Criticism on changed start rule

Voices have been raised against the changed rule regarding the start procedure for the Swedish Touring Car Championship. Touring Car expert and multiple champion Duncan Huisman say that the changed rule is a safety hazard.
“The only thing you get with this change is a higher risk of damage in the start,” said Duncan Huisman to TouringCarTimes.com.

The criticized part of the changed start procedure reads: “The driver on pole position determines the speed of the field (rolling start) and no passing is allowed ahead of the start and finish line.”

Last season the field were allowed to overtake as soon as the start lights went out. TouringCarTimes contacted STCC race director Johnny Haraldsson on the subject.

“As we now can use the start line and transponder signal, it is going to be much more clear on how the start was performed and eventual stewards decisions can be based on it,” said STCC race director Johnny Haraldsson to TouringCarTimes.com.

Concerns have been raised among the teams and drivers that the changed rules can create big consequences, something Huisman shares.

“The risk with this rule change is that if something happens before the start and finish line, the consequences will be immense,” said Huisman.

Race director Haraldsson has had the safety car restart procedure as base for the new start rules.

“I think you can find risks with all rules, the procedure of this is going to be the same as after a restart behind the safety car and that has worked good,” said Haraldsson to TouringCarTimes.com.

Huisman on the other hand means that the start is something completely different as the cars are driving in two lines along side each other, compared to the single line after a safety car.

“This is something completely different. What if the pole man selects the wrong gear and the entire field has to stand on the brakes to avoid passing him? Complete chaos,” said Huisman.

But race director Haraldsson does not share the concerns of Huisman.

“For sure, anything can happen independent of the rules, but I do not see this as being extra risky,” said Haraldsson.