Racing RULES

according to

NDR Sporting Code's

General driving standards

May 2020

Version Effective from 00:00 UTC 16 May 2020

This document contains the general driving standards from the complete all policies and procedures common to all New Dimension Racing sanctioned events.

This document shall supersede all others, unless explicitly stated to the contrary.

spécific minor Gum-Garage rules highlighted in yellow

3.c /4.1.a/4.2.a

Copyright 2010-2020 New Dimension Racing- GUM Garage edition

I. General Driving Standards

1. Driving Conduct

1. General Comments

2. Racing Surface

3. Car-to-Car Contact

4. Pit Lane

2. Overtaking Conduct

2. Overlap

3. Blocking / Defending a Position

4. Incidents While Overtaking

5. Inter-class Overtaking

3. Oval Racing

4. Driving a Damaged Car

1. Still Drivable

2. Not Drivable

3. Minimum Speed

4. Outside Assistance

5. Incidents

1. Recovering From

2. Returning to the Course

3. Ahead/Behind Responsibility

II.

III. Flag and other Signal Meanings

1. Flags

IV. Procedures

1. Safety Car

2. Virtual Safety Car

3. Red Flag

4. Server Failure / Driver Losing Connection

I. General Driving Standards

1. Driving Conduct

1. General Comments

a. This section is intended to serve as the guide for judgment on protested incidents, as well as give the methods expected of participants for certain driving actions. This section is based generally on the Clean Racers' Club Rules, and those rules may be considered as a part of this section in incident judgments.

2. Racing Surface

a. The racing surface is defined as the marked course and its curbing only. Pit lanes, runoff areas, grasscrete sections, et al are expressly excluded from the racing surface.

b. Positions or time gained by leaving the racing surface should be yielding back or a penalty appropriate to the advantage gained may be levied.

1. “Leaving the racing surface” is defined as having less than two whole tyres on the racing surface.

c. The area of the track marked by the pit entry and pit exit blend lines is generally on the racing surface and shall be considered part of the racing surface unless otherwise stated. All drivers on the track must be aware of cars entering and exiting pit lane in this blend area. The onus is on drivers entering or exiting pit lane to avoid contact with cars still on the track.

d. No driver is to drive against the natural direction of the course except to rejoin from the incident, and in that case drive against the direction as little as possible; or by order of race control. Driving against the direction of the course for any period of time apart from the time permitted will result in immediate disqualification and potential further actions.

3. Car-to-Car Contact

a. It is the responsibility of all drivers to avoid excessive or unnecessary physical contact between cars.

b. All competitors have the right to “racing room” on the marked racing surface. “Racing room” is defined as sufficient space to allow a competitor to safely maintain control of his/her car in close quarters during racing conditions, and stay on the racing surface.

c. Bump-drafting is prohibited at all times in open-wheel cars, unless expressly permitted. Bump-drafting is prohibited on all cars with covered wheels, except unintentionnal fight actions with fair.

Intentionnal Bump-drafting with full throttle to push opponent is prohibited, late braking in rear bumper of an opponent is sanctionnable for lack of vehicule control or irrespect to racing skill of a front opponent.

4. Pit Lane

a. All cars, while traveling through the pit lane and not in the process of entering or exiting a pit stall shall stay in the “Fast lane” - the lane furthest away from the pit stalls.

b. Under no circumstance shall a driver who enters the pitlane after departing the safety car queue leave a single-file formation with other cars who departed the safety car queue to enter the pitlane.

c. Under no circumstance shall a driver who enters pitlane after departing the safety car queue exceed safety car pace while entering the pitlane.

d. When pitting as part of a group of cars, those drivers toward the front end of the group shall use pit stalls towards pit exit, those drivers towards the back end of the group shall use pit stalls towards pit entry.

e. Cars in the “fast lane” have right-of-way over cars stopping and starting from pit stalls.

f. Drivers exiting the garages or pit stalls shall do so in a safe manner, ensuring the pit lane is clear for insertion.

g. Drivers serving Drive-Through penalties shall say as close to the outside edge of the fast lane while serving the penalty. Any driver who crosses over one or more pit stalls while serving the penalty may be considered to have shortcut the pit lane and may see the penalty re-issued.

h. If you miss all pit boxes by more than 3 car lengths, you must exit pit lane and return the next lap. Heading in the wrong direction in pit lane without race control permission will result in a minimum of a Stop-Go Penalty.

