Under the parc ferme rules of last season, all teams were obliged to send their cars to a single location provided by the FIA, as no modifications to it was allowed between qualifying and race. The Q3 finishers were forced to start the race with the same amount of fuel as in qualfy.
This year, despite the fact that the Top 10 finishers in qualifying will have to start the race with the same set of tires used in Q3, the team will be able to take their cars to their own garage, as the FIA has successfully implemented an eye in the sky system in Bahrain. Basically, the new parc ferme “now involves placing a flyscreen-style cover featuring special locks over the cars, which are then monitored by sophisticated overhead cameras,” as reported by the GMM news agency.
Such a measure was taken by the governing body as a result of the multitude of cars that are now competing in the series. If the 2009 parc ferme included only 20 cars, this year the field has 24 cars – although initially scheduled to have 26.
“In the dead of night, the cameras trigger alarms when movement is detected in the garages, and higher resolution is then activated for the FIA video inspectors,” added the GMM report.
In race-day morning, the teams will be allowed to work on their cars, but only from a fuel load standpoint – meaning filling their cars' tanks with the maximum amount of fuel for the race. Additionally, they may replace the engine or gearbox prior to the race, the change being noted by the FIA officials.
Google News