36. Pit Stops - General

Note: Pit stop procedures may be altered by the Safety Protocol in operation at an Event. In this case revised procedures given through a Sporting Note will apply.

36.1.

No work can be carried out on the car and no change of driver can take place until the car has come to a complete stop at its designated working area, and its engine is switched off. Except when work is being carried out on the car, all personnel must remain behind the white line designating the start of the working lane or on the pit wall.

36.2.

For any pit stop, cars must stop a minimum of 50 cm from the white line designating the start of the working area.

Should a car overshoot its pit garage, it may be pushed back to its location by the mechanics, under supervision of the marshals with yellow flags.

36.3.

Only the car controller and the replacing driver are allowed in the working area before the car has stopped, and a maximum of one lap before the pit stop of the car. If applicable, the vent man may enter the pit lane shortly before the arrival of the car (see Article 37.1)

36.4.

No equipment may be in the working area before the car has stopped in front of the pit garage.

No personnel may hold panels on the working lane, or stand behind stationary panels. Team personnel may use lollipops to indicate to the cars from the working zone.

Team personnel and equipment must withdraw as soon as the work is complete.

36.5. Number of personnel

No more than four mechanics may be in the working lane at any one time.

A car controller (the 5^th member), wearing a white armband, may stand at the front of the car and oversee the work of the mechanics. He may walk around the car, but must not touch the car in any way and may only make visual checks.

36.6. Clothing

Each Competitor must ensure that its mechanics and car controller wear flame-resistant overalls, long underwear including balaclava, gloves, socks and shoes and suitable helmets while they are working on the pit lane. Flame-resistant shoes are mandatory for all those wearing armbands. Eye protection in the form of visors or safety glasses is highly recommended for all personnel in the working lane, and mandatory for those wearing armbands.

36.7.

a) Carry-on / backpack compressed air bottles for tyre changes are not permitted. Air bottles must be solidly fixed to the gantry. Hoses, cables etc must not be attached to the mechanics’ overalls by any means. No autonomous equipment may operate without its mechanic.

b) Cases A – B – C (for Endurance Cup three, six and twenty-four hour races) Electric wheel guns may be used on the grid, in the garage or awning and in scrutineering. Electric wheel guns may not be used in the pit lane. Cars using electric wheelguns in the pit lane will be reported to the Stewards.

c) Case D (for Sprint Cup) Electric wheel guns may be used, including in the pit lane.

36.8.

During any pit stop, whatever the reason, the driver is obliged to turn off his engine.

For any tuning or regulating, the engine may be started with the help of an auxiliary source of energy. However, before the car is ready to rejoin the track, the engine must be switched off. A drop-start system, if installed, may be used on condition that this is used in conjunction with a positive action from the driver. Should no such system be installed, the driver must start the engine from his seat, using only those means available on board.

Other than for tuning or regulating, the car's engine may be restarted only when the car is about to join the track and is in contact with the ground, on all four wheels. The car must leave the working area with no external assistance.

36.9.

Any breach of the provisions of the Code or these Sporting Regulations relating to pit lane assistance will entail penalties at the discretion of the Stewards, up to the disqualification of the car and driver(s) concerned from the Competition. The Organiser must ensure that a sufficient number of marshals have been designated to carry out all the work and controls necessary in the pit lane.

36.10.

Cars may be placed on skates in the working lane when they need to be moved, except in accordance with the regulations in Article 41 concerning skates during qualifying, or Article 37 when refuelling. In terms of refuelling, once the nozzle, refueller and refuelling equipment are out of the working zone, skates may be placed under the car. This does not affect the use of skates for moving the car at other moments.

For Teams wishing to move the car into the garage, for example in terms of the technical pit stop (Case B), it is clarified that mechanics may have the skates ready in the working zone. They may only place them under the car when all the refuelling equipment has been cleared. When in the working zone, the skates must be under full control of the mechanics at all time, and any infractions will be reported to the Stewards. It is emphasised that under no circumstances may skates be placed under the car when refuelling is ongoing.

36.11.

All personnel in the working lane during pit stops must wear an armband. If not otherwise specified in the regulations, this will be an yellow armband. This does not include personnel crossing between the pit wall and the garage.