2. Overtaking Conduct

1. This section shall cover overtaking conduct on any non-oval circuit.

2. Overlap

a. When overtaking another car, you must achieve any measure of overlap with the car you are overtaking in order to have the right to racing room.

1. “Any measure of overlap” is defined as the front nose area of the car (wing or bumper area) being level with or beyond the rear wheel of the car being overtaken.

2. To have rights to “racing room” for a corner, the overlap must be achieved before the normal turn-in point for the corner.

3. Blocking / Defending a Position

a. You may move once per track segment (between corners) to prevent an overtaking maneuver. You may then make one move to return to the racing line after the move. No further moves may be made to defend the position until the next track segment.

1. If a driver has achieved overlap, you must consider your defensive maneuver to have failed and must allow room for that car on the course.

4. Incidents While Overtaking

a. Any driver who causes an incident as a result of not establishing overlap, or by turning in on a car which had the right to racing room, is expected to wait for the other car to pass, even if the action involves losing several positions. Yielding by this method can be taken into consideration in the event the incident is protested.

5. Inter-class Overtaking

a. The onus is on the faster class car to initiate a safe overtake by being clear in approach and intent, and shall not force the overtake where it is unsafe or from too distant. The onus is on the slower class car to allow the faster class car around with minimal impedance, and where it is safe and prudent to do so.

b. No faster class car shall offer a draft to a slower class car significantly above and beyond what the slower class car could get during a normal overtake.

3. Oval Racing

1. This section shall apply to racing on an oval-track or any racing which occurs on a segment of track that is also an oval.

2. It is the responsibility of all drivers on an oval or oval-section, regardless of track position, to be aware of their surroundings and not perform any untoward actions that may cause an incident.

3. Sudden maneuvers must be avoided where possible, especially when in a group of cars.

4. Defensive maneuvers such as low-lining or draft breaking should generally not be employed until the last 10% or so of a race.

5. All drivers are expected to be highly alert of the situation on the course ahead and be prepared to rapidly slow or take evasive action at any moment to avoid an incident. If possible, gently slow down and avoid slamming on the brakes. Do not worry about what is behind you, the responsibility to avoid incident is on any following driver to avoid what is happening ahead.

6. You may only move to defend your position provided that it is safe to do so. If you are unsure about where a car is in relation to you, you must maintain your line and not attempt a defensive move or lane change.

7. You may select any line entering, traveling through, or exiting a turn or down a straightaway, provided that you hold your line and make only one blocking move per straight.

8. The apron areas of oval courses are not considered racing space, and are not to be used as such. Penalties may be issued to a driver who gains position by driving down on the apron. A driver who forces another driver onto the apron may be penalized for that action.

4. Driving a Damaged Car

1. Still Drivable

a. When your car is damaged to the point where you cannot continue at a racing pace in a safe manner, you must stay well off the racing line and drive safely to the pit lane. You must switch ON your warning lights (9 key) if available on car. Continue under extreme caution to the pit lane. You have no right to racing room when your car is in this state.

2. Not Drivable

a. When your car is damaged beyond a drivable state, you must make every effort to move your car to the safest off-line location. A rescue car (if available) may be ordered to attempt to push you to pit lane if your car can move but cannot steer properly. In case, rescue car is not available on the event, you must "spectate" to leave the track.

3. Minimum Speed

a. If you attempt to continue with any level of damage and are not ordered to pit for repairs, you must maintain a pace within 107% of the current average pace on road circuits, and 103% of the average pace on oval circuits. If you cannot maintain the minimum speed, you will be ordered to pit for repairs.

b. This provision may apply to any driver's pace during the race, even if the car is undamaged.

