21 replies to this topic

[GenJackRipper]

Two questions poping up during the off-season:
 

1. Are all start-finish-lines straight (besides Monaco)? Is there any regulation surrounding it?

 

2. How long must it be after the start before a corner can come up?
Other than Monaco/street courses; is there any regulation surrounding it?

[PayasYouRace]

Do you mean start finish straights? The line itself has to be straight, for hopefully obvious reasons.

 

In FE the S/F lines are often on corner complexes, with the starting grid elsewhere on the lap.

 

It helps to have the starting grid on a straight because it's easier for the guys at the back to see not only the lights but also any potential stalled cars. I'd imagine that's why the starting grid at Silverstone was moved from round Woodcote to the straight in 1998.

 

It also helps to have the starting grid next to the pit lane, which requires good sight lines so straights are better. The current pits at Toronto are parallel to an S bend though. Again, that's a street circuit.

 

In series that use rolling starts it's less of an issue too. You can have situations like Mid-Ohio where the race is started on the longest straight, but the finish is by the pits.

 

As for the distance to the first corner, it helps to have room for cars to sort themselves out. But you can look at circuits like Spa where the start straight is quite short.

[ANF]

Two questions poping up during the off-season:
 
1. Are all start-finish-lines straight (besides Monaco)? Is there any regulation surrounding it?
 
2. How long must it be after the start before a corner can come up?
Other than Monaco/street courses; is there any regulation surrounding it?

Some paragraphs from Appendix O (Procedures for the Recognition of Motor Racing Circuits): https://www.fia.com/...on/category/123

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The width of the starting grid should be at least 15 m; this width
must be maintained through to the exit of the first corner (as
indicated by the racing line).

Existing circuits requesting international recognition but which
are narrower, may be approved if national competitions have
regularly been organised on them.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Changes in gradient, either convex or concave, must be made
using vertical radii adequate for the performance of the cars. In
general, changes in gradient should be avoided in high speed
braking or curved sectors or where acceleration is strongest.

The gradient of the start/finish straight should not exceed 2%.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

For standing starts, there should be at least 6 m length of grid per
car (8 m for the Formula One World Championship).

There should preferably be at least 250 m between the start line
and the first corner.

By corner, in these cases only, is understood a change of direction
of at least 45°, with a radius of less than 300 m.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A pit lane at least 12 m wide, with pit garages and race control
facilities, should be foreseen adjacent to the starting straight,
separated from it by at least 4 m to provide for a verge, pit wall
and signalling platform.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

(There are different regulations for rallycross/autocross circuits.)

[GenJackRipper]

Excellent responses, thanks!

[ensign14]

Anderstorp had its starting and finishing lines half a lap apart.  Those wacky Swedes.

[PayasYouRace]

Anderstorp had its starting and finishing lines half a lap apart.  Those wacky Swedes.

 

And neither was on the longest straight.

[king_crud]

In

The gradient of the start/finish straight should not exceed 2%.

Interlagos must be steeper than this surely?

[7MGTEsup]

In
Interlagos must be steeper than this surely?

 

2% is pretty steep, maybe they average it out over the length of the straight? Or maybe they mean where the starting grid is situated?

[Kalmake]

Anderstorp had its starting and finishing lines half a lap apart.  Those wacky Swedes.

I would say smart Swedes. It saved an in/out lap.

[Otaku]

Ironically in F1, the "start-finish line" does not exist. There's a start line, and another different finish line, usually at the back of the starting grid.

[Darren1]

Spa, Silverstone, and Brands Hatch had the Start / Finish on a bend.

[king_crud]

Spa, Silverstone, and Brands Hatch had the Start / Finish on a bend.

Didn't Buenos Aires have a bend in it too, or is my memory playing tricks on me?

[Kalmake]

Ironically in F1, the "start-finish line" does not exist. There's a start line, and another different finish line, usually at the back of the starting grid.

This is not a F1 thing.

[Clatter]

In
Interlagos must be steeper than this surely?

The rules normally apply to new circuits and are not retrospectively applied.

[Otaku]

This is not a F1 thing.

 

True

[7MGTEsup]

Didn't Buenos Aires have a bend in it too, or is my memory playing tricks on me?

 

I think they moved the start line up so they were all on the straight for 1995 - 1998.

[PayasYouRace]

Ironically in F1, the "start-finish line" does not exist. There's a start line, and another different finish line, usually at the back of the starting grid.

 

For the benefit of those who aren't aware. The start line is at the front of the grid. The finish line is placed opposite the circuit's control tower so that in the event of a close finish and timing equipment failure, the result can be verified by eye by the stewards.

 

Often those aren't in the same place, hence the start line offset we often see.

[PlatenGlass]

Ironically in F1, the "start-finish line" does not exist. There's a start line, and another different finish line, usually at the back of the starting grid.

In qualifying, the start and finish are at the same place, and for every lap other than the first in the race, they're in the same place, so it is kind of the start/finish line.

What even is a start line for a race anyway? The drivers all have their own line they have to start behind!

[Clatter]

In qualifying, the start and finish are at the same place, and for every lap other than the first in the race, they're in the same place, so it is kind of the start/finish line.

What even is a start line for a race anyway? The drivers all have their own line they have to start behind!

It's the line where the measured distance of the race starts.

[7MGTEsup]

What even is a start line for a race anyway? The drivers all have their own line they have to start behind!

 

So is it considered unfair that the person who starts last has to travel 160m (20x8) further than the person who starts first?

[redreni]

Anderstorp had its starting and finishing lines half a lap apart.  Those wacky Swedes.

 

That's weird.

 

I've never understood why the idea of re-positioning the start/finish line to move it away from the pits, has never caught on. Put it on the other side of the circuit somewhere.

 

Timing and scoring-wise, it would be much easier to follow if cars entered and exited the pits on the same timed lap. You'd easily be able to tell how much time a car had lost on a pitstop lap compared to a normal lap. At present, time loss as a result of pitting is spread over two laps, and the amount of time lost on the in-lap vs the out-lap will vary quite dramatically from one car to another, depending whether the car's pit box is before or after the start line.

[pdac]

So is it considered unfair that the person who starts last has to travel 160m (20x8) further than the person who starts first?

 

That would always be the case if there were a single start line and a single finish line. The only way to ensure that all cars travel the same race distance would be to have a different finish line associated with each start-grid box.