The Pointy End ... points system and qualifying explained
August 3rd 2007 10:57
The V8 Supercar series is a constantly changing entity, with each season seeing alterations to drivers, teams and the structure of the sport itself to ensure the continuation of an exciting and enjoyable competition. The essential framework of the championship went through two major changes between the end of the 2006 season and the beginning of 2007; namely, an overhaul of the points system and a complete revamp of race qualifying.
In previous years, the points system has rewarded all drivers who complete the race, providing at least one point to every driver who crosses the finish line at the end of the race. This system forced teams to do hurried mid-race patch-up jobs on cars damaged during the race and send them back out on the track just to ensure they finish the race and pick up valuable points.
In 2007 the points system has been changed and rewards drivers not for just managing to finish a race but for competitive and professional racing which results in attaining the best possible position in the race that they can.
Substantial points rewards are offered to drivers who finish at the “pointy end” at the completion of a race (my thanks to Neil Crompton* for that terminology to describe a driver who finishes in the top few places) with points only awarded to drivers who finish within the first fifteen positions.
“The system is designed to have all of the pressure moving forward and
through the field,” Wayne Cattach, V8 Supercars Australia Chief Executive
said. He believes the new points structure will “produce great racing” and “reward those striving for the front of the field”.
“Over the course of a season making up a position in any race will make a big difference come the end of the year.”
Ultimately, whether the new points system works in the way it was designed to or not, it does seem to be a step in the right direction for the sport, promoting competitive driving and requiring every driver to do what is expected of him … to do his utmost to win.
The format for race qualifying in the sprint rounds has definitely changed for the better, giving every driver in the field the same chance of attaining that elusive pole position. The endurance races will retain the same qualifying format as in 2006.
Previously, pole position was determined by a number of qualifying sessions resulting in ten drivers who had recorded the ten highest lap times during those qualifying periods. There was then a Top Ten Shootout which saw those fastest ten qualifiers do just one “hot lap” each to determine which position they would occupy on the grid.
Positions outside the top ten were determined by their original qualifying time.
This season the qualifying format is totally different with three separate sessions and no “hot lap” for the top ten fastest drivers. Qualifying takes place over the space of 60 minutes as detailed below.
Part 1: all 31 cars take to the track for 15 minutes followed by a five minute break.
Part 2: the eleven slowest cars from part 1 are dropped with just the twenty fastest cars coming out again for another 15 minutes followed by a five minute break.
The slowest drivers from part 1 will line up on the grid in the order they finish this session of qualifying.
Part 3: another ten cars are dropped for the third session of 15 minutes with the ten fastest cars from part 2 battling it out for pole. Positions eleven through to twenty are determined by the qualifying times of the ten dropped cars from part 2.
The new qualifying format is a much fairer method of determining starting positions on the grid and I strongly hope that it remains beyond the end of the 2007 championship series.
* Neil Crompton is one of Australia’s most experienced motor racing drivers and best-loved racing personalities. A founding member of the Holden Racing Team in 1989, Crompton has driven for many teams, sharing his knowledge with a multitude of different manufacturers. He finished his V8 racing career as a Ford driver before moving into a role as expert commentator for the TV coverage team.
In previous years, the points system has rewarded all drivers who complete the race, providing at least one point to every driver who crosses the finish line at the end of the race. This system forced teams to do hurried mid-race patch-up jobs on cars damaged during the race and send them back out on the track just to ensure they finish the race and pick up valuable points.
In 2007 the points system has been changed and rewards drivers not for just managing to finish a race but for competitive and professional racing which results in attaining the best possible position in the race that they can.
Substantial points rewards are offered to drivers who finish at the “pointy end” at the completion of a race (my thanks to Neil Crompton* for that terminology to describe a driver who finishes in the top few places) with points only awarded to drivers who finish within the first fifteen positions.
Commentator Neil Crompton enjoying the thing he loves most ... motorsport
“The system is designed to have all of the pressure moving forward and
through the field,” Wayne Cattach, V8 Supercars Australia Chief Executive
said. He believes the new points structure will “produce great racing” and “reward those striving for the front of the field”.
“Over the course of a season making up a position in any race will make a big difference come the end of the year.”
Ultimately, whether the new points system works in the way it was designed to or not, it does seem to be a step in the right direction for the sport, promoting competitive driving and requiring every driver to do what is expected of him … to do his utmost to win.
The format for race qualifying in the sprint rounds has definitely changed for the better, giving every driver in the field the same chance of attaining that elusive pole position. The endurance races will retain the same qualifying format as in 2006.
Previously, pole position was determined by a number of qualifying sessions resulting in ten drivers who had recorded the ten highest lap times during those qualifying periods. There was then a Top Ten Shootout which saw those fastest ten qualifiers do just one “hot lap” each to determine which position they would occupy on the grid.
Positions outside the top ten were determined by their original qualifying time.
This season the qualifying format is totally different with three separate sessions and no “hot lap” for the top ten fastest drivers. Qualifying takes place over the space of 60 minutes as detailed below.
Part 1: all 31 cars take to the track for 15 minutes followed by a five minute break.
Part 2: the eleven slowest cars from part 1 are dropped with just the twenty fastest cars coming out again for another 15 minutes followed by a five minute break.
The slowest drivers from part 1 will line up on the grid in the order they finish this session of qualifying.
Part 3: another ten cars are dropped for the third session of 15 minutes with the ten fastest cars from part 2 battling it out for pole. Positions eleven through to twenty are determined by the qualifying times of the ten dropped cars from part 2.
The new qualifying format is a much fairer method of determining starting positions on the grid and I strongly hope that it remains beyond the end of the 2007 championship series.
* Neil Crompton is one of Australia’s most experienced motor racing drivers and best-loved racing personalities. A founding member of the Holden Racing Team in 1989, Crompton has driven for many teams, sharing his knowledge with a multitude of different manufacturers. He finished his V8 racing career as a Ford driver before moving into a role as expert commentator for the TV coverage team.
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