The Pits Touring Car Championship is the oldest simulator road-racing league in existence. With beginnings in 1997, TPTCC has simulated the world's best road course racing series, originally starting with SuperTouring cars (such as the BTCC and STW) as well as using Trans-Am, DTM, Aussie V8 Supercars and now Speed World Challenge.
TPTCC runs online races, usually running sprints and longer races not much more than an hour. Drivers are always welcome to check for openings in the league, which has always stuck by the adage "sim-racing is NOT a spectator sport, so if the drivers are not happy, you don't have a league". We have a very relaxed atmosphere where everyone is willing to help others and just have fun...very much like a club racing weekend at your local roadcourse. We typically have decent fields and lots of competative and fun racing!
League signups may close if a certain number of racers join, spots will not open up then until another driver leaves. Car numbers are first come, first serve. Drivers MUST belong to the Pits Forums as all official mailings about races will come through there. Please note that drivers must NOT create multiple IDs to attend different race meets for different groups. Drivers must always use the same online name for all TPTCC racing (unless authorized to do so due to different types of events, such as endurance events with driver swapouts).
If league registration does close, drivers will have a responsibility to insure that they make races. If a driver does not make 2 consecutive race weekends (without contact with the league administrator) then they will be dropped from the roster to make room for other drivers who may want to join.
Endurance races are double Touring race points.
Pole position for race start, 2 points. For moving up the most postitions, 2 points. Sprint races are 1 point for each. For summer (shorter) season, all drivers may drop ONE race result during the course of the season.
Manufacturer & team points are given out the same as driver points. There may be only 3 cars on a team.
4) Driver/Race Meetings
Driver meetings will be published in the forums with an official ("TPTCC Official") header. All active drivers MUST join the forums, since pertinent information (including passwords, tracks and server info) will be given there. All races will be passworded, so do not forget it. Drivers CANNOT invite 'guest' drivers into TPTCC races, and passwords cannot be given to non-TPTCC drivers. If a driver would like to invite another driver to a TPTCC race, they can contact the league administrator so that the administrator can insure that the guest driver is properly aware of the rules and conduct of TPTCC online racing. Race Officials may conduct an short pre-race meeting during the Warmup (or "Happy Hour") session of the race event, they will notify drivers by chat or pre-race race information if that is the case. If the race official is conducting a pre-race meeting during the warmup, everyone must get off the track and read the chat.
5) Driver Responsibilities
Drivers MUST be aware of the race format and the track before competition. It is imperative that drivers practice for each meet before racing online. TPTCC subscribes to the idea that sim racing is not a spectator sport, and therefore is for the enjoyment of the drivers...and for that to happen, a driver's knowledge of a track MUST be good. Driver should NEVER go onto a track that they have not practiced for, as their likelyhood for an ontrack incident increases dramatically if they are on the grid and have barely turned a few laps.
Drivers need to insure their conduct on the track is beyond reproach. Intentional hitting of other drivers will not be tolerated, and will result in immediate disqualification from that round. Drivers should operate as if they were driving a real race car, and had money invested as well as other driver's lives to think about when considering an action. Cursing and/or insulting other drivers or administrators, no matter WHAT the circumstances, will not be tolerated and will result in severe penalties and possible expulsion from the league.
While auto racing is a contact sport, drivers are urged to use their brains instead of their foot. Foolhardy passing attempts, poor outbreaking maneuvers, and other badly planned racing incidents can be penalized.
6) Scheduling and Connections
Online racing can at times be a pain. TPTCC will attempt to schedule all races to fit into a time period that is good for all drivers. However, dropped connections are sure to happen. If there is a constant bad connection that is causing havoc with most or all of the race drivers, the race may be rescheduled.
3. Racing
1) Qualifying
Qualifying may take different formats (best out of a certain number of laps, timed, or even qualifying race) but will be pre announced before the event. At no time should people be chatting during the qualifying.
2) Starts & Restarts
Starts may also take several formats, standing start (with or without formation lap) and rolling start. The format will be announced prior in the season or the race, and race announements may modify that, if necessary. During yellow flags or rolling starts, the leader of the race must maintain the speed of the pace car UNTIL he takes the green flag (and not when the pace car leaves the track). At no time should any drivers attempt to 'brake check' or get 'flying starts' on other drivers. All cars must maintain the pace speed until the green flag, and used consistent spacing, no holding back to attempt to get a run on the car in front. Cars may NOT pass to the inside of the car ahead of them until after the start/finish line. IF a car ahead suddenly does not come up to a 'reasonable' speed, a driver can pass the inside to avoid a collision.
DO NOT weave back and forth on pacing or reconnaissance laps! It is more likely to cause drivers to make contact with the car next to them than assist with traction, and WILL result in penalties. As well, do not extensively spin tires on the pace lap, as following drivers start to get their windshields covered with debris, and even may collide with another car while driving through the smoke.
Incidents on the pace lap can be penalized. Races MAY be restarted if cars are likely to recieve a black flag because of an incident during the pace lap, but that is not guaranteed. Races will NOT be restarted because of a wreck.
