Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Qualifying changes get mixed reaction

Changes to the World Series by Renault qualifying format have provoked a mixed reaction from drivers

Qualifying is set to be completely overhauled for 2008, with the introduction of a Super Pole format.

The 26 cars will be split into two qualifying groups (A and B), each having a 20-minute session. The top-six drivers from each group will subsequently move into a 15-minute Super Pole session.

The starting grid for race one will be determined by reversing the finishing order of the top eight drivers in the Super Pole. These will be followed by the last four of the Super Pole (in finishing order) and the fourteen other drivers in the order they finished qualifying (one group per side of the grid).

The top eight from the Super Pole will again occupy the first eight places on the starting for race two, but this time in the order in which they finished. They will be followed by the other drivers in their finishing order from race one.

The changes follow a mixed response from drivers and team bosses to the 2007 regulations, in which the starting grid for race two was decided by the finishing order in race one, with the top ten positions reversed.

Clivio Piccione, who has raced in GP2 and the World Series, said: "I think next year will be fairer, because if you have a problem in race one, you will have the chance to recover."

James Walker also backed the new system, although the British driver is wary of people trying to secure two grid slots in the middle of the top eight rather than going all out for pole position.

"In 2008 if you qualify in the top half of the field you are guaranteed two good races, compared to this year where if you do well you are punished in race two," he said.

"There could be some weird tactics, though, because it may be better to qualify third or fourth rather than be fastest."

2007 runner-up Ben Hanley will not experience the new rules next year, but the Renault-backed driver said that he disagreed with reversing the grids.

Hanley finished just six points ahead of Milos Pavlovic this season, despite the Serbian driver never making the podium in the first race of a weekend. He took two victories, but they both came from reverse grid races.

"I think I would have preferred the rule to be more like 2006 (when there was no reverse grid)," said Hanley.

"It's the same for everyone but a prime example is Milos. I have had a fair few podiums this year but his best result in race one has been a fourth place."

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Pic sets the pace at Paul Ricard
Next article Bonanomi fastest on day two of test

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe