Leading Dunlop Series drivers believe the issue of deteriorating driving standards needs to be addressed ahead of the 2014 season.

The problem was thrust into the limelight during the year with several races being shortened due to Safety Car periods resulting from accidents.

Category officials have reacted by enforcing a raft of changes for 2014, which will include split qualifying sessions and longer races.

The entry criteria has also been tweaked due to the high level of competitor interest in the class, with the top 28 cars from 2013 guaranteed a start.

From the second round, the remainder of the field will be decided based on the series standings.

Although pleased by the changes, leading drivers Dale Wood, Taz Douglas and Jack Perkins feel more needs to be done to improve driving standards.

Wood, who wrapped up the 2013 Dunlop Series title at the Sydney 500 last weekend, has suggested a hike in entry fees could be the answer to make the series more professional and discourage the amateur drivers.

V8 Supercars’ favourable tyre deal with Dunlop ensures that the second-tier class has one of the cheapest entry fees in national level Australian motorsport.

“It looks good on paper the changes for next season but as we have spoken before, the frustration at the moment is the amount of money we pay against the amount of racing laps we do,” said Wood.

“If you go away and do the maths on it you would be pretty blown away but its a catch 22 because its been the best year we’ve ever seen for TV.

“I don’t know how to put this the right way but there is some stuff that goes on down the back of the field. If we up the entry fee and we can have a corporate facility like Porsche it might knock a few guys out down the back.

“I’m talking maybe $3,000 extra per round or something like that. It would be sad if it eliminates some drivers but go and do Kumho Series or something they can afford, not the second category in Australia.

“It would make a more professional category maybe that would eliminate some of the driving standards issues and the accidents, so we can race a bit longer. Its not easy to fix but next year looks better.”

Eggleston Motorsport driver Perkins, who has struggled for funds to compete in this year’s races, says the answer lies in Australia’s race licensing system but didn’t completely rule out Wood’s proposal.

He strongly believes a set V8 race experience level should be required by drivers to gain entry into the category.

“I would have to think about whether raising the entry fee would help driving standards and is specifically the right thing to do.

“In terms of driving standards the way the licensing works in Australia is you do four races to get off your P plates and then you can go a buy a V8 Supercar and race in the Dunlop Series.

“So is that fair if you have only done four car races? That is where the problem lies. I think drivers need to tick off some boxes before they come race here in this category.”

Image Racing’s Douglas echoed Perkins thoughts to the extent that a certain driving ability should be attained before a driver can enter the Dunlop Series.

The former full time V8 Supercar driver and Nissan Motorsport co-driver also suggested a tightening of the qualifying cut-off, which currently stands at a generous 110 percent of the pole time.

“I don’t know how to fix it,” he said.

“There are the guys down the back who are three, four five seconds off the pace and its pretty ridiculous when you come across them in qualifying and practice. They can’t look in their mirrors.

“I think there needs to be a standard of driving now which drivers need to be at to race in this category. Some drivers are so busy that they can’t handle what is going on. Its dangerous.

“It can ruin peoples weekends but then again there isn’t a rule that these drivers cannot compete in it. You can’t exclude someone from racing.

“I think if they change the qualifying rule so if drivers are 2.5 seconds adrift then they don’t qualify for the race could be an answer, but then you would still have problems in qualifying sessions.”

The 2014 Dunlop Series will kick-off at the Clipsal 500 Adelaide in March.