4. Outside Assistance (when available)

a. A rescue car (if employed) may be used to help recover a car back to the pit lane that has either run out of fuel or has severe, still mobile but difficulty steering damage, or another condition which prevents the driver moving under his own power.

b. Another driver may perform a pushing action on a stranded car in lieu of a rescue car.

c. No car that has flipped may be intentionally returned to a wheels- down position and return to the race. Any car that flips and lands on its wheels while the incident is still in progression will be permitted to return to the race.

d. No car may receive outside assistance once on their final lap. A car which completes any of their final lap with outside assistance will not receive credit for that lap. The driver will be considered on their final lap if they are ahead of the finish line, and behind the leader who is on their final lap.

e. Unless otherwise stated, a car reset functionality shall not be used by a competitor during an event. Should a car reset functionality be left on or accidentally enabled during a session which prohibits use of it, the driver which uses it shall be penalized accordingly: A minimum of a Stop-Go issued if the reset is simply of “free” damage repair type; excluded from the remainder of the race if it is to circumvent a retirement-forcing situation.

5. Incidents

1. Recovering From

a. The onus is entirely on the driver recovering from an incident to take all necessary care to not interfere with any cars still on track.

b. A spinning or crashing car must hold their brakes as much as possible in an effort to keep the car in the same general area of track – a stationary car is easier to avoid than a moving car.

c. A driver who ignores yellow flags while arriving upon an accident scene, and hits a car behaving properly while in or recovering from an incident shall be at fault.

2. Returning to the Course

a. The onus is entirely on the driver returning to the course to do so safely when the track is sufficiently clear to rejoin the racing line.

3. Ahead/Behind Responsibility

a. The onus is on the behind driver to take all necessary care and responsibility to not cause an incident with an ahead driver.

b. The ahead driver must not do any malicious or inappropriate braking or slowing.

II. Flag and other Signal Meanings

1. Flags

1. Flags shall be used by the race administration to be a rapid signal device to racers. Flags may be displayed by text message generated automatically or manually, as a system message or standard chat message, or displayed as a graphical animation where available.

2. The flags shall have meanings as follows:

a. Green Flag: Session start / Course is clear;

b. Yellow Flag: Unsafe condition ahead, such as an incident. Drivers are to reduce speed and/or prepare to quickly yet safely change direction. Overtaking is expressly forbidden. Administration cannot actively monitor this due to personnel limitations, but racers are encouraged to protest this action. A visible spin or other hazard shall constitute a yellow flag, even if the sim does not display one for any reason.

c. Red Flag: The session has been stopped. Chat is expressly forbidden during a red flag period. Drivers are to stop according to red flag protocol.

d. Blue Flag: Used to warn a driver that a faster car is approaching from behind. If the blue flag message includes “waved” or animation is a fast wave, the signal shall be taken to be a more urgent or required yielding message.

e. Black Flag: A solid black flag is used as a summons to pit lane for consultation or disqualification.

f. Mechanical Flag: A mechanical flag is issued to order a driver to pit lane for repairs on a car deemed unsafe to continue racing with damage. A driver has two laps to respond to a mechanical flag.

g. White Flag: The white flag is used to warn approaching cars that there is a slow moving vehicle ahead on the course.

h. Chequered Flag: The session has ended. Drivers must complete an in lap and return to pit lane or other designated area.

i.

III. Procedures

1. Real Safety Car (if available)

1. Should a series employ the use of a Safety Car, it shall be called by Race Control when there is an incident on track in which the driver(s) affected cannot self-recover to the course or pit lane, if there is a major incident affecting a significant majority of the field or that temporarily blocks the course while the drivers recover, or for any other reason where race control feels the race needs to be neutralized.

2. A driver who cannot self-recover to the track or pits must not leave the course of his own volition by using a game command to spectate or otherwise leave the session. The stranded driver must use an appropriate message bind to alert administration to their situation should it not be evidently known already.

3. A driver who leaves the track before being directed to by race administration may be subject to any penalty defined in that particular series' rulebook.

4. The deployment of the Safety Car shall be announced in-game by a message “SAFETY CAR DEPLOYED” and the track status indicator turning to “YELLOW”

5. When the Safety Car is deployed, all drivers are to cease racing for position, and gently slow down and be alert for any situation on track while proceeding around to catch the Safety Car queue.

