2022 PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge rules explained

The return to sprint racing coincides with the return of the popular PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge.

This weekend's NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint will commence the 2022 pit stop competition.

The challenge was introduced in 2017 to recognise the efforts of pit crews. Brad Jones Racing is the three-time defending champion.

From this weekend, teams will go head to head in pursuit of $20,000 and the coveted 'Golden Rattle Gun Trophy'.

The scoreboard will be updated after every round; CLICK HERE to view the leaderboard.

RULES

In 2022, entrants will compete as 'teams' as opposed to 'cars'. Teams are defined by pit boom, with each team comprising two cars. The fastest pit stop by either car within each team from each race will count towards the 'Preliminary Races' point score.

For avoidance of doubt. a single -car team paired by a pit boom will be deemed a two-car team and a single-car team with a single pit boom will also count for Pit Stop Challenge points.

Should a team complete multiple stops in a race which comply with the requirement of a CPS, the quickest time of all will be used to calculate points. Should a team fail to complete a CPS in a race, no points will be awarded to that team for that race.

To avoid any potential impact for a BP Ultimate Safety Car to influence Teams’ performance in Pit Lane and therefore results, any race where a Safety Car is called will not count toward the point score.

In the event of two or more Teams being equal on points at the conclusion of the Preliminary Races, the Teams best individual performance across the Preliminary Races will be used to rank the Teams.

For example, if over the Preliminary Races, Team A earns a best score of 10 points and Team B earns 11 points, regardless of the Preliminary Race in which those points were earnt, Team B will place higher on the table.

If this fails to break the tie, then the Team’s second-best individual performance regardless of the Preliminary Race will be used and so on until the tie is broken.

SCORING AND PENALTIES

Points will be earned on a descending scale per race, with the quickest Pit Stop earning 13 points, second quickest earning 12 points and so on, with the slowest time earning 1 point.

If a Driver or Team incurs a penalty in completing the Compulsory Pit Stop(s), the Car will be disqualified, resulting in no points for that race.

The Pit Stop time used in calculating points is the duration between crossing the Pit entry line and Pit exit line, as recorded by Timing. This Pit Stop time is final.

A Pit Stop time can be disqualified for various reasons, as noted below;

Any Pit Stop time disqualification is final and is not subject to an appeal. Any Car disqualified will not have its time considered. The Team points will then be determined using the Pit Stop of the remaining eligible Car from that Team.

BJR is the three-time defending champ

SCHEDULE

Preliminary Races^

This year multiple* races will decide which four (4) Teams move onto the live finals at this year’s Repco Bathurst 1000;

Race 3: Tasmania SuperSprintRace 4: Tasmania SuperSprintRace 5: Tasmania SuperSprintRace 6: AGPRace 7: AGPRace 8: AGPRace 9: AGPRace 10: Perth SuperNightRace 11: Perth SuperNightRace 12: Perth SuperNightRace 13: Winton SuperSprintRace 14: Winton SuperSprintRace 15: Winton SuperSprintRace 16: Darwin Triple CrownRace 17: Darwin Triple CrownRace 18: Darwin Triple CrownRace 21: OTR The Bend SuperSprintRace 22: OTR The Bend SuperSprintRace 23: OTR The Bend SuperSprintRace 24: Sandown SuperSprintRace 25: Sandown SuperSprintRace 26: Sandown SuperSprintRace 27: Auckland SuperSprintRace 28: Auckland SuperSprintRace 29: Auckland SuperSprint

*Schedule subject to change as events and event formats are confirmed.

All the above races require one compulsory Pit Stop (CPS). The top four (4) Teams from the above Preliminary Races will compete in a live eliminator final at the Repco Bathurst 1000* for the Pirtek Pit Stop Challenge Golden Rattle Gun and cash prize.

PRIZE POOL

Preliminary Races

At the completion of the Preliminary Races segment for the PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge program, the top three Teams on the PIRTEK Pit Stop Challenge Leaderboard will be awarded the following prize pool ($AUD):

1st = $5,500

2nd = $3,500

3rd = $2,000

LIVE FINAL

The winner of the Live Final to be held at the Repco Bathurst 1000 will be awarded the following amount ($AUD):

1st = $20,000

Rules surrounding the Live Final will be distributed to relevant Teams closer to the Event.