[section last updated 09.09.08]
Section XV.
Everyone knows that tires wear out and batteries lose their charge when drifting - especially tires, where they are constantly grinding away against the drifting surface. Sometimes you may find that the tires you selected to use are not the best choice for the track surface you’re on. Likewise, batteries are a limited power source, and need to be replaced/recharged periodically. There may be situations where a driver wishes to change battery packs or tires from what they were originally using at the beginning of an event to another, more suitable selection during the course of competition. The following rules apply to tire and battery swapping.
A. Drivers are allowed to switch to different tires at their discretion during the course of the event, as long as the following rules are adhered to:
1. Swapped tires are legal tires for the class.
2. Swapped tires must already be mounted and ready to go.
B. Tires cannot be swapped in between tandem battle laps.
C. Any swapped tires must still be legal for the event, as dictated in the Tire section.
D. For both group and individual qualifying, all drivers are strongly urged to switch to a fully charged battery pack before their qualifying run - not during. Battery swaps are not allowed in between qualifying laps. If their battery dies during their qualifying, it is regarded as a preventable error (unlike an accidental crash) and the driver will receive only the points they earned up until the battery’s charge is depleted.
E. During tandem battle, all drivers are strongly urged to switch to a fully charged battery pack before their tandem battles - not during.Battery swaps are not allowed in between tandem battle laps, and if a drivers car cannot complete a tandem battle due to battery charge depletion, then it is considered a DNF.
F. The only acceptable reasons where drivers will be allowed to swap batteries during tandem battle are as follows:
1. During tandem battle, if multiple “Sudden Death” battles occur between the same two drivers, those two drivers are allowed to swap a fresh battery.
2. Battery swaps will only be allowed in between 2-lap battles, not in between each lap.
3. During tandem battle, if due to mechanical failure a driver switches to a substitute vehicle to complete the battle, that driver is allowed to swap their battery into the substitute vehicle.
G. Any swapped battery must still be legal for the event, as dictated in the electronics section.
H. Judges have the final say on allowing any tire or battery substitutions during the course of an event.