How many finals?

There is a real chance that the Austrian round of the European Rallycross Championship may only have one C final. With 17 drivers present, the Supercar category will only have the full complement of three finals if all drivers finish at least two qualifying heats.

The change in this year’s championship to eight-car grids for the finals now requires at least 17 qualifiers to trigger a C final (see rules below). With 13 starters, TouringCar will definitely not have a C final, and if it has a high rate of attrition may even lose its B final; the rules require at least 11 qualifiers for there to be both A and B finals. Super1600 appears to be quite safe in expecting all three finals to run, 26 drivers having signed-on to race in the championship’s most numerous class.

“There will be a maximum of three Finals, for a total of 20 qualified drivers. The 6 best drivers, having the smallest total of points from the two qualifying Heats, enter the A-Final; the next best, from 7th to 12th places, enter the B-Final; 13th to 20th places enter the C-Final. The first and second of the C -Final will take part in the B -Final, the first and second of the B Final enter the A-Final; taking the last places on the grid.

Grids for the Finals will consist of 8 cars in three rows (3-2-3). The highest qualified driver may choose his starting place, then the second, the third, etc. but only on the same line.

If there are in a division at least 17 qualified drivers, there will be an A, B and C-Final; if there are at least 11 qualified drivers, there will be minimum an A and B-Final. If there are less then 11 qualified drivers, there will only be an A-Final.”