Introduction

Three aspects are covered by this proposal;

Proposals for a single event National Championship
Venues for National Championship
Declaration of National and SA Champions

Kindly note that this proposal does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Rand Kart Club.

Purpose

The purpose of this proposal is to;

Address the poor support of the National Championship events,
Grow karting at Regional and Club level by changing the National format in such a way as to make Regional racing count towards the National Championship
Ensure value for a National Championship Sponsor by organising a Grand Finale to the karting year.
Decide on three SA Champions, and a National Champion in each Class.

Aims of Proposal

It is aimed to;

Lessen the total cost of racing in a National or SA Championship, by reducing the Championship to Regional races, followed by a Grand Finale,
Remove, as far as possible, the problem of time away from schools, work and business,
Guarantee media cover by making it affordable, and making this cover more impressive by focussing our limited resources on a single Final event.

Background

The Rotax Max Challenge is a series of Regional Races, followed by a National Final which determines the drivers who represent SA overseas. This is a very successful formula in SA as it encourages strong Regional racing.

Drivers from all over the World compete in a one event final. All drivers at this Final go through a series of elimination races.

In South Africa, it is proposed to follow a similar formula for all classes of 2 stroke racing.

We have five Regions, namely, Northern, Western Province, Eastern Cape, Border, and ZwaZulu-Natal.

It is proposed to follow a similar format, with a Grand Finale “Speedweek” type of event.

Three proposals are submitted for consideration, the question of a single as opposed to several venues for the various classes is discussed, and one proposal is submitted for deciding on SA Champions and National Champions.

1. PROPOSALS FOR A SINGLE CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT

Proposal One: Guaranteed pre-qualification for some, others to qualify.

Each of the Regions runs a championship in the different classes at Regional level. No-one may compete in a National who has not driven in at least three Regional events in the class being entered, during the year. This will avoid drivers choosing to race in the Final if they have not supported Regional racing in the class they want to compete in at the National.

The top two drivers in each class, in each Region, (provided that the Region runs the class) automatically are guaranteed to qualify for the Final of the National Championship. If any of the top two competitors in a class opts not to compete in the National, the next best competitor gets a guaranteed qualification. Ten drivers are therefore pre-qualified to race in the Final of the National Championship. Further guaranteed positions in the Final are allocated per class, as follows,

4 of the next best placed drivers to the Region having the most drivers in the specific class,
3 of the next best placed drivers to the Region having the next highest drivers in the specific class,
2 of the next best placed drivers to the next Region, and,
1 of the next best placed drivers to the Region having the least drivers in the specific class.

There will therefore be a maximum of 20 guaranteed positions in the Finals of the National Championship, but if a Region does not run a championship in any particular class, those positions in the Final become vacant and will be filled by any other competitors who may enter the enter the National, each competitor having competed in at least three Regionals.

The reason for this selection of pre-qualified drivers is to guarantee places in the Finals to those competitors putting the most effort into karting, but who may otherwise fall out of the Eliminations due to unforeseen problems.

Entries

The organisers accept the guaranteed pre-qualified entries first, and then accept entries thereafter on the basis of the most points scored in the Regionals, until they have a maximum of twice the number of competitors allowed to race on the circuit per class. This will allow two full elimination races at the final, and no more. It will also stimulate competition at Regional level.

Day 1 Unofficial practise

Practise to be controlled to ensure that each class gets equal treatment. Lap times are to be provided for information purposes only. (Timing unofficial practise will stimulate competition and interest.)

Day 2 Official Practise and Eliminations

There will be two practise sessions per class during the day. In each of these two practises, half of the entered field will practise. The COC may allow, if needed, one re-run practise per class, in which only those competitors who did not attain a time in the first sessions at all, to be given a second chance to obtain a time. The best time of each driver will be used to determine the his/her starting position for the elimination race.

Each competitor will run in only one of the Eliminations. The Elimination heats are to have the same number of competitors driving in them (plus 1 if the total number is indivisible by 2).

Elimination 1; to include 10 fastest of the pre-qualified competitors, and half of the rest, all based on fastest time, 3^rd fastest time, 5^th fastest time……

Elimination 2; to include slower 10 of the pre-qualified competitors and half of the rest, all based on 2^nd fastest time, 4^th fastest time….

