rules - SSCA Endurance Series

The Simulated Sports Car Association (SSCA) is the organizing and sanctioning body for the SSCA Endurance Series special events.

SSCA has adopted the general conditions and competition rules set forth in this Rule Book. The rules and conditions are intended to assist in the conduct of the events and will be effective unless otherwise expressly amended.

To get started, you must fill out an application for the series and become a member of the forum if you want to participate in the races. You are expected to know and abide by the rules of the events you are running in.

Teams can register for any special event by filling out the application on the SSCA web site. Once your team is registered, you need to go to this THREAD on the forum to sign up for the events. Teams that are new to the SSCA or do not have a reference from a current team will be placed on (PENDING) status. Pending teams will not be able to participate until they have proven to someone on the administration team that they are capable of running at this level of competition. These events are for Sim-Racers that are at the top of their game. Countries, Leagues, Teams, etc are representing themselves and only top quality drivers will be allowed to participate.

Applicants must confirm they have read this Rule Book and agree to comply to the rules. Teams can register two cars (one for each class, or two in one class).

SSCA will confirm the number of Grid spots per class for each event. Teams will be accepted on a first come first serve basis. Teams who have participated in SSCA events already will have the first shot at entering new events. Additional candidates will have a chance to enter at the same time, but will be placed behind pre-existing teams in terms of pecking order. Teams must register for each event by going to this THREAD on the forum.Most events will have a small entry fee that will be announced well before the event. Again all of this information will be clearly listed in the forums.

In order to be fully accepted for an event, each team will have to provide at least two registered drivers per car to race. Teams are encouraged to confirm their drivers upon registration but may elect to do so later.

Teams will have to confirm drivers and upload their car files before registration closure (5 days prior to the event). Any Team that fails to confirm at least 2 drivers or does not provide a valid car file will be removed and replaced by a team from the waiting list.

All participants must own a legal copy of rFactor and install the latest patch as and when instructed by the Series Administrators.

It is assumed that drivers can make a separate "install" of their game in case they want to run or keep running a different version for offline racing or for other leagues.

The mods and tracks for the special events may come from various sources. For all mods and tracks, SSCA will provide version information, in addition to the mod or track itself. SSCA reserves the right to make changes and or additions to the mod at any time.

In some events, there will be two classes participating on the track at the same time. Prototype and GT. Both classes will participate on the track at the same time.

Car numbers will be assigned by the league on a first come, first serve basis. Car numbers can be viewed HERE

Any team can use any number from 1-999. There's no restriction per class.



For the Enduro Series, prototype cars will only be given to teams that are very capable of running at very high levels of competition. It will be at the discretion of the admin team to decide if teams are ready to race at the high levels of competition in the Prototype class. In general, a 107% rule may apply. Please talk to an admin for futher details.

Team car files must be submitted no later than 5 days prior to the event. Failure to present a valid car file on time may result in Team removal from the event. Also cars must use the correct number that was assigned. But again, these things may vary depending on the event, please check the forum.

Most events will feature mandatory driver changes. Teams must consist of at least 2. One driver cannot race for more than 70% of the race distance. Drivers that are coming into to take over the car are only allowed to be on the server during the last lap of the current drivers stint. We can not have people spectating on the server for periods of time during the race due to bandwidth limitations. (see 7a for detailed instructions on performing swaps). If a driver is caught spectating for more than a few minutes, the team can be disqualified from the event and possibly asked not to return for future events. We will have the race broadcast for teammates to see where their teams are running.

Drivers from each Team will agree on race strategy and method of communication (phone, voice-over-IP...). Teamspeak seems to be the most popular form of communication.

When drivers are ready to perform a driver change, the driver currently driving will communicate to his next teammate when he is ready to swap. The must then come to rest in his pit stall only.. For complete instructions on how to perform a driver swap in rFactor, please go to this thread at the US Pits.

Driver swaps are not to take place anywhere else on the track. As soon as the driver becomes a passenger, he is to exit the server.

Drivers running from the same physical location can swap as many times as they want during pit stops. Again one driver is allowed to only run 70% of the event, so the amount of drivers swaps will be left at the discretion of the team. A set amount of swaps will be required depending on the length of the race.

