Stewards Enquiry #3: Sebring Short

TORA stewards have investigated two seperate issues regarding the last meeting of the TORA Touring Car Championship at Sebring Short. These issues, although distinct and occuring in different lobbies, share a common theme. They have been regarded as unsporting and manipulation of the rules in order to gain advantage.

The first incident is regarding lfcnicklfc. It was alleged that in lobby B race 2, he cut a large section of the complex between corners 3 and 5.









When asked for a statement regarding this, lfcnicklfc claimed that he had been put out wide by contact with jenson09 and had continued off the track in order to avoid contact with another car. He maintained track position and came out 2 tenths ahead of jenson09.

Replay footage indeed shows contact between jenson09 and lfcnicklfc into turn 3 as jenson09 attempts a pass on the inside through the corner. lfcnicklfc turns in on him, and the resultant contact puts both cars off track. jenson09 returns to the track and moves over to the right side to allow space for lfcnicklfc to return. lfcnicklfc continues off track and rejoins ahead of jenson09. Replay footage shows no other car in the immediate area.

It is the decision of the TORA stewards that although lfcnicklfc will keep his finishing position from race 2, he will be given a ten point penalty.

The second enquiry regarded the allegation that AJZero set a slow qualifying time to ensure a lobby C entry, then slowed on race 2 to get pole position for race 3.

Replay footage from qualification shows AJZero reduce speed around the final corner on his fastest lap, and coast towards the line. He then brakes to slow himself further until coming to almost standstill. He thus sets the slowest qualifying lap of all entries.

In race two, he slows the car during the race to drop over 1000 meters behind third place. In last place is culchi, who, having already pitted twice, is gaining ground on him. As the race leader takes the flag, a two-minute timer is activated. AJZero continues round to take the flag while culchi records a DNF as the timer ends. This gives AJZero pole position for race three, which allows him to take a flag-to-flag victory.

The TORA stewards had to consider this issue at length as to the allowances of the regulations. While sand-bagging in testing and qualification is not unknown in motorsport, it is frowned upon. It is also true that the reverse grid rules of 2005's BTCC saw drivers fighting and slowing for tenth position. As a result of this, ToCA introduced random reverse grids. Sadly, we do not have that luxury due to the way the lobby system works.

TORA decided that while AJZero had not, in the strictest sense, broken the rules, he had bent them in order to engineer his race win. As such, while AJZero's win will stand for race 3, he will be given a ten-point penalty.

Both lfcnicklfc and AJZero MAY appeal these decisions by PMing myself within a week of this notice and giving reasonable grounds to recind the penalties.

It is the decision of the Stewards that both penalties be upheld.

10 points deduction to both AJzero and lfcnicklfc to be taken into account on the standings.