45. Starting Procedure

45.1.

At the time stipulated in the Official Timetable, the cars will leave the pits to cover a single reconnaissance lap. At the end of this lap they will stop on the grid in starting order with their engines stopped. Only the nominated starting driver may drive the car for the reconnaissance lap.

Any car which does not finish the reconnaissance lap and does not reach the grid or the pit lane under its own power will not be permitted to start the race from the grid and, if able to do so, must start from the pit lane.

45.2.

A maximum of 15 minutes after the pit lane opens, the pit lane will close. A warning signal announcing the closing of the pit lane exit will be given two minutes beforehand.

Any car which is still in the pits can start from the pit lane, but only under the direction of the marshals.

It may be moved to the pit exit only with the driver in position.

Where the pit exit is immediately after the Line, cars will join the race when the whole field has passed the pit exit on its first racing lap.

Where the pit exit is immediately before the Line, cars will join the race as soon as the whole field has crossed the Line after the start.

The remainder of the starting procedure will take place in accordance with the Official Timetable of the Event until the 10-minute signal/board.

45.3.

Wheel changes on the starting grid will only be allowed prior to the 5-minute signal. Wheels may only be brought onto the grid before the pit lane closes; this may be altered by a Bulletin from the Stewards depending on the Official Timetable of the Event.

45.4.

The approach of the start will be announced by signal boards shown ten minutes, five minutes, three minutes, one minute and fifteen seconds before the start of the formation lap, each of which will be accompanied by an audible warning signal.

When the ten-minute signal is given, everybody except drivers, Officials and Team technical staff must leave the grid.

When the five-minute signal is given, all cars must have their wheels fitted.

After this signal, wheels may only be removed in the pits, except as provided for in Article 47.

A penalty may be imposed on any driver whose car did not have all its wheels fully fitted at the five-minute signal.

At the three-minute signal, the cars must be resting on their wheels and the wheels must have been tightened.

A penalty may be imposed on any driver whose car was not resting on its wheels at the three-minute signal or whose wheels were tightened after the three-minute signal.

When the one-minute signal is shown, engines will be started and all Team technical staff must leave the grid by the time the 15-second signal is given, taking all equipment with them.

45.5.

Fifteen-second signal: 15 seconds after this signal, a green flag/light will be shown at the front of the grid whereupon the cars will begin a formation lap behind the Official Leading Car, maintaining their starting order. During this lap, practice starts are forbidden and the formation must be kept as tight as possible.

Overtaking during the formation lap is permitted only if a car is delayed when leaving its grid position and cars behind cannot avoid passing it without unduly delaying the remainder of the field. In this case, drivers may overtake only to re-establish the original starting order. Any driver delayed in this way, and who is unable to re-establish the original starting order before he has crossed Intermediate Timing Point 2 (the end of timing sector 2), or another location advised in the Race Director's briefing notes for the Event, must drop to the back of the grid and start the race from there.

Any driver who is delayed leaving the grid must not overtake another moving car if he was stationary after the remainder of the cars had crossed the Starting Line as defined during the Briefing, and must start the race from the back of the grid. If more than one driver is affected, they must form up at the back of the grid in the order in which they left to complete the formation lap. If the Line is not situated in front of the pole position, for the purposes of this Article only, it will be deemed to be a white line one metre in front of pole position.

A drive-through penalty will be imposed on any driver who, in the opinion of the Stewards, unnecessarily overtook another car during the formation lap.

The speed of the Official Leading Car should be around 80 km/h during the formation lap.

45.6.

Any driver who is unable to start the formation lap must indicate this to the marshals. When leaving the grid, all drivers must proceed at a greatly reduced speed until clear of any personnel standing beside the track.

Marshals will be instructed to push any car (or cars) remaining on the grid into the pit lane by the shortest route as soon as all cars able to leave the grid have done so. Any driver being pushed from the grid must not attempt to start his car until in the pit lane.

45.7.

When all cars are lined up side-by-side for the start, the Official Leading Car will reduce the speed of the field to 50 km/h before pulling off the track into the pit lane. From that moment, the car on pole position will be in charge of the speed. The leader must then slowly increase his speed to a maximum of 110 Km/h by the moment of the start.

Approaching the start, the formation of cars must be kept as tight as possible up to the point that the start signal is given. This means there should be no significant gaps between the rows of cars as they approach the Line for the starting signal. As the leader slowly increases his speed to a maximum of 110 km/h by the moment of the start, all cars in the formation should do likewise, remaining in close formation and in line over the starting boxes until the starting signal is given. No car should exceed the speed of the leader prior to the starting signal.

During the briefing the Race Director may define a 'Starting Zone' from which point the start can be given. In this case, the cars will only be authorised to race and overtake once they have entered the zone.

Any divergence from the prescribed instructions before the start is given will result in a penalty.

During the formation lap the red light will be on. No car may overtake another one before the starting signal is given.

45.8.

There will be a rolling start as described in the Code. Race timing will commence at the point that the race start signal (green light or other start signal as specified in the Drivers' Briefing) is given. Should an additional formation lap be carried out, Article 45.9 will apply.

During the start of a race, the pit wall must be kept free of all persons with the exception of properly authorised Officials and fire marshals, all of whom shall have been issued with and shall be wearing the appropriate pass. During a start behind Safety Car, the Team personnel may return to the pit wall once the cars have left the grid.

The official race start time will be posted on the timing screen by the Timekeepers. All subsequent times in the race (pit stops etc) will refer to this time.

45.9.

If a problem arises when the cars reach the Line at the end of the formation lap, the red light will stay on. Yellow flags will be displayed at all marshal posts. The cars, with the pole position leading, will complete a new formation lap.

The car on pole position will set the pace and the cars will continue for another formation lap.

Should such an additional formation lap be carried out, the race timing will commence at the end of the first formation lap.

45.10.

A penalty will be imposed for a false start if so reported by Start Line Judges, Judges of Fact, the Race Director or the Starter.

45.11.

Only in the following cases will any variation in the starting procedure be allowed:

a) If it starts to rain after the five-minute signal but before the race is started and, in the opinion of the Race Director, Competitors should be given the opportunity to change tyres, the abort lights will be shown on the Line and the starting procedure will begin again at the 10-minute point.

b) If the start of the race is imminent and, in the opinion of the Race Director, the volume of water on the track is such that it cannot be negotiated safely even on wet-weather tyres, the abort lights will be shown on the Line and information concerning the likely delay will be displayed on the timing monitors. Once the start time is known, at least ten minutes' warning will be given.

c) If the race is started behind the Safety Car, Article 46.8 will apply.

d) In certain cases, according to the Supplementary Regulations of the Event or by decision of the Race Director and/or the Promoter, a shortened starting procedure may be stipulated. If decided on site, it will be notified by Bulletin from the Stewards.

45.12.

The Stewards may use any video or electronic means to assist them in reaching a decision. The Stewards may overrule Judges of Fact. A breach of the provisions of the Code or these Sporting Regulations relating to starting procedure may result in any penalty up to and including the disqualification of the car and drivers concerned from the Competition.