GT Cup - Rules & Regulations

Welcome to the 2019 GT Cup! This championship will be contested on Forza Motorsport 7 on XBOX ONE and PC, and will consist of 5 rounds each comprised of 2 races.
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 behavior 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 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 2-3 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[s] 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.


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


5.0 RACE SIGN-IN

5.1 All drivers who register for this series are automatically signed in for each round.


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 adhered to.


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.

7.2.1 Qualifying sessions will be 10 minutes in length. At the expiry of 10 minutes, drivers will be permitted to complete the lap they are on.

7.2.2 All drivers must stop on the first corner of the circuit after time has expired to allow for results collection.

7.3 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 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 grid is set manually by the Lobby Marshal 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.
8.4.3 Drivers will begin to form up into the correct formation towards the end of the lap as stated by the Lobby Marshal.

8.5 REVERSE GRID
8.5.1 The second race of each round will be a full reverse grid within class based on the results of race 1.


9.0 PIT STOPS

9.1 There is 1 required pit stop in race 1. There are 2 required pit stops in race 2.
9.2 Drivers are permitted to pit at their own accord to refuel and change tires, or if they have damage to their car or wish to retire.
9.3 The pit lane is closed until the end of the first lap at race speed. E.g. if lap 1 is the out lap, drivers may pit when they personally are on lap 2.
9.4 The pit lane is closed on the final racing lap. E.g. if the final lap is lap 39, drivers may not enter the pits on lap 39 but may do so on lap 38.


10.0 SAFETY CAR

There is no safety car for this series.


11.0 STEWARD INQUIRIES

Standard SI rules in force please refer to sporting regulation handbook


12.0 SERIES POINTS

12.1 Points will be awarded such that 1st is allocated 150, 2nd 149... through 150th with 1 point per race.


13.0 CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR

The championship will race on the dates as listed in the calendar thread.


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.