Event organiser Creventic has confirmed a pair of key changes to the 24H Dubai sporting regulations, ahead of next year’s event.
Firstly, pole position will now be decided by the ‘Top 10 Shootout’.
Following the conclusion of the traditional qualifying format, which orders cars based on their aggregate time across three different sessions, the 10 fastest GT3 cars will progress to the Top 10 Shootout.
In the shootout, each car will have a single flying lap, with the times from this session setting the order for the front of the field.
This format was first implemented at this year’s Michelin 992 Endurance Cup event at Spa-Francorchamps, and given its success it has now been added to the 24H Dubai.
Secondly, all three GT3 classes – Pro, Pro-Am and Am – will now all run to the same Balance of Performance parameters. Previously, cars in Am had more power compared to their peers, whilst entries in Pro carried additional weight.
This change brings with it two main benefits. It means that all cars competing in the top 10 shootout will be on a level playing field, and that amateur drivers competing in either the Pro or Pro-Am classes should have an easier time when negotiating traffic.
“The success of the shoot-out has been proven during the 992 Endurance Cup, so it makes perfect sense to introduce it in our biggest event as well,” Casper de Kort, Sporting and Technical Coordinator at Creventic, said
“It has also triggered a system change in the BOP, which is not only beneficial for the shoot-out. All our teams, including those in GT3 PRO and PRO-AM, have at least one AM driver, who now benefit from the same BOP as the AM teams.
“The performance is slightly below the former AM BOP. Although the GT3s are the fastest cars on track, AM drivers can struggle with the 992 and GTX, especially in the PRO-AM and PRO classes. With this change, it will also become easier for AM drivers in the PRO-AM and PRO classes to overtake within their respective classes.”
Image courtesy of 24H Series
