New AASA rules and regs deemed a success

The opening round of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series has been run and done, the first Australian Auto-Sport Alliance (AASA) circuit racing event to run under the revised AASA Circuit Racing Standing Regulations.

At The Bend Motorsport Park last weekend (March 13 – 15), new AASA sporting regulations designed to lower participation costs, simplify event procedures and make racing more rewarding for competitors were implemented.

A new start / restart acceleration zone, judicial system, Pace Car deployment protocol, pre-grid protocol, a return to race laps, increased driver responsibilities and a raft other streamlining procedures were used.

This resulted in record amount of race laps being completed, green flag finishes and more on track action than ever before.

Rolling starts were introduced to reduce first corner accidents, and in its first weekend of operation at a national level, only one safety car was thrown as a result of a lap 1, Turn 1 incident across the 28 races held at The Bend.

All 28 ran full distance and finished under green flag conditions despite several red flags, and major incidents.

In total there were 17 deployments of the Pace Car, however on all occasions the race resumed and finished under green flag conditions.

The restart zone was a success story also providing an advantage to those leading the race, the driver in first dictates when the race re-commences. All weekend only two incidents occurred in the acceleration/restart zone during any start or restart.

Solid enforcement of the card judicial system certainly caught a few out with several yellow and red cards handed out across the weekend.

New formats were also trialled including a full field shootout on Sunday for the Yokohama Tyres AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship.

Like a Top 10 Shootout, drivers were given one timed lap each to make it count. Drivers were sent out onto the track three at a time in twenty second intervals. This was done so competitors did not give or receive a slip stream advantage from another driver.

The second round of the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series occurs from May 1-3 at Queensland Raceway. The event will feature the incredibly popular TA2 Muscle Car Series Tag Team Enduro format.

Other categories included on the bill are the Yokohama Tyres AASA Australian Formula Ford Championship, Australian IRC Racing Series, Formula RX8, the APC Enduro Championship and more.

Marcos Ambrose – AASA Competition and Commercial Director

“We at the AASA were delighted to see the new rules and regulations roll out successfully at The Bend Motorsport Park,” he said.

“We will continue to refine and adapt the new Circuit Racing Standing Regulations during the season. We certainly learnt a lot at our first event, and we look forward to assessing the outcomes and improving what was rolled out at The Bend.

“We made significant changes to improve event flow, speed up race turn arounds, simply and speed up the judicial system, beef up race control, improve track recovery and safety, but more importantly create a better race environment, so our categories and competitors get the best event possible.

“We were certainly challenged at times during the event, with several red flags and Pace Car deployments, but the new regulations, people and procedures stood up to that test which gives us a lot of confidence moving forward.

“Our priority this weekend was to make sure every category got their designated laps and we achieved that for every category and every race.”

Stephen Whyte – AASA CEO

“After a lot of work in the off-season, it was fantastic to see it play out in reality, and we are pleased with how it went. There is some room for subtle alterations, but as a whole we are very satisfied,” Whyte said.

“We are pleased to report that the feedback on the new rules and regulations has been really positive.

“The racing on the weekend was constant, drivers certainly can’t complain they didn’t have any shortage of green flag racing action.

“I’m incredibly pleased to see how the Hi-Tec Oils Super Series has grown over the last 24 months, the rest of the season promises to be epic.”