Prototype Cup Germany sticks with tried-and-tested cars. Penalty lap, as seen in the DTM and ADAC GT Masters, to be introduced. Registration for the 2025 season is open now.
In the Prototype Cup Germany, an early course has been set for the 2025 season. After the announcement of the 2025 calendar, the key parameters for next year’s regulations have now also been confirmed. The big changes are the introduction of the Penalty Lap and Full Course Yellow phases, amendments to the stationary time during pit stops and to the Junior competition, and the focus on tried-and-tested cars from the homologation period up to 2024. The teams can go to adac.de/motorsport now to register for the coming season, which begins in mid-April at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit that is so popular with many drivers.
Proven technology and amended penalties
The fact that LMP3 racers that comply with previous technical regulations can still be used in the Prototype Cup Germany is a unique selling point for the series. Come the summer of 2025, no other professional European racing series will offer the opportunity to line up with LMP3 race cars built up to 2024, equipped with the equally familiar 455-hp Nissan V8 naturally aspirated engine. This allows the teams and drivers to battle it out for race wins and titles with tried-and-tested material.
Smaller adjustments have also been made to the regulations. For example, from next season race control will have an additional option, with which to punish smaller infringements, in the form of the Penalty Lap. If handed a Penalty Lap, the driver must drive through a marked area of the track, outside the racing line, at a speed of 60 km/h, resulting in a loss of about five seconds. The Full Course Yellow option will also be taken more frequently to neutralise the action on the track in dangerous situations, rather than employing the Safety Car. When the Full Course Yellow is issued, all drivers must instantly slow down to 80 km/h and maintain this speed until the Full Course Yellow is lifted. This way, the gaps between the drivers remain the same during a neutralisation phase. The cars are fitted with a GPS transponder in order to be able to implement the Full Course Yellow and the Penalty Lap.
Minor adjustments to points format and stationary times during pit stops
Small changes have also been made to the additional amount of time, for which successful teams must remain stationary during pit stops. Whereas this year the winner of the previous race had to remain motionless for an extra seven seconds, in addition to the time stipulated in the regulations, that stationary time has been reduced to six seconds for the coming season. The runner-up must stop for an extra four seconds, with the third-placed driver from the previous race remaining stationary for an additional two seconds. The points system for the Junior competition has also been amended. In the past, the points were multiplied by a factor based on the composition of the driver pairing. For example, a Junior in a Bronze/Bronze duo received twice as many points as a Junior in a Bronze/Gold or Silver/Silver pairing. A Bronze/Silver combination increased the points for the Junior competition by a factor of 1.5. This factor has now been abolished, meaning the regular number of points will now also be awarded in the Junior competition. The factor has been retained for the Trophy competition, which is for Bronze drivers.
