37. Refuelling

37.1. Refuelling for cases A, B and C

With the sole exception of the qualifying session, refuelling is allowed from the green light at the start of any session only in the designated working area on the pit lane and may be carried out only at the beginning of a pit stop (with the exception of the situation outlined in Article 39.4)

Refuelling in the pit lane may only take place using the fuel rig as outlined in Article 35.

Refuelling is allowed in the pit lane by means of a refuelling tower with a maximum of one independent tank per car entered in the Competition and a maximum of two independent tanks per garage. These tanks must not move, either independently or through any other means, during any sessions, with the sole exception of allowing a car to be pushed into the garage.

Cars may refuel at any refuelling rig belonging to their Team (see article 11.4) and which has their race number on it. A team must include on each rig all the numbers of the cars eligible to refuel there. This includes all cars entered on the same licence, or those entered on a different licence but run by the same technical management. A Team must declare to the Promoter the cars which it is running, whether on their own licence or another and this will be forwarded to the Stewards. Any car refuelling at the wrong rig will be reported to the Stewards.

1) Before and during any refuelling operation, the car must be electrically earthed by means of an independent copper wire, whose only purpose is to earth the car, and which must not be combined with the air jack. This must be placed by a mechanic with a green or yellow armband, who may be the mechanic charged with helping the driver. It must be removed by one of the people authorised to be working on the car at the point once refuelling is finished and the earthing wire can be removed.

2) While refuelling is being carried out, tyre changes may happen and the driver may stay in the car, or driver changes may take place, but the engine must be switched off. The coupling of the fuel hose to the car may only take place when the car is fully stationary and with the engine stopped. In no case may a car be refuelled whilst on skates.

If tyre changes are taking place and the car is lifted onto its jacks, the car must remain on its jacks until refuelling has finished and the fuel hose has been removed. Any attempt to lower the car before the refuelling has finished and the hose has been uncoupled will be reported to the Stewards.

If no tyre changes are taking place, or in the case of ‘short’ refuelling stops during cases B and C in accordance with article 20.1, the car is allowed to remain on the ground for the refuelling procedure. See Sporting Note 3

3) The refuelling of the tower is prohibited while the car is being refuelled.

4) Personnel for refuelling:

a. 1 Car Controller with a white armband.

b. A maximum of 2 mechanics, to include:

a) The fuel attendant, identified with a green armband, wearing a helmet with a visor, incapable of being confused with drivers' helmets and homologated to one of the standards recognised by the FIA in Technical List nº25.

b) 1 mechanic who may wash/clean the windscreen and lights, remove dirt or grass from the radiator grille, change the water bottle or assist the drivers during the driver change. Removing a tear-off film is considered to be cleaning the windscreen.

As well as the following who are not considered among the working mechanics

c) 1 'fire' attendant, whose presence is compulsory, standing behind the line throughout refuelling and holding an extinguisher of a minimum capacity of 5 kg ready for use. He is not considered to be one of the four mechanics and as such does not wear an armband. He cannot perform any other activity.

d) The so-called 'dead man' controlling the fuel flow shut-off valve at the refuelling tower, whose presence is compulsory and who will not be considered as one of the four working mechanics. He must not undertake any other task. However, he must be suitably attired in fireproof overalls and with a helmet homologated to one of the standards recognised by the FIA in Technical List nº25.

e) Note: for cars which have the vent valve and the refuelling valve on opposite sides of the car, if a vent man is required he may enter the pit lane shortly before the arrival of the car. Once his task is finished, the vent man will be considered a second 'dead man'. The vent man should wear an orange armband and is not considered as one of the four working mechanics.

c. The driver exiting the car may assist the driver replacing him.

d. A Data Technician may download data from the car by cable, card or data stick without performing any other task. The Data Technician does not require an armband.

e. All other Team members standing in the working area ('working lane', Article 34.4), as defined in the briefing notes at that Event and separating the pit from the fast lane, will be considered as working on the car and as such will be counted as mechanics, as will a driver if he performs any work on the car.

f. 1 'tyre' technician and 1 'brake' technician external to the Team may, without intervening or working on the car, proceed to conduct visual checks as well as with a temperature probe or pressure gauge. They will wear an armband in accordance with Article 12.4.

5) After refuelling, the fuel contained in the overflow pipe must be poured into a container provided by the Competitor which must be capable of holding 5 litres at least, graduated and fitted with a coupling.

37.2. Refuelling for Events run according to Case D

37.2.1. Free Practice, Pre-qualifying and Installation Laps

During the free practice sessions, refuelling is allowed only in the Teams' pit garages with all necessary safety procedures in place. During the pre-quaifying session, refuelling is not allowed

37.2.2. qualifying

Refuelling in the qualifying practice session is forbidden for all cars.

37.2.3. Races

Refuelling is forbidden during the races.