All 20 pre-qualified competitors (or less, if less pre-qualified) go through to the Final, provided that each have, at least, departed from the pre-start grid in the Elimination Race. The remaining open places for the Final are allocated in equal proportions from the best placed drivers in eliminations 1 and 2 until the grid is full. The rest are out. (It may happen, because of a lack of entries, that all go through to the Finals. NB; There is a risk here that a protest may hamper deciding on who is in and who is out of the Final, but a strong team of officials could avoid this.

Day 3 Finals.

The day commences with two twenty minute official practises per class, with the full field driving in each session. Each competitor to complete no less than 6 laps across both sessions, in total. This will give those who had problems in the first practise, of whatever nature, a second chance.

Three Finals are held. Starting position for heat 1 based on fastest time in practise. Second fastest time in practise determines starting position for Heat 2, and third fastest time in practise determines starting position for Heat 3. (This system removes the problems associated with protests hampering deciding on later race grids)

Points based on these three Finals, plus 1/3^rd (1/2?)of the points earned at Regional level. This implies that the event must take place after all Regional Championships have been completed and the results made final. Alternatively, just keep to the requirement to have competed in 3 Regionals and do not carry points forward to the National – not a good idea as the results of the Regionals will mean nothing

Day 4: Optional Addition

If the event is considered important enough by the Commission, then a further two or three races per class could be held, so stretching out the event to a five or six heat Final and making it a true “Speedweek” The same format as for Day 3 should be followed, but, for instance, 2 heats could be held to allow for a prize giving in the late afternoon.

A further twist to the idea could be to drop one or two of each competitors’ worst heats, so allowing those who had some sort of problem along the way, another bite at the Championship.

Starting positions could be based on the best times obtained in any race of the previous day.

Proposal Two; No pre-qualification in Regionals, Finalists depend on Elimination Time Trials.

The National is open to anyone who has competed in at least 4 Regional events in the class being entered during the year. This implies that the National can only take place after the Regionals have been completed and all results made final.

Day 1 Unofficial practise

Practise is controlled to ensure equitable use of the track. Timing is provided to stimulate competition and interest, but is for nothing more than interest’s sake.

Day two; Elimination Time Trials.

There will be one 45 minute Elimination Time Trial per class during the day. During this time, no competitor may do more than 12 timed laps and not less than 3. Control will need to be exercised to ensure that not more than the maximum allowable number of competitors is on the circuit at any one time. The long practise period is aimed at accommodating fields larger than that allowed for the track. Each competitor must have been on the track at least once in the first 30 minutes of practise. (To avoid too many drivers being on the circuit in the last 15 minutes. Control will need to be exercised)

Where a competitor does more than 12 laps, his best time is replaced with his fourth best time, thereafter his second best time is replaced with his fifth best time, and so on. This is to avoid competitors doing more laps than is allowed

The fastest 3 times will be used to determine the starting positions for the 3 Finals on Day 3. Qualifiers for the Finals will be determined by taking the maximum number of competitors with the best 3 times, totalled, in order to fill the grid. The rest are out.

If no-one needs to be eliminated due to a shortage of entries, all go through to the Finals. Where a competitor does not complete 3 timed laps, but is able to be accommodated in the Finals due to a shortage of entries, he starts at the back of the grid for each heat for which he does not have a time.

Day 3 Final

One untimed warm up, followed by three Heats. Staring positions determined by best three practise times of previous day.

Points earned in the 3 Finals determine the Champion. Points earned in Regionals to count 1/3^rd(1/2?).

Day 4: Optional Extra Day

If the event is considered important enough by the Commission, then a further two or three races per class could be held, so stretching out the event to a five or six heat Final and making it a true “Speedweek” The same format as Day 3 should be followed, but, for instance, 2 heats could be held to allow for a prize giving in the late afternoon.

A further twist to the idea could be to drop one or two of each competitors’ worst heats, so allowing those who had some sort of problem along the way, another bite at the Championship.

Starting positions could be based on the best times in any race of the previous day.

Proposal Three: Entries for National determined by support by Drivers of Regionals.

Entries

The allowed entries is based on proportional representation in races at Regional level. Add up all starts per Region for all Regional races held, only of competitors wishing to do the National. Divide up the available grid positions for the Final on a proportional basis, as follows;

E.g.,

5 competitors wishing to enter, 25 starts between them in six races = 25 for Region 1

10 competitors wishing to enter, 53 starts between them in 6 races = 53 for Region 2

20 competitors wishing to enter, 110 starts between them in 6 races = 110 for Region 3

10 competitors wishing to enter, 45 starts between them in 6 races = 45 for Region 4

16 competitors wishing to enter, 80 starts between them in 6 races = 80 for Region 5

Total 313

Using a 34 place grid as an example;

Region 1 gets 34*(25/313) = 4 best placed drivers

Region 2; 6 best placed drivers

Region 3; 12 best placed drivers

Region 4; 5 best placed drivers

Region 5; 9 best placed drivers

Rounding off errors give 2 too many drivers, which are dealt with as below.