All races will be timed and most will transition to night. Each event will be 6 to 24 hours long and will require driver changes. All events will be run as follows:
• Server Connection: Matchmaker / IP
• Sim: rFactor
• Physics: Enduro Challenge Mod
• Damage: MODERATE
• Setups: Open
• Weather: Clear
• Starts: Full Pace Lap, staggered (depending on track length)
• Flags: Local yellow, blue flags (not enforced), black flags
• Hardcore Mode: Auto Clutch only – open view

The Series Administrators will send out the Drivers Meeting or "DM" no later than 48 hours before the race. The “DM” will contain all server information, password and race settings The “DM” may also contain any additional information, reminder or advice the Series feels appropriate for the upcoming event. There is no excuse for not reading the “Drivers Meeting”. If, for any reason, you don’t receive it on time, your are responsible for checking the Forum Race Logisticssection. The only thing missing will be the password. Race passwords will be sent to Team Owners or Managers only ! It is the responsibility of the Team Owners to get the race password to their drivers. That password is NOT to be given to ANYONE that is not participating in the race.Owners are to give the password to THEIR drivers only. The race server should normally be started at the time mentioned on the Drivers Meeting.

Only the Race Steward or designated Assistant can start, cancel, postpone or restart the server, or make the decision to move from practice to qualify.

Practice may be delayed for whatever reason deemed necessary, but Qualifying will always begin at the time mentioned in the Drivers Meeting.

If for any reason (server crash, server reset…), there is a discrepancy between the time remaining in the practice session and the time we are supposed to start qualifying, the Race Steward or designated Assistant will advance to qualifying session ON TIME (and will announce it accordingly). If for some reason the qualifying session cannot be started at the time mentioned in the Drivers Meeting or within a maximum delay of 15 minutes, the race may be cancelled. A race could be cancelled for the following reasons:
• prior to the event (last minute server unavailability, critical bug for this track without time to reschedule to another track...)
• if the qualifying session cannot be started within 30 minutes of the scheduled time
• if the server crashes during the course of the race

If a race has to be cancelled, we will try to reschedule it at a later date.

A member may protest an accident for the behavior of another member at the conclusion of the race. They may send in a protest up to 48 hours after the race is completed. Upon receipt of the protest, the Administrator or an assigned review committee will review the incident and levy any penalties or suspensions deemed necessary. Members may file unlimited protests per season. Penalties will result in sanctions and/or suspensions, depending on the severity and nature of the infraction. If a driver/team accrues multiple penalties, this driver/team may be subjected to suspension from the series or future SSCA events. When a protest is received from a driver we will petition the other driver involved to send in their replay as well. The reason we will do this is simple. Most of the incidents can be determined who's at fault pretty easily, but in the case where it is a close call, being able to see exactly what each driver is doing with the gas and the brakes could help us determine the outcome. So if your not already doing it, start saving your replays whenever possible.

The rules governing chat will depend on what session the race is in.
Practice Session: Chat as much as you want.
Qualifying Session: Absolutely no chatting allowed. Any congratulatory remarks (such as GL, NL, congrats, etc.) should be made before the Practice session ends or after the Warm-Up session begins. Any chatting before the Warm-Up session begins will be considered a violation.
Warm-Up Session: Should be reserved for whispers or TeamSpeak to determine who all is sharing pit space. Please use whispers to keep the chat window less clogged. No other chat besides questions to the race admin is allowed.
Race Session: No chats allowed period unless previously directed by race officials what is acceptable.

When you see the admin of the race start to use ALL CAPS and asks for quiet, there is to be no further chat from that point on. This is exactly how the drivers meetings will go:
First the admin will type OK GUYS TRACKS CLOSED TIME FOR DRIVERS MEETING A brief pause will be allowed for anyone in the middle of typing a message who didn't see the announcement before hitting enter. Then the Admin will announce OK GUYS THAT'S IT NO MORE CHAT! From this point on, until the signal of the drivers meeting is over, there is just that, no more chat. Any chat of any kind will result in a penalty. There is a time when the admin is done typing he will ask for questions. If you have a question type in a ? to signal you have one. Wait your turn to be called then ask your question. This is not a time to joke around, as we have a large group so please reserve your comments or questions to serious ones only! Any violation of this rule will result in a penalty and you will be forced to start in the back of the gird!

