Red Bull welcomes Supercars pit lane rule

Red Bull Holden Racing Team have welcomed a rule change by Supercars aimed at preventing wheel spin dramas in pit lane.

Supercars

A rule change should prevent controversial wheel spins by V8 Supercars when they make pit stops. (AAP)

A rule change aimed at ending the drama relating to wheel-spin dramas during Supercars pit stops has been welcomed by one of the championship's leading teams.

Rotation of a car's wheels while the vehicle is on its jacks in pits has long been outlawed due to the safety concerns about spinning spokes near the fingers of pit crew.

The regulations have created multiple dramas in the past, particularly at Pukekohe last year when championship contender Shane Van Gisbergen's rear wheels were seen to move during a pit stop.

Officials did not punish Van Gisbergen based on the fact the wheel didn't complete a full rotation.

That decision prompted accusations of bias towards the Red Bull Holden Racing Team driver from fans during his tense championship battle with fellow New Zealander Scott McLaughlin.

Supercars have amended the regulations for 2019 with drivers now required to engage the car's hydraulic handbrake while the car is in a pit bay.

Red Bull Holden Racing Team manager Mark Dutton approved of the rule change.

"This will go a long way to eradicating the chance of turning the wheels in a pit stop while the car is in the air," Dutton told AAP.

"The most important thing it does is it helps to protect the pit crew changing the rear wheels. We are always pro safety improvements so we are very complimentary to Supercars regarding this rule."

Dutton admitted the new regulation wouldn't completely eradicate the possibility of wheels spinning but the braking mechanism would be "very robust".

The new regulation will be in place for next week's season-opening Adelaide 500.


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Source: AAP


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