1. Eligibility
TRCS is an invitation series only. If a driver wishes to run in TRCS, he must reply to the appropriate forum thread in the TRCS forum at the MNRL's webpage. The TRCS administrator will approve each application by response in each applicant’s forum post. By continuing in or joining TRCS, you agree to the Rules and are expected to NOT complain about them during the season. Complaining about Rules will not be welcomed.
2. Car Number and Selection
Former MNRL TRCS Season 4 members have priority to pick up car numbers in case two drivers want the same number. A list of reserved numbers will be found in the TRCS sign-up thread in the MNRL forum.
3. Car Filenames and Car File Distribution
1) The car(s) to be used for each TRCS will be announced at the beginning of each TRCS season. The announcement will detail the specific car or mod to be used, and outline the allowable upgrades that may be run for each driver’s car.
2) Car files are to be submitted to the TRCS administrator prior to the beginning of each season. Car files shall be submitted to the TRCS administrator at least one week prior to the first points race of the season. The TRCS administrator will edit all car files using common file names. The TRCS administrator will then compile each participant’s car file in a car file pack for distribution to the participants. Participants must use the car file provided by the TRCS administrator. To avoid problems with regard to ensuring that each participant has all active car files, only minimal car file pack updates will be provided during the season.
4. Points System
The Speed GT points system, modified for TRCS purposes, will be used. Points are assigned as follows.
P1 110
P2 100
P3 92
P4 85
P5 80
P6 76
P7 72
P8 68
P9 64
P10 60
P11 57
P12 54
P13 51
P14 48
P15 45
P16 43
P17 41
P18 39
P19 37
P20 35
P21 33
P22 31
P23 29
P24 27
P25 25
P26 23
P27 21
P28 19
P29 17
P30 15
P31 13
P32 11
P33 9
P34 7
P35 6
P36 5
P37 4
P38 3
P39 2
P40 1
A variety of bonus points will be awarded as presented in the Season 5 Drivers Guide thread.
Tie-Breakers:
If at the end of the season, two or more drivers are tied in championship points, then tie-breakers will be used to determine their final position in the standings. Ties will be broken in the order of precedence as follows: number of 1st-place finishes, number of 2nd-place finishes, number of 3rd-place finishes, etc. etc., until the tie is broken. If the tie still cannot be broken then a second set of tie-breakers will be used in this order of precedence: Starts, Laps Led, Laps Completed, and finally, Pole Positions. If the tie still cannot be broken then the tie will remain.
5. Attendance
Last Place Points:
If you can't make a race, you may ask for Last Place Points (LPPs) at any time BEFORE the start of a race. To do so, simply request last place points in the LPP thread at the TRCS Forum. Last place points will be awarded based on the number of drivers who make the race in question. For example, if 20 drivers make the race in question, drivers who requested last place points will be awarded points equal to 21st place.Dropped Races:
No races will be dropped.
6. Post Race Celebrations and Wrecking
All drivers are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to make a 'cool down lap' after the race. The race does not end until the last car involved in the race crosses the start/finish line, and all drivers should behave accordingly. Every driver involved should take this 'cool down lap' (not at Le Mans and Nurburgring of course) and the drivers involved in the race should go to the pits. If the winner of the race wishes to act like he or she has not 'been there before', he or she may do so after the ‘cool down lap.’ But be aware that if drivers do not heed this warning and something does go wrong the games Official Standings WILL NOT be changed so act foolish at your own risk. All drivers are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to make their cool off lap to ensure that the scoring process works the way it was intended.
