TRACTION ONLINE RACING LEAGUE RULES Please note that all competitors MUST read this whole document before being able to participate, to ensure that they understand the rules, their meanings, and the consequences of not abiding by said rules. Once read, you must create a post in the “Confirmation Of Rules” section in the forum, so that the admins can confirm that you are able to be included in championships you wish to enter.
General League Information: • Short Qualifying • 50% race • Full damage • Formation lap on • Practice if wanted 8.15pm till 8.45pm for F1 & 9.15am till 9.45am for F2 • Main Lobby will open at 8.45pm for F1 & 9.45am for F2 • Qualifying starts 9pm on dot for F1 & 10.00am for F2 unless stated otherwise.
1. On-Track Conduct 1.1 Clean racing: 1.1.1 Race cleanly at all times. No contact should occur between cars on track, and as a driver you are required to do your best to avoid this from happening. Accidents can happen, but if you are at fault for causing a collision, you are likely to be penalized. 1.1.2 Deliberately crashing into another car will result in being permanently excluded from the league. 1.1.3 If you accidentally take out another car, or are responsible for causing an incident, you have to slow down and safely let the affected car(s) back in front of you on track, as long as the circumstances allow it. Even if it doesn't benefit the other car, that is the punishment you have to take for causing a collision. If you fail to follow this rule, you are likely to receive a harsher penalty by the stewards if the incident is reported after the race. This rule can only be overruled by the affected driver telling you over voice chat to keep going. 1.1.4 The above rule still applies even if lag (connection issues) is the cause of the incident, when it is obvious that your car's lag is the cause of another driver going off, as this would still be classed as an unfair overtake. Please be more careful around other drivers if you are regularly involved in lag-related incidents. 1.1.5 All incidents must be recorded and uploaded to the club page within 24hrs of the race if you wish them to be reviewed. 1.2 Overtaking: Don't be too aggressive when trying to overtake. As the chasing car, it is generally your responsibility to not make contact with the car in front. 1.3 Defending: Excessive weaving and blocking is not allowed. When defending from another car, choose a line on the track and stick to it, and make sure the attacking car has sufficient time to react to your movement. Do not force a chasing car off the track by leaving it too little room. If the attacking car is alongside you going into a corner (generally if the attacking car's nose is ahead of the defending car's sidepod), you must adjust your line to avoid contact. 1.4 Corner cutting: 1.4.1 Stay within the track boundaries with at least two tyres at all times. The track boundaries are defined by the white lines, NOT by the edge of the kerbs. Cutting corners, or extending the track, to gain an advantage is not allowed. Drivers found to be persistently breaking this rule will be penalized retrospectively. 1.4.2 If you overtake another driver with all four wheels off track, or as a consequence of cutting a corner, you must slow down and give the position back, unless the game awards you a penalty. 1.4.3 It is not really possible to determine a specific value for how many cuts are needed - or how big a cut needs to be - in order to be judged as "persistently" breaking the 1.4.1 rule. If we did that, we would essentially be allowing a certain extent of cutting, which goes against the whole purpose of this rule. But basically, the general guideline is to don't cut corners on purpose, and don't take the piss with the track limits. Of course, the odd misjudgment of a corner can happen, but if you accidentally gain an advantage by going outside the track limits, you are expected to back off to an extent that clearly negates any advantage gained. Failing to do this puts you at the risk of being penalized. 1.4.4 If a driver is reported to the stewards for a breach of this rule, it is up to the stewards' discretion (based on the evidence provided) as to whether they feel the driver has abused the track limits to an extent where a penalty is justified, and if so what type of penalty is appropriate to be handed out. This will depend on the severity and frequency of the cuts. The bottom line is, if you want to make sure you are not in danger of being awarded a stewards penalty, make sure you don't gain time from leaving the track limits throughout qualifying and the race.
