V8 Supercars teams can expect to face a reduced testing allowance next season, according to a draft set of 2012 regulations.
The revised rulebook was sent to the V8 Supercars teams late on Monday, and includes a plan to cut on-track testing for each entry’s ‘Primary’ driver from six days to four.
Under the draft regulations, each team will only test at its designated circuit three times during the year with its regular driver, as the compulsory pre-season will again be deemed as part of the allotment.
As previously reported by Speedcafe.com, V8 Supercars plans to move the pre-season test from Eastern Creek to Sandown, with a February 11 date slated.
To compensate teams for the proposed testing reduction, Evaluation Days will return, allowing each team one day of on-track running for the sole purpose of evaluating drivers who are not currently a Primary driver in the Championship, who have not been nominated as the Primary driver by the team in the previous three seasons and have not competed in five or more V8 Supercars Championship meetings in the previous season.
Two Rookie Days, where drivers registered as a rookie with V8 Supercars can freely test and alter the set-up a Championship, will remain available to each team, while regulations regarding shakedown days for new cars also carry over.
Although use of shock and rolling road dynos appear set to remain unrestricted, full or partial scale wind-tunnel testing has now been specifically outlawed.
Regulations regarding the purchase of new tyres for testing are also being tweaked, with teams expected to be able to purchase two sets of soft tyres per car.
With soft tyres not having previously been allowed to be purchased specifically for testing, the number of hard tyre sets available will be reduced from five to four.
The provision for non-Primary drivers to take part in official practice sessions at selected events will remain, with Darwin, Townsville, Queensland Raceway and Winton Raceway again the nominated venues.
V8 Supercars has also drafted its tyre supply for each event of next year’s V8 Championship. CLICK HERE for Speedcafe.com’s separate story.