7. Protests and Penalties:
A member may protest an accident for the behavior of another member at the conclusion of the race. A Protest may be submitted up to 48 hours after the race is completed. The protesting member must submit a clipped replay of the incident to the TRCS Administrator. Upon receipt of the protest, the TRCS Review Committee will review the incident and levy any penalties deemed necessary. Members may file unlimited protests per season. Penalties will result in sanctions and/or point deductions, depending on the severity and nature of the infraction. If a member accrues multiple penalties, he/she may be subjected to suspension. A replay must accompany the protest or the protest will not be reviewed by the TRCS Review Committee. In special circumstances, where the member cannot retrieve the replay, the member then must supply enough information for the TRCS Review Committee to allow for complete review. When a protest is received from a driver, the TRCS Administrator will petition the other driver(s) involved to send in his or her replay(s) as well. So if you’re not already doing it, start saving your replays! It could possibly save you some points in the end. All Protests and their outcome are held in confidence, and are not made public. All drivers are urged to "sleep on it" before submitting protests, as many times the next day the infraction may appear to be less serious than perceived, or looked at in a more objective light by the potential protestor. Please consider the legitimacy of your protest before submitting same.
While normally the TRCS Review Committee will only review protested incidents, it is in their right to review anything that took place during qualifying or a race. If an offense is significant, a penalty may be issued without a formal complaint being filed. If one of the TRCS Review Committee members is directly involved in an incident, an alternate will fill the TRCS Review Committee role to investigate and assess penalties if required.
Results/Standings do not become official until 7 days after the last race has been completed.
8. Teams
TRCS may have individual teams that will compete against each other. Whether or not to hold a teams championship will be determined at the beginning of each race season by the TRCS administrator. A team can consist of two (2) cars. There are no substitute drivers allowed for this Season.
9. Chatting
The rules governing chat will depend on what session the race is in.
Practice Session:
Chat as much as you want.
Drivers Meeting:
Absolutely no chatting allowed unless the TRCS administrator requests you to comment or calls on you to ask a question.
Qualifying Session:
Absolutely no chatting allowed. Any congratulatory remarks (such as GL, NL, congrats, etc.) should be made after the Warm-Up session begins. Any chatting before the Warm-Up session begins will be considered a violation.
Warm-Up Session:
Chat as much as you want.
Race Session:
Absolutely no chatting allowed.
If a driver feels he has been done wrong, the race session is not the time or place to 'vent'. If a driver chats during the race session, the driver will be subject to a penalty in his/her next race. The chat rules also apply to members who use Team Speak. Members will not be allowed to use Team Speak from the TRCS TS room during the Qualifying or Race Sessions.
10. Starts
TRCS will use standing starts with formation lap in accordance with the parameters of the rFactor game. It is the responsibility of each participant to ensure that he/she starts in a safe and respectful manner. Drivers taking unacceptable risks during a start will not be tolerated. Remember, you can not win the race in the first corner, but you can lose it and cause other participants to be unable to complete the race as well. Also remember, in most circumstances, drivers who qualified ahead of you have likely done so because they are faster than you at a particular track.
11. Re-Starts
There are no restarts in TRCS, unless in the case of a massive server problem. In this case, the TRCS administrator will decide, at his sole discretion, whether to authorize a restart. Restart requests from drivers are not authorized, and drivers requesting restarts will be penalized in their next event.
12. Green-Flag Conditions
1) It is the responsibility of each driver to execute clean, safe passes. If you are trying to complete a pass but do not think it can be done without putting anyone at risk of spinning or wrecking, lift and wait for a better passing opportunity.
2) Blocking is not permitted and will be penalized if a valid protest is brought to the attention of TRCS Review Committee. You are permitted to make one move to defend you position. Any further moves designed to keep a competitor behind you shall be considered blocking, and shall be considered to be an action subject to potential penalty. Weaving back and forth down a straight is considered blocking.
3) Two tires shall remain on the tarmac/pavement/racing surface at all times. For purposes of this requirement, curbs, rumble strips, and the like ARE NOT considered a part of the tarmac/pavement/racing surface. They are considered to be just like grass or dirt. Drivers who repeatedly put more than 2 tires off the tarmac/pavement/racing surface, with the intention of gaining a lap time advantage, will be warned and subsequent violations will be penalized. Those who intentionally bypass the course in an attempt to gain a lap time advantage will also be penalized. Exceptions are if you have an accident, are avoiding an accident, or if you are trying to avoid causing an accident.