There is a limited amount of time from the point that the race "opens" and drivers may enter the track. If a player does not enter the race in time and is unable to enter the track, the player should IMMEDIATELY open the chat window and inform the race administrator. The race administrator can then restart the session. If the driver fails to do so before the green flag flies, the race will not be restarted.
3) Racing Lines
Drivers are required to keep at least 2 wheels on the race track at all times. Cutting through the grass or completely over curbs where all four tires leave the track will result in a 20 second penalty per incident if it is deemed that the driver was abusing the rule. Consistent abuse may result in a disqualification and no scoring for that race. The administration realizes that accidents and mistakes can happen, however, blatent or consistent breaking of this rule will result in a penalty. Drivers who overshoot a corner must NOT gain positions on drivers who properly made the corner, and must slow and wait to pull behind any cars that they may have passed while off the racetrack. See "Pitting" for more information.
4) Race Chat
Autochat functions and regular chat can be used when needed to signal moves in or out of the pits, or if a car is damaged or having other problems. However, drivers should not use chat for anything other than those functions when a race is in progress, as doing so can cause the other drivers to get distracted. If drivers wish or want to conduct a more extensive conversation, they should utilize the whisper function. Again, during qualifying NO chatting at all is allowed.
5) Passing
Race cars that are damaged or laps down do NOT have to give way to lead cars if they are racing for position, or attempting to stay on the LEAD lap. However, cars that are damaged or more than one lap down should allow leaders to get past as quickly and safely as possible, and should NEVER purposely block a leader. Slower cars should pick a line and stick to that line, weaving across the track or moving from the inside to the outside only confuses matters and can cause incidents. By the same token, leaders should NEVER punt a lap car because they were 'in the way'.
The general rule for passing is that if the nose of the car is visible from the cockpit view of the car being passed (when they enter the corner) then the car being passed must give way. Please note that due to the restrictive view in online racing that the cars will need to be almost even. If the following driver cannot get his nose to that point before entering the corner, they should not attempt the pass. It is the responsibility of the passing car to make the pass cleanly.
6) Pitting
Cars should take extra care when pitting or exiting pits. You may want to signal your intentions to enter the pits via the autochat messages if a car is immediately behind you. Insure that *if* there is any 'merge' area coming out of the pits, that you use the full merge area (below any racing line) until you are back up to speed and can enter the racing line safely. Due to the fact that many road courses have strange and unique entry/exit areas to the pits, there is going to be only one rule concerning this (besides "use caution"): IF there is a line dividing the racecourse from pit entry or exit, cars should NOT cross that line to exit onto the track, likewise cars on the track should never cross the line entering or exiting pit lane while racing. Exceptions to this rule will be noted in the driver's meeting. Crossing the line will incur a 20 second penalty per incident.
7) Safety car & Yellow flags
The race offcial has the OPTION of throwing a yellow flag if conditions on track warrant it. Note that it is the option of the race official, and that in most cases they will not do so. If the race official does call "full course yellow", there will be NO racing back to the yellow flag, and the leader will slow as soon as they cross the start/finish line. The leader should bring the field around at a steady pace of 50-70 mph or so (during yellow) until the signal for a green flag is given. After the track is sufficiently clean, and damaged cars get a chance to pit, the race official will then call 'green' and the race leader can accellerate on crossing the S/F line, not before. Lap cars MAY attempt to get a lap back coming to the yellow flag if they are in sight of the leader, and can safely make a move without endangering other cars.
8) Other items
Cars should have the spotter turned on in some form or fashion to give them the best information available.
The race administrator is in control of the server; at no time should anyone else who may have admin rights to the server change race settings or do any other action that can only be performed with administrative rights. This goes into effect from the time that the race administrator enters the server during the race event.
4. League Administration, Protests & Penalties
1) Officials
Whoever has been designated as a Race Official for a TPTCC race has the responsibility and authority for all decisions made before, during and after the race. Any comments, complaints or questions should be given to the Race Official to handle, however, the Race Official may inform the drivers to follow up after the race if the Official is busy. Drivers must always follow any direction given by race officials.
2) Protests
Drivers should petition the race official in the case of complaints against another driver. However, drivers need to be aware that on track incidents should NOT immediately be protested. Drivers should first talk to the other driver (on email), as well as have both of them view replays from both of their perspectives. Many times conflicts can be resolved when drivers see that what they *thought* happened, really didn't. In some cases a panel of 3 senior TPTCC drivers (not involved with the incident) may review a protest if the Race Official would like to get more viewpoints.
Drivers who wish to file an 'official' protest as a result of an incident on track MUST have a replay available as evidence. Be aware that replays, by the same token, will not be considered 'concrete' evidence due to warps...but that it needs to be present for the race official to at least gain some insight as to what may have happened. Drivers should also submit testimoney from other drivers who may have witnessed the incident.
3) Penalties
Penalties can take different forms, all based on the severity of the incident and the assumed actions of the driver. Any action that appears to be a retaliation by a driver against another driver will be dealt with harshly, no matter who may originally have been at fault. Exact penalties are as follows: