Moore Says V8SuperTourer Race Start Rules Unworkable

Media Release 24 March 2014

Moore Says V8SuperTourer Race Start Rules Unworkable

M3 team member Richard Moore says the current rules governing the start of a race are unworkable and need to be reviewed. His reaction comes after the V8SuperTourer weekend racing at Pukekohe that saw six drivers penalised, including Moore, Greg Murphy and Angus Fogg whose first ever win was disallowed as a result.

Currently the starting rules state that grid positions must be maintained until you pass the start finish line, in race two on Sunday 23 March the starter released the pack well before the start line which he is entitled to but pole sitter, Ant Pedersen failed to accelerate when the lights went green. As a result of his missed start six of the front cars fanned out to avoid hitting him, all these lead group of cars were given a 10 second penalty.

Moore says, “One of the things I like about the V8Supertourers competition is it is highly regulated to make sure parity and safety is paramount. The rules relating to starts were sensibly modified after a similar incident at Taupo last year but in the process appears to have inadvertently created a new problem. As of now the start rule just doesn’t make sense, if we hadn’t broken our positions and gone around Ant we most certainly would have rear ended him and other drivers. It would have created huge issues, been dangerous and effectively been the end of the racing for many drivers. The rule needs to be updated.”

Moore says while he and his team mates (Murphy and Haber) also copped ten second penalties, it is Angus Fogg that he felt for.

“We all want that elusive win; Angus drove a smart, tactical race from the start and to lose it based on a ruling that is a joke and goes against keeping drivers safe, must be hugely disappointing. It makes no sense.”

The final race put a smile back on Moore’s face with M3 picking up their first ever clean sweep of a race with Murphy securing his eighth win, young Aussie rookie, Haber taking second place and Moore picking up third position.

“There was non-stop communication with the pit about whether we should come in and change tyres but the move to stay with wets paid off, it was a great way to end the weekend.”

V8ST Sporting regulations state:
6.7.4 Starting Procedures:
1. (1) Approaching the completion of the final formation lap as described above, the Safety Car shall extinguish its yellow lights and exit the track at pit lane entrance.
1. (a) The pole position car must maintain a constant speed of between 70 and 80kph until the signal to start is given. The red light(s) will be extinguished to indicate a start.
2. (b) From the start signal the vehicle in pole position shall accelerate to racing speed.
3. (c) Grid positions must be maintained, no car may break formation until that car has passed the start/finish line.
For the overall results http://www.v8st.co.nz/results/points.html

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