The rules for the mandatory technical stop during the Total 24 Hours of Spa have been changed for next year’s race, reducing the impact it will have on teams’ strategies.

The technical stop has played a major role in strategy in the last few editions of the 24H Spa and has had a number of minor changes to its regulations in recent years, usually altering the window during the race in which teams can perform the stop.

For the 2020 race, the stop will be reduced from five to four minutes and may be carried out between the start of the 12th hour (3:30 a.m. local time) and end of the 22nd hour (2:30 p.m.).

Most importantly, it can now be carried out under Full Course Yellow or safety car conditions.

This means most teams will opt to make their single four-minute stop during a lengthy safety car period, thus reducing the impact it will have on strategies.

Previously, the stop could only be started under green flag conditions, giving a sizeable advantage to teams able to predict impending FCY periods and pitting moments before the race is neutralized.

Laurent Mercier contributed to this report