Race format

The Races

STARTING GRID

Race 1: The winner of Saturday’s qualifying shot-out will, of course, take pole position for Race 1 on Sunday alongside the losing finalist on the front row; the two losing semi-finalist will line up on the second row ahead of those clubs eliminated in the quarter finals. Grid positions outside the top eight will be awarded in order of qualifying times with cars from the faster of the sessions lining up in order on same side of the grid as the pole sitter and cars from the slower session on the other side of the grid. So the fifth placed car from the faster of the two groups lines up in ninth position and the fifth placed car from the slower of the two sessions in tenth… The fastest group will be determined by the faster of the two times set by the driver from the group who posts the quickest time regardless of any other times of any other drivers in that group.

Race 2: One of the great attractions of Superleague Formula is Race 2, which unlike any other major motor sport competition, sees the fastest cars from Race 1 starting from back. The starting grid is completely reversed from the results of Race 1 meaning that, for example, if a car goes off at the first corner of the first race, it will be on pole for Race 2. Superleague Formula believes that this revolutionary Reverse Grids format – where the fastest driver in the fastest car in Race 1 is asked to make his way up the grid (and thereby encourage overtaking and a real battle on the racetrack) in Race 2 – creates a new degree of excitement that helps to underline SF’s unique appeal.

THE RACES

Two races: Superleague Formula meetings feature two main races of equal length. Each race is timed at approximately 45 minutes (44 minutes plus one lap when 44 minutes have elapsed then the next moment that the leader passes the start finish line he has one more lap to go). This is meant to bring it as close to a 45-minute half time football match equivalent.

Points: Points for the Superleague Formula championship are scored in both races each Sunday. There are points available for every position in the field with 50 up for grabs for a race win. The scoring system is set up to encourage drivers to overtake by awarding those at the front significantly more than those at the back. The scoring system is: 50-45-40-36-32-29-26-23-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. Points are scored equally in both races. A driver managing to win both races on Sunday would collect 100 points. If a driver fails to finish a race, he still scores points. For example, in a field of 17 cars, the first car that fails to finish will earn six points. If a driver fails to start an event, they do not score any points.

Pit stops: Pit stops for tyre changes are compulsory and are only allowed at any time after a car has completed eight laps and must occur before they have completed 20 laps.

Rolling starts: Superleague Formula is going to stay with this exciting way of starting a race. The clock (for the 44 minutes) is started at the very moment the pace car leads all the cars off the grid and the pace car will normally turn its orange lights off during that lap and pull into the pits after completing just one lap. If it is raining it will always do two laps and if the Race Director is not happy with something then he can keep the pace car circulating until he is happy. When the pace car pulls into the pits the overhead starting lights will be on red and the race director will turn off the red lights as the first car approaches those overhead lights on the start finish line. At the moment the red lights are turned off, all cars can accelerate and overtake each other even if the cars at the back have not yet passed the start finish/line.

Pace car: This is deployed during a race if there is a problem on the track that might cause damage or injury to another competitor or marshal or even the public. When this happens all the cars will bunch up and await the pace car turning off his lights (orange flashing – on top of the car) and this is the sign that when they pass the start finish line then the race is back on. In this instance there can be no change of position until they pass the start finish line. If any car overtakes another before that point it will be penalized.

THE SUPER FINAL

The opening round of the 2009 Superleague Formula heralds the arrival an exciting new Super Final. This special shoot-out consists of 5 laps and it will run immediately after Race 2 and will feature the top six combined point’s championship finishers from both races. Points will not be awarded but this Super Final climax will decide the overall ‘Weekend Winner’ and also the distribution of prize money. The winner will receive €100,000, the runner-up €70,000 and third place €40,000.

The three-race Super Final format will be run at four race meetings in 2009: those events at Magny Cours, Donington, Estoril and Jarama. There will be a ‘Weekend Winner’ at both Zolder and Monza but this time awarded to the club scoring the most championship points in the two 45-minute races.

Super Final grid: Grid positions will be determined on the basis of combined points achieved from Race 1 and Race 2. In the event that car(s) from Race 1 are unable to take their positions on the grid (due to mechanical, accident or other reasons) then the next available car(s) from the final classification of the combined point’s championship will take up the relevant position(s). Refueling and tire changes are allowed (from within the allocation for the race weekend) and must be done in the pit lane.

The Super Final: The Super Final will run immediately after Race 2 and will be contested by a total of six cars. Grid positions will be determined on the basis of combined points achieved from Race 1 and Race 2. The Super Final will consist of 5 laps and the start procedure will be a standing start. The finishing order will determine the first sixth places prize money. All other prize money (from seventh place) will be determined by the combined points total from Races 1 and 2.

Prize Money (& points)

Zolder / Monza weekend winner: Championship points awarded in the two dramatic 44+1 minute Superleague Formula showdowns will be added together with the highest overall scorer winning the €100,000 top prize, €70,000 will go to the second highest points scorer and €40,000 to the third. No Super Final Race will take place on this two cuircuits.