For purposes of this requirement, intention is defined as a driver that continues to repeat the same action without having made an obvious mistake.
4) Passing by leaving the track surface is forbidden and will result in a post race points penalty. Passes are not to be made by driving in a manner that violates Rule 12.3 above. During racing a driver may occasionally and accidentally leave the track surface proper due to overdriving, etc. Such maneuvers are not infractions as long as they do not result in the driver's gaining position or ground on any other driver. No "shortcuts" permitted.
13. Re-Entering the Track
If for any reason you have left the track surface completely, you have given up your track 'rights'. It is now your responsibility to re-enter the track in a safe manner for the drivers that may be approaching your 'off'. DO NOT blindly pull out on the track. Use your mirrors, your ears, live-timing, whatever you need to do to be sure you will not enter the track in front of another driver. If a driver re-enters the track with total disregard to the other drivers he will be penalized at the discretion of the TRCS Review Committee.
14. Lapped Traffic
There are no full course yellow flags in TRCS. Therefore, there is no reason to contest being lapped. Drivers about to go a lap down, or are already one or more laps down, should not block or race the cars attempting to lap them. Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of the overtaking driver to complete the pass safely. This does not relieve the overtaken driver of responsibility. The overtaken driver must aid in ensuring the pass is made safely.
Drivers being lapped should maintain their normal racing line and continue to drive in a predictable manner when approached by a lapping car. If the driver being lapped can help facilitate a pass in a safe manner (for example, by moving off the racing line and slowing marginally on a long straight), the driver being lapped is encouraged to do so. Drivers being lapped should not slow dramatically and unexpected simply because of the approach of a lapping car.
Lapping drivers shall be careful when lapping slower cars. DO NOT assume that the lapped driver knows you are approaching and DO NOT assume that the lapped driver will give you the racing line the moment you catch him. Look for safe and obvious opportunities to lap slower cars. Drivers who are impatient and who consistently cause problems when attempting to pass lapped cars may be subject to penalty.
15. Flaming
Flaming is absolutely not tolerated. A member who is flaming may be penalized and/or ejected from the server. Flaming is defined as any racial slur, insult, abuse, swearing or harassment of another driver or Admin. This also applies to "WTF", "WTH", and even "TY" when used in a negative way.
16. Intentional or Malicious Incidents
Incidents that are deemed intentional or malicious will be subject to penalty and can result in immediate removal from the league.
17. Warping
We all understand that warping is a part of online racing and that a driver who is warping badly really can't do anything to prevent the warp from happening. However, the MNRL is tasked with providing the entire league with a relatively hazard free racing environment. Therefore, the following procedures will be followed when dealing with warp issues. During the Practice Session: If other members and/or the race monitor notice a car or truck that is warping excessively, that member may be asked to skip the qualifying round and start in the back of the field, in order to ensure a clean start. During the Race Session: During racing, if the warping is still occurring it may be best for the warping driver to try to keep clear of traffic. The warping driver may find it best to disconnect from the server as they will be responsible for any accidents they cause.
18. Server Handles
In order to avoid confusion, MNRL requires that all drivers login in to races with a handle that represents their real name. Full name is preferred, although first initial and last name is acceptable. Your login name must be exactly the same as the race name you entered into the RPM system to ensure you are scored properly.
19. Conclusion
We are all here to have a good time. In order to get respect you must also give respect. Please keep in mind that the ages of our drivers range from 13 years old to …….well really old men, so please act accordingly. If you would not want your child to read something on screen, view a potentially objectionable graphic on a car, or be treated in a bad matter please keep it in mind before you act in a matter unfit and just treat everyone as you yourself would like to be treated.
Thank You,
The Administration of The MNRL