1.5 Qualifying etiquette: In qualifying, it is your own responsibility to find free space on the track when starting a flying lap. A car on a flying lap does not have to yield for a faster car approaching from behind. If you are on an in- or out-lap, however, you have to let faster cars pass you without blocking them. To put quite simply, IF YOUR NOT ON A FAST LAP, GET OFF THE RACING LINE! 1.6 Spatial Awareness: 1.6.1 Being aware of where another car is, is majorly important in a race so taking extra care is important both at the start of a race and in battles. 1.6.2 If you spin off whilst the pack is close, rejoining the track immediately is ill-advised. The game may fail to ghost your car, in which case it could easily cause an accident. Staying still is the best option until the other cars have avoided you. It is far easier to avoid a stationary obstacle. 1.6.3 If you go off the track, rejoin in a manner that is both safe and in no way a danger to other drivers. 1.6.4 When you're coming up to lap another car, it is advised to alert that driver through the chat so they are aware that you will soon be lapping them. 2. On-Track Regulations: 2.1 In-game penalties: 2.1.1 If you feel that the game has awarded you an unfair time penalty, you can apply for a penalty removal in the Stewards Panel after the race. More information about this can be found under the Rule Enforcement section. Compensation for unfair drive through penalties will not be possible. 2.1.2 If you feel the game has unfairly disqualified from the race, you can submit your full race footage to the stewards. If we feel that the disqualification was justified, it will remain. However if we feel that the disqualification was clearly unfair, or came as a result of a game glitch, then you will be classified as the last finisher and score full points for that position. 2.2 Being lapped: 2.2.1 When the game shows you the blue flag, you are about to be caught up by a car on a lap ahead of you. When being lapped, it is your responsibility to let the leaders through safely at the earliest opportunity, without blocking them. 2.2.2 If you are going faster than a car that has lapped you, do not attempt to un-lap yourself unless it is safe to do so and doesn't hinder the car in front. 2.3 Safety Car & Virtual Safety Car Guidelines: 2.3.1 During a virtual safety car, or while catching up to the train during a safety car period, you must not exceed the delta time indicated by the game. 2.3.2 If you are the lead car behind the safety car, make sure you keep a safe distance to the safety car to avoid potentially hitting it if lag or other inconsistencies occur, as this may lead to the game disqualifying you from the race. Also, do not intentionally slow the pack down to a ridiculously low speed when controlling the pace ahead of a restart. 2.3.3 While in the safety car queue, do not drive dangerously by weaving excessively or suddenly slowing down greatly in front of someone. Keep a safe distance to the car ahead, but without creating an unnaturally big gap in the queue. Once the safety car lights have gone out (which is when you are told that the safety car will be returning to the pitlane), all weaving and overlapping with other cars is forbidden. If you are to be caught weaving after the safety car lights have turned off, you will possibly be given a time penalty by the stewards after the race, which will be added to your finishing time. 2.3.4 It is completely prohibited to park or crash your car for the purpose of initiating a safety car situation. Anyone found to have deliberately crashed out (eg: rage-quit in a manner that can cause a safety car situation) will be severely penalized, regardless of whether this actually ended up causing a safety car or not. 2.3.5 If we experience a major glitch with the safety car (for example someone being unfairly and unavoidably disqualified due to a safety car glitch), we reserve the right to disable this feature with immediate effect if deemed appropriate. 2.3.6 If a safety car is triggered at the first corner off the race start, due to collisions/unavoidable contact, a race restart will then be enacted. Keep in mind that this ruling does not apply to first corner incidents. It is only relevant from the start/finish line, to the start of the first corner (eg: start of outside kerb Turn 1). However be aware that it is up to the lobby host, on if a restart of the race is justified, however 99% of incidents such as these will result in a race restart. 2.4 Formation lap guidelines: 2.4.1 For the sake of fairness with regards to tyre wear, all drivers are required to complete the formation lap. It is not allowed to skip the formation lap by intentionally driving in a manner that sends you back to the grid. Doing this, or being at fault for an incident that sends you back to the grid, will see you awarded with a post-race penalty. 2.4.2 During the formation lap, do not drive dangerously by weaving excessively or suddenly slowing down greatly in front of someone. Keep a safe distance to the car ahead, but without creating an unnaturally big gap in the queue. 2.5 Tyre rules: 2.3.1 Drivers who qualify in the top 10 are forced to start the race on the tyre set they used to set their fastest qualifying lap. Drivers who qualify outside the top 10 may choose whichever set of starting tyres they want. All the above still applies if a restart occurs for whatever reason. 2.3.2 In qualifying, it is not allowed to deliberately crash your car in order to destroy the tyre set you would have started with upon qualifying in the top 10. 