The Pits Touring Car Championship Rules
Contents:
Registration
Email Scott Moore with your name, email address, online name, car number (check the drivers page to see if your number is taken), car file, and what time is best for you to race (preferrably in US Eastern Standard Time), team name, and where you live. League signups may close if a certain number of racers join, spots will not open up then until another driver leaves. Car numbers are first come, first serve, and drivers who submit cars with identical numbers will have to change to a new one. Drivers MUST belong to the TPTCC YahooGroups as all official mailings about races will come through there. NOTE: Car files may also submitted to the files area of the TPTCC YahooGroups, but please include the name of the driver and what type body the car uses.
If league registration does close, drivers will have a responsibility to insure that they make races. If a driver does not make 3 consecutive race weekends (without contact with the league administrator) then they will be dropped from the roster to make room for other drivers who may want to join.
2. Race Formats, Times and Driver Responsibilites
1) Race formats
Races will follow this format, One race will will be at least a longer one, with at least one pitstop. The next race will be 2 short sprints, no pit stop. Example: Race One, Watkins Glen, on December 19th, may be a 45 laps race, requiring a pit stop. Race two, Sears Point, on December 16th, may be two 15 laps sprints. Race three, Brno, December 23rd, again a long race requiring a pit stop, and so on.
2) Championship, Team & Manufacturers Points
Points will be scored as follows: Race winner of long races, 60 points, then each driver behind will get -4 points until place 5. Following the 5th place driver, points decrement by 2. (60, 56, 52, 48, 44, 42, 40, 38...). Race winner of sprint races, 30 points, with 2 point decrements between the top 5 drivers. From 5th place on back, points decrement by 1. (30, 28, 26, 24, 22, 21, 20, 19...) Pole position for race start, 1 point
Manufacturers points run as follows. The winning car recieves 3 points, the 2nd place car recieves 2. The rest of the cars placing *in the top 10* all recieve one point.
Team points run as follows. Teams recieve 3 points for any team driver who wins a race, 2 points for second, as well as one point for every driver in the top 10 (the race winner would gain 4 points for the team). Teams also get a point if a team driver takes the pole. There is a maximum team limit to 3 cars per team, however, and only the *top 2* finishers per team get any team points.
3) Driver/Race Meetings
Driver meetings will be published on the website and sent out via the TPTCC Egroups list. All active drivers MUST subscribe to the list, however, the format by which they subscribe is up to them (emails, read online, journal). All important information, including race meetings, will be marked with "TPTCC Official" in the subject header of the email. All races will be passworded, so do not forget it. Drivers CANNOT invite 'guest' drivers into TPTCC races, and passwords cannot be given to non-TPTCC drivers. If a driver would like to invite another driver to a TPTCC race, they can contact the league administrator so that the administrator can insure that the guest driver is properly aware of the rules and conduct of TPTCC online racing.
4) Race & track familiararity
Drivers MUST be aware of the race format and the track before competition. It is imperative that drivers practice for each meet before racing online. TPTCC subscribes to the idea that sim racing is not a spectator sport, and therefore is for the enjoyment of the drivers...and for that to happen, a driver's knowledge of a track MUST be good. Driver should NEVER go onto a track that they have not practiced for, as their likelyhood for an ontrack incident increases dramatically if they are on the grid and have barely turned a few laps.
5) Scheduling and Connections
Online racing can at times be a pain. TPTCC will attempt to schedule all races to fit into a time period that is good for all drivers. However, dropped connections are sure to happen. If a large amount of cars get dropped during a race, the administrator will restart the race (read 4 or more cars).
1) Racing Lines
Drivers are required to keep at least 2 wheels on the race track at all times. Cutting through the grass or completely over curbs where all four tires leave the track will result in penalties in the form of time deduction and/or strikes. The administration realizes that accidents and mistakes can happen, however, blatent or consistent breaking of this rule will result in a penalty. Drivers who overshoot a corner or chiquane must NOT gain positions on drivers who properly made the corner, and must slow and wait to pull behind any cars that they may have passed while off the racetrack.
Race cars that are damaged or laps down do NOT have to give way to lead cars if they are racing for position, or attempting to stay on the LEAD lap. However, cars that are damaged or more than one lap down should allow leaders to get past as quickly and safely as possible, and should NEVER purposely block a leader. By the same token, leaders should NEVER punt a lap car because they were 'in the way'. Blocking a driver behind you, in general, is frowned upon...there are ways to race where you can put your car where the other car wants to go that should work just fine if you are sufficiently fast enough. Pulling across the entire track to keep a driver from passing you is NOT ok, and could result in a penalty.
