2023 TEC 8 Hours of Watkins Glen - Rules and Regulations

Welcome to the 2023 TORA 8 Hours of Watkins Glen, Round 3 of 2023 TORA Endurance Championship. This race will take place on Forza Motorsport 7 starting on Saturday, May 20th - 10:00 AM EDT / 3:00 PM BST. The track will be the Watkins Glen International Full Circuit - Alt.

Before you decide to enter the event, please take the time to read the rules and regulations very carefully.

By registering for the race, you agree to the rules and regulations as written in this thread. TORA reserves the right to alter the rules and 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 competitors’ experiences, or you cannot join lobbies (see rule 14.0), please perform a speed test on your connection via http://www.speedtest.net/.
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 on either side of the track, or for lack thereof, the edge of the tarmac (or other racing surfaces). 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.
1.5 All TORA members must read and follow the TORA Driver's Handbook. Note that specific rules defined in these Rules & Regulations will take precedence over the rules outlined.


2.0 TEAMS CHAMPIONSHIP
This race will be made up of teams of a minimum of two and a maximum of four drivers. Ideally, teams will want the full four to make the races less challenging on yourselves and your consoles. Teams must drive in the same car throughout each stint of the race. If any team member switches into a different car throughout the race then their stint will not be counted in the team's overall distance and will be an instant stint DQ.


3.0 LIVERY RULES
3.1 This race has defined rules about liveries that drivers must adhere to in order to race. Failure to do so may result in a penalty or disqualification. The livery rules are defined in the Livery & Decal Rules thread linked here.
3.2 All cars must comply with livery rules or they will receive a penalty of 10,000 ft to their overall distance.
3.3 Designs must be submitted for review under the Livery Inspections thread linked here.


4.0 CAR RULES
4.1 This race has a defined list of cars and build rules that drivers must adhere to in order to race. Failure to do so may result in a penalty or disqualification. The car rules are defined in the Car List & Build Rules thread linked here.
4.2 The amount of each car in the Gr.X and Gr.T classes will be limited for this race. Gr.X will be limited to 11 entries per model and Gr.T will be limited to 13 entries per model.


5.0 RACE REGISTRATION
5.1 There will only be space for 120 entries to this race.
5.1.1 Gr.X will be limited to 60 entries.
5.1.3 Gr.T will be limited to 60 entries.
5.2 Community teams will not be permitted to use more than 2 of the same type of car in their Gr.X and Gr.T entries.
5.3 There will be a reserve list per class. To qualify for the reserve list, the entry must fulfill all requirements.


6.0 HOSTING AND MARSHALS
6.1 The race may be split into 6 lobbies, named A-F, depending on the qualifying results. Each lobby will be hosted by chosen members of the Marshals or Staff.
6.2 Marshals who have registered for 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 and can be in the Lobby Settings thread linked here.
NEW: 6.5 Communication with the Lobby Marshal during all qualifying sessions and race stints will be done via our Discord voice channels. Drivers are required to join the appropriate voice channels before the session starts.  


7.0 QUALIFYING RULES
7.1 Qualifying for the event will take place from Friday, May 12th through Wednesday, May 17th There will be lobbies hosted throughout the week to accommodate racers in different time zones. The sessions can be found in the Qualifying thread linked here.
7.2 All drivers in the Gr.X class must show proof of a valid lap time less than or equal to 1:34.000 to race in the class. This can be done during qualifying, posted on rivals in the correct build, set during a session online (with proof of handicap), or offline with a screenshot showing the clean time in the correct build. Proof must be supplied at least one (1) hour prior to the scheduled start of Stint 1 through the Gr.X Class Time Verification thread linked here.

7.3 QUALIFYING PROCEDURE:
7.3.1 The qualifying session will last 45 minutes. The host will set up the lobby for one hour to provide time for data collection. Drivers will have until 15 minutes left on the race timer to set their fastest clean lap. If a driver is in the middle of a lap when the time expires, they are allowed to finish the lap they are currently on before times are collected.
7.3.2 Drivers are not required to use the entire 45 minutes to set a clean lap; for example, if a driver is pleased with their lap 5 minutes into a session, they are welcome to leave provided that they notify the host. Drivers are also welcome to pull off the track and take a break in the middle of qualifying if they so choose.
7.3.3 The pit lane will be opened for the entirety of the qualifying session. Drivers are welcome to pit whenever they will like.
7.4 To determine the grid position, the best two times from a team will be taken and added together.
7.4.1 While all drivers from a team may take part in a qualifying session, a team must have a minimum of two drivers qualify.
7.4.2 Each driver may only compete in one qualifying session. If a driver attempts to compete in multiple qualifying sessions then their times will be invalidated and removed.
7.5 If a team fails to have more than one driver qualify, they will not be permitted to race.


8.0 STINT RULES
8.1 Be sure to submit your team's stint order by using the Stint Form.
8.2 Please check the stint thread for track conditions for each stint.
8.3 The start of the first stint will be a full warm-up lap, and all other stints will be a ROLLING start to a fixed point on the track.
8.4 The lobby host is instructed to save and share the replay for jump-start checks.
8.5 A minimum of two different drivers must record a distance in at least one stint, including both drivers whose qualifying laps were used to determine the team's starting position.
8.5.1 This does include stints when a lagout occurred and the driver was unable to finish the stint.
8.5.2 Failure to comply with either of these requirements will result in a penalty.  

