Rules & Regulations

Welcome to the TORA IndyCar Series Season 5. This championship will be contested on Forza Motorsport 7 on XBOX One and will consist of 8 rounds.

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.


1.0 GENERAL RACING RULES AND DRIVING ETIQUETTE

1.1 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.

1.2 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

1.3 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.

1.4 The track limits are determined by the solid white/ yellow/ red 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.

1.5 All TORA members must read and follow the TORA Sporting Regulations. Note that and 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



2.0 CHAMPIONSHIPS

2.1 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.


2.2 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. In the event that a team has more than two drivers, the two highest points gained by the team will be recorded toward the team championship. There are no dropped rounds for this championship.


2.3 PRIVATEERS CHAMPIONSHIP

This will be a championship fought by drivers who are not registered with a team. 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.


2.4 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.




3.0 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/t17777-tora-indy-car-series-livery-decal-rules


4.0 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/t19312-car-list



5.0 RACE SIGN-IN

5.1 Sign-Ins close 1 hour before the meeting starts. Drivers will not be permitted to race in that meeting if they attempt to Sign-In after this time.

5.2 The series organizer reserves the right to permit or deny specific drivers after the time stated in 5.1 depending on circumstances.



6.0 HOSTING AND MARSHALS

6.1 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, or Staff.

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

6.3 For each lobby, a specific Marshal, 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.

6.4 The lobby settings must be abided by, and can be found here:
http://forums.theonlineracingassociation.com/t19311-lobby-settings#420296



7.0 PRACTICE & QUALIFYING RULES

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

7.2 Qualifying sessions will consist of 15 minutes total. (Ovals will be1 warm up lap and 2 flying laps NOT 15 MINUTES)

7.3 All drivers must stop on the first corner of the circuit on the cool-down lap for the Lobby Marshal or host to record the times.

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



8.0 RACE RULES

8.1 Please check the season calendar for track confirmation.

8.2 The start of the race will be a Rolling start.

8.3 ROLLING START PROCEDURE:
8.3.1 Towards the end of the warm up lap, the lobby host will request drivers to form up in 2x2 formation, and continue at 80mph/129kph. EXTREME CARE MUST BE TAKEN.
8.3.2 The driver in last place must confirm to lobby host once all cars are in position.

8.3.3 The rolling grid will approach the Start/Finish line at 80mph/129kph in 2x2 formation.
8.3.4 Each row of 2 cars must try to maintain approximately 100ft / 30m distance from the (pair of) cars ahead before they start racing.
8.3.5 As each row of 2 cars passes the Start/Finish line, they accelerate to race speed, and begin racing.

8.4 WARM UP LAP PROCEDURE:
8.4.1 The Lobby Marshal will read out the grid order in the pre-race lobby.
8.4.2 Drivers proceed around the circuit in single file. Tyre warming is permitted but brake testing is NOT.

8.5 RACE RESULTS
8.5.1 All cars that complete the full race distance regardless of the lobby they are in will finish ahead of anyone that is down one lap in any lobby. Anyone down one lap down in any lobby will finish ahead of anyone down 2 laps in any lobby etc.
for instance, someone who finishes 1 lap down in A lobby will finish behind all lead lap cars in C lobby.

1st All lead lap cars in all lobbies A-Z
2nd All cars down 1 lap in all lobbies A-Z
3rd All cars down 2 laps in all lobbies A-Z etc.

This is to give those fighting for position in lower lobbies to earn more than 5 points in any given race meet.

9.0 PIT STOPS

9.1 There are no mandatory pit stops during the race.

9.2 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.



10.0 SAFETY CAR

Standard safety car rules in effect please refer to sporting regulation handbook



11.0 STEWARD INQUIRIES

Standard SI rules in force please refer to sporting regulation handbook



12.0 SERIES POINTS

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

1st- 150 Points
2nd- 149 Points
3rd- 148 Points
4th- 147 Points
5th- 146 Points
6th- 145 Points
7th- 144 Points
8th- 143 Points
9th- 142 Points
10th- 141 Points
11th Down minus 1 point from previous position


13.0 CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR

The championship will race on the dates as listed in the calendar thread, linked here:
http://forums.theonlineracingassociation.com/t19313-calendar#420299



14.0 ENTERING THE LOBBY

14.1 The host or Lobby Marshal will invite each driver to the lobby they will be Qualifying or Racing in.
14.2 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.
14.3 If the driver cannot join the Qualifying session in time, they will start at the back of the grid in the race.
14.4 If the driver cannot join the race session, they will score 0 points for that race.



15.0 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.