Qualifying will be 6 laps in a 30 minute open session.
The GT Class will be allowed to take the track first until finished. Prototypes are not to qualify until Race Control gives the OK.
During your class session, you will have approximately 10 minutes todo your best 4 timed laps. The system will count your out lap as 1 lap, as well as your inlap as a 1 lap. So remember, in reality you only have 4 laps to try and do your best lap. 1 out lap, 4 q laps, 1 in lap.

Starts will be rolling starts. NO TIRE WARMING!! First the field must wait for the pace car to appear and the pole sitter will lead the field, staggered and spaced.(See Image) Please leave at least 4 car lengths between yourself and the car in front of you. DO NOT drive next to the car in your lane. In row one, the pole sitter will be about 1 car length in front of 2nd place. Row 2, 3rd place will be 1 car length in front of 4th and so on down the grid.
NOTE: Prototype cars that DO NOT qualify, or have problems during qualifying will be moved to the back of the Prototype grid and in front of the GT grid before the start of the race.

There are no restarts!. Period! When Qualifying is over, we will take the first 5 minutes of Warm up and go over any rules that need to be addressed, and answer any questions or concerns by drivers. NO CARS ON TRACK AND NO CHAT DURING THE DRIVERS MEETING. When the driver's meeting is over, the track will be re-opened for 10 minutes of Happy Hour (depending on length of track) and the race will start at the end of Happy Hour.During "Warm Up" all drivers need to go out for one lap and pit. The Admin will tell you when it is ok to ESC out of your pit stall. Until he says so, you are to stay sitting in your stall. This is to check if you are sharing a pit stall. If so, you can then communicate with that team or even let them know via TeamSpeak when you are pitting.
Members who "fall through" right before the race session starts, will not have the server restarted for them nor will they receive their laps back from the Admin. If possible, the member may choose to join the server and they will be allowed to race.

There are no yellow flags , 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. It is up to the passing car to make a clean safe pass. If a lapped car does block a lead lap car, then the lapped car may be penalized. WHILE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR A SAFE PASS RESTS WITH THE OVERTAKING CAR, let people lapping you pass by holding your line and speed. If the passing car is inside you, slowly lift off the gas and allow them to complete the pass. Do not contest the pass going into the corner. Or you can move to the low side after exiting a corner. However, do make sure that you do this smoothly. DO NOT SLOW DRASTICALLY! DO NOT CHANGE LINES ABRUPTLY. Some of the tracks are very difficult to pass on unless there is cooperation between the drivers.

Blocking is allowed as long as it is not excessive. Anything that is deemed dangerous, could result in a penalty.

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. This also goes for anything remotely negative towards another driver on the forums.

Incidents that are deemed intentional or malicious will be subject to penalty and can result in immediate removal from the league.

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. 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.

While waiting for the start of the race, members are NOT allowed to burn their tires. This creates a smoke screen that impairs the vision of cars behind you, causing the potential for accidents before the race even starts.

Passing by leaving the track surface is forbidden and will result in a post race points penalty. Passes are not to be made by moving into the berm, dirt, or other surface not easily recognized as belonging to the obvious track racing configuration. During racing a driver may occasionally 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.

At all times, at least 2 tires must remain on the racing surface. A curb, is not considered racing surface. The black stuff we call asphalt, is. If you are caught repeatedly cutting the course, you could be DQ' ed.

Use of ESC is never allowed during qualifying or race sessions unless;

• It is specified it is ok in the drivers meetings due to an excessively long track
• You in harms way
• Your car will not make it back to the pits
• You can not safely make it back to the pits

Race stewards will be watching qualifying and reviewing race replays. If a driver uses ESC during qualifying, they will be moved to the back of the grid and possibly incur a weight penalty as well. If a driver uses ESC during a race session they must sit out qualifying at the next event and incur a weight penalty (next event means any FLOG Series he is running in. This could be one or the other or both).

Endurance Series:

24. Server Handles

25. Use of headlights

26. Running out of fuel

27. Upholding the rules