Following an open meeting between series organizers and team owners at Circuit Ricardo Tormo yesterday, NASCAR Whelen Euro Series has made the decision to not go forward with the plan to introduce Qualifing championship points and success handicap in 2021.
NASCAR Whelen Euro Series has reversed their decision to introduce a success handicap system and Qualifying championship points in 2021 after series organizers Team FJ and team owners held an open meeting at Circuit Ricardo Tormo yesterday to discuss on the recently announced changes to the sporting regulations.
“Ahead of the 2021 NASCAR Whelen Euro Series season opener at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, championship organiser Team FJ has opted to maintain the 2020 points allocation and Qualifying rules,” said the series on their official press release. “Bonus points for Qualifying and grid success handicaps will not be attributed. The decision came after an open meeting with team owners and team managers.”
“Therefore Qualifying will determine the starting grid of the first EuroNASCAR PRO and EuroNASCAR 2 races on Saturday. No bonus points will be awarded. There will be no success handicaps, so the fastest lap times of the Saturday races will determine the grid of the Sunday races – as in 2020. The points system and bonus points for the most positions gained will still be in effect as well as the tire allocation and the weekends format.”
The reversal of the rules’ introduction meant that Qualifying and Race 2 grid ordering will continue to follow the rules that were used in 2020. For Qualifying, the session will be held as a 30-minute shootout for the pole whilst the grid ordering for Race 2 will be determined through the ordering of the drivers’ fastest lap in Race 1.
All of the remaining changes to the sporting regulations, such as the increased tire allocation and the reintroduction of the dropped points system, will remain in effect.
Disclaimer: Unless noted, all photos used in this article are courtesy of NASCAR Whelen Euro Series / Stephane Azemard.