CMMC Tin Tops Series Pit Stop Regulations

CMMC Tin Tops | Brands Hatch – 19th August 2023

Pit Stop Regulations

1.1 Each car is required to make a single mandatory pit stop, which must only commence after the Pit Open board is shown, and before the Pit Closed board is shown. The Pit Open board will be displayed on the start/finish line for 5 minutes once 10 minutes of the scheduled race duration has lapsed. The Pit Closed board will then be displayed once 20 minutes of the scheduled race duration being lapsed.

1.2 Each mandatory Pit Stop must be for a minimum duration of 2-minutes; this will be timed from the PIT IN timing line at the pit lane entrance to the PIT OUT timing line at pit exit. The Pit lane speed limit is 60kph.

1.3 If performing a driver change, the incoming driver must not loosen or remove their harness, FHR device, helmet or gloves until the vehicle is fully stopped in the pit lane.

1.4 Physical vehicle inspections or repairs may be performed only when the vehicle is fully stopped, refuelling is not permitted in the pit lane.

1.5 It is not permitted to reverse a car in any part of the pit lane whilst a qualifying or race session is live. Should any car need to be moved backwards, this must only be done by someone manually pushing the car whilst the driver is in control of the vehicle from the driver’s seat.

1.6 Subject to being within the 10-minute Pit Open period and the pit lane entry being open, it is permitted to make mandatory pit stops whilst the race is running under safety car conditions.

1.7 A maximum of 4 people can work on the car at any pit stop. This number excludes the driver but includes anyone touching the car or driver in any way, including but not limited to such actions as cleaning windows, assisting the driver with belts, operating jacks, or opening / closing bonnets, doors, boots.

1.8 Additional pit stops are not subject to the 2-minute minimum duration.

1.9 To maximise use of pit lane space, when making a pit stop it is strongly advised that the car should stop at a 45-degree angle facing the pit garage. On completion of a pit stop where the car is positioned as such, it is not permitted for the car to reverse back into the pit lane. This must only be done by someone manually pushing the car whilst the driver is in control of the vehicle from the driver’s seat.

PENALTIES

2.1 Failure to make a mandatory pit stop (as per 1.1 – 1.2) will result in a 4-minute time penalty being applied after the race.

2.2 Commencing a pit stop BEFORE the Pit Open board has been displayed, or AFTER the Pit Closed board has been displayed will result in that pit stop not being counted as a mandatory stop.

2.3 Where the duration of a mandatory pit stop falls below the 2-minute minimum, a time penalty of 30 seconds plus the timed shortfall shall be applied after the race.

2.4 Any car exceeding the pit lane speed limit at any time during the race will have a time penalty of 60 seconds applied after the race.

2.5 Any car judged to have impeded the progress of another car whilst in the pit lane will have a time penalty of 60 seconds applied after the race. This includes obstructing the path of a car that is attempting to enter or exit their pit stop area, or holding up another car whilst driving through the pit lane.

2.6 Any car judged to have been culpable of an unsafe pit stop release, whether this results in contact with another car or person, or that causes another car to take avoiding action, will result in disqualification from the race.

2.7 Any car judged to have reversed in the pit lane will have a time penalty of 60 seconds applied after the race.

2.8 For all other transgressions, the Clerk of the Course will have full discretion to determine the relevant penalty.

Issued by:
Paul Levitt
Clerk of the Course