SUV CUP - Rules & Regulations

Welcome to the first season of the Sports Utility Vehicle Cup in 2017. This championship will be contested on Forza Motorsport 6 on the Xbox One and will consist of 8 rounds. Each round will have 2 races taking about 45 mins total to complete.
Before you decide to enter the series, please take the time to read the rules & regulations very carefully.

By registering for the series, you agree to the rules and regulations as written in this thread. TORA reserves the right to alter the rules & regulations as necessary, for the purpose of fairness and clarity in the competition.


GENERAL RACING RULES AND DRIVING ETIQUETTE

Motor racing, as defined by TORA, is a non contact sport. It is understandable that on occasion some contact may occur as a consequence of incidents caused by either party; for instance "lag". At TORA lag is defined as sudden high internet latency or ping causing visual inconsistencies between players.

Competitors with lag issues will not be penalized, but will be asked to improve their connection for future participation in TORA’s events. If the issue is persistently hindering other competitor’s experiences, or you cannot join lobbies (see rule 14.0), please perform a speed test on your connection via http://www.speedtest.net/. Once you have completed this, see the connection section via this link:

http://forums.theonlineracingassociation.com/t1312-xbox-live-connectivity

TORA expects every competitor who partakes in our championships to behave in an appropriate and respectable manner. Insulting comments or behaviour towards fellow competitors, race stewards, lobby hosts and staff is unacceptable and will be dealt with severely by TORA Staff. Respectable on-track etiquette is expected of all competitors. This includes on-track battles, track limits, dirty driving etc.

The track limits are determined by the solid white lines either side of the track, or for lack thereof, the edge of the tarmac (or other racing surface). At all times, two wheels must remain on this part of the circuit, unless of an occurrence where it is near to impossible to keep two wheels on the track, such as avoiding a collision. During a race meeting, each time the track limits are not adhered to, a warning will be given. Each driver are allowed five warnings of all four wheels leaving the track via the inside of a corner, at any part of the circuit. If a sixth and subsequent "corner cutting" occurrence happens within a race meeting, then that driver will lose a position for each corner cut. Again, if a corner is cut to avoid a collision, this would not be given a warning.

All TORA members must read and follow the TORA Sporting Regulations. Note that specific rules defined in these Rules & Regulations will take precedence over rules outlined in the Sporting Regulations: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Z61lkYkBXCFr9-dGRIO0o6RJgdqIcjWOAFzdjPGJhbw/pub


CHAMPIONSHIPS

DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP

This will be a championship fought by each driver for themselves. The points at the end of this series will be their final points total and will result in their position in the standings at the end of the series. There is one dropped round for this championship.


TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP

This will be a championship fought by teams of two drivers. The points at the end of this series will be their final points total and will result in their position in the standings at the end of the series. There is one driver substitution allowed during the season. This can be for between one round and the rest of the season. The points for the team stay with the car. There is one dropped round for this championship.


PRIVATEERS CHAMPIONSHIP

This will be a championship fought by drivers who are registered as a solo effort. The points at the end of this series will be their final points total and will result in their position in the standings at the end of the series. There is one dropped round for this championship.


DROPPED ROUND

The dropped round will be the driver's lowest score. This includes scores of 0 pts as we understand that, on occasion, real life may not permit drivers to attend races.


LIVERY RULES

This series has defined rules about liveries that drivers must adhere to in-order to race in this series.  Failure to do so may result in a penalty or disqualification. The livery rules are defined in the Livery and Decal Rules thread linked here:
http://forums.theonlineracingassociation.com/t17703-suv-cup-livery-and-decal-rules


CAR RULES

This series has a defined list of cars and build rules that drivers must adhere to in order to race in this series.  Failure to do so may result in a penalty or disqualification.  The car rules are defined in the Car List and Build Rules thread linked here:
http://forums.theonlineracingassociation.com/t17702-suv-cup-car-list


RACE SIGN-IN

All drivers who register for this series are automatically signed in for each round after registration. Unless signed out in the relevant thread, drivers will receive ONE invite to the race lobby. (See Entering Lobby section)


HOSTING AND MARSHALS

The race may be split into multiple lobbies, named A-Z, depending on the amount of drivers who have signed-in. Each lobby will be hosted by chosen members of the Marshals, Community Team or Staff.

Marshals who have Signed-In to the race may be expected to host a lobby if no other hosts are available.

For each lobby, a specific Marshal, Community Team or Staff member will be given "Lobby Marshal" status, whether or not they are hosting the lobby (if none of the aforementioned members are available, the lobby host will be given the status). They will be responsible for collecting times, race positions, reading the start grid and rules, and deciding whether or not a race restart is required.

