New Safety Car rule for Sandown

A new rule introduced for Sandown will see lapped cars given the ability to pass the Safety Car, following its introduction for the 2020 Bathurst 1000.

Typically, cars are to maintain their track position during a Safety Car period, regardless of what lap they are on, with lapped cars shown blue flags.

For the upcoming Penrite Oil Sandown 500, lapped cars will be allowed to get back into contention by unlapping themselves before restarts, all while staying out of the way of the leaders.

It comes after the end of last year's Sandown 500 saw the lapped car of James Golding take the restart between leader Broc Feeney and second-placed Brodie Kostecki.

The new rule now reads as follows:

D10.2.13.4 Cars one (1) or more laps behind the leader as per Rule D10.2.5.11 will be instructed via RMC and via the timing screen to pass the line of Cars including the SC when between the exit of T4 and flag point 5.8, just prior to T6.

a) Lapped Cars that have not crossed the Safety Car Line 1 (SC1) timing line prior to the SC crossing Safety Car Line 2 timing line (SC2), will not be eligible to pass the SC.

b) After passing the SC, Pit Lane will be closed to the lapped Cars until they cross the control line on the racetrack.

c) If the RD considers track conditions are unsuitable, the lapped Cars will not be permitted to pass the SC.

d) Decisions made in respect of this unlapping procedure are not subject to protest.

D10.2.13.5 When the last lapped Car has passed the SC, the SC will accelerate away from the field as instructed by the RD on the RMC; and

D10.2.13.6 Enter the Pit Lane at the end of that lap.

The new rule will add extra spice to this year's anniversary running of the Sandown 500, which often sees cars drop off the lead lap due to longer pit stop times and sub 75-second lap times.

Last year's edition of the race saw just 13 cars finish on the lead lap, with drivers caught up in early incidents such as Cam Waters and Chaz Mostert unable to get their laps back.

There were 10 cars on the lead lap in 2019, 11 in 2018, 12 in 2017, and 14 in 2016, with a Sandown record 20 cars on the lead lap in 2015.

On-track action at the 60th anniversary Penrite Oil Sandown 500 begins Friday September 13, with the 500-kilometre fan favourite endurance race scheduled to begin at 2:05pm on Sunday September 15. Live coverage of the Sandown 500 can be found on Foxtel and Kayo, with tickets and corporate hospitality options available via Supercars.com and Ticketek.

The 2024 Repco Supercars Championship will resume at the NED Whisky Tasmania SuperSprint on August 16-18. Tickets for the event are on sale now.