6. There is to be no overtaking between the time the Safety Car is deployed and the start/finish line on the restart, excepting:

a. If told to overtake the Safety Car or any other car(s) by Race Control;

b. Cars entering pit lane may overtake cars still on the track after passing the first Safety Car line;

c. Cars exiting pit lane may be overtaken by cars still on the track before they cross the second safety car line;

d. When the safety car is returning to the pits, it may be overtaken by cars on the track once it has passed the first safety car line or another designated point;

e. If a car spins or otherwise cannot maintain safety car speed, they may be overtaken and must rejoin the queue in the position in which they recover.

7. The pit lane will remain open at all times during a Safety Car period on a road course, excepting if there is an incident that blocks safe entry into the pit lane.

8. On Ovals, the pit entry will close until the field is caught up behind the Safety Car.

9. The pit lane exit will close each time the Safety Car queue passes the pit exit.

10. The leader shall be the first car behind the Safety Car. Any cars between the leader and the Safety Car at any time shall be ordered to overtake the Safety Car by Race Control.

11. When the course is deemed suitable for the race to resume, race control will notify teams that the Safety Car will be leaving the circuit at the end of that lap.

12. At this point, the Safety Car will extinguish its lights and begin to accelerate away from the leader as it heads towards its standby position. Once the SC is clear of the First Safety Car Line (or other designated mark), the track status will change to “RESTART” and a message stating “SAFETY CAR IN PITLANE” will appear.

a. On Road courses, the leader may accelerate at any point after the indication of intention to restart is given, provided he does not slow down again except for natural slowing points AND does not overtake the SC before it clears the track (either crossing the first safety car line or another designated mark.

b. On Ovals, the leader must maintain SC pace until any time after a marked restart point, or when the green flag is displayed.

13. Overtaking is not permitted before the start/finish line on road courses. Overtaking is permitted at the green flag on all initial starts, and restarts on ovals.

14. A restart should be considered waved off should any of the following occur:

a. The green flag signal is not given;

b. A “Safety Car Deployed” message reappears;

c. The “RESTART” signal is given again

d. There are no messages from Race Control after the initial Restart call.

15. In all cases where a start is waved off due to bad formation or jump start, the restart shall take place the very next time by. In the event a start is waved off due to an accident, there may be more laps added to the safety car as needed.

16. If the race ends under safety car, the result will be taken from the order on track at the moment of caution, excepting the position loss exceptions above.

2. Virtual Safety Car (when specified)

1. In the event of an incident where the field needs to be brought under control but not necessarily collected and controlled by a safety car, race control may employ a “Virtual Safety Car” (VSC).

2. There shall be a VSC Speed limit established in the event regulations. Standard VSC Speed should be 100 kph/62 mph.

3. The race director, upon deciding that the VSC should be called, should notify the drivers of the need. A statement shall be made to the effect of “ALL DRIVERS -> Standby for VSC”

a. At this point, drivers should continue racing as normal, obeying all local flags, and be prepared to slow down.

4. The race director shall then trigger the VSC Procedure. The start is a timed warning, no less than 3 seconds, in the form of “VSC Starting in 5 seconds!”

a. At this point, drivers should immediate take note of their immediate surroundings and start slowing to VSC.

b. The track will go to VSC status at the end of the countdown. Drivers must be at VSC speed when the track status changes.

c. Drivers will be afforded a tolerance, but must make absolute best effort to get to and hold VSC Speed.

d. Drivers exceeding VSC speed will be given warnings by the tracking system. The system will log the speed and time each occurrence, and the stewards will review.

e. Drivers are permitted to tyre warm during the VSC, provided it is safe to do so.

f. Pit entrance and exit will remain open at all times while the VSC is in operation, unless either is obstructed.

5. When the situation is resolved, the Race Director will give notice that the VSC is ending. The message will be similar to “VSC ending shortly.”

6. When the Green Flag is flown, all speed restrictions are lifted and racing can resume at the moment of the Green Flag.

7. All VSC infractions will be reviewed by the stewards after the end of the VSC.

3. Red Flag

1. A red flag shall be issued in the event that conditions are deemed unsuitable for racing, an incident involving a significant majority of the field.