2.3.3 You must use two of the three available dry tyre compounds at least once during the race. 2.3.4 You must use one of the two mandatory tyre sets (as specified by the game) at some point during the race. 2.3.5 If the conditions are wet at any time in the race, the two above rules become invalid. 3. General Behaviour: 3.1 Communication: Please use a working headset while in the race lobby, to effectively receive any potential messages or instructions from the League Coordinator. Having the ability to communicate with other drivers during the race can also make it easier to avoid - and resolve - any on-track incidents that may occur. Using a headset is not mandatory, but desirable. 3.2 Lobby Etiquette: 3.2.1 Shouting, name-calling and generally speaking rudely is not acceptable. Drivers who are a disruptive influence on the lobby atmosphere will be penalised accordingly, or in extreme cases removed from the league. 3.2.2 Respect the other drivers. Keep a friendly atmosphere in the race lobby and treat your fellow drivers as equals, regardless of them being quicker or slower than you. 3.2.3 Respect the League Coordinators. Listen if he is giving a message, and accept the decisions he makes. If you feel any actions/decisions are wrong, address the issue calmly and maturely. Coordinators' decisions are final within the lobby, but may be reviewed later if you feel an error has been made. Please accept that making a call instantly can be tricky and the Coordinator, even if participating in the race, is expected to be entirely neutral. 3.3 Race Etiquette: 3.3.1 If you are involved in an on-track incident, don't overreact. It may be frustrating, but you need to stay calm and get on with it. Losing out due to another driver's mistake or recklessness is no excuse for retaliation or acting against the rules. 3.3.2 If another driver does something you feel is against the rules, record the incident and upload it to the club page to be reviewed by the Stewards Panel after the race. 3.3.3 If you are having a bad race, don't act foolishly. As a driver, you have to accept that some races will be better than others and you can't always have it your way. If you are unable to enjoy the racing due to not always being at the front, this is not the place for you - there are many drivers in the league, and someone always have to be at the back. 3.6 Dissent: 3.6.1 If you are to be believed to be showing dissent/disrespect towards the league and/or its admins/members, the admins have the right to remove you from any/all competitions you are involved with, or to remove you completely from the league itself. TOR is a place everyone should be able to feel safe within, and to be able to be themselves and be happy. Any conduct that involves: • Harassment of TOR members/admins, • Bullying/Abusive behaviour towards TOR members/admins, • Disrespect of TOR, the championships it runs, and the persons who are involved in said championships, • Dissent towards TOR, the admins, the stewards, or any other TOR members If the admins see/hear about any such comments/conduct that they believe are degrading for TOR and the persons/participants involved, said offending person/s will be removed immediately from TOR and they will not be allowed to return. Please note that disrespectful conduct that happens on Xbox between TOR persons will also be looked upon as a breach of TOR rules, and will result in the same outcome as listed above. For Xbox Code of Conduct guidelines, visit http://enforcement.xbox.com/home/codeofconduct.
4. Stewarding, Penalties & Results 4.1 Stewards: 4.1.1 Stewarding is done by a select group of people who the admins are in direct contact with. Their identities remain secret. These people have been trusted to make the right decisions according to these laws, so you should too. You are NOT allowed at any point contact the stewards regarding An incident. There decision is final. F1 steward meeting will take place on Sunday, and the F2 one will take place on Monday. 4.2 Penalties: 4.2.1 Available penalties are: 3-second time penalty 5-second time penalty 10-second time penalty Qualifying ban for the next race One-race ban Multiple-race ban Permanent removal from the league 4.2.2 Penalties will be awarded at the discretion of the stewards and will be based on: • The Severity • The Implication and • The Reoccurrence of similar action/s being performed by person under review. 4.2.3 If you are not satisfied with the penalty that is handed out, you may appeal the decision to the stewards within 24hrs (Tuesday at the latest) 4.2.3a An appeal decision is final and well not be overturned unless new evidence is obtained. 4.3 Penalty points system The penalty points system is a way of keeping track of a driver's record of breaking the rules of clean racing, and to more severely punish repeat offenders. Penalty points will be applied alongside normal race penalties, as per the list below. 1 point – 3 second penalty 2 points – 5 second penalty 3 points – 10 second penalty The consequences of accumulating too many penalty points could result in the following actions being taken: • If you accumulate 15 points that is an automatic qualifying ban for the next race • If you accumulate 25 points that is a Race ban for the following race, after that points will reset back to 0. • If you accumulate 50points overall, you will be excluded from the current season. • If you accumulate over 50 points, you will be asked to leave the league and banned from racing in any Official TOR events, or any associating events/open lobbies where an TOR admin may be present (decision will be left up to host).
4.4 Results Results will be uploaded to the league website and published on twitter Every Wednesday without fail after all stewards meetings have taken place, and any appeals have been looked into.