Pit stop, Safety Car procedure changes for Christchurch
Pit lane, Safety Car procedure change for Christchurch Super 440
Supercars makes variation to the rules for this weekend’s event
Rules brought in for Christchurch to ensure safety in pit lane
Supercars has confirmed pit stop and Safety Car procedure changes for this weekend’s ITM Christchurch Super 440.
The Ruapuna venue will stage its first Supercars round this weekend, and will decide the 2026 winner of the Jason Richards Memorial Trophy.
The narrow pit lane has prompted Supercars to make two changes for the weekend, in the event of a Safety Car. The revised Christchurch rules have been put in place to negate double-stacking.
It comes as a number of teams moved pit bays on Wednesday to ensure better spacing, with some pit bays and pit booms shifted.
The rule reads: "Double stacking is prohibited at all times during R10, R11, R12, and R13.
"Only one (1) Car sharing a Pit Bay is permitted in the Pit Lane at any time save for when a Car sharing the same Pit Bay has slowed on the Circuit with an obvious problem and/or has sustained obvious damage and/or has a puncture.
"A Car in the Pit Lane must cross the Pit Exit timing line before another Car sharing the same Pit Bay, is permitted to cross the Pit Entry timing line."
Per existing Safety Car rules, speeds will be restricted at the affected area of the track, with single yellows to be waved around the rest of the circuit.
Christchurch Safety Car intervention regulations read: "Pit Exit will be open at all times except when the SC and the line of Cars are approaching the Pit Exit.
"Drivers intending to enter Pit Lane must maintain track position until they cross the SC1 line.
"If the Pit Exit is open, the position of Cars exiting the Pit Lane relative to those on the Race Track, including the SC, will be determined by the order of the Cars as they cross the SC2 line.
"If a Driver stops at their Pit Bay, they may only re-join the Race Track when the Pit Exit is open.
"A Car re-joining the Race Track must proceed at reduced speed until it reaches the end of the line of Cars behind the SC."
Both Taupō races ran green last weekend, while there were no pit stops at last month’s Melbourne SuperSprint.
Track action in Christchurch commences on Friday.
