What Does A Code 60 Flag Signify In Motorsport?

There are a lot of different brightly coloured racing flags available for event organisers at a flag store that are used to signify a wide range of race events, safety information and classification changes.

Every race will typically end with a chequered flag, many race sessions will start with a green flag, black flags typically mean disqualification, yellow flags are a sign of danger that typically restricts what racers can do, blue flags warn of faster cars and red flags mean a sudden stop to a race session.

However, one of the most unusual flags in modern motorsport is the Code 60 flag, which has been used as an alternative to the waved yellow flag or the safety car in some races and situations.

What does it mean, what is it for, and do you need it for your event?

What Is Code 60?

Code 60 is simply a command to remain at 60 kilometres per hour (37 miles per hour) and not overtake any cars in front of you. It is typically used in conjunction with purple lights and an automatic system to detect car speeds.

It is used as an alternative to the Safety Car, a physical car that all of the drivers line up behind and safely circulate the track whilst race marshals clear any obstacles, ensure that any drivers are safely able to leave the track, and that medical staff can safely treat injured drivers.

It was initially used in the Dubai 24-Hour endurance race organised by Creventic and the Dutch National Racing Team before it became part of the FIA-sanctioned 24H series.

Why Is It Used?

It was initially designed to replace the full-course double-waved yellow flags and safety car, although most race series which use the Code 60 flag will have both systems as well as the similar virtual safety car (VSC) system.

It is immediately implemented, simple to understand and allows for a much quicker controlled racing environment than double-waved yellows, which usually require a full lap for a safety car to pick up the race leader.

A safety car has a number of unintended safety consequences, where cars will race to the line when a safety period starts or race to the pit lane to get a tactical advantage before joining the line of cars.

The bunched-up cars are also a potential safety issue, leading to a saying amongst race marshalls that yellow flags lead to more yellow flags. Once a race restarts, it only takes one mistake or overly aggressive move to cause yet another crash and restart the entire process of restarting the race properly.

When Do You Need A Code 60 Flag?

If you run an FIA-sanctioned event, you will need a set of Code 60 flags at every race marshall point, as it is a fixed part of the rules, but for local racing events, using the Code 60 rule is at the discretion of the organisers.

In many race events, it is used to replace a safety car, as the only requirement is a way to check sector times (to determine average speed) and a speedometer.

In historic racing series with older cars, however, its use is more controversial, as many older racing cars lack a working speedometer.