There are 3 major adjustments to the rules this season.
One of the continuing problems is accidents that occur at the start or during the first 2 laps of a race, so the committee has decided to implement the following
1. You must not pass the car (in your line) before the startline. The game allows passing on the outside, this can now be protested against and penalties applied
2. Penalties for causing incidents at the start or within the first 2 laps may result in the driver starting from the rear in the next race
3. If you receive more than negative 75 penalty points during the season you will be removed from the league. Obviously you are a menace to other drivers!
I have included all the adjustments to the rules below.
Please read carefully
1. Registration
Due to the increasing number of interested oval drivers, each season will be split into two leagues the InSPire and VR Concepts League. The InSPire League will be regarded as the main league with the VR League dedicated to younger and newer drivers, drivers new to online racing can therefore hone their skills in the VR league before entering the InSPire league.
Eligible Drivers (InSPire League)
The following drivers are eligible for the InSPire League, in order of acceptance:
1. Drivers who completed 6 or more races in the NZNL main league Season 4
2. Gregory and Daza from Season 4 Rookie League
3. The above drivers must register by Monday 10 August midnight in order to race.
4. Drivers who completed less than 6 races in season 4 or raced in previous seasons may apply to be included to nznascar_admin@simracerhq.co.nz
These drivers will be rated by the committee with the more "sensible" drivers given preference.
The number of "previous" drivers will be dependant upon the number of registrations on Monday night.
5. New drivers unknown to the committee can only race if they are sponsored by a senior team captain, (if there are any spots left)
6. The total number of drivers will be 40.
Eligible Drivers (VR League)
All drivers (apart from drivers in the InSPire League) are eligible for the VR League.
Drivers who are eligible as described above MUST register on the SimRacerHQ web site AND join the NASCAR League Forum at SimCentral.
If you are unsure whether you are eligible, please post a message on the SimCentral Forum or email the Committee at nznascar_admin@simracerhq.co.nz
Drivers who do not complete the above may be removed from the league without warning, unregistered drivers will not be allowed to race.
Drivers may choose their own car numbers, the only exceptions are as follows: The numbers 1 to 50 are reserved for those who finished in those positions last season. Drivers who held another particular number last season have first rights on that number, apart from the numbers 300 – 399 and 86; these numbers will not be used as they conflict with random numbers generated by the server. Drivers may also display their last series result number on the rear of their car with the letters NZ before it.
Drivers MUST read the League forum on at least a weekly basis as official changes to the format and tracks will be posted there.
Drivers briefing notes will be posted in the appropriate race thread before each race.
2. Race Formats
Normal races will be the following format:
Race distance: VR 25% - InSPire 45%, 50 and 100%
Pit stop frequency: 2x
Car Setup: Default "Fast" unless otherwise notified in the appropriate race thread at SimCentral
Yellows: Off
Damage: Off
The following Driver Aids OFF: Auto gears, Traction control, Stability control, ABS Brakes.
Steering Wheels are COMPULSORY
Enduro Race Format: Race distance: 100%
All other settings stay the same as a normal track
3. Race Dates & Tracks
The season will consist of 8 races. VR League races will begin qualifying at 7.30pm. InSPire League races will begin qualifying at 9.30pm exactly, with official practice at 8.30pm. The tracks will be:
Race 1: 10th August - Supercel (50%)
Race 2: 17th August - MichiganBR (45%)
Race 3: 24th August - Thunder Bay NR (50%)
Race 4: 31st August - Chicagoland (45%)
Race 5: 7th September - DaytonaBR Hardcore (Enduro) (100%)
Race 6: 14th September - American Raceway (45%)
Race 7: 21st September - Indianapolis (45%)
Race 8: 28th September - TalladegaBR (45%)
These tracks are either standard NR2003 tracks or can be downloaded at SimRacerHQ
5. New Drivers
New drivers must be approved by the NZNL committee. New drivers & rookie drivers must join practice 1 hour (8.30pm) before the start of their first race. New drivers will not be allowed to race if they have not had at least one hours practice alongside other drivers or if in the opinion of the race officials are not competent enough after this practice to race on the night. New drivers will be subject to this rule for all races. We encourage new drivers to race, but we do not want competing drivers having their race ruined by new drivers (keep a consistent line and do not veer suddenly).
11. Starts
The format for the start is as follows:
All cars join on the grid.
The field follows the pace car till the pace car leaves the track.
The leaders then continue at pace speed, all cars MUST maintain their separation and stay in line behind the car in front.
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 is given.
Do not weave back and forth on pacing laps.