Bumping and banging is all part of 4-wheel, 4-fendered auto racing. We are not going to be harsh on the occasional tap. However, drivers using this tactic regularly to advance positions may also be lumbered with a penalty.
Drivers should NEVER re-enter the track until they have SEEN that the coast is clear. Driving back onto the track in front of a pack of cars is blatant stupidity, see "Driver Conduct" for administration views on that subject. Cars also exiting the pits should take care to merge with traffic; race cars are travelling at high-speeds and cannot easily slow or maneuver around cars that have just pulled in front of them.
2) Race Chat
NASCAR Heat does not have "autochat", but that does not mean that drivers should not signal intentions when performing a move that is not normal, i.e. pitting, coming back onto the track after an "excursion", ect. There are some accepted quick ways of letting drivers know what you are doing, here is what they are:
Here's some examples of use of the above. Use your car number or name to designate who you are. "55 OT T1" - means number 55 off-track, turn 1. "55, 33 DM T3" - means numbers 55 and 33 are damaged in turn 3. "55 PI" - number 55 is pitting. And so on...
Do not use an overabundance of chatting during a race or qual. You should be doing that, rather than chatting. It puts off the drivers that are still attempting to race/qual, and breaks their concentration with a considerable amount of chatting
Race chat will not be used for drivers to "discuss" an altercation that they have had. Save it for after the race, in email, unless it is to just say "sorry"...in fact, it is recommended that you apologize if you cause an incident, it usually goes a long way rather than say nothing and have a driver decide to bring your move to the administration's attention because you didn't seem to care that you took them out of the race.
3) Driver Conduct
Drivers need to insure their conduct on the track is beyond reproach. Intentional hitting of other drivers will not be tolerated, and will result in immediate disqualification from that round, and suspension from the next round. By the same token, 'questionable' incidents will result in a 'strike' against a driver. (see probation below). Drivers should operate as if they were driving a real race car, and had money invested as well as other driver's lives to think about when considering an action. Cursing and/or insulting other drivers or administrators, no matter WHAT the circumstances, will not be tolerated and will result in severe penalties.
Drivers need to be aware that on track incidents should NOT immediately be protested. Drivers should first talk to the other driver (on email), as well as have both of them view replays from both of their perspectives. Many times conflicts can be resolved when drivers see that what they *thought* happened, really didn't.
Drivers who wish to file an 'official' protest as a result of an incident on track MUST have a replay available as evidence. Be aware that replays, by the same token, will not be considered 'concrete' evidence due to warps...but that it needs to be present for administrators to at least gain some insight as to what may have happened. Drivers should also submit testimoney from other drivers who may have witnessed the incident. See "responding to an on-track incident" below for more details.
Last but not least...while mistakes can and will happen, and bumps and taps, blatant stupidity can and will be penalized. Example: Car33 starts in 33rd position at Cleveland (which is a track famous for this maneuver). Coming up to the very sharp turn 1, and seeing cars fan out 5 wide ahead, car33 decides to pull the 'Hail Mary' pass down the inside and grab about 10 positions. Unfortunately, car33 realizes upon coming up to the braking area that he will be using his brakes (and a few vehicles) to stop his now ballistic race car...and takes out about 8 cars who DID manage to slow his vehicle down. This is an example of 'blatant' stupidity that WILL result in a penalty. Complete loss of brain functions do not constitute a simple mistake.
4) Starts & Restarts
The race offcial has the OPTION of throwing a yellow flag if conditions on track warrant it, which may include a major crash or warping that causes damage to several cars. Note that it is the option of the race official, and other drivers cannot "throw a yellow" themselves. If the race official does call "full course yellow", there will be NO racing back to the yellow flag, and the leader will slow as soon as they cross the start/finish line. The leader should bring the field around at a steady pace of 50-70 mph or so (during yellow) until the signal for a green flag is given. After the track is sufficiently clean, and damaged cars get a chance to pit, the race official will then call 'green' and the race leader can accellerate on crossing the S/F line, not before. Lap cars MAY attempt to get a lap back coming to the yellow flag if they are in sight of the leader, and can safely make a move without endangering other cars.
