Pace Car Speed Limit

[HoldenAngel]

After watching Bathurst on the weekend, I was wondering if anyone knew how fast the pace car can go during a safety period? Is there a set max. speed limit or is it open slather. Interested to find this out if anyone can help!!

[Crash Test]

There is a set limit that it should go at, I'm not quite sure what it is, whether it is 60, 70, or 80.

[racer69]

The first year of the Safety Car, or Pace car as it was known then, in the 1987 World Touring Car Championship round at Bathurst, the speed limit was set at 50km/h, but i'm pretty sure it is higher now.

[Crash Test]

Remember 1996? The old Jackaroo had a hard time keeping on the track then...

Now here's a toughie for RaceTime, what is the slowest pace car lap in recent years??...go on!

[Airhead]

Well the pace car on the weekend from my observation looked to be doing far more than 50klms an hour. More like 120.

But in the ute race, the medical car (black and orange EL Falcon) was only just behind the field at the chase on the first lap.

[Crash Test]

But the medical car is probably more modified than the Utes anyways...down in NSW they have a pretty neat set up with their medical staff.

[Morris 1100]

But the medical car is probably more modified than the Utes anyways...down in NSW they have a pretty neat set up with their medical staff.

The EL medical car (Fairmont) is highly modified it has a roll cage and big wheels, thats it! When I drove it at Bathurst you had to tilt your head to the side to clear the cage! and being an auto it only does 185 kph before it hits the limiter, just what you want as you turn into the chase! and you can't fit anybody in the back seat because of the roll cage (but that dosen't stop them)

[Fulton]

If the Nissan pace car never went over 50km/h in 87 I'll eat my hat!

[Vandas]

Okay from the own words of the Safety Car passenger every year.

110kmph up the hill, about 110kmph across the top, and 120kmph on the way down.

He also happens to be the Race Secretary of the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix, Peter Nelson.

Funny this question should come up, because it got a mention in the latest PIARC (Phillip Island Auto Racing Club) Magazine being released next week.

thanks

Cameron

[Vandas]

Although apparently when Sir Jack Brabham was his Safety Car driver (About 3 years ago) apparently the speed limit went out the window. Apparently Sir Jack decided to see how the car handled around the demanding mountain circuit.

So you see the red mist never does go away. hehehehe


thanks

Cameron

[RaceTime]

Just to add to this/modify it slightly.

There is no set speed limit for Safety Cars - they will do what is a) 'recommended' to the driver by the Race Director and b) conducive with the conditions at the time ie it is is absolutely ****ing down then a slower speed will be used; but if it because of, say, a major somewhere around the circuit - the speed will possibly pick up on the clear parts until the incident is reached.