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This is the 11th season in my Distincly Average Racing League. Last season, we had three people within five points of each other going into the final race, so it’s a close series! Last season, we had on average of eight-10 racers turning up each week.
This season, I’m aiming for the series to be a bit like that. Minus Jason Plato, obviously. We’ve spent a long time building and fine-tuning cars to create a level-ish playing field. With this in mind, we should have a number of tight, compelling and exciting races this season!
Obviously I can’t control competitors fettling their cars between races to get the best out of them, so fine-tuning is allowed and actively encouraged. The only thing I ask is that you do not alter the build of the car. If you want help tuning your car, reply to this thread or send me a message on Xbox Live.
This is also the first season that we are using drag tyres, to simulate tyre wear, so it is a bit of a leap into the unknown for us.
Signing-up:
Sign-ups open at 9pm on 5 November. There is a maximum allocation of two people per car, on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign-ups will be accepted on the forum - Loading... - or by sending me a message on XBL, but preference will be given to those who sign up on the forum.
When you sign up, one of the series organisers will send your car to you, complete with the main series sponsor logos in place.
Please do not alter the placement or size of these boards. If you want to test multiple cars, please let me know which ones you want – or you can just build them yourself.
PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR CAR CHOICE BY 23.59 14 NOVEMBER
Liveries:
Feel free to create custom designs or replicas of your favourite design - I look forward to seeing some wonderfully painted cars. If you want any help with this, please contact me as I have thousands of logos in my archives and / or I can make you a livery.
As there are no numberboards this season, you can place numbers wherever you like on the car, however, I ask that visible numbers are placed on both sides of the vehicle and at the back. I reserve the right to ask you to make the numbers larger.
Performance balancing:
In an attempt to even out the field, the top three cars from the previous race will carry a 5% power reduction for the next race (10% at Tsukuba and Road Atlanta). For the first race of the evening, the top three in the championship will be handicapped.
The organisers reserve the right to change builds of vehicles mid-way through the season, if it is deemed that a certain car or cars are either too slow or too quick.
Penalties:
Accidents will happen. Please report incidents in the Stewards Office thread on the forum. The penalty system I located there, too.
Race restarts:
We will only restart races if three or more cars are involved in an incident or a technical glitch (lag, controller malfunction etc) on the first lap up to a maximum of three restarts per race.
Microphones
Working mics will be required by all racers to take part in this season.
Cars:
I have all eight builds. Please let me know if you want me to send them to you, or you can build them yourself – a separate car list thread will be on the forum.
The Volvo has been reserved for two players that are a little off the pace and are inexperienced as it is slightly quicker than the other cars, however, if the Volvos are not claimed within 24 hours of the sign-up thread opening, anyone will be able to choose them.
RWD:
Ford Fusion
Audi S4 (2010)
BMW 135i
Vauxhall Insignia
FWD:
Seat Leon Cupra (07)
Volvo C30
Citroen C4 VTS
Ford Focus ST (06)
Evening format:
8.55pm - Lobby is made and invites are sent to all online players.
9pm - Race One. The grid order will be randomised. It should last 20 minutes and the results of this race will determine the grid for the second race. The top three in the championship will have their ‘ballast’ added.
9.25pm - Race Two - Same as race one except that the results won’t form the grid for the next race and the top three cars from race one will have 5% less power.
9.50pm - Race Three - There will be a reverse grid based on the results of the previous two races. Again, the top three from the previous race will have the power handicap.
NB: Damage will be set to ‘limited’ to discourage deliberate manoeuvres. If you are unable to make the first race or second race(s) of the evening, you will be welcome to join us for the remaining races, but you will be placed at the back of the grid.
Because of the short lap length at Tsukuba and Road Atlanta, we are considering whether to hold four 15 minute long races or two 15 minute long races and then a 30 minute race.
There should be a poll set up on the forum – please vote for your preference, and the option with the highest number of votes by 12 November will be selected. In the event of a tie, the final decision is down to me.
Points system:
Points are awarded in all three races as follows:
1st : 10 points
2nd : 9 points
3rd : 8 points
4th : 7 points
5th : 6 points
6th : 5 points
7th : 4 points
8th : 3 points
9th : 2 points
10th : 1 point
Fastest lap: 1 point
For the end-of-season hour-long Le Mans race, points are awarded as follows:
1st: 50 points
2nd: 45 points
3rd: 40 points
4th: 35 points
5th: 30 points
6th: 25 points
7th: 20 points
8th: 15 points
9th: 10 points
10th: 5 points
Fastest lap: 5 points.
Calendar:
12 November: (optional) Test / media evening
19 November: Laguna Seca
26 November: Road America
3 December: Infineon IRL
10 December: Road Atlanta)
7 January: Motegi East
14 January: Tsukuba Full
21 January: Mugello Full
28 January: Silverstone International
4 February: ‘Ring Short
11 February: Le Mans
Any questions? Send me an XBL message, sign up to the forum, or post in here.