If the total number of drivers wishing to enter the event is less than what is allowed for the circuit, the above calculation is superfluous and all are allowed to compete

These places in the Final are allocated to the top placed drivers of those wishing to enter, in each Region. Each Region gets 1 Reserve Entry, meaning that the total number of entries accepted will exceed the maximum allowed for the track by 5, plus rounding off errors. In this case, 7 drivers will then need to be eliminated at the Championship.

Day 1 Unofficial practise

Unofficial timed practise, controlled to ensure equitable use of track. Times provided for info only, to stimulate competition and interest.

Day 2 Official Practise/Elimination of the slowest.

1 X 45 minute timed session per class, with a minimum of 3 timed laps, but no more than 12 allowed. The fastest 3 times of each competitor determine the 3 starting positions for the next day’s races. If necessary to do so, add up the fastest 3 times of each competitor and eliminate those competitors, with the slowest totals, exceeding the maximum number of competitors allowed on the track. During official practise, control will need to be exercised to avoid too many competitors being on the circuit.

Day 3; Racing

1 untimed warm up session.

Three races per class, all of which count to determine the National and SA Champions. Regional points earned to count 1/3^rd (1/2?)^.

Day 4; Optional Extra day

If the event is considered important enough by the Commission, then a further two or three races per class could be held, so stretching out the event to a five or six heat Final and making it a true “Speedweek” The same format as Day 3 should be followed, but, for instance, 2 heats could be held to allow for a prize giving in the late afternoon.

A further twist to the idea could be to drop one or two of each competitors’ worst heats, so allowing those who had some sort of problem along the way, another bite at the Championship.

Starting positions could be based on the best times obtained in any race of the previous day.

2. VENUE FOR CHAMPIONSHIP

There are two choices; either split up the classes into two or three groups, to be run at different venues, or have the entire Championship run at one venue.

Various venues for the various classes.

Pro’s:
- Various circuits around the country are able to put on a National Event each year.
Con’s;
- We do not get away from the problem of overcoming our limited funds for television coverage, and providing for officials,
- Finding adequate sponsorship becomes problematic if there is more than 1 event to be paid for,
- Some people will have to travel to more than 1 event if a family has drivers in more than 1 class,
- If the National is split, the glamour and prestige of the event will be watered down.
- There is a greater likelihood for clashes with the main circuits if the events are held at different times at different venues, and also a greater problem of trying to hold the event outside of school terms.

A Single venue for all Classes

Pro’s;
- We save 2/3^rd of our expenses on television and officials, and overcome the high costs for competitors and sponsors of having to support more than 1 event,
- The problems of holding the events at different circuits are all overcome.
Con’s;

o Only 1 circuit in a year gets the privilege of running a National.

Conclusion

A single event, single venue Championship is preferred. The Regional events will be better supported than in the past. The idea of rotating the Grand Final Speedweek between the Regions should be further discussed, as should the alternative idea of bidding to host the Final.

3. DECLARATION OF NATIONAL AND SA CHAMPIONS.

Firstly, each class determines it own National Champion using one of the three proposed National formats, above

Secondly, there should be three South African Champions, also determined as above, i.e.

Juvenile Champion
Junior Champion
Senior Champion

Juvenile Champion to be the driver with the most points in the GP Junior and Stock Classes. (add in Mini Max??)

Junior Champion to be the driver who has earned the most points in the F100 and Super Classes (Add in Max Junior??)

Senior Champion to be the driver earning the most points in the 125 GP Class. (Add in 125 Promo, Max 172??)

The Max Challenge (which incorporates the Masters) should be kept separate, as it is an International class.

4. COMMENTS AND OPINIONS

The above proposal was made at the request of the Karting Commission, who tasked the undersigned to make proposals for the changing of the National Championship format. If you have comment in support of, or against any or all of the proposals, please submit same to Rand Kart Club at rkc@netactive.co.za, or fax 012 653 8023 no later than Wednesday 21 August 2002, after which a report containing all comments will be prepared for submission to the Karting Commission for further consideration and possible inclusion in the Rules for 2003.

Proposed by Geoff Ackermann

(Please note: the above does NOT reflect the opinion of the Rand Kart Club)