Tag: Race director

Statement on the death of Charlie Whiting

Posted on March 14, 2019 by - General

The organisation, teams and drivers of the BOSS GP are mourning the loss of Formula 1 race director Charlie Whiting.

Charlie Whiting died yesterday in Melbourne at the age of 66. The Brit was part of Grand Prix racing for almost five decades. Whiting also knew the BOSS GP very well and was jointly responsible for making the series’ guest appearance at the 2018 German Grand Prix possible.

The BOSS GP family express their condolences and deep sympathy with his family.

Photo: F1.com

New game, new rules

Posted on April 20, 2018 by - General

The new man of the rules: Rainer Werner become BOSS GPs first permanent race director

With Rainer Werner from Austria, the BOSS GP now has a permanent race director who brings a lot of experience and puts safety first.

Rainer Werner has been working as race director and steward for four decades. He supervised over 200 events in the different categories car, motorcycle and rally. Werner will be on site as race director at all BOSS GP races in 2018. This ensures that the sporting regulations are applied equally at every event – drivers can thus adapt to a consistent interpretation of the regulations.

Big Brother
Werner’s workplace is first and foremost the race control, where he can view the entire race track by video cameras. The tasks of the race control include controlling the traffic lights, coordinating the marshals, using the safety car and the initial assessment of collisions and violations of the rules. As a rule, independent race commissioners who analyse and evaluate disputed actions in detail decide on penalties imposed.

Race Director Rainer Werner in discussion with the drivers Bernd Herndlhofer and Peter Göllner

f.l. race director Rainer Werner in discussion with the drivers Bernd Herndlhofer and Peter Göllner

Clip and Clear
Between sessions, the new race director is accessible to the teams at a central location in the paddock. “A clear line right from the start,” says Werner, should ensure that the rules are observed. Safety is the top priority, overtaking under a yellow flag is dangerous for security personnel and would be punished immediately. Werner makes decisions transparently, a certain distance to drivers is part of the job: “During the races I only see the start numbers, names don’t matter.”

Race Director Rainer Werner with drivers, teams and organisation at the drivers briefing in Hockenheim

Drivers Briefing Friday morning at Hockenheimring 2018

Further rule changes:

  • Only Pirelli racing tyres are permitted. The official tyre supplier will supply the BOSS GP cars at each race and will be available for assembly.
  • Participation in the driver briefing is mandatory for all drivers and team principals. All crew chiefs receive a radio for communication with the race director at each event.
  • A speed limit of 60 km/h applies in the pit lane, overtaking in the pit lane is prohibited.
  • When stopping in the pit lane, the drivers must place themselves in the working lane at a 45-degree angle to the pit lane exit. Driving on the pit lane in the working lane is not permitted.
  • If the race is aborted by means of the red flag, all participants drive slowly into the pit lane to their position, overtaking is prohibited. After reaching the parking position and switching off the engine work on the vehicle is permitted – however refuelling is forbidden.