If it occurs the trouble of the car or the car is damaged due to an accident such as contact with another car during the race, if driver can return to the pit, it is permitted to repair the car by team crew at the pit.
After repairing the car, driver will be allowed to rejoin the race.
Car Repair
When it occurs the trouble of the car, it is permitted to repair the car by team crew at the pit. If the car stops on the course, the driver must repair the car by himself using on-board tools. It is prohibited repairing the car by the third party or receiving the tools from the other person.
In the sprint race, it is rare for the driver to repair the car at the side of the course, but in the endurance race such as the endurance race like Le Mans 24 Hours, the driver often repairs the car to return to the pit.
Repairs must be done with in-vehicle tools
If the driver cannot return to the pit and repairs the car, the required tools must be on-board the car.
It is prohibited to have a third party, including the team crew, help repair the car or receive tools. However, it is said that it is no problem for the team staff to come close and give verbal instructions to the driver. Staff can only approach the generally admitted areas.
2012 Le Mans 24 Hours
In 2012 Le Mans 24 Hours Endurance Race, the Nissan Delta Wing was hit by TOTOYA TS030 HYBRID of LMP1 class and crashed to wall.
At that time, Satoshi Motoyama who was driving the Delta Wing tried to repair the car at the side of the course for almost an hour to return to the pit, but unfortunately retired the race.
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CHAPTER IV - CODE OF DRIVING CONDUCT ON CIRCUITS
3. Cars stopping during a race
c ) Repairs carried out on the track may only be made by the driver using tools and spare parts carried aboard the car.