8.6 WARM-UP LAP PROCEDURE
8.6.1 The Lobby Marshal will read out the grid order in the pre-race lobby.
8.6.2 Drivers proceed around the circuit in a single file at 60 MPH (97 KPH). Tire warming is permitted but brake testing is NOT.

8.7 STINT 1 ROLLING START PROCEDURE
8.7.1 Towards the end of the warm-up lap, the lobby host will request drivers to form up in 2x2 formation and continue at 60 MPH (97 KPH). EXTREME CARE MUST BE TAKEN.
8.7.2 The driver in last place must confirm to lobby host once all cars are in position.
8.7.3 The rolling grid will approach the Start/Finish line at 60 MPH (97 KPH) in 2x2 formation.
8.7.4 Each row of 2 cars must try to maintain approximately 50ft/15m distance from the (pair of) cars ahead before they start racing.
8.7.5 The first car in the Gr.T class must line up 150ft behind the last car in the Gr.X class.
8.7.6 As each row of 2 cars passes the Start/Finish line, they accelerate to race speed and begin racing.

8.8 STINT 2-4 ROLLING START PROCEDURE
8.8.1 For the remaining stints in each race, the starting produced will slightly change.
8.8.2 Instead of doing a full warm-up lap, there will be a designated start point somewhere in the first sector of the track. This start point will be announced in the week leading up to the race. Clarification for this will be posted in the Driver's Briefing.
8.8.3 Drivers will line up in a single file at 60 MPH (97 KPH) and will not start until THEY pass the designated start point.
8.8.4 Leader in the Gr.T class must line up 150ft behind the last car in the Gr.X.

8.9 END OF STINT PROCEDURE
8.9.1 While stint lobbies will be set to two hours, racing will actually last only 1 hour and 40 minutes to allow for a 20-minute stint turnaround.
8.9.2 The stint will "end" with 20 minutes left on the race timer. Once the race timer reads 20 minutes, drivers must come to a complete stop where they are on track.
8.9.3 The host will then record the distance that the driver in overall 1st place traveled during the stint (in miles), everyone's distance to 1st Place (in feet), and then the distance between the cars in overall 1st place and 2nd place after 1st place has moved to the next mile marker. If the host is unable to hear 2nd place, they will fall back to 3rd place, or to anyone they can hear. (If you have your distances in meters, we can convert it).
8.9.4 Once the host announces that they have collected all data, drivers may then back out of the race/wait in the lobby.
8.9.5 Drivers that are double stinting will have their data collected first, provided that they are not in 1st or 2nd place, so they can make their next stint on time to reduce delays.


9.0 PIT STOPS
9.1 There will be a mandatory number of pit stops during each stint. The exact number will be announced in the Driver's Briefing.
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.
9.2.1 However, drivers are not permitted to pit for a mandatory pit stop during the last 10 minutes of the stint. Once the race timer passes 30 minutes left, the pits for mandatory pit stops are closed.
9.3 Drivers must use the full pit entrance and exit lines. Failure to adhere to this will result in a 2,500-5,000ft penalty depending on the severity of the violation, as determined by the stewarding team.
9.4 Drivers are reminded that they are not allowed to drive backwards to get to the pits. If drivers miss the pit entrance, they must drive around the entire circuit and try again in the correct direction. If a driver is caught driving backwards in qualifying or during the race (except when instructed by the lobby host), this will result in a qualifying or stint disqualification.


10.0 STEWARD INQUIRIES
Standard SI rules in force please refer to the TORA Driver's Handbook.


11.0 ENTERING THE LOBBY
11.1 The host or Lobby Marshal will invite each driver to the lobby they will be Qualifying or Racing in.
11.2 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.
11.3 If the driver cannot join the race session, they will score 0 distance for that stint.
11.4 Ultimately, joining the race will be the responsibility of the driver. A list of lobby hosts will be posted in advance of the race so it is suggested that drivers add them as a friend on Xbox Live to make it easier for them to find them.


12.0 ENDURANCE RACING "LAGOUT RULE"
12.1 It is unfortunately not uncommon for races to be decided by a disconnection during a stint. As voted for last year, the majority of the community is in favor of a lag out rule to be implemented to reduce the amount of distance you lose should the worst happen.
12.1.1 The lag formula used will be as follows. If you do lag out, at the end of the race the lobby host will check the pause screen and take note of the lap count currently showing. The lap you were on will be taken and entered into the doc along with DNF. The number of laps will be then subtracted by 1 to get the total amount of laps completed (when you start the race this is on 1 but you haven't actually completed a lap yet). This will then be multiplied by the track length to get your distance driven before lagging. The distance driven will be subtracted from your team's lowest, non-DNF stint mileage to calculate how far you could have driven after lagging out, and this will be multiplied by 0.80, and added to the distance driven. So in simple terms, if you lag out you will be given the distance driven, plus 80% of the potential mileage you missed out on by lagging out.


13.0 MULTICLASS PASSING AND LAP-DOWN CARS
13.1 The overtaking car in the faster class must ensure their pass of the slower class is done safely and correctly. All drivers are instructed to use mirrors and communication to ensure safe overtaking, although vocal communication between classes might not be available for the pass. Faster classes purposely impeding the progress of the slower classes, and vice versa is forbidden.
13.2 Lapped drivers must be aware of faster classes approaching and must make sure they stick to their racing line; drivers should not make sudden or unpredictable changes to their course in an attempt to allow the faster classes to pass.
13.3 Lapped drivers in the same class are expected to give the right of way to the lapping drivers. Purposely impeding the progress of the lapping drivers, is forbidden.