15 November 2016 |
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Karting Australia has released a number of the main changes to next year's KA Rule Book. These are detailed below.
It is refreshing to see the organisation reveal the rationale behind a number of these changes. This is something that hasn't always happened in the recent past.
The 2017 KA 'manual' is scheduled to be available to download later this week.
KA press release
In advance of the release of the 2017 National Competition Rules later this week, Karting Australia is today announcing the major adjustments to the 2017 Manual.
“There are minimal changes for the 2017 National Competition Rules from our 2016 edition of the Karting Australia Manual,” said Karting Australia Chief Executive Officer Kelvin O’Reilly.
“Naturally, the more that we work with our rules the more minor refinements that we find a need to make and they are predictably becoming less and less.
“I would like to thank the many people who have had input into and who have worked on our 2017 rules.
“It includes the members of our National Technical Committee, Sporting and Events Committee, National Track Safety Committee, Rule Change Review Committee and the Karting Australia staff before the Rules were reviewed again and ratified by the Board."
A pre-publication edition of the 2017 Rules will be uploaded to the Karting Australia website later this week at the same time that the print version is placed into the pre-production phase.
None of the new rules will come into effect until 1 January 2017.
The significant changes for 2017 are:
Competition Licences – General Rules, Chapter 4 Rule 15 A
RULE CHANGE
15. Licence Types Issued by KA
a) Drivers licences (Refer to Rules 18-22 herein)
(i) Cadet 9
(ii) Cadet 12
(iii) Junior
(iv) Senior
These changes are reflected in the relevant places including the Class Rules in the 2017 National Competition Rules.
RATIONALE
Competition Licences – General Rules, Chapter 4 Rule 15 C
NEW RULE
c) Participants Licence (Refer to Rule 23 herein)
(i) For the parents and/or legal guardians of Drivers under the age of 18 years who do not hold a current Driver’s Licence
(ii) This licence is required to enable such parents and/or legal guardians to apply for a Licence upgrade and to enter a Driver who is under the age of eighteen (18) years into a Meeting.
DEFINITION
Participant’s Licence: A Participant’s licence is a certificate of registration issued by KA to a person who may be a member of an affiliated Club, but in all circumstances for the purpose of the Participant's Licence the person shall be deemed to be a Temporary Member pursuant to Rule 2.7 of the Australian Karting Association Ltd Constitution. Such licence will be required by the parent(s) and/or legal guardian(s) of a Driver under the age of 18 years, if they do not hold a current Driver’s Licence so as to enable them to enter the Driver who is under the age of eighteen (18) years in a KA sanctioned Event and to apply for a Licence upgrade for such Driver.
RATIONALE
IMPORTANT NOTES
Competition Licences – General Rules, Chapter 4 Rule 17 (and Definitions)
RULE CHANGE
17. Licence Grading
RATIONALE
Class Rules Chapters 11 (X30) and 14 (TaG 125) Rule 7 – Dry Tyres
RULE CHANGE
7. Tyres
a. Dry
i) MG FZ Prime (Yellow) – Note: MG HZ Option (Red/White) is permitted to be used for Social karting activities.
(Formerly MG HZ Option (Red/White) for both Social and Competition karting.)
RATIONALE
IMPORTANT NOTES
General Rules Chapter 7 Officials and Their Duties - Rule 4 b) Essential Officials
RULE CHANGE
4. Essential Officials:
(b) At Club level Meetings, the Minimum number of essential graded Officials must be:
(i)A Clerk of the Course.
(ii) One (1) Chief Steward. (Refer to Chapter 7 Rule 6 c))
(Formerly 2 Stewards were required for a Club Meeting)
(iii) The Clerk of the Course and Chief Steward must be Minimum Grade 3.
(iv) A Chief Scrutineer.
6. Plurality of Duties
(c) At a Club level Meeting, any other Official may act as a Steward for the purpose of the conduct of a Steward’s Hearing provided that the Chief Steward shall perform the duties of Chairman for the Hearing. Such other Official must not be a Competitor who is directly affected by the decision of the Stewards.
(New Rule to allow other Officials to sit in a Steward’s hearing with the Chief Steward at a Club Meeting)
RATIONALE
Technical Rules Chapter 7 Apparel Rule 2 Helmets
RULE CHANGE
2. Helmets:
Must bear a label indicating they comply with at least one of the following standards:
RATIONALE
Competition Rules Chapter 5 Rule 7 Club Competition
NEW RULE
7. Club Competition
(b) Governing Principles
Club Competition should be structured to encourage participation at Grassroots level, provide Competitors with an enjoyable, value for money experience in a friendly and welcoming environment.
Any currently Homologated engine that has been Approved for use in Club Competition in these Rules must be permitted to participate in all Club Competitions.
Unless the track density is exceeded by the number of entries received, Competition is to be conducted in groups of compatible Classes – not in Classes and Divisions.
(c) Eligible Groups
(i) Competition, subject to track density limitations, should be conducted in Competition groups as follows:
a. Cadet
a. Cadet 9 – Arranged on the Grid at the rear of the Cadet 12 Competitors (or in stand-alone competition.)
b. Cadet 12
b. Junior (lower performance)
a. KA4
c. Junior (higher performance)
a. KA3
b. KA2
c. Junior Max
d. Senior (lower performance)
a. KA4
b. KA3
c. TaG 125 Restricted
d. TaG100
e. Senior TaG
a. TaG125
b. X30
f. Open Performance
a. KA1
b. KZ2
c. DD2
d. Open Performance (In accordance with Chapter 18)
g. 4 Stroke
a. Endurance Class (In accordance with Chapter 21)
b. Maximum race length of 60 minutes
c. Minimum of one (1) driver change during each race
d. Must have two (2) Drivers.
RATIONALE
Competition Rules Chapter 1 Rule 22 Start Procedures d) Rolling Starts, e) Standing Starts
NEW RULES
Rolling Starts at all levels of Competition will use the starting procedures used at Australian Kart Championship level in 2015 and 2016 and then at all National level events in 2016.
Standing Starts (for KZ2 karts) will be aligned with CIK starting procedures where a driver whose kart stalls is permitted to alight from their kart to push start the kart once the rest of the field has gone past.
RATIONALE – ROLLING STARTS
RATIONALE – STANDING STARTS
Rotax Tyres – Various Class Rules
ROTAX TYRE RULES
MicroMax
Dry: Mojo C2 (Was C2) Wet: Mojo CW
MiniMax
Dry: Mojo C2 (Was D1) Wet: Mojo W2*
Junior Max (Trophy)
Dry: Mojo D2 (Was D1) Wet: Mojo W2*
Junior Max
Dry: Mojo D2 (Was D1) Wet: Mojo W2*
Rotax 125
Dry: Mojo D3 (Was D2) Wet: Mojo W2*
DD2
Dry: Mojo D3 (Was D3) Wet: Mojo W2*
DD2 Masters
Dry: Mojo D3 (Was D3) Wet: Mojo W2*
* Note: It is anticipated that there will be a change of wet tyre specification at some time in 2017 (as Mojo are ceasing production of the W2 tyre). Competitors will be advised prior to the changeover date of the transition arrangements for the W2 tyre.
RATIONALE