Starting grid

This article or the following section is not adequately provided with supporting documents ( e.g. individual evidence ). Information without sufficient evidence could be removed soon. Please help Wikipedia by researching the information and including good evidence.

Starting grid is the English expression for a starting position, or starting line-up, mainly in motorsport. The term grid has different meanings in English . In this context it can be translated with grid . Colloquially, it is also starting grid plain or grid called.

Motorsport

Pole position (in the direction of travel) of the starting grid of the Nürburgring

The so-called starting grid is an area marked with markings on the road surface (mostly asphalt ) on the part of a motorsport racetrack that is designated as an area for the starting grid of the racing vehicles. The place on the starting grid that is considered to be the best starting position for the following race is pole position .

In the majority of cases, the markings on the roadway are in the form of an upside-down large U, with the vehicles then being placed so that their largest front overhang forms an imaginary line with the bottom of the U. If this line prematurely disregarded by a forward movement of the vehicle, the driver must be cautioned, readmitted or his vehicle by officials pushed back into the correct position. However, if this disregard only occurs during the immediate course of the start procedure, the participant caught will be penalized by the race management due to an early start ( jump start ), which was previously defined and stipulated in the event's regulations. Often this is a time penalty of a few seconds, which is later added to the given time. In some racing sports, however , an early start can also lead to a disqualification of the culprit.

Gliding

Starting position (grid) in glider flight (right)

In competitions of gliding the starting grid is also a grid called. Here the aircraft stand in a grid-like formation on the airfield .

In contrast to motorsport, the positions are usually not identified by color markings on the surface. It is often started on lawns . The rows on the starting grid are marked by pylons and numbers, especially in large competitions with many participants , to make it easier for pilots and helpers to orientate themselves. To further structure the starting grid (s), several grids are also staked out. Sorting according to different aircraft classes can also take place within the grids. The pilots and teams take their position in the list from the competition documents, which they often only receive at the morning briefing on the day of the competition.