When you start watching some interesting TV series in the middle, it takes time to understand who all these people are and why they behave like that. The same is true for racing series: races are fascinating when you understand what happens here. That is why we traditionally introduce the rules of the racing series we participate in to our readers before the beginning of the season. So, here is the summary of Porsche Carrera Cup France rules instead of 50 pages of Regulations.

 

Porsche Carrera Cup France in the season-2016 consists of six rounds, each of them includes free practices, qualifying and two races.

 

The season is opened by the round in Barcelona on April, 23-24.
	Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya Designed: 1991 Lap length: 4.655 km Direction: clockwise Turns: 16 Best lap time: 1:21.670 (Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 2008)
In the beginning of May the Spa Francorchamps track in Belgium will be waiting for the PCCF participants.
	Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps Designed: 1920 Last rebuild: 2007 Lap length: 7.004 km Direction: clockwise Turns: 20 Best lap time: 1:47.263 (Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, 2009)
On June, 25-26 it will be a new track – Zandvoort in Netherlands.
	Circuit Park Zandvoort Designed: 1948 Lap length: 4.307 km Direction: clockwise Turns: 13 Best lap time: 1:26.959 (Earl Goddard,, 2002)
After the summer holidays the French Cup will finally go to France, to Le Mans.
	Le Mans Bugatti Circuit Designed: 1965 Last rebuild: 2002 Lap length: 4.273 km Direction: clockwise Turns: 10
In the beginning of October another away round is scheduled, in Italy this time, on Imola track.
	Autodromo Internazionale "Enzo e Dino Ferrari", Imola Designed: 1953 Last rebuild: 1994 Lap length: 4.909 km Direction: anti-clockwise  Turns: 17 Best lap time: 1:20.411 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004)
In the end of October PCCF will traditionally finish in Le Castellet on Paul Ricard circuit.
	Circuit Paul Ricard Designed: 1970 Last rebuild: 1999 Lap length: 3.813 km Direction: clockwise Turns: 9 Best lap time: 1:08.012 (Nigel Mansell, Ferrari, 1990)

In addition to Porsche Carrera Cup France each driver participates in Trophée France-Benelux which includes four competitions of six. We think you already know what we are talking about: the Netherlands, Belgium and France of course.

 

 

Thus, the racing weekend starts with the two sessions of free practices 40 minutes each.

Then the drivers go to the qualification rounds of total duration from 15 to 40 minutes.

Finally, the peloton lines up on the starting grid according to the qualifying results. The vehicles go for the warm-up lap drawing sinewaves on the track to warm the tires up and then line up on the starting grid again. The signal light goes down and there the most interesting part begins. Two 30-minute races expect for us each weekend.

 

Before telling about the scoring system for qualification points we have to explain that drivers of Porsche Carrera Cup France can participate in two different divisions – A and B. Division A represents the professional drivers, and Division B is for amateurs who are elegantly named gentleman drivers. Division A drivers compete only in the overall classification, and gentleman drivers gain overall points, but also fight for the title in their own Division.
The innovation of the season-2016 is that 5 best rounds of six count for Division B (it means that one race can be missed).

There is also the rule that makes fans very happy: even if a driver fell out of the race on the last lap, desperately broke his car and did not reach the finish, he will be included in the classification anyway: the main condition is to make not less than ¾ of the whole distance.

 

 

 

Now let us talk about the scoring of qualification points. The points can be obtained for the first 15 positions in the overall classification according to the following scheme: 20-18-16-14-12-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. All the points obtained are summarized and accumulated for the driver. At the end of the season the driver who accumulated the most points, is the best, that means the champion. One more point is assigned to the pole position holder and another one – for the best lap during the race.

One more special prize will be awarded according to the outcome of the season, for the most best laps within the season.
The young talents will also compete for the separate prize for the drivers under the age of 26 for whom it is the first PCCF season.

 

 

Now let us proceed with the technical issues. It consists, as usual, of the two main elements – a vehicle and a driver. The former is Porsche 911 GT3 Cup (type 991) of model years from 2013 to 2016. The latter is to wear the special racing underwear, official Porsche Carrera Cup France 2016 overalls, balaclava, homologated socks and shoes, gloves and helmet with frontal head restraint.

 

For those who are fond of technical details we provide some additional information about the vehicle.

 

 

 

Engine
- 6-cylinder aluminum engine of Boxer-type installed behind the rear axis of the car
- cylinder capacity is 3,800 cm3; stroke of piston is 76.4 mm; cylinder diameter is 102.7 mm
- maximum horsepower is 460 HP (338 kW) at 7,500 rpm
- full speed rpm: 8500 rpm
- turbo engine
- water cooling with temperature control of the engine-gearbox group
- 4 valves per cylinder
- sequential system of multipoint fuel injection
- fuel: at least unleaded 98
- lubricant with dry housing
- Bosch MS4.6 engine electronic control unit
- sporting exhaust system with sporting adjustable catalyzer
- rear exhaust silencer with the double central exhaust
Electronic accelerator.
- six-speed sequential gearbox with clutches.
Light body elements:
- carbon doors (PRFC) with side mirrors
- rear carbon end with dynamic air intake and splint pins
- adjusted rear carbon aileron (PRFC)
- rear side windows of polycarbonate (PC) with ventilation outlets
- rear polycarbonate (PC) window
- bottom part of the rear bumper with air passages for brakes and transmission cooling.

Minimum weight of the vehicle should be 1,225 kg (zero fuel).

 

As for drivers, they control their weight more carefully than the models of Victoria's Secret. Minimum driver weight with equipment is 80 kg, and the additional balancing weight is added if he has not eaten well. In any situation a driver runs to weigh himself first of all: even if the driver leaves his vehicle after a failure during a qualification or a race, he is to go to the weighing zone immediately to define his weight. If the underweight is revealed during the qualification, the driver starts from the last position on the starting grid, and if a competitor has unadvisedly lost his weight during the race, his results, unfortunately, are canceled.

 

 

 

As for tires, a driver is provided with 10 slicks and two kits of rain tires for each competition. Old tires from previous races may be used during the free practices.

Now you can imagine the complicated framework named Porsche Carrera Cup France. Make yourself comfortable in front of the screens or on the stand of the chosen circuit and enjoy the excellent show! We will do our best not to let any viewer to be bored!