V8 Supercars has scrapped plans for double-file Safety Car restarts after drivers expressed concern that it would cause unnecessary carnage.
Trialled for the first time at the recent Sydney Motorsport Park test day, V8 Supercars officials decided against the new double fire restart procedure deeming it unsafe at circuits such as Adelaide.
The rolling start procedure will still be used in the second leg of the six ’60/60 Super Sprint’ events, introduced for 2013 season.
The new sprint format to be run at Tasmania, Perth, Darwin, Ipswich, Winton and Phillip Island is a 120 km race split into two 60 km halves and separated by a 15-minute ‘half time’ break. The second 60 km race features a side-by-side rolling start, with lead drivers only allowed to accelerate in a designated zone past the start-finish line.
