must have at least one hand on the steering wheel at all times. He may unplug the radio or disconnect the drinks bottle and other such items but should not be distracted from watching the road ahead while doing any of these things. Tension in the belts may be loosened but the belts must remain in contact with the driver so that they are considered to still be properly restrained in accordance with ISC Appendix L chapter III article 4. The driver's safety harness must be securely fastened before the car leaves the Team's working area but, on exiting the pits, the driver may further tighten the belts or adjust them. Any infractions noted by the pit lane marshals or the driver-facing safety camera (case D only) may be reported to the Stewards.

33.14.

Extrication and Recovery exercises may take place before the Competition. Selected Teams will be notified by the Stewards of the Meeting and must make their car available at the stated time.

33.15.

If a driver has serious mechanical difficulties during practice or the races, he must leave the track or return to his working area as soon as it is safe to do so. At no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner that could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person. This will apply whether any such car is being driven on the track, the pit entry road, the pit lane or the pit exit road.

33.16.

The car's regulatory lighting system must function at all times during the Competition. Any car that does not present the minimum illumination listed below, may be stopped by the Clerk of the Course for repairs:

  • At the Front: 2 headlights (right and left) and 2 direction indicators

  • At the Rear: 2 lights, 2 direction indicators and 2 stop lights / brake lights.

  • Also the illumination of the numbers if required for the event, and, should the weather conditions deteriorate, the rain light.

b) The Rain Light must have a flashing frequency of 4Hz (0.125 seconds on followed by 0.125 seconds off)

c) Direction indicators must be present on each side at the front and the rear of the car. They must simultaneously flash when under Full Course Yellow and/or Safety Car conditions. They must have a flashing frequency of 4Hz (0.125 seconds on followed by 0.125 seconds off)

33.17.

Drivers may not flash their headlights (main beams) as a warning or indication more than 3 times in succession between any two successive corners. Any car reported to have exceeded this number of flashes will be given a warning. A second infraction for any car during the Competition will result in a drive-through penalty.

33.18. N/A

33.19.

The car's headlights, red rear light and rear rain lights must be illuminated at all times when it is running on a track that has been declared a "wet track". It shall be at the discretion of the Race Director to decide whether a driver should be stopped because his car's lights are not working. If a car is stopped for that reason, it may re-join the Competition once the fault has been remedied.

Once a race has been declared Wet, it remains Wet for the remainder of the Race. However, instructions will be issued from Race Control to indicate when lights can be switched off.

33.20.

When lights are mandatory (in wet conditions and in any mandatory night period) main beams must be switched on at all times that the car is moving; the additional lights may be flashed if needed, subject to the same limitation as for flashing headlights in Article 33.17.

33.21.

A maximum of four working Team members per participating car are allowed on the pit wall signalling area reserved for the Team during practice and the race(s). People under 16 years of age are not allowed in the pit lane, on the pit wall or on the grid, except during the 'pitlane walkabout' or the 'grid walk' when they may be allowed if accompanied by an adult and if authorised by the circuit. . Infractions will receive penalties according to the following provision:

  • First offence: Three hundred dollars (300 dollars)

  • Second offence: Four hundred and fifty dollars (450 dollars)

  • Third offence: Six hundred dollars (600 dollars)

33.22.

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

33.23.

The Race Director, the Clerk of the Course or the Chief Medical Officer can require a driver to undergo a medical examination at any time during an Event.

33.24.

At the end of any session or race, each driver may cross the Line only once.

33.25.

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

33.26.

The use of Fans and/or Blowers is not authorised at any time in the pit lane or on the grid