From the Desk of the Race Director on this 2nd of January 2008
In the 31st December Memo, it was stated that:
Safety Car will NOT be present.
In the event of a major accident (track blocked, car unable to be quickly moved from a racing line or within 1.5 car widths of it or an incident that involves at least 60% of the field), I will stop the race. I will display a Race Control Message saying "RACE STOPPED" in Red Letters. I will outline full red flag procedures during the middle of January.
I have decided that the Safety Car will be present for this round.
I recall the curbs in the chicane and the final turn were flippers, but have read (haven't tried it) that the new versions are less of a flip hazard.
I expect that the SC will not be deployed, but because an SC can be efficently deployed and recalled (I try to keep SCs to 2-3 laps long) at Blackwood, I am using it.
The SC will not be deployed past lap 7 of 10. After lap 7, the Race Director may stop the race. If the SC is called before the 6th lap is completed, every effort will be made to have the race restart before the final lap.
The SC will chase the field on lap 1. At the end of L1, it will park at the end of pitlane, along the gate before the end of the speed limit zone. It will park here during qualifying for reference. It will take a track test during the warmup prior to qualifications.
If the SC is deployed, it will wait at the exit of the chicane to pick up the field.
I will publish Safety Car procedures next week.
EOM