Dubai 24 Hours 10 &11th January 2014

[Maelochs]

The timing of the Code 60s has really affected the race---so many penalties for pitting under Code sixties. Not a fan of the rule, but at least it seems to be balancing out.

[cmk]

Originally Posted by Coach Ep

Apparently the ´First 5 not allowed to pit under code 60´ rule applies to the first 5 cars overall. No specific reason is given for this measure but it seems to be done to enhance competition... (did Creventic do a little internship with Nascar perhaps? ).

Also there is a ridiculously complicated procedure for top 5 cars that do pit under code 60 when they threaten to run out of fuel.

Completely in the woods on why Creventic came up with this little bit of ´voodoo´.....

This particular rule is rather taking the shine off the event for me. Now we get to spend half our time wondering when a car is going to lose huge chunks of time, even multiple laps, because they happened to be running well and were in the pits when some numpty spins a Seat or something. Difficult to follow, even for the RLM guys who are presently trying to sort out the balance of gigantic time penalties between #1 and #4.

We could be doing this, or we could not be faffing about with this and actually letting cars race. What to do, what to do?

[fieldodreams79]

I don't like the penalties either but really don't see away around the pitting under the 60s. At least it's the same for everyone and hopefully, attrition will help clean things up after a bit.

[cmk]

But it's not the same for everyone. It's only the same if you're in the top 5, which seems completely arbitrary. If such an arbitrary competition rule is implemented, I also don't understand why it applies to cars which had already entered the pits before the Code 60 is called. Most rules prohibiting pitting under yellow in other series do not apply to cars already in pit lane. Once you start applying long penalties, the probability of being in the pits when a Code 60 is called also becomes self-reinforcing.

[kyoung]

Nicky Pastorelli is hauling, too bad he has to get out of the car.

[nasdriv87]

Originally Posted by fieldodreams79

2 hrs of code 60 in the first 7.5 hours.

omg!!! well i'm still working here at my job and can't see nothing from web... boss is always walking around looking for things...

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by cmk

But it's not the same for everyone. It's only the same if you're in the top 5, which seems completely arbitrary. If such an arbitrary competition rule is implemented, I also don't understand why it applies to cars which had already entered the pits before the Code 60 is called. Most rules prohibiting pitting under yellow in other series do not apply to cars already in pit lane. Once you start applying long penalties, the probability of being in the pits when a Code 60 is called also becomes self-reinforcing.

Well, it seems i don't have a full understanding of the rules. But wouldn't it be fair to say, that no matter the series or the rule, that some teams/drivers catch a break while others get burned during caution periods?

[Maelochs]

That’s absolutely true, but getting burned a rule which is deliberately designed to affect everyone fairly is a lot different than getting burned by a rule which is designed to treat a very few differently.

The current Code 60 rules says that Only The Top Five Cars cannot pit under Code 60—the rest of the field can pit at will. Cars from the top five which pit under Code 60 have to serve a penalty of .625 seconds times the length of the pit stop—up to a max of two minutes.

Even worse, cars are penalized even if they pit before the Code 60—if they are in the pits and a Code 60 is called, they are treated as if they deliberately pitted under Code 60.

Luckily most of the front-runners got caught, because Code 60s came about every hour—teams had to pit or run out of gas, and then at the end of the next stint, they had to pit under Code 60 again. It balanced out because most of the leaders got caught. However … a car running sixth could come in and pit on schedule under Code 60 and gain a couple minutes on the five leaders because they all had to serve penalties.

[fieldodreams79]

Thanks for the explanation. That does seem quite silly, indeed. In a very close battle at the top, it could have a direct effect on the finishing order.

[Coach Ep]

Seems like Creventic wants to enhance the show just for the sake of having a more freaky show... nothing to do with racing anymore!

This way it´s also hurting the (slow) progress of Code 60 in international racing...

[Louie Loper]

I think the Code 60 is great except for the top 5 deal and penalties. Simply have it that if you are pit road when it comes out, just continue your stop, no penalty. If there was a light at the end of pit road, maybe there is, if you pit when it turns red under the Code 60, then you get your penalty. If it is green when you enter, no problem. Video the entrance to watch for when cars enter.

Get rid of the Top 5 rule, thats dumb.

The Code 60 is great in the sense that it helps protect marshals better. Having cars traveling at 60 clicks is alot more safer.

[J Jay]

Just got home to see the #1 Black Falcon SLS going into the garage with an unspecified electrical fault.

Have I missed anything major over the past 8 hours?

[fieldodreams79]

Originally Posted by J Jay

Have I missed anything major over the past 8 hours?

Not really; just a feisty start, a couple of bonehead moves too early in the running and a lot of Code 60 time.

[Simmi]

Pulling for the Fach car. A win would be great for the careers of De Phillipi and Ragginger.

And also the headlines it could generate. Porsche Fachs rivals haha.

[TheDude]

No #16 Race Alliance?

[MitchZ06]

"if they had 4 Nicky Pastorellis they'd be on for a podium"

Oooh yeah.

[Coach Ep]

Originally Posted by MitchZ06

"if they had 4 Nicky Pastorellis they'd be on for a podium"

Oooh yeah.

Well, there r at least 2 capable of competitive lap times so...

[FstrthnU]

http://sportscar365.com/gt/24hdubai/...ours-of-dubai/
Congratulations to Stadler Motorsprot for winning the Dubai 24! Someone finally slaid the Mercedes-Benzes!

[RoeDent]

Thoroughly enjoyed the race this year, especially considering I wasn't really planning on following it. I only caught the night practice session on RLM Thursday, and it got me excited for it. Seriously, those guys are a significant part of why I love 24-hour races. Their enthusiasm and love of motorsport is very infectious.