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41. Official Practice, Qualifying And Warm-Up (If Applicable)

41.1.

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 races.

Should the categories be divided into separate races in accordance with article 5.2, instructions on official practice and qualifying will be given in a Bulletin from the Stewards, and will take place in accordance with the official timetable.

Should the categories be divided into separate races in accordance with article 5.2, instructions on the grid and race(s) will be given in a Bulletin from the Stewards, and will take place in accordance with the official timetable.

41.2.

No driver may take the start of a race without having taken part in qualifying practice, except in a case of force majeure duly recognised as such by the Stewards. Drivers who set a time within 120% of the fastest time during the relevant session during pre-qualifying or Official Practice may be authorised by the Stewards of the Meeting to take part in the race.

41.3.

During the free and qualifying practice sessions and the warm-up if applicable, controls on the tyre markings may be carried out before the cars take to the track under the orders of the marshals, and there will be a green light and a red light at the pit lane exit. Cars may only leave their working area according to the procedure detailed in Article 34.15. Cars may only leave the pit lane when the green light is on at the start or restart of a session. 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.

41.4. Event format for Competitions with one-hour races

a) Events will include the following:

  • One or two Official Practice sessions, of a minimum duration of 60 minutes per session. Official Practice Sessions may be split into individual class sessions -- GT3 and GT4

  • At the end of Official Practice sessions, and at the discretion of the organisers, a bronze session may be held (see event timetable). During this session, only drivers who have been categorized as Bronze, including drivers with derogations as Bronze *, may take part. Bronze drivers who have been given exceptional permission to race alone in accordance with article 13.1.3 will be authorised to take part in this session.

  • The duration of the Official Practice sessions may be increased for weekends with three or four races.

b) Qualifying

There will be four Qualifying practice sessions of a minimum duration of 10 minutes per session, separated by at least 7 minutes.

Group 1: GT Asia

Q1: GT3/GTC/GT2 Qualifying 1 -- driver 1

Q2: GT3/GTC/GT2 Qualifying 2 -- driver 2

Group 2 Japan Cup:

Q1: GT4 Qualifying 1 -- driver 1

Q2: GT4 Qualifying 2 -- driver 2

Q1: GT3/GTC/GT2 Qualifying 1 -- driver 1

Q2: GT3/GTC/GT2 Qualifying 2 -- driver 2

Group 2 Japan Cup Qualification; GT4 and GT3 cars may be merged into two sessions if under 22 cars are participating.

The exact times and order of sessions will be confirmed by the Official timetable of the Event.

The above format may be modified by a Bulletin from the Stewards. Should any Practice session be disrupted, the Series Race Director shall not be obliged to resume or re-run the session; the decision of the Series Race Director shall be final.

No driver may take the start of either Race without completing one timed lap (not including in and out laps) in either the Q1 or Q2 qualifying practice sessions for either GT3 or GT4, except in a case of force majeure duly recognised as such by the Stewards which may incur a penalty.

Drivers who set a time within 120% of the fastest time during Official Practice may be authorised by the Stewards of the Meeting to take the start of the race. Permission must be requested from the Stewards of the Meeting for any such drivers in order to be allowed to take the start of the race.

The fastest time set by each car in Q1 (GT3/GTC/GT2 or GT4) will set the grid for Race 1.

The fastest time set by each car in Q2 (GT3/GTC/GT2 or GT4) will set the grid for Race 2.

Full details will be given in a Sporting Bulletin and the information given in the official timetable must be adhered to.

At the latest, all competing cars must be in position in the working area of the pit lane when the qualifying session starts. Throughout the session, they must remain in the pit lane when not on the track.

At no time will competing cars be allowed in their pit garage or the paddock areas until the qualifying session has ended and the car has been cleared from any post-qualifying Scrutineering checks and released from the Parc Fermé, except with the express permission of the Technical Delegate.

During the Qualifying sessions, the following principles will apply:

  • No fuel may be added to or removed from the cars.

  • Cars may only leave their working area according to the procedure in Article 34.15. Cars may only leave the pit lane when the pit exit is open at the start or restart of the session.

  • No computers can be connected to the cars, including data sticks, adding or removing data cards or wireless connections of any kind from the team/pit to the car.

