''Parc fermé'', literally meaning "closed park" in French, is a secure area at a

motor racing An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert one or more forms of energy into mechanical energy. Available energy sources include potential energy (e.g. energy of the Earth's gravitational field as exploited in hydroelectric power gene ...

circuit where the cars are kept at some times during a race meeting in order to prevent modifications.

Area

According to the FIA

Formula One regulations The numerous Formula One regulations, made and enforced by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, FIA, have changed dramatically since the first Formula One World Championship in 1950. There are two main types of regulations; technical ...

(used since

2003 2003 was designated by the United Nations as the International Year of Fresh water, Freshwater. In 2003, a Multi-National Force – Iraq, United States-led coalition 2003 invasion of Iraq, invaded Iraq, starting the Iraq War. Demographic ...

), the area must be sufficiently large and secure so as to prevent unauthorised access to the cars, while allowing technical checks to take place. Cars must be placed in ''parc fermé'' within three and a half hours from the end of qualifying until five hours before the start of the race formation lap. Essentially, cars in this area must not be touched by anyone without express permission of the FIA stewards. However, cars are put under "''parc fermé'' conditions" from the time the cars exit the pits for qualifying until the start of the race formation lap. Under these conditions, only minor adjustments such as tyre changes, refuelling, bleeding of brakes and minor front wing adjustments are allowed. As such, teams cannot make major set-up changes between qualifying and race day. Violation of such rules usually means that the car has to start from the pit lane. The only exception is due to a change in climatic conditions, where the Race Director will give teams permission to make appropriate changes to their cars, or in the case of serious accidents compromising the integrity of the car. In duathlon (run–bike–run) and

triathlon A triathlon is an endurance multisport race consisting of Swimming (sport), swimming, Cycle sport, cycling, and running over various distances. Triathletes compete for fastest overall completion time, racing each segment sequentially with the ...

(swim–bike–run) competition the ''parc fermé'' is a secure area where bikes are stored during the race. According to regulations the bikes can only be accessed by the athletes themselves, as any kind of outside help is prohibited in this sport.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parc ferme Motorsport terminology Formula One World Rally Championship