Incoming new NIERDC (North Island Endurance Racing Drivers Club) President, David Dovey announced today that following their recent AGM, the committee had now ratified the changes voted on by its members to lower costs and increase safety, as well as opening up the 1-hour endurance races to a wider category of cars, such as older GT3 cars.
“The intent of the new regulations is to increase safety and lower costs for the 3-hour competitors that currently need to have a bare minimum of seven crew members to assist in refueling the car and changing the wheels at one and the same time”.
Dovey said,
“Clearly this is a significant cost to 3-hour competitors and therefore the committee has largely adopted the Australian GT 12-hour, FIA approved regulations, with respect to pit stops, which dictate that re-fuelling of competing cars must be carried out and completed before any wheel changing can occur. Only the co-driver may assist the driver exiting and or entering the car during a pit-stop”.
“In order to ‘level the playing field’ during pit stops, wheel changing can now only be carried out by a maximum of two people,” over the line” at any one time. Cars with center-lock wheels will only be permitted to use one pneumatic wrench, and or equivalent battery-powered gun, whilst cars fitted with conventional stud retaining wheel systems will be allowed two pneumatic air wrench’s, and or equivalent battery-powered gun. The only other crew member that is permitted to be “over the line” is the car controller, who must now also wear fully complying FIA approved safety wear”.
Dovey went on to say, “In the interest of safety, the new pit-stop regulations will provide additional time for the driver change to be completed safely and avoid drivers still adjusting the restraint harness as they drive down pit lane”.
“Cost reduction is also in the interest of all competitors, and fewer pit-stop personal and equipment will help achieve that. Safety will also benefit from longer pit stops”.
“Levelling the playing field by reducing the present advantage competitors with single center-lock wheels have over those competitors cars who have conventional 4 or 5 stud wheel retention systems, will also assist in controlling costs”.
“Expanded our One Hour car eligibility regulations to include [by invitation only] fully complying older GT3 cars, running the appropriate FIA approved BOP for the cars period. As per the current regulations regarding eligible drivers, only amateur drivers are permitted to enter the 1-hour race”.
Two new classes have been added which will see Porsche 997 and TCR cars compete for their own class trophies.
Full details of these changes will be incorporated in the regulations, which will be published by the end of March at the latest.
RACE DATES:
April 17/18 at Pukekohe
May 15/16 at Hampton Downs
June 12/13 at Manfeild
