Distinctly Average Racing League Season Three now open for sign-ups

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Distinctly Average Racing League has been going for over in a decade in various forms (we started on FM4, ran 10 seasons - although the origins extend way beyond those championships - then there was a hiatus followed by nine seasons on PC2) and after a successful first and second seasons using the latest Forza Motorsport game, we are planning our third season, which starts later this month.

We’re always looking for friendly people who may wish to join the series: DARL is as much about the friendships that have formed over the years and catching up with pals as it is the racing. We operate a ‘race when you can’ mantra - after all, real life comes way before online racing, so it’s not a problem at all if you miss the odd week or three.

This season is based on an interpretation of a Classic Trans-Am series for cars built between 1966 and 1972. In case you’re interested in joining, here are a few details:

There are two classes to choose from:

Over 2.5 litres (Class A):

AMC Javelin
Chevrolet Camaro Z28
Chevrolet Camaro Super Sport Coupe
Dodge Challenger R/T
Ford Mustang GT Coupe
Ford Mustang GT 2+2 Fastback
Ford Mustang Boss 302
Mercury Cougar
Plymouth Cuda 426 HEMI
Pontiac Firebird Trans-Am

The PI limit is A 630. Engine and drivetrain swaps are prohibited. Otherwise, it is an open build and Forza aero is allowed. You’re welcome to modify your build from week to week. It is permitted to use extra light or light ballast options.

Under 2.5 litres (Class B):

Alfa-Romeo Giulia
BMW 2002 Turbo
Datsun 510
Ford Cortina
Ford Escort RS1600
Mini Cooper
Renault 8 Gordini
Toyota Corolla

The PI limit is C 480. You may not rebore the engine to exceed 2.5l. Engine and drivetrain swaps are prohibited, as is the use of Forza aero. Otherwise, it is an open build. You are welcome to modify your build from week to week. It is permitted to use extra light or light ballast options.

With the exception of endurance races (which are 1hr 15 minute long and feature a mandatory pitstop), the evening will consist of three 15 minute-long (or thereabouts) races. Tyre wear will be at 3x for all races.

Unless specified otherwise, the first race will start at 2100 (UK time) on Friday nights and we will not wait for latecomers. As in previous iterations of DARL, we will run ‘unofficial’ practice lobbies before 2100.

If any incidents occur during the races they will be investigated by the stewards at the end of the evening.

Forza Motorsport allows the lobby host to set custom times for sessions. With the exception of endurance races, Race One takes place at noon, Race Two at 4pm and Race Three at 6pm.

Dynamic track rubber will be applied as follows:
Race One: 0%
Race Two: 25%
Race Three: 50%
Endurance races: 0%

After each race, the top three finishers will be required to add success ballast ahead of the next race occurring. If a driver with success ballast applied finishes in the top three positions, they will be required to go one notch up. If a driver with success ballast finishes outside the top three positions, they will be able to remove it.

For the first race of the evening - and the sole endurance race - the top three drivers according to the championship standings will be required to add success ballast.

Please note that you will need to have a working microphone in order to race, plus it is a series requirement to use your full name. Drivers are also required to switch the proximity arrows on, which reduces the likelihood of incidents occurring.

Full details (including the calendar - the first race evening is scheduled to run on 31 May - and points system) are available on our Discord server: should you be interested in hearing more, please feel free to join us here: Distinctly Average Racing League

Last season, a typical race evening attracted between 15 and 20 drivers each week and our hope is that similar numbers will race this season.

Cheers.

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I might be interested in this! (I’m in the US and work overnights so anything during my daytime is beneficial). As the UK is 8 hours ahead of me (I’m in Arizona), it would be mid day for me.

I do have a couple of questions:
Do both classes race at the same time (Multi-class racing)?
What happens if a driver has the full amount of ballast and still finishes in the top 3?
As many of the car options that FM has are not the T/A equivalent (Hemi 'Cuda vs AAR), how well has balancing worked in the past?

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Hiya, thanks for the interest in joining us. We have a decent contingent of North Americans, so you’d be most welcome to join us.

In answer to your questions:

  • Yes; the faster class will have a roll-off delay - announced before the first race of the evening - with the intention of both classes ‘meeting’ towards the end of the race. There’ll be separate standings, of course.

  • If a driver has ballast and finishes in the top three they will move up a notch of ballast. As there are three races and three notches of ballast there is a potential that people will be running the maximum amount in R3. Ballast is reset each week though, so the following week the top three people in the championship will run medium ballast in the first race.

  • This is our first Trans-Am series (last season we ran '60s touring cars, the one before that was an MX-5 spec series). As long as the car meets our PI and build requirements set out above it is legal.

Hope that all helps? Happy to answer any other questions you might have.

Cheers.

1 Like
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A little bump for this: season starts a week today.

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Final little bump for this: the season starts this Friday. Cheersmatethanksmatebye.