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V8 Supercars has released a code of driving conduct for the 2010 Championship.

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V8 Supercars Australia has released a code of driving conduct for the 2010 Championship outlining blocking, overlapping, bumping and passing lapped cars.

Teams were given the code of conduct on the first day of the Yas V8 400 in Abu Dhabi and while bumping has been restricted, a limited amount of side contact is now allowed while regulations on pitlane release and overlapping have been relaxed.

The code aims to promote hard but fair racing, maximise overtaking opportunities and assist interpretation for officials and teams in order to minimise incidents. It also clearly states that each case will be considered on its own merits.

In relation to blocking, under the new code premature direction changes, side-to-side swerving, more than one direction change and “any other abnormal changes” to track position are not permitted.

Once committed to an alternative line the driver must stay there and if a driver reacts late by moving off the racing line on approach he shall be responsible for his own actions.

Officials will judge the frequency or severity of blocking and unlike in the past, this will no longer be relaxed for the last two laps of the race.

Bumping or front-to-rear contact will be tolerated so long as the lead car sustains only minimal damage and the lead driver is not significantly disadvantaged such as being pushed off line or off track.

A limited amount of side-by-side contact or rubbing is permitted when cars are exiting a corner but the overtaking car must not turn across the other car until it has overtaken completely.

In relation to overlapping, the code states the onus is generally on the overtaking car to pass safely “but overtaking cars should not expect the car in front to give way if there is insufficient overlap and particularly if the overtaking car has driven too deep into the entry of the corner”.

A car being released from its pit bay must give way to a car already wholly in the fast lane but if overlap is behind the rear wheel, the driver behind must yield.

And contact between cars in the fast lane or entering the fast lane will only be acceptable when the contact is forward of the front wheels or behind the rear wheels, neither car sustains significant damage and when contact is not side-to-side.

The code also stipulates that a car about to be lapped must allow the faster car past at the first realistic opportunity.

Blue flags will be waved if this does not happen and drivers ignoring blue flags will be penalised.

Fujitsu Racing GRM driver Lee Holdsworth welcomed the new code of conduct.

“It’s a bit clearer to the drivers; we now know what we can and can’t do so there might be a few more passing opportunities you can get away with now whereas before it was unclear,” he said.

“We need to start promoting passing in the sport rather than having the drivers reconsider every passing opportunity because they are afraid they will get a penalty.

“It’s (the code of conduct) a positive thing, but I think we need to work on it a bit more.”

Teammate Michael Caruso was also in favour of the new code.

“Everyone does need to know the rules and there will be some drivers happy and others unhappy, but that will come down to how consistent the rulings are and the consistency of penalties,” Caruso said.