The lobby settings must be abided by, and can be found here:
http://forums.theonlineracingassociation.com/t17704-suv-cup-lobby-settings


PRACTICE & QUALIFYING RULES

The fastest clean lap time from a driver, as denoted by the game, will be recorded for qualification.

Qualifying sessions will consist of 5 laps total; 1 warm-up lap and 4 timed laps.

The Lobby Marshal will input the times into the relevant document, or pass on the information to someone who can.


RACE FORMAT

Race 1 - Grid will be the results of the qualifying session. All drivers with clean laps in qualifying will be before all drivers who set dirty laps. Race will take place over a predetermined amount of laps (roughly 15 mins). Please see the Season Calendar for details.

Race 2 - Grid will be reversed results from race 1. Race will take place over a predetermined amount of laps (roughly 30 mins). Please see the Season Calendar for details.

RACE RULES

The start of the race will be a standing start.

STANDING START PROCEDURE:
Drivers will complete one warm-up lap and then form up in a grid on the start/finish straight.
The race begins on a specific time specified by the pole sitter.
Moving from the grid slot too soon may be penalized.

WARM UP LAP PROCEDURE:
Drivers are called off the grid by lobby host in correct grid order.
Drivers proceed around the circuit in single file. Tyre warming is permitted but brake testing is NOT.


PIT STOPS

There is 1 mandatory pit stop during each race. This is denoted by the 1 quickstop per race.

Drivers are permitted to pit at their own accord to refuel and change tyres, or if they have damage to their car or wish to retire.


ASSISTS

- Collisions during all races will be on, and set with Simulation Damage. Driving Line, Normal/Simulation Steering and ABS are the only allowed driving aids that may be used. TCS, STM, Auto-brake and Auto-gears are prohibited. Manual gears must be used but it is up to the competitor if they wish to use the clutch or not.


SAFETY CAR RULES

There will be no designated ‘safety car’ vehicle utilized in our championships. Due to the limited nature of online race lobbies. However TORA does operate general safety car regulations which provide a similar outcome, utilizing the lead vehicle in the lobby to slow the cars to a safe speed whilst any obstruction is cleared from the circuit, or allowing affected competitors to repair any damage and catch up with the rest of the field.

WHEN THE SAFETY CAR IS USED

The Safety Car will only be deployed if an incident or incidents occur between two or more competitors that causes damage to a driver involved. Only a driver involved in the incident may request the safety car, and make the request to the Lobby Host. The Lobby Host may seek the opinions of other competitors, before making the decision to activate the safety car period.

The Safety Car may not be requested during the final two laps of a race.

FORMING A SAFETY CAR

In the event of a safety car period being called, the lead car takes the role of the Safety Car or Pace Car. The Safety Car must not exceed 60MPH and the pack must form in current race position in single file.

CONDUCT DURING SAFETY CAR PERIOD

Drivers involved in the incident should form at the back of the pack, in order of relative position before the incident, unless there is an obvious instigator. Competitors must keep a reasonable distance during the Safety Car Period. Brake testing during the Safety Car period will not be tolerated and may lead to penalties, either race meeting or championship. Warming of tyres is permitted but must be undertaken in a safe manner with due consideration given to other competitors. Competitors who leave the track by their own volition during the Safety Car period may be passed by the rest of the pack and the competitor will form at the back of the field.

The safety car period will be 3 laps to enable drivers involved in the initial incident to pit for damage and catch back up to the pack. After 3 laps the lead driver will recommence the race as a rolling start in single file order.

SAFETY CAR RESTART PROCEDURE

Everyone will form up in their positions in single file at the designated area (per in lobby pre-race instructions) at the designated pace lap speed of 80mph. As YOUR CAR hits the start/finish line, you may commence racing. Jump starts will be investigated by the Stewards and will result in penalties.


STEWARD INQUIRIES

Standard SI rules in force please refer to sporting regulation handbook


SERIES POINTS

This will be the points system for the championship and will be the same in the overall, privateers and teams standings.




CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR

The championship will race on the dates as listed in the calendar thread, linked here:
http://forums.theonlineracingassociation.com/t17708-suv-cup-calendar


ENTERING THE LOBBY

The host or Lobby Marshal will invite each driver to the lobby they will be Qualifying or Racing in.
They will send each driver one invite to the lobby. If the driver cannot join, the host or Lobby Marshal will send a maximum of two extra invites before the meeting is due to start.
If the driver cannot join the Qualifying session in time, they will start at the back of the grid in the race.
If the driver cannot join the race session, they will score 0 points for that race.


POSTPONED MEETINGS

Sometimes a meeting may have to be postponed. The meeting may be cancelled, or pushed back on the calendar. The entirety of this rule is at the discretion of the series organizer.