After the end of GT3 Qualifying 2 all GT3 cars will be under Parc Fermé regulations. After the end of GT4 Qualifying 2, all GT4 cars will be under Parc Fermé regulations. Except for the cars selected for Scrutineering by the Technical Delegate, they will be placed on their wheels in their pit garages with the nose towards the pit lane. The Technical Delegate may seal the doors and bonnet. Should the Teams not be working from the pit garages, alternate arrangements will be given via a Bulletin.

During qualifying the following principles will apply:

  • The cars must be on the pit lane, from the first green light from the start of the first session through to the chequered flag for the final session. Any car which is pushed into its pit garage during that time will have all its times deleted and will not be able to take any further part in the qualifying session.

  • no fuel can be added or removed from the cars.

  • no computers can be connected to the cars. This includes connecting data sticks, adding or removing data cards as well as wireless connections of any kind from the team/pit to the car.

  • cars will only be allowed on the fast lane after the Fast Lane Open signal has been given or when the pit exit is open at the start or restart of the session.

Only the following work can take place on the car;

  • Cleaning windscreens (inside and outside) and mirrors.

  • Changing tyres.

  • Changing drivers.

  • Checking and adjusting tyre pressures.

  • Engine fluids may be replenished; fluids used for replenishment must conform to the same specification as the original fluid.

  • Removing dirt, gravel or grass from the radiator.

  • Adjusting mirrors or other similar adjustments for safety reasons.

  • Repair of genuine accident damage with the approval of the Technical Delegate.

  • Sanitising cockpit & steering wheel in line with Covid-19 procedures.

Should any other work be performed on the car, all times set until that point during the Qualifying session (ie from the start of Q1 up until that point ) will be deleted

  • After the completion of the final Qualifying session, all cars will be immediately under Parc Fermé conditions.

41.6. N/A

41.7. N/A

41.8.

In the event of a driving infringement during any practice session, the Stewards of the Meeting may drop the driver as many grid positions as they consider appropriate. Unless it is absolutely clear that a driver committed a driving infringement, any Incident will normally be investigated after the relevant session. Any determination of breach in this respect, or the consequent penalty imposed, shall not be subject to appeal.

41.9.

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.

The car may also be moved with help other than that of the marshals (i.e. any equipment, e.g. tractor, etc.) and re-join the session.

Any driver taking part in any practice session who, in the opinion of the Stewards of the Meeting, stops unnecessarily on the circuit or unnecessarily impedes another driver, shall be subject to the penalties in accordance with Article 41.8.

41.10.

The Race Director or 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 Official Practice only, the Race Director or the Clerk of the Course may decline to prolong the practice period after an interruption of this kind, with the agreement of the Stewards of the Meeting.

Furthermore if, in the opinion of the Stewards of the Meeting, a stoppage is caused deliberately, the driver concerned may have his times from that session deleted (in substitution or in addition to other available penalties) and may not be permitted to take part in any other practice session that day.

41.11.

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

41.12.

All cars abandoned on the circuit during the free practice or official practice sessions will be brought back to the pits as soon as possible and may participate in any subsequent session.

During qualifying, if a car is brought back to the paddock on a truck or other recovery vehicle it will be placed in Parc Fermé and will not be allowed to take any further part in the Qualifying session (including any subsequent periods). This applies even if the car is returned to the Team.

(Amendments to this Article for the CrowdStrike 24 Hours of Spa may be given in the Supplementary Regulations for that Event.)

41.13.

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

41.14.

Should, for any reason, it be impossible to hold the Qualifying session, or should the Qualifying session be curtailed before times have been set, the results of the Official Practice 2 session will be used to set the starting grid. All drivers should complete a minimum of 1 timed lap in Official Practice 2 unless amended by Bulletin for the Event

41.15.

Where two races are to be run, any competitor whose car has not been classified for whatever reason in the first race, should confirm the participation of the car in the second race at the latest 60 minutes before the start of the race

41.16.

In a case where more than one race is scheduled at the same event they may be combined to form an endurance race at the Organisers' discretion.

41.17.

The Organisers reserves the right to amend the event format. The GT3 and GT4 categories may be split into separate grids at certain events. Teams will be notified of this by Series Bulletin.