Refuelling & Pit Stops
Refueling and pit stops are an essential dimension of endurance racing. These regulations are for the safety of all those involved and must be strictly adhered to.
4.1 Refueling must only take place within the official refueling area. This is a strictly non-smoking area.The drivers must remain with the kart when refueling and act on the instruction of the refueling marshal in charge.
4.2 The method will be as follows.
The driver will bring the kart into the refueling area at walking pace. He/she will be responsible for switching off the engines before getting out and pushing the karts into the refuelling bay. Two marshals will then carry out the refueling. Only when the marshal has replaced the fuel caps and given the OK may the kart then be pushed forward out of the refueling bay by the driver. No work may be carried out on the kart, (including removal of adding of ballast) whilst it is being refueled. Refueling areas will be either at the entrance to the pits or exit, depending upon local layout.
4.3 Once the race has started only the fuel supplied by the organisers from the refueling point may be used. No octane booster or other ingredients may be added at any time.
4.4 Repairs/driver changes etc. may only be carried out within the designated pit area. This will be identified in final instructions and at the event. Emergency repairs may be carried out at a safe place out on the circuit in order to return the kart to the pits. If a kart breaks down on the circuit the driver is permitted to make a minor repair to speed the return of the kart to the pits so long as the kart is first removed to a position of safety. No other team member may assist in such repairs.
4.5 Driver changes may only be carried out within the pit area, drivers may change as frequently as desired.
TEAMS MUST MAKE A MINIMUM OF 2 STOPS. THESE CAN EITHER BE DRIVER CHANGES, FUEL STOPS OR STOP AND GO IN THE PITS I.E. EACH TEAM MUST CROSS THE WEIGHBRIDGE AT LEAST TWICE DURING THE COURSE OF THE EVENT. THIS WILL BE MONITORED AND TEAMS NOT COMPLYING WILL BE PENALISED WITH A 10 LAP PENALTY.
4.5 If making a compulsory second stop without a driver change the driver must bring his kart to a stand still, get out and walk around the kart, before getting back in and exiting the pits. TEAMS NOT COMPLYING WILL BE PENALISED WITH A 10 LAP PENALTY
4.6 During the course of an event teams may only use one chassis, although the components fitted to that chassis, including engines, may be replaced. The chassis may be marked at scrutineering. At the discretion of the Clerk of the Course, a team may replace the chassis in the event that the kart is beyond reasonable repair. Please note that the teams will only be permitted to use another chassis once the Scrutineer has inspected the damaged kart and confirmed that the replacement chassis is in fact a “bare” chassis.
4.7 In the interest of cost reduction the use of the following is specifically prohibited:-
- Any equipment or chemical designed to pre-heat of soften tyres prior to use.
- The fitment of any device allowing adjustment to the performance of engines/chassis by the driver while on the move.
4.8 Karts must at all times use slick dry weather tyres unless the Clerk of the Course declares conditions open or wet. In open conditions teams may choose to use either wet or dry tyres. If conditions are very bad, then the race will be declared wet at which times all karts must change onto wet tyres in the interests of safety.
4.9 Karts must be driven at no more than walking pace within the pit area. Speeding in the pits will result in stop-go penalties. This is for the safety of all concerned and will be rigorously applied by the Clerk of the Course.
4.10 On rejoining the circuit from the pits, drivers must be aware of karts on the circuit and only rejoin when safe to do so
4.11 A weighing machine will be placed at the pit entrance. All karts must be weighed before being allowed into the pits. The scales will be available for the use of teams during scrutineering/pre - race.
4.12 In the event of a race being stopped,. red flagged, drivers should stop racing immediately, return to the start line very slowly being prepared to stop if necessary. Under no circumstances should drivers overtake.
4.13 The drivers will be permitted to carry out running repairs providing that these are carried out by hand only, no tools of any kind are permitted on the track. There will be no refueling as soon as the red flag is in process and will only be permitted once the race has been re-started. Any karts not able to make the re-start will be moved to the pit entrance - when the race is re-started these karts will be allowed into the pits.
4.14 Competitors will be given five minutes warning of the re-start of the event. The re-start will be in single file in the order at the time when the race was red flagged.
4.15 The driver or officials will be allowed onto the circuit prior to the re-start of the race.
