Photo: V8 Supercars

Changes confirmed for safety car restart

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The V8 Supercars Commission has confirmed to make four key changes to the safety car restart procedure after the incidents in the season opener at the Clipsal 500.

– Increasing the speed limit when the cars form for restarts from 50-60km per hour to 60-80km per hour
– Cars are not permitted to overtake before the control (start-finish)
– The Acceleration Zone (AZ) will be lengthened
– The lead driver will determine the restart; no green flag from the starters box

The changes, which have been made based on feedback from teams and drivers, will come into effect in the next race at Symmons Plains Raceway.

The incidents at the Clipsal 500 saw three cars going abreast into the first corner after a safety car restart, with Garth Tander nudging Team BOC’s Jason Bright into a spectacular roll, as well as Shane Van Gisbergen and Rick Kelly getting penalised for exceeding the 60 km/h restart speed limit.