Motorsport isn’t just about speed. In the world of motorsports there are many rules and regulations that help keep drivers safe, but some of these rules are so weird that we wonder who makes them, and why.
From penalty quirks to pit stop chaos, every motorsport has its own bizarre laws – some make sense, whilst others do not. Here are some of the weirdest ones that actually exist across the racing world.
Moto3’s ‘No Stopping’ Rule
In Moto3, if you are excessively slowing down – this is against regulations. Sometimes drivers will slow down so that they can create space for a fast lap, but when Moto3 racers do this, they can get
penalised.
Their reasoning is that it causes dangerous bunching, like children in ago-kart queue, and racers still want to gain a fast lap to help them possibly set records or even enhance their racing. Ultimately, if you’re
deemed to have gone too slow, time penalties are often given for trying to gain an unfair “tow.”
The Joker Lap in Rallycross
Every rallycross driver has to complete a ‘Joker Lap’ during their race. It is a longer, alternative route that is mandatory to complete for one lap only. After the lap is over, they have to resume the regular circuit for the rest of the race.
You can take the Joker Lap at any time, as long as you pass the line. For example, if the track was Daytona you would have to complete at least 1 regular lap before taking the Joker Lap as the line placement is slightly different. Although it sounds like a punishment, it’s actually a strategy tool as when a driver takes it it can either make or break a race.
NASCAR’s Debris Cautions
In NASCAR, officials sometimes call “debris cautions” even when there’s no clear debris. People don’t really understand why this happens, and it has led to wild conspiracy theories as well as strategic chaos.
Since 2005, Debris cautions have spiked massively. In fact, they have tripled. Many say that there is no reason for these phantom cautions, other than the executives wanting to make the race more exciting.
During cautions, the cars bunch up. This is what people are arguing the officials are aiming to achieve.
Le Mans Refuelling Nozzles
In the World Endurance Challenge, the specifics are regulated. Every small thing that may put a team at a technical advantage and into the lead (based off anything other than good racing) is against the rules. This may seem really strict, but it ensures no foul play.
The type of nozzle a team uses to refuel is also really specific. If they use the wrong type, they can be disqualified. Even if it was a mere millisecond faster, it is a risky game to play.
Porsche once lost a race over this small error, and it was brutal.
Grid Penalties That Keep On Giving
In Formula 1 and IndyCar, there are sometimes grid penalties so large that they can carry over to the next race, so even if your car fails on a Saturday – you’re still paying for it next weekend.
The FIA rules in F1 have been massively criticised in recent times. Many fans are stating that they are beyond harsh. Along with grid penalties, excessive fines are out to get drivers ‘breaking’ these heinous regulations. For example, you cannot swear, nor can you miss the national anthem for any reason. Just ask Carlos Sainz, who was having medical issues, missed the anthem and was slapped with a huge fine as a result.
Overall, there are some strange rules in every motorsport category. Many fans criticise this online, however change is rare.
What do you think of these rules?