Organisers of the Golden Homes North Island Endurance series have confirmed a number of handicap measures to be put in place for both the one- and three-hour races.
The most significant changes include the banning on carbon fibre brake rotors and the ability for the series to restrict the performance of a car they believe makes the competition unfair.
The measures are to ensure the playing field is level and giving more drivers with the opportunity to win races.
NIERDC’S President, David Dovey said: “Whilst it’s great that we have so much interest in this year 2021 North Island Series, this has raise some challenges with several new non GT3 homologated racecars entrants that have requested a decision on the eligibility of three potentially very fast cars, that have the ability to be game changers.
“Our six person committee has had considerable discussion on how to deal fairly with the non-GT3 homologated racecar eligibility requests that we have received.
“We have therefore decided in the best interest of our existing competitor base, to formally reserve the right to handicap the performance of any entrants car that exceeds the performance of the current GT3 cars competing in our series.
“We have also banned the use of Carbon Fibre brake rotors. These are hugely expensive brake components, that provide a significant advantage in a vehicle’s unsprung weight, and the reduction they offer in reducing braking distances
“This effectively means that providing any car with a fixed roof approved by the NIERDC committee will be eligible for our series. Providing it is not equipped with Carbon Fibre brake rotors and its entrant agrees to be bound by a formal directive to restrict the performance of that vehicle if, in the sole view of our technical committee, it exceeds the performance of existing GT3 homologated cars.”
The changes are currently only to be implemented for the North Island series, with no word on whether the South Island championship will take up a similar view.
“We are hopeful that SIERDC will also support our initiative in banning Carbon Fibre brake rotors,” Dovey said.
“This should allow non-GT3 complying racecar’s to compete here in New Zealand along with any other performance restricting measures to ensure that any such racecar, does not have an unfair advantage.”
NIERDC will also host this year’s New Zealand Endurance Championship finale.
The first round of the 2021 North Island Endurance Series will be at Bruce McLaren Motorsport Park in Taupo on April 17.