Motor Sport Flags

If you plan to get your racing licence you need to know all the flags as you will be tested on these. Failing to notice the flags on a circuit could, at worst, result in a fatal crash and, at best, would ensure you look very stupid in front of your fellow racers and club officials. Getting to know them is one thing, making sure you see a person waving one when you are about to overtake someone on a 120 mph corner is something else!

This flag indicates danger ahead and overtaking is prohibited. A single waved yellow flag is intended to tell the driver to slow down and exercise caution; a double waved yellow flag warns that the driver must be extremely cautious and be prepared to stop if needed.

A hazard has been cleared up and the race can continue at full race speed.

This indicates the race has been stopped. This can be as a result of a car that has crashed and is in a dangerous position or the driving conditions are too bad.

This warns of a slow-moving car on the track, usually a safety car or tow truck.

Indicating the track is slippery or greasy with oil or water and the driver should exercise caution.

Shown to the winner and then for all the other contestants to indicate the end of the race.

Shown with the car number to indicate unsportsmanlike / inconsiderate behaviour, which could soon result in a black flag. In every day motoring terms think of it like cutting someone up on an island – not good!

This flag is shown with the car number to say that the driver must pull into the pits right away. This usually means the driver has broken the rules and will be disqualified. Get too many of these and say goodbye to your racing licence!

This flag is displayed with the car number shown and indicates there is a problem with the car, either it’s on fire or something similar which is causing concern to the officials… and to the driver once he finds out the car he is driving could burst into flames!!!!!!!

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