2. Upon issuance of the red flag, all drivers are to immediately begin to slow from racing speeds and stop at the red flag line (or other stated point on course) in track order, single-file on the pit lane side of track and await further instructions.

a. Drivers shall return directly to pit lane in a practice or qualifying session.

b. During a race, the administration will make every effort to have the field under Safety Car control before issuing the red flag.

3. During a race, all work on a car shall cease during a red flag period.

a. A car already in pit lane may carry out pit stop-level service during the red flag.

b. A car that enters the pit lane after the red flag is issued and takes service before exiting the pit lane will be issued a stop-go penalty after the race resumes.

4. A red flag during a race is handled differently depending on the point in the race which it is called:

5. If less than 2 laps are complete, the race shall be null and void and restarted from the beginning.

6. If more than 2 laps and less than 75% race distance are complete, timing and scoring will not stop, and the race will be resumed from the point of interruption behind the safety car, as per a standard safety car deployment and restart. If the race cannot be restarted at this time, the result shall be taken from the last lap completed by all cars prior to the red flag, minus any cars who caused the red flag.

7. If more than 75% race distance is complete, race administration reserve the right to declare the race complete at that time, and take the result from the last lap completed by all cars prior to the red flag, minus any cars who caused the red flag.

8. Any cars that would be waved around the safety car during a normal safety car period shall be released to move around the safety car a time (between 25% and 75% of the average lap time of the race) deemed appropriate by race administration prior to the race resuming.

4. Server Failure / Driver Losing Connection

1. In the event of a server failure (e.g. mass disconnect, inability to reconnect, etc.) the race shall be red flagged, or assumed red flagged in the event the server disconnects majority of drivers and administrators and the message cannot be directly relayed.

2. A server failure that requires a restart of the service or a move to a new service shall permit all drivers to make any setup changes to their car that they wish.

3. No practice will be allowed on-track during a server failure, or any other red flag.

4. If the race cannot be restarted, results shall be taken as per standard red flag procedure.

a. The order and laps complete shall be taken from the last lap completed by all cars prior to the first sign of server failure.

b. If the race is less than 75% complete at the point of the declaration of results, half-points shall be awarded.

5. A race restart after a server failure shall take place per a standard safety car restart, after either one or two laps behind the safety car.

6. A laps-based race shall resume with the number of laps remaining from the back-count point.

7. A time-based race longer than one hour shall round off to the nearest hour based on the time remaining at the back count.

a. Example 1: A 4 hour race that is 3 hours 15 minutes complete at the back-count shall restart with one hour remaining.

b. Example 2: A 4 hour race that is 2 hours 45 minutes complete at the back-count shall restart with one hour remaining.

c. Example 3: A 4 hour race that is 3 hours 30 minutes complete at the back-count shall be declared complete, as the rounding would have no time remaining.

d. A time-based race 1 hour or less shall follow the following procedure:

1. If the race is less than 15 minutes complete, the race shall be completely restarted.

2. If the race is between 15 and 45 minutes complete, the race shall be restarted and a distance in laps remaining. This distance shall be based on the number of laps estimated to be remaining in the time remaining based on whichever of the following criteria is valid:

1. If the average of 3 green-flag laps (not counting pit out laps, pit in laps, and the first lap after a rolling start) can be taken, that time shall be used to calculate the laps estimate.

2. If a suitable 3-lap average cannot be taken, the estimate shall be calculated based on a lap time that is 101.5% of the pole time for the event.

3. If the race is greater than 45 minutes complete, no restart shall be taken and the result shall be taken from the standard 75% red flag back-count procedure.

8. The decision on what to do with the remainder of the race shall be posted in the primary server (if available), Discord and the Gum Garage forum.

a. If a restart is decided, the restart shall take place no less than 10 minutes after the announcement of an intended restart.

9. Any driver who times out or loses connection during a race which permits rejoins from such an occurrence may be relieved from another team driver. The replacement driver may enter the server before the connection drops, but may not join the track until after the connection has actually dropped.

10. In a series which uses a tracker, the tracker data shall be amended such that it displays accurate data from the earlier part(s) of the race.

11. Wave-around procedures shall be applied by leaving extra lap records after the rollback lap for cars that would be waved around if the suspension were simply a Safety Car.