Published Copy 2017 F4 BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP CERTIFIED BY FIA - POWERED BY FORD SPORTING REGULATIONS ____________________________________ _________________ Eve Lake-Grange Date Page 1 2017 F4 BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP - CERTIFIED BY FIA, POWERED BY ECOBOOST The first step on the ladder from karting to Formula 1 The world of single-seater racing has undergone a radical shift in the last decade, as more formulae come and go, making the path to Formula 1 more confusing than ever. In an attempt to clearly set out the path, the FIA created Formula 4. The F4 British Championship certified by FIA - powered by Ford transformed the junior motorsport scene in Britain with the FIA and MSA ensuring consistent organisation, technical fairness, sporting relevancy and stability for teams and drivers alike. With its place on BTCC, Britain’s premier motorsport package, the F4 British Championship is the sole single seater support championship for the BTCC’s programme, with three races at each of the ten TOCA-organised Meetings, plus the benefit of live TV coverage. The thirty-race format provides young drivers with the maximum track time balanced with value for budget. Combine this with the unrivalled profile and learning opportunities which the F4 British Championship provides and the result is a superb springboard to success on the motorsport ladder for new drivers. New for 2017 is the introduction of the Ford F4 Challenge Cup within the Championship. With Challenge Cup scores coming from 7 of the 10 Championship rounds, with an enforced restricted testing allowance, it gives up and coming drivers the chance to compete on track against the main Championship runners for a lower budget. Page 2 CONTENTS Article Page 1. Sporting Regulations 1.1 Title & Jurisdiction 1 1.2 Officials 1 1.2.1 Championship Co-ordinator 1 1.2.2 Championship Eligibility Scrutineer 1 1.2.3 Championship Stewards 1 1.2.4 Permanent Clerk of the Course 1 1.3 Competitor Eligibility 2 1.3.1 Entrant 2 1.3.2 Drivers 2 1.3.3 Sign On 2 1.4 Registration 2 1.4.1 Competitors 2 1.4.2 Maximum number of cars 3 1.4.3 Registration fee 3 1.4.4 Registration numbers 3 1.4.5 Acceptance or rejection 3 1.5 Championship Rounds 3 1.5.1 Challenge Cup Class 3 1.5.2 Event Nomination 3 1.5.3 Mandatory Rounds 3 1.5.4 Switching Rounds 4 1.5.5 Switching to Championship Class 4 1.6 Scoring 4 1.6.1 Points 4 1.6.2 Championship title 4 1.6.3 Challenge Cup Class 4 1.6.4 Teams Cup 4 1.6.5 Resolving ties 5 1.6.6 Reduced distances 5 1.7 Awards 5 1.7.1 Provider 5 1.7.2 Per Round 5 1.7.3 Championship 5 1.7.4 Presentation 5 1.7.5 Entertainment tax liability 5 1.7.6 Title to all trophies 6 1.7.7 Bonuses 6 2. Championship Meetings and Race Procedures 7 2.1 Entries 7 2.1.1 Responsibility 7 2.1.2 Incorrect entries 7 2.1.3 Final rounds 7 2.1.4 Withdrawal 7 2.1.5 Entry fee 7 2.1.6 Oversubscribed 7 2.1.7 Entry prioritisation 7 2.1.8 Reserves 7 2.1.9 Reserves start procedure 7 2.1.10 Reserves driver qualification 7 Page 3 2.1.11 Reserve drivers in pit lane 7 2.1.12 Refund of entry fees 7 2.1.13 Driver/Team Change 7 2.1.14 Minimum entry 8 2.2 Briefings 8 2.3 Qualification 8 2.3.1 Qualifying disrupted 8 2.3.2 Minimum number of laps 8 2.3.3 Grids 8 2.4 Races 9 2.5 Starts 9 2.5.1 Formation 9 2.5.2 Procedure 9 2.5.3 Cars removed from grid 9 2.5.4 Unable to start 9 2.5.5 Lights failure 9 2.5.6 Radiators & Brakes 9 2.6 Session Red Flag 9 2.7 Pits, Paddock & Pitlane Safety 9 2.7.1 Pits and Paddock 9 2.7.2 Pitlane 9 2.7.3 Refuelling 10 2.7.4 Speed Limit 10 2.8 Race Finishes 10 2.8.1 Chequered flag 10 2.8.2 Parc Fermé 11 2.9 Results 11 2.10 Timing Modules 11 2.10.1 Transponders 11 2.10.2 Timing equipment 11 2.11 Qualification Races 11 2.12 Operation of Safety Car 11 2.13 On-Board Judicial Cameras 11 2.13.1 Designated cameras 11 2.13.2 Operation 12 2.13.3 Memory cards 12 2.13.4 Qualifying 12 2.13.5 Races 12 2.13.6 Penalties 