TEC R4 24 Heures du Mulsanne - Drivers Briefing and Track Limits

2021 TORA Endurance: 24 Heures du Mulsanne

While there are other 24-hour endurance races around the world, none of them are nearly as famous nor infamous as the 24 Hours of Le Mans. This race dates back to 1922 when the ACO received an unexpected offer of 100,000 francs from the French subsidiary of the Rudge Whitworth wheels company to facilitate a suitable 24-hour race. The first 24 hours of Le Mans took place on May 26, 1923, with a field of 33 cars of 18 different manufactures. The rest, as they say, is history. As far as TORA's 24 hours of Le Mans, this will be the 11th time we have hosted this race. Sportscar racing is very much in the DNA of TORA and we are glad to bring this race to the community again. This will also be our 4th consecutive 2021 endurance event with 400+ drivers, which is just madness!

Race - This is a 24-hour Endurance race.  Drivers will be competing in 12 stints of two hours each.  However, drivers are reminded that the stint actually only lasts 1 hour and 40 minutes. Drivers are reminded that they are to use THE STINT THREAD to assign stints to each of their drivers.  You can see the stint schedule on the stint thread.  Drivers are expected to be familiar with the rules and regulations come race time, so please review them before June 12th. Drivers are also reminded that they cannot have a driver double stint between stint 6 & 7 and stint 11 & 12.  

Pit Stops - There are required numbers of pit stops for this race. For Gr.X, that will be 4 stops, and for Gr.T that will be 3 stops. Remember that drivers will not be permitted to drive on the track backward to the pit entrance once they pass it. If they miss the pit entrance, drivers will have to drive around the track again to get back to the pit entrance. To be absolutely clear, if you drive backward at any point, you are subject to disqualification from the entire stint. It's not worth it, don't do it.

Stint Starting Procedures - Stint 1 will begin with a full warm-up lap behind the safety car, at 80 MPH, concluding with the safety car entering the pit lane, and the field proceeding 2x2 at 60 MPH for a standard start. All other lobbies are instructed to do the out lap in the same manner, just without the safety car (unless one is available, in which case it will be used). Reduce speed to 60 MPH at the pit lane entrance, in all lobbies. Stints 2 through 12 will be a single file start at 60 MPH, starting as cars pass under the Dunlop Bridge as shown below. Remember that drivers are not to accelerate to race pace until THEY pass the designated start point, violations of which are subject to a distance penalty.


While we did allow some extension/cuts of track limits in previous years, most of those extensions/cuts are now Forza clean.  So, for simplicity, the track limits for qualifying, and the race will be FORZA CLEAN.  There are, however, a few things that we do want to highlight.  

TRACK LIMITS

Tertre Rouge Entrance/Exit

While we have allowed people to cut the entrance to Tertre Rouge in the past, we are going to dial that back and say that you must use the TORA standard of "two wheels over the white line at all times."  The example that is shown below is no longer acceptable.  


Tertre Rouge exit, on the other hand, remains as it was before.  You can but two tires over the white line, but they are not allowed to go further than the rumble strip on the outside of the track.  This can only be done during the race as it will dirty your laps during qualifying.  The example below is acceptable.


Just to be absolutely unambiguous, you may not cut or extend any other corner beyond what is in-game considered a "clean" lap, as if it were a qualifying session.

Pit Entrance/Exit

Here is a video highlighting the pit track limits. All drivers are expected to adhere to the pit entrance line, remain on the paved area in the lead up to the pit entrance, and to observe the blend line when exiting the pits. Failure to adhere to any facet of the pit guidelines will incur an instant 5000 ft penalty, per infraction. This means if you but the entry and the exit, that's 10000 ft.

Everyone, this is a supplemental briefing regarding track limits. Please make sure you adhere to the posted rules regarding them. This will be monitored by staff, stewards, our streamers, as well as your fellow competitors. Penalties for willfully and intentionally violating track limits range from a minor up to and including disqualification, depending on the severity. My team are all veteran Forza drivers and are also well versed in all aspects of the accepted rules of racing. They can tell the difference between an accidental off and an intentional cut. In addition, intentional and willful violations also demonstrate a disregard for our posted rules and regs. Blatantly disregarding the rules could also draw a staff review, which may result in a suspension of your racing privileges. Please keep things as clean as possible and not try to take advantage so that all competitors are on a level playing field. Team heads, please insure that all your drivers are aware of the rules and abide by them, should any of them not see this post.
Thank you and have a great event!

Mako