GTA recently released a Bulletin announcing revisions in the Reserve Driver System and the Qualifying Format.
Please note that the explanations in this Bulletin have been edited by the SUPERGT.net editorial staff for the general public. For detailed official explanations, please refer to the Bulletin and the 2024 Sporting Regulations.
Revisions in the Qualifying Session Time Lengths
Concerning the Qualifying Format, revisions have been made in the interval between sessions for Q1 and in the intervals between sessions and the running time length of the sessions in Q2. These revisions have been made based on the results of the qualifying simulations run in the official tests in March and the opinions of the entrants (teams). Also, the revisions to the qualifying point system are set down in the Bulletin 016-S.
*Please read the following.Details of the new official qualifying
*Revised points in red.
●Running of the Q1 session
Revised Points | Numbers before revision |
---|---|
・GT300 Group A (B) (10 min.) | |
Interval (8 min.) | |
・GT300 Group B (A) (10 min.) | |
Interval (5 min.) | Changed from 6 min. |
・GT500 (10 min.) |
●Running of the Q2 session
Revised Points | Numbers before revision |
---|---|
Interval after Q1 (10 min.) | |
・GT300 Q2 Group 2 (10 min.) | Changed from 8 min. |
Interval (8 min.) | |
・GT300 Q2 Group 1(10 min.) | Changed from 8 min. |
Interval (8 min.) | Changed from 6 min. |
・GT500 (10 min.) | Changed from 8 min. |
●Pit Work
Work in the pits is allowed during each session, but with the exception of the following operations, no pit work whatsoever is allowed from end of each session until the announcement of the car subject to inspection (scrutineering after the sessions) for the class involved are made.
1) Assisting the driver in getting in or out of the car (Fastening or releasing the seatbelt, drinks or wireless (radio)
2)Jacking up a car to change its direction or bringing in or moving a trolley
3)Cooling the car or using a blower or fan
4)Measuring the air pressure of the tires ※added this time
●When Wet conditions are declared (rain, etc.)
Only one set from the marked tires can be used throughout the qualifying.
There is no limit in the number of sets that can be used when a Wet (track) condition is declared.
※The one sentence above is added this time
●Qualifying Points (Bulletin 016-S revisions)
Series points are given to the drivers (pair) of the teams running in the sessions that qualify in the top three.The points allotted are 1st-place: 3 pts., 2nd-place: 2 pts., 3rd-place: 1 pt.
*Prior to the revisions, it was not clear whether the qualifying points were awarded to a driver that had driven or not, but with the revisions it is now clear that the points are awarded to the two drivers who drove in Q1 and Q2.
Revisions in the Reserve Driver system
From this season, a reserve driver system has been adopted for cases in which a team’s regular driver is suddenly unable to drive due to sudden illness or injury. Subsequent revisions have been announced in this system.
Included among these revisions are conditions under which a GT500 team can use a GT300 team regular driver as a reserve driver. Among them are provisions for reinforcing the position of emerging young GT300 drivers for stepping up to GT500, and measures that GT500 teams can take in emergencies. With these revisions, the reserve driver system is now sufficiently functional.
*Please read the following.Reserve Driver System Regulations Set
*Revised points in red.
○Races that reserve drivers can be registered for and number of drivers.
・Races where reserve drivers can be registered and the number of drivers are as follows.
300 km races With two regular drivers, up to two reserve drivers can be registered.
Long-distance races With two regular drivers, up to two reserve drivers can be registered.
If there are three regular drivers, only one reserve drivers can be registered.
・Multiple participants (teams) can register the same driver as a reserve driver.
*In accordance with the above regulations, the existing conditions for races and teams no longer apply.
○Registering a reserve driver
*No revisions
○When GT500 teams register a GT300 driver as their reserve driver
・When a GT500 team wishes to register a GT300 team’s regular driver, the GT300 team in question must have one or more registered reserve driver(s). However, this rule does not apply in races where a third driver can be registered, as long as it is with the consent of the GT300 team involved.
○When changing drivers after the end of the qualifying sessions
・When changing to a reserve driver after the finish of the official qualifying sessions, a drive-through penalty must be performed during the race.
However, when a GT300 team’s regular driver is used as a GT500 team’s reserve driver, there is no penalty placed on the GT300 team.
4/13-14 | Round1 OKAYAMA | |
5/03-04 | Round2 FUJI | |
6/01-02 | Round3 SUZUKA | |
8/03-04 | Round4 FUJI | |
9/21-22 | Round6 SUGO | |
10/19-20 | Round7 AUTOPOLIS | |
11/02-03 | Round8 MOTEGI | |
12/07-08 | Round5 SUZUKA |