The Virtual Safety Car is coming to WEC
Already introduced in Formula 1 for several seasons, the Virtual Safert Car will make its entrance in the World Endurance Championship next year.
Every season, new rules are added to the extensive list of championships. And for the 2024 season, a new major paragraph will be added to the regulations of the World Endurance Championship.
Indeed, the WEC has announced the introduction of the Virtual Safety Car through a technical bulletin. It will be used if the race director deems it necessary for safety reasons. Each VSC period will be followed by a safety car procedure.
A duration of about two laps
Contrary to Formula 1, where cars have to reduce their speed by 30%, here, they will all have to drive at 80 km/h, in single file and maintain the gaps between each of them. The virtual safety car is a tool designed to secure interventions around the track in case of an accident. It can be used for an approximate duration of two laps before the deployment of the safety car, explains the WEC newsletter.
The Virtual Safety Car somewhat replaces the Full Course Yellow. With one difference. Thanks to this rule change, drivers will be able to dive into the pit lane, whereas it is not possible under the Full Course Yellow regime.