If several cars have a collision behind the race official (3 cars or more) and are unable to safely make it back to the pits (wheel damage), one of the drivers should call out to the race official the number of cars as well as what corner. There MUST be 3 cars or more, and there MUST be wheel damage involved. If a driver does get wheel damage in an on/off-track excursion, and is having trouble making it back to the pits, they should call out "car #(whatever) is slow with wheel damage" before getting back on the racing surface, and should do everything possible to stay out of the racing line. Cars may NOT race back to a yellow flag, but lap cars may attempt to get laps back, as long as they are in sight of the leader, and can do it safely.
Starts and Restarts can be tricky. The leader of the race must maintain a steady speed UNTIL he takes the green flag. At no time should any drivers attempt to 'brake check' or get 'flying starts' on other drivers. All cars must maintain the pace speed until the green flag, and used consistent spacing, no holding back to attempt to get a run on the car in front. Cars may NOT pass to the inside of the car ahead of them until after the start/finish line. IF a car ahead suddenly does not come up to a 'reasonable' speed, a driver can pass to the inside to avoid a collision.
DO NOT weave back and forth on caution laps! It does absolutely nothing to heat up your tires or scrub off debris, but is more likely to cause drivers to make contact with the car next to them, and WILL result in penalties.
5) Pitting
Cars should take extra care when pitting or exiting pits. Always signal your intentions to enter the pits via chat messages. Do NOT wait until the last minute to signal cars behind you...let them know with enough time that they are not forced to make severe maneuvers to avoid your car. When exiting the pits, also use autochat messages to warn other drivers about your car. Insure that *if* there is any 'merge' area coming out of the pits, that you use the full merge area (below any racing line) until you are back up to speed and can enter the racing line safely.
6) Other items
Cars should always have the spotter turned on in some form or fashion to give them the best information available.
4. League Administration, Protests & Penalties
1) Officials and Driver's Tribunal
A panel of at least 3 chosen drivers will form a committee that will rule on all protests, incidents, rule violations, and questions relating to race finishes, ect. The committee's decisions are final. There are 2 types of officials that form the TPTCC administration body, a race official, and a league official. Race officials will be the host and TPTCC official for the race. Drivers should follow all instructions from race officials while at a race meet. Race officials should automatically save race standings, whether they are actually conducting the race or not, to insure that there are several copies of race standings in case one race official does has a problem.
2) Penalties and Probation
Penalties for rule violations can come in several forms, time deduction, strikes, loss of points, and/or complete disqualification. Time deductions work on the premise that if a driver recieves a time deduction, their overall race time has the time deduction subtracted from that, therefore placing them further back in the field.
Strikes are a form of probation for drivers for incidents on track. A strike is carried over for the next 3 race meets and then dropped from the driver's tally. If a driver receives a total of three 'strikes' during the course of a season, it will result in suspension for the next race meet. Continued strikes after a suspension could result in dismissal. Be aware, drivers who manage to not recieve a suspension, but have a total of 5 strikes in a season could result in suspension for 2 races.
Example: Driver 1 recieves a strike for an incident in race 1. At the next 3 race meets, he recieves no strikes. At race meet 4, Driver 1 now is back to NO strikes. Example 2: Driver 1 recieves a strike for an incident in race 1. At race 2, he recieves no strikes, but at the following race meet he recieves 2 strikes. He now has a total of 3 strikes, and will be suspended from racing in race meet 4.
Please note, strikes are one of three forms of punishment in this league, the other two is loss of points for an event, and being expelled. Strikes may be handed out more than one at a time...if an incident warrants it, a driver could recieve 2 or 3 strikes at the same time (in other words, in the case of 3 at once, suspended for the next race). It will be up to the Driver's Tribunal as to what final punishment is warranted, but it could be more than one strike if the event was severe.
3) Responding to an on-track incident
5. Mailing List rules of conduct
This set of rules is for posting on the mailing list. There are a considerable number of drivers who recieve mail on this list, so these rules were devised to make sure that everyone that is on this list understands that there is to be consideration and appreciation of good manners for posting on this list. This list is unmoderated, and should remain so as long as people follow these simple guidelines. This list is for Official TPTCC announcements, getting and giving information about simulator racing, "News Items" on your team, asking or offering software or hardware for purchase, discussion of simulator racing, and light discussion of racing events. These may sound like some tough rules, but the main thing we want to accomplish here is that everyone can have fun, and get information by using this list. That is the purpose for them, to insure that everyone has fun doing what they want to do most by using this list, go RACING!