BARCELONA – The YNOT Grand Prix’s seventh year will break all the rules — literally.

Beginning with the opening race, presented by JuicyAds in Barcelona on Feb. 29, the rules of the iconic kart-racing championship will change. That’s a good thing, though, because the rewards have changed, too: The driver with the most points at the end of the 2016 season will take home a purse of $1,000 in cash.

YNOT Group LLC co-owner Jay Kopita explained the new system.

“A point tally will be kept on the industry’s best drivers at all four races,” he said. “At each race, the first-place finisher will receive 10 points, second place will get eight points, third place six points, and fourth through sixth places get four points each. Everybody else in the ‘death match’ field gets three points apiece.

“The participant with the highest cumulative point total for the year wins the cash prize after the final race at The European Summit in Prague in September,” he added.

Kopita encouraged drivers to enter as many races as they can — especially since everything about every race is free for both participants and observers, including transportation, food and drinks. Generous sponsors including JuicyAds, FNCash, Payze, Mistral, Studio20 and Traffic Mansion take care of all the costs.

“The more races you participate and place in, the better your chances of winning,” Kopita said. “In the event of a tie, the number of events drivers competed in, the number of times they finished in the top three and their best lap times will count toward determining the ultimate winner.”

The first race in the YNOT Grand Prix’s 2016 season will take place at Scratch Indoor Karting Penedès, a perennial favorite on the circuit. Located 30 minutes from The European Summit’s headquarters hotel, the 680-meter course offers a thrilling ride with many tight turns, fast straightaways, tunnels and ramps.

Three hours of heart-pounding action will begin at 6 p.m. Complimentary transportation will leave the hotel at 5:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m., then return racers and fans at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Three additional races at The Phoenix Forum, Qwebec Expo and The European Summit Prague will round out the season.

For more information about sponsorship availability or to secure a driver’s seat at any or all races, email Kopita or contact him on Skype at LAJConsulting.