Do not spin tires on the pace lap. Penalties will be issued should this occur, smoke blocks the following driver's vision causing delays and concertina effect.
Race organisers reserve the right to restart the race only (not qualifying) if the lead up to the start is a disaster.
Pace speed will be notified in the driver’s briefing.
There will be NO passing of the CAR IN FRONT of each driver until the start line is crossed. All drivers must maintain seperation from the CAR IN FRONT until crossing the start line. Cars may pass another car before the start line as long as that car is in the other line (there are two lines at the start, a high and low line) e.g. if you are in the low line you may pass the car or cars beside you in the high line, as long as you don't pass the CAR IN FRONT of you in your line. The second placed driver must not pass the lead driver until the start line is crossed.
Accidents caused in the first two laps after the start may incur a stiff penalty (see penalties)
15. League Administration
Officials:
League Admin:
Bazz
Inspector
Odie
TonyG
Jetboy
Server Admin:
Riven
Web Admin:
Ron Westland
League organisers (officials) for League races have the responsibility and authority for all decisions made before, during and after the race. Any comments, complaints or questions should be given to the league organisers to handle.
All official communication, i.e. Complaints and protest replies should be sent via email to: nznascar_admin@simracerhq.co.nz and suggestions and general discussion should be made on the forum at SimCentral.
Protests must be made at SimRacerHQ /members area/leagues/submit a protest
16. Protests
Protests MUST be made at SimRacerHQ /members area/leagues/submit a protest
Protest replies should be sent via email to: nznascar_admin@simracerhq.co.nz
VR League - there will be no formal protest system, however the organisers reserve the right to penalise drivers who display unsportsmanlike behaviour or consistently cause incidents thus disrupting other drivers races.
InSPire League as follows:
Drivers are encouraged (but it is not compulsory) to first talk to the other driver (on email or through the forum), 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 forward a replay of the event as evidence; this replay must include 2 laps before the accident.
1. When filing the protest drivers are to supply the officials with the lap#, the race time and the cars numbers and names involved and a short description of their protest.
2. Protests will not be accepted more than 48 hours after the completion of the race. Replays should be submitted from the protestors own replay should the official replay not be available.
3. The names of the drivers who have been protested against will be posted in the "drivers under investigation" thread.
4. The defendant then has 24 hours to reply to a protest, should they wish.
5. Protest results will be posted before the next race
Protests cannot be used as a way of making up places or points in the league, the organisers reserve the right to refuse a protest if they suspect the protest is being used in such a fashion. In such a case the penalty points shall be removed from the protestor’s total.
The organisers reserve the right to penalise any individual for on track and off track behaviour that is detrimental to the spirit of the league. This is at the sole discretion of the organisers and may or may not be the result of a protest. Any abusive flaming of other drivers, in the forums or on Ventrillo, can be protested against or penalties applied by the organisers.
17. Penalties
Penalties can take different forms, all based on the severity of the incident and the assumed actions of the driver. Any action that appears to be retaliation by a driver against another driver will be dealt with severely, no matter who may have originally been at fault.
While the organisers will make every attempt to get it right every time, they are not perfect. When a penalty is given it shall be accepted by the driver and not called into question. The officials will attempt to keep the rulings and penalties consistent through out the season.
The racing simulator software has its own set of rules, and in almost all cases whatever the software considers as an offence or causes problems will not be changed. Even though it is not perfect, the software's penalties and finishing order will be considered final for almost all cases. One of the few cases that will be changed is in the case of "server" lag, effecting finishing position’s (as has happened in the past), and organisers will review driver complaints and alter positions accordingly. If server lag is so extreme as to effect too many positions making it difficult to ensure correct placings the race may be rerun, but no other changes will be made.
Penalty
Deliberately taking out another car:
Automatic removal from the New Zealand NASCAR League. This action may be the result of a protest or a unilateral decision by the organisers.
Point penalties:
Between 5 and 50 Points will be deducted from the driver’s total, depending upon the severity of the incident.
If an incident occurs during the start procedure or in the following 2 laps the driver may also be relegated to start from the rear of the field in the following race.
Should a driver receive 75 or more negative penalty points he will be removed from the InSPire league. A driver who has received this many negative points is obviously detrimentally affecting other driver’s races and needs to improve his online skills. Such a driver is encouraged to join the VR league to further improve his online skills.
The league organisers will be sole judge of all offences.
The league organisers will attempt to advise/warn new drivers rather than penalise and compulsory 1 hour practices will be enforced (even for experienced drivers) if drivers are not learning from their mistakes.
If a league organiser has a protest submitted against them, the remaining organisers will decide the outcome.
Well, that was a long post
