1. DRIVER CONDUCT POLICY
The GPT is built on a foundation of respect, sportsmanship, and professionalism -- on and off the track. All rules and restrictions found in the iRacing Sporting Code apply unless specifically stated otherwise.
Members are expected to:
- Communicate clearly and respectfully. Profanity is not accepted and is filtered on Discord.
- Resolve conflicts constructively. Apologies often need to flow both ways.
- Practice basic courtesy.
- Embrace and respect the diversity of backgrounds, opinions, and cultures that exist within the membership.
2. GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Lane -- Determined by teh car ahead. Staying in your lane means maintaining sufficient front-to-rear overlap such that the trailing car could not drive past the car ahead without contact.
Material Damage -- Damage that noticeably affects the performance of the vehicle or results in required repairs (may or may not include a meatball flag).
Overlap -- Any portion of two vehicles are aligned such that they cannot occupy the same lateral space on track without contact.
Straight -- Any section of track where competitors travel in a straight line for a significant distance, and any curved section where there is more than one line drivers take without lifting under normal circumstances (e.g., the banking at Daytona qualifies as a straight; the Kink at Road America does not).
Turn-In Point -- The point at which a driver meaningfully changes direction toward the apex on their racing line, typically a few frames after the onboard camera shows steering input begins. Early or lazy turn-ins do not define the turn-in point and cannot be used to deny a trailing driver the opportunity to establish position. Where there is debate, the turn-in points from other laps for the same drivers, or the top three qualifying drivers, can be used to establish the standard.
3. RACE STARTS
RS-1 Standing Starts The race starts when the green flag waves. No other restrictions apply.
RS-2 Rolling Starts The race starts when the green flag waves. Drivers must stayin their lane (see Glossary) until the green flag. Drivers should maintain at least a half-car gap tot he car ahead until green. Drivers who close this gap unnecessarily are assuming avoidable risk, and this will be considered in any incident reviews.
4. PASSING AND POSITIONING
- Straights: Any overlap constitutes position. Both drivers must give each other sufficient room to race fairly on the racing surface.
- Corners: Axle-to-axle overlap (front axle to rear) is required to constitute position, assessed at the turn-in point. A passing driver who has not achieved this overlap by the turn-in point must yield to the car ahead or risk penalty for any contact or displacement of the lead driver's line.
PP-1 While their position is uncontested, the driver ahead has the right to choose any line within track liits, subject to the rules of this section. Position becomes contested the moment any overlap eists between cars, at which point the obligations of both drivers are defined by whether position has been achieved:
The lead car's right to a line does not license aggressive, sudden, or reactive movements--those are governed by PM-2, PM-3, and PM-4. Lead drivers are reminded that avoiding contact is always preferable to asserting a line as though the trailing car does not exist. A lead driver who is forced to move off the racing line to avoid contact with a trailing car that did not achieve position may submit an IRR even if no contact occurred. Close calls will be credited to the overtaking driver (as in baseball the "tie goes to the runner").
PP-2 One defensive move is permitted, but must be made before braking. A driver may not move to defend once any overlap exists between cars. Following the natural racing line into a corner is not considered a defensive move -- unless the cars are side-by-side, in which case racing room must be provided.
PP-3 Both the passing driver and the driver being passed share responsibility for fair and clean racing during a pass attempt.
5. PROHIBITED MANUEVERS
PM-1 Deliberate Contact -- Any deliberate attempt to make contact with another car is prohibited. Where contact is deemed malicious and intentional, violations will result in immediate DQ and removal from the league.
PM-2 Dive Bombing -- A high-risk, low-probability pass attempt on the inside in a braking zone where the trailing driver fails to make the apex or leaves the other driver insufficient room through the corner (as defined by PP-1), resulting in contact or forcing evasive action. A pass executed cleanly and in control without these characteristics is not a dive bomb, regardless of the timing of braking. A dive bomb can be penalized even if no contact occurs, for example if the driver ahead only avoids contact by taking evasive action.
PM-3 Blocking Changing the racing line or weaving as a defensive reaction to impede the car behind. The one-move defending rule (PP-2) applies. Any change of line initiated after braking has begun is considered blocking and subject to penalty.
PM-4 Cutting Off or Chopping -- Even where the lead car is entitlted to a line (see PP-1 and PP-2), sudden or aggressive line changes made in close proximity to a nearby or following car are prohibited. The right to a line does not extend to exercising it in a manner that creates unnecessary risk to drivers. This includes scenarios where drivers take different lines through a corner intentionally (such as single or double-apexes) or if a driver makes an error that takes them off line.
PM-5 Weaving Weaving is permitted provided it does not violate PM-3 or any other rule. Weaving that constitutes a defensive maneuver is subject to the blocking rules.
6. LOSS OF CONTROL, OFF-TRACK & REJOINS
OR-1 Loss of Control -- Out-of-control or spinning drivers must lock their brakes and remain stationary until they are ready to move again under full control. This makes car movements more predictable for other drivers. Failure to do so is subject to penalty.
OR-2 Off-Track Rejoins -- Drivers who go off track are responsible for rejoining safely -- parallel to the track surface and after waiting for a sufficient gap in traffic. Drivers whose cars are blocking any portion of the track should hold position until it is safe to move off the racing line before rejoining. Drivers on track are not obligated to yield to a rejoining car. Failure to rejoin safely will result in an unsafe rejoin penalty.
OR-3 Pit Lane Re-Entry -- Drivers exiting the pit lane must wait for a sufficient gap in traffic before merging onto the racing surface and must not impede the racing line. Drivers on track are not obligated to yield to a car exiting the pits, but should allow room if able. Failure to re-enter safely will result in an unsafe rejoin penalty. A driver who fails to reasonably accomodate a car coming out of pit lane may also be penalized.
7. FLAGS AND SIGNALS
- Trigger: The obligation begins when the faster car achieves a relative gap of 1 second or less. Where two or more lapped cars are in close proximity to one another, the timer starts once they are no longer running side-by-side.
- Obligation: The lapped driver must facilitate a pass within the next 3 dstraights or 30 seconds (whichever comes first) by lifting sufficiently to allow the pass to be completed before the next turn-in point.
- Shared Responsibility: Blue flags do not absolve the faster car of the responsibility to complete the pass safely. The lapped driver must recognie they are not in competition with the faster car -- facilitation is an act of respect for the integrity of the race.
- Penalty: Failure to facilitate a pass within the required window results in an automatic 10-second post-race time penalty.
FS-1 Flashing Lights -- Flashing lights is permitted to signal an impending pass or to indicate that a pass will be yielded to a faster driver. Excessive flashing or the use of flashing to distract or otherwise agitate another driver will be penalized as unsportsmanlike at the discretion of the league administrators.
FS-2 Blue Flags -- Blue flags are a zero-tolerance issue.
8. INCIDENT REVIEW & PENALTIES
Incidents may be submitted for reivew if they result in material damage and/or time loss. Only involved drivers or league administrators may submit a request.
All incidents are reviewed by three to five members of the Incident Review Team (IRT), which is composed of respected league drivers and non-drivers. Penalties are assigned by a majority ruling and posted transparently upon completion. The GPT league does not currently employ live race control.
The IRT evaluates incidents through a lens or risk and responsibility as defined by these rules. Drivers who take risks inconsistent with sound racecraft are more likely to be held responsible for an incident. Drivers are encouraged to "right wrongs" during the race where possible, and this may mitigate post-race penalties.
9. LICENSE POINT SYSTEM
The league has decided to suspend use of the license point system at this time. Instead, repeat offenders may receive additional penalties at the sole discretion of the league admins.