A mammoth intake of entries means this year’s South Island Endurance Series will feature two one-hour races per round.
The SIERDC club currently has over 80 entries for the one-hour championship, significantly exceeding circuit capacity levels.
The two races will be split on class, with one race for cars in Classes A and B (effectively a 0-3500cc race), while a second race will be for Classes C and D (effectively a 3501+ cc race).
GT4 and Porsche Cup cars will also compete in the Classes C and D race.
Only one driver is allowed to enter a single one-hour race per round.
The three-hour race will then be held in the afternoon after both one-hour affairs.
As per usual for the South Island series, qualifying will still occur on the morning of race day for every round.
However, the sessions for each of the three races have been reduced slightly from 20 minutes to 15 minutes.
For three-hour competitors, drivers must participate in one official practice session held the Friday before each round.
New to the championship for this year, series organisers will automatically accept any FIA GT3 car into the championship.
MARC I and MARC II V8s are also now eligible for the 2021 season.
Another noteworthy rule change concerns crew safety.
Now, anyone in pitlane will be required to wear full PPE. This is either double layer fireproof overalls or a single layer overall with SFI/FIA approved underwear.
Refuelling in the pitlane during Friday test days is now no longer allowed.
The first round of the championship is at Ruapuna on September 4.
The series then heads to Teretonga and Highlands Motorsport Park before wrapping up at Levels Raceway in mid-October.
Main Image: Terry Marshall/Euan Cameron Photography