12 2.13.7 Non operational camera or card 12 2.13.8 Camera footage 13 2.13.9 Film production company 13 2.14 In Car Communications 13 2.14.1 Raceiever 13 2.14.2 Messages 13 2.15 Testing 13 2.15.1 Testing ban 13 2.15.2 Official test days 13 2.15.3 Non official testing 14 2.15.4 Non official testing – Challenge Cup Drivers only 14 2.15.5 Testing Joker days 14 2.15.6 Other championships 14 2.15.7 Silverstone and Rockingham 14 2.15.8 Penalties 15 3. Specific Championship Regulations 16 Page 4 4. Championship Race Penalties 17 4.1 Infringement of Technical Regulations 17 4.1.1 Post testing/qualifying scrutineering or judicial action 17 4.1.2 Post race scrutineering or judicial action 17 4.2 Additional Specific Championship Penalties 17 4.2.1 Penalty Points 17 4.2.2 Championship steward’s enquiry 17 4.3 Race ‘n’ Respect 17 5 Technical Regulations 18 5.1 Introduction 18 5.1.1 Technical regulatory documents 18 5.1.2 Car covers 18 5.2 General Description 18 5.2.1 Eligible vehicles 18 5.2.2 Examination of vehicles 18 5.3 Safety Requirements 19 5.3.1 Safety Criteria 19 5.3.2 Drivers safety kit 19 5.3.3 Crash helmets 19 5.3.4 Frontal head restraint 20 5.3.5 Flame resistant clothing 20 5.3.6 Seatbelts 20 5.3.7 Biometric or physiological monitoring device 20 5.4 General Technical Requirements & Exceptions 20 5.5 Chassis 20 5.5.1 Criteria 20 5.5.2 Registered chassis 20 5.5.3 Spare cars 20 5.5.4 Repair decision 21 5.5.5 Circuit restrictions 21 5.5.6 Accident Data Recorders 21 5.5.7 Onboard data 21 5.5.8 Data channels for coaching 21 5.6 Bodywork 21 5.7 Engine 21 5.7.1 Criteria 21 5.7.2 Engines permitted 21 5.7.3 Unsealed engine 21 5.7.4 Engine Seals 22 5.7.5 Engine Usage 22 5.7.6 Replacement Engines 22 5.8 Suspensions 23 5.9 Transmissions 23 5.9.1 Criteria 24 5.9.2 Permitted gearbox/gears 24 5.9.3 Permitted ratio 24 5.9.4 Mandatory oil 24 5.10 Electrics 24 5.11 Brakes 24 5.11.1 Criteria 24 5.11.2 Permitted brake pads 24 5.11.3 Mandatory brake fluid 24 5.12 Wheels/Steering 24 5.13 Tyres 24 5.13.1 Permitted tyres and appointed supplier 25 5.13.2 Specification 25 Page 5 5.13.3 Prohibition of tyre warming 25 5.13.4 Tyre covers 25 5.13.5 Rights of organisers 25 5.13.6 Maximum number of tyres 25 5.13.7 Condition of tyres for meeting 25 5.13.8 Tyres for testing 25 5.13.9 Tyre allocation 25 5.13.10 Tyre nomination 25 5.13.11 Tyre serial numbers 25 5.13.12 Replacement of tyre 26 5.13.13 Tyres permitted in pitlane 26 5.13.14 Tyre parc fermé 26 5.13.15 Procedure for testing of tyres 26 5.14 Vehicle Weight 26 5.14.1 Minimum weight of the car 26 5.14.2 Minimum weight of the car and driver 26 5.14.3 Pre-race weighing 26 5.15 Fuel Tank/Fuel 26 5.15.1 Fuel tank & location 26 5.15.2 Fuel 26 5.15.3 Refuelling 27 5.16 Silencing 27 5.17 Numbers/Decals 27 5.17.1 Competition numbers 27 5.17.2 Championship livery 27 6. Appendices 28 6.1 Race Organising Club and Contacts 28 7. Commercial Regulations 32 7.1 Contracts 32 7.2 Penalties 32 7.2.1 Race meetings 32 7.2.2 TOCA passes 32 7.2.3 Paddock regulations 32 7.2.4 Timetable regulations 34 7.2.5 Radios 35 7.2.6 Advertising and livery 35 7.2.7 Commercial undertakings 36 7.2.8 Television/team filming/footage 37 7.2.9 Onboard footage 37 7.2.10 Requests for television broadcast use 38 7.2.11 Obtaining ITV material 38 7.2.12 Footage restrictions 40 7.2.13 Media obligations 40 Page 6 2017 F4 British Championship certified by FIA - powered by Ford Version: Draft Copy 1. SPORTING REGULATIONS – GENERAL 1.1 Title & Jurisdiction The 2017 F4 British Championship certified by FIA - powered by Ford is organised by the British Racing & Sports Car Club [BRSCC] and promoted by RacingLine Limited and Ford Motor Company in accordance with the General Regulations of the Royal Automobile Club Motor Sports Association (incorporating the provisions of the International Sporting Code of the FIA), these Championship Regulations and the Commercial Undertakings as issued by RacingLine Limited.