It is not so simple to understand the rules of the series, especially if they were fundamentally changed this year. It is not enough to know that the person who reaches the finish first will be the winner. How much time does a race last, why has a car gone to the pit lane, why was a sportsman who had replaced the wheels disqualified, and who will get the Champion's title? It is not necessary to study the Regulations in Italian thoughtfully and for a long time to answer all these questions. It will be enough to read our article to enjoy every minute of Porsche Carrera Cup Italia rounds!

 

So, the PCCI rules were dramatically changed in the season of 2016. We should mention that the result enchanted all the participants. They say that the competition will be very interesting. Consider it yourselves.

 

Each racing weekend (there are seven of them in the calendar) includes the following stages:
- 2 sessions including 40 minutes of free practices;
- 2 sessions of qualification rounds, 15 minutes each;
- 2 races with the start from rest, 25 minutes each (sprint);
- 1 45-minute endurance race with the rolling start.

 

A team may announce for each vehicle as follows:
- one separate driver;
- couple of drivers participating with the same vehicle.

 

 

Tsunami RT Centro Porsche Padova team will participate in Porsche Carrera Cup Italia in both formats: both with one driver and with two drivers on one vehicle – in this case each driver will participate in one of the short weekend races and in the half of the long race.

 

Complementary to the overall classification, drivers may participate in the gentlemen-driver classification (amateur drivers over 35) or in the scholarship program (young professional drivers under 26).

 

Now let us understand what the schedule of the weekend will be.

 

It is forbidden for each driver to have practices or participate in a race on this track with any Porsche vehicle 21 days before each competition.

 

Free practices

It is simple: drivers have two 40-minute periods when they can have free practices and setup the vehicles.

 

Qualifications

Two 15-minute qualification rounds will define the starting order in race 1 and race 2. Accordingly, one driver of the two will participate in the first qualification, and the second one will participate in the second qualification. A separate driver participates in both qualifications (if, of course, he does not want to start from the last position on the starting grid).

 

The starting order in the third race is defined according to the total time of both qualification rounds.

 

 

Race 1 or race 2

The vehicles are lined up on the starting grid, pass the warm-up lap and stop on their positions again. The starting signal light is switched off, and dozens of 460-HP Porsches take off running. It is the most astonishing moment of the racing weekend, don't miss it!

 

Both races last 25 minutes each + 1 lap. For the teams that announced two drivers on one vehicle, one driver participates in the first race, and another – in the second one. If only one driver participates with the vehicle, he will be qualified with the best result of the two races.

 

Race 3

The vehicles will not stop on the starting grid after the warm-up lap, but will leap into action at once, as they see the signal light. It is a rolling start. The race lasts 45 minutes + 1 lap. There is the time (from 20th to 26th minute) in the middle of the distance for the mandatory stop on the pit lane.

 

The teams that announced two drivers use this time for a change of driver. After that the wheels can be replaced (only the front ones), to wipe the glasses and check the pressure in the tires. A vehicle is to remain on the pit lane not less than the time prescribed (it is announced every time before the start). And if the crew took a medal in the endurance race of the previous round, the handicap is added to the time of stop. The winner of the previous round will be standing nervous for additional 15 seconds hastening to return on the track; the driver who was on the second place – for 10 seconds, and the bronze prize winner – for 5 seconds.

 

 

Now we will skip the most interesting part – the fight on the circuit and the waving of the finish flag – and go to the pleasant procedure of the qualification scoring.

 

Each driver can obtain points only for two of the three races. If a driver participated in all the three races of the weekend, the best result of the two short races is chosen.

 

As earlier, the bonus points can be obtained for the pole position in each of the short races, plus for the best lap in each of the three races of the weekend.

 

Qualification points in sprints are assigned according to the following scheme: 15-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.

You can obtain more points for the long race according to the following scheme: 25-22-20-18-16-14-12-10-8-6-5-4-3-2-1.

 

The best personal result of the drivers of the team counts for the team classification.

 

 

We already told about the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup vehicle, but we want to add a couple of words about the tires. Italy is a sunny country, so if it is raining, the PCCI organizers will not limit rain tires usage. But slicks are regulated rigorously: only 12 slicks may be used during free practices (6 front and 6 rear), and they should be those from the previous race. Each weekend 12 new slicks are used for qualifications and races. There are 4 more reserve tires that may be used only after a laborious driver damages all the rest of tires.

 

Thus, we have better understanding of the new rules now. It is clear that everything will be very interesting. See below where and when it will take place.

 

The season starts, as the year before, in Monza on April 30 - May 1.
	Autodromo Nazionale di Monza Designed: 1922 Last rebuild: 2007 Lap length: 5.793 km Direction: clockwise Turns: 11 Best lap time: 1:21.046 (Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari, 2004)
The last weekend of May will host the second round in Imola.
	Autodromo Internazionale "Enzo e Dino Ferrari", Imola Opened: 1953 Last rebuild: 1994 Lap length: 4.909 km Direction: anti-clockwise Turns: 17 Best lap time: 1:20.411 (Michael Schumacher, Ferrari, 2004)
The race in Misano moved to the middle of June.
	Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli Designed: 1969 Opened: 1972 Last rebuild: 2006 Lap length: 4.064 km Direction: clockwise Turns: 16 Best lap time: 1:33.918 (Casey Stoner, Ducati, 2007)
The traditional "ecquator" of the season will take place in the middle of July in Mugello.
	Autodromo Internazionale del Mugello Designed: 1973 Opened: 1974 Lap length: 5.245 km Direction: clockwise Turns: 15 Best lap time: 1:34.316 (Gary Hauser, Dallara Renault, 2014)
After a long break, Vallelunga will be waiting for us.
	Autodromo Vallelunga Piero Taruffi Designed: 1959 Last rebuild: 2004 Lap length: 4.085 km Direction: clockwise Turns: 10 Best lap time: 1:12.80 (Anthony Davidson, Honda RA 106-02 F1, 2006)
On September 24-25 - once again the race will take place in Imola (Oleksander Gaidai must be happy, he loves this track!).
And the final round is scheduled in Mugello again.

 

There is not much time till the start of